Oedipus Rex- Scene 2/Ode 2

Summary: In the beginning, Kreon denies plotting against Oedipus. Oedipus then goes on repeating his accusations against Kreon. Kreon then says how it would be stupid of him to try to overthrow Oedipus. Kreon has all of the luxuries of a king, but he does not have the stress. Kreon and the chorus leader both agree that Oedipus is being irrational because of his anger. Oedipus still does not believe Kreon. Iokaste then comes in. She is Oedipus's wife and Kreon's sister. She stops the fighting and sends Kreon away. Iokatse tells Oedipus to believe Kreon. The chorus leader also tells Oedipus to believe Kreon. Iokaste then asks Oedipus why he is so angry. When she finds out that a prophet said he murdered Laios, she says that prophets are untrue. She says how a prophet said Laios's son was to kill him, but that was untrue because his son was killed and Laios died where three highways met. When she mentioned the three highways, Oedipus was disturbed. He then asks what Laios looked like. He goes on to ask for more details. He becomes kind of worried, wondering if he could have been the murderer. He then asks for the only living witnessed to be summoned. Oedipus then tells about a prophecy he was once told. The prophecy said that he would kill his father and sleep with his mother, so he left his home. He then says how on his trip he killed a man like Laios where three highways met. He will know when the shepherd comes if he did it or not if the shepherd says Laios died at the hands of one man or many. The Chorus then says how the world is ruled by destiny, unlike what Iokaste said and it also says how pride ruins men.

Response: Kreon and the chorus leader are right. Oedipus is being irrational because he is angry. The beginning of this scene shows how anger could make you blind to the truth and logic. Oedipus is so angry that he is not even able to see that it would make no sense for Kreon to overthrow him. He was also so angry that he didn't even realize that he was the one that made Teirsais say who the murderer was. Teirsais didn't want to say who it was, but Oedipus threatened him, so he had no other choice but to say what he thought. Oedipus just lets the anger consume him. He is not able to be rational. When Iokaste tells how Laios was killed where three highways met, Oedipus has started to come back to his senses. He remembers how he killed someone where three highways met. Oedipus certainly had anger issues. He killed someone because they forced him off the road. That would be something to be angry about, but no one should get so angry that they would kill four people because of that. It also seems like Oedipus can change his mood easily. When Iokaste talked to him, he was able to become more rational and calm. When he and Iokaste are talking, Oedipus is also able to become more logical. He comes to realize that he could have killed Laios and Teirsais might have be telling the truth and wasn't really plotting with Kreon to overthrow Oedipus.