Oedipus Rex, Essay Example

The story of theatrical play Oedipus Rex presents the dramatic twists and turns in the life of the titled character from the period before his birth, the period throughout his life, until the climatic event of revelation in which he personally cursed himself because of the tragedies of his life. Critically, the main thematic idea in the play is presented in the maxim which relates that no man should consider himself lucky until he is dead. Indeed, the story of Oedipus the King highly exemplified the critical concept of the story as the dramatic twists and turns in his life presents the themes of contrasts in the dominant concepts in the play.

One of the major themes in the play is the concept of free will and fate which these ideas are critically in contrast within the life of the titular characters as presented in the play. Often, the concept of fate or the idea that a person is bound by a phenomenal force governing his or her life is strictly the opposite of free which dictates that people have dominant control over their lives affected by the choices and decisions they make. One of the dominant plots of the story is the prophesized tragedy in the fate of Oedipus in which he is bound to commit serious offenses among which is the murder of his birth father and the marriage with his birth mother in which the story likewise shows how Oedipus actually serves his fate through the enactment of his decisions and free will.

Another major theme dominant in the play Oedipus Rex is the contrasting presentation with the concepts of sights and blindness. This particular theme was highly illustrated with the relationship of Oedipus and the blind prophet Tiresias wherein the former often mocks that condition of the latter in terms of physical capabilities yet the latter retaliate with an opposite view in which the lack of sight or perspective fall as an inadequacy of Oedipus. In the play, Oedipus claims perfect sight seizing full perspective with his vision while Tiresias seizes such capabilities as his knowledge gave him a clearer picture and perspective to the fate and actions of Oedipus giving him greater concept of vision and understanding despite his blindness.

Indeed, the tragic play of Oedipus Rex presents a life story with twisting plots and concepts presented with dominant themes of contrast and irony. Critically, the presentation and plot of the story strongly demonstrate the main plot presented in the choral maxim of the play through the decisions and events in the life of Oedipus and his struggle with his fate.