Dodd’s thoughts on Oedipus. For the play to effectively show the irony of fate and in itself fate Oedipus would have to have been portrayed as a good man and of high stature. Believing that Oedipus was a good man would have only made the tragedy that more tragic as the audience later finds out that Oedipus actually kills his father and marries his mother. The way that Oedipus finally learns of his fate has been argued over many times. Kimberly Rollins views Oedipus as one who “ does not unselfishly seek out the truth even though he knows it will be painful for him; rather, he has no idea of what the outcome of his search will be, denies the truth at every turn, and threatens those that speak it.”(1) This is going a little overboard in terms of judging Oedipus’s character. E. R. Dodds sees Oedipus as one who “pursues the truth at whatever the personal cost and has the strenght to accept and endure it when found.”(qtd. In Rollins 1) This view is more correct of Oedipus as shown in these lines from the play: No God’s sake, master, no more questions! You’re a dead man if I have to ask again Then – the child came from the house… Of Laius A slave? Or born of his own blood? Oh no, I’m right at the edge, the horrible truth I’ve got to say it! And I’m right at the edge of hearing horrors, yes, but I must hear! (1280-1285)This shows us that Oedipus was ready to kill one of his loyal subjects in order to learn of the truth of his birth. He knew that he must hear it even if he didn’t want to. This shows us he wa...
