What really happened to Oedipus? - Stephen Esposito
749,124 Views
1,990 Questions Answered
TEDEd Animation
Let’s Begin…
When Queen Jocasta of Thebes gave birth to Oedipus, a grim air seized the occasion. Her husband, King Laius, had received a prophecy from Apollo's oracle foretelling that he would die at the hands of his own son. Determined to escape this fate, Laius abandoned the newborn on Mount Cithaeron. But divine prophecies can be quite stubborn. Stephen Esposito shares the tragic Greek tale of Oedipus.
Additional Resources for you to Explore
Still pondering whether humans are puppets of the gods?
We recommend Robert Fagles' translation in the Penguin edition entitled Sophocles: The Three Theban Plays: Antigone, Oedipus the King, and Oedipus at Colonus, which contains fabulous introductions to each play by the great classical scholar Bernard Knox. One way to dig deeper into the play is to examine the four prophecies that circumscribe Oedipus' life. Do the prophecies allow Oedipus free choice of any significance?
Oedipus' relationship with the truth is ridden with conflict. He is stonewalled four times: by Tiresias, Jocasta, Polybus and Merope, and Laius' Theban shepherd. Sophocles includes these resisters in Oedipus' search for truth; yet Oedipus refuses to be deterred in his quest. What does that say about Oedipus' character?
Still curious?
Read more about Sophocles here, and investigate Oedipus featured in art here and here.
We recommend Robert Fagles' translation in the Penguin edition entitled Sophocles: The Three Theban Plays: Antigone, Oedipus the King, and Oedipus at Colonus, which contains fabulous introductions to each play by the great classical scholar Bernard Knox. One way to dig deeper into the play is to examine the four prophecies that circumscribe Oedipus' life. Do the prophecies allow Oedipus free choice of any significance?
Oedipus' relationship with the truth is ridden with conflict. He is stonewalled four times: by Tiresias, Jocasta, Polybus and Merope, and Laius' Theban shepherd. Sophocles includes these resisters in Oedipus' search for truth; yet Oedipus refuses to be deterred in his quest. What does that say about Oedipus' character?
Still curious?
Read more about Sophocles here, and investigate Oedipus featured in art here and here.
About TED-Ed Animations
TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »
Meet The Creators
- Educator Stephen Esposito
- Director Yael Reisfeld
- Narrator Addison Anderson
- Composer Stephen LaRosa
- Sound Designer Stephen LaRosa
- Produced by Gerta Xhelo, Abdallah Ewis
- Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
- Editorial Producer Dan Kwartler
- Fact-Checker Charles Wallace
