hold from impiety and his fingers itch for untouchable things. When such things are done, what man shall contrive to shield his soul from the shafts of the God?" Oedipus was preoccupied with the mystification of his birth, and the death of Laius. He was striving for the truth. Many thought Oedipus should relieve himself of this burden, and let the mystery travel unsolved. But Oedipus couldn’t release himself from this obsession. Jacasta tells Oedipus, "I beg you - do not hunt this out- I beg you, if you have any care for your own life. What I am suffering is enough." Oedipus replies, "I will not be persuaded to let chance of finding out the whole thing clearly." Not even his wife could stop him from overcoming the immense obstacle of resolving his question. Unfortunately for Oedipus the monstrosity he most affectionately feared became a reality. A herdsman unlocks the leash of Oedipus’s questions. Oedipus was a true victim of self inflicted fate. "I who first saw the light bred of a match accursed, and accursed in my living with them, cursed in my killing." Obviously Oedipus feels he had been damned. But as the story comes to an end Oedipus gouges out his eyes. The chorus didn’t see this as a reasonable action, why would he do such a thing? Oedipus answers, "It was Apollo, friends, Apollo, that brought me this bitterness, my sorrows to completion. But was the hand that struck me was none but my own." Oedipus was guilty. He is undeniably responsible for the death of his father, and for marrying his mother. Most of all Oedipus faulted in his attempt to raise himself to the same level of the gods, while trying to flee from his destiny. None the less Oedipus had a conscience, and knew he must be punished for his sins. Otherwise he wouldn’t have gouged his eyes out with Jocasta’s broach. A valuable lesson was learned to never take the gods for granted or Oedipus’s fate could become ...
