Loyalty to God in Oedipus Rex Essay

In the play, Oedipus the King, the Ancient Greek cultural value of loyalty to and dependence on the gods is constantly demonstrated throughout.

In the beginning of Oedipus the King, before Jocasta is introduced into the play, the importance of being loyal to and dependent on the gods is illustrated. The story begins with a priest saying that Oedipus solved the Sphinx riddle with Gods assistance (Sophocles 434). Greeks were dependent on the gods and did not believe that they could achieve great things without the support of the gods. Next, the cultural value of being loyal to the gods is shown by the reason the people of Thebes believed they have had the plague put upon them: We have not come as suppliant to this altar because we thought of you [Oedipus] as a god (Sophocles 434). The people of Thebes realized they were not being faithful, by worshipping a mortal, and believed that was the reason for the plague. Lastly, the cultural value is shown when Oedipus tries to rid Thebes of the plague. The first step he takes is to consult the prophet, Teiresias, because the chorus tells him that what the Lord Teiresias sees, is often what the Lord Apollo sees (Sophocles 439). Oedipus depends on the gods, that they will help him to purge the plague from Thebes. Oedipus believes that the gods can help so much, that he chooses to go straight to seek advice from a prophet before he does anything else. How Greeks value being loyal to and dependence on the gods stands out in the beginning of the play.

After Jocasta is introduced into the play, the Greek necessity of being dependent on and loyal to the gods continues to be portrayed. One of the first statements Jocasta makes is how she doesnt believe that human beings have no craft of prophesy (Sophocles 448). Throughout the story, Jocasta criticizes oracles because she believes that only the gods, not mortals, have the ability to foresee; Jocasta is being loyal to the gods by saying that humans shouldnt be worshipped as prophets are. The next example of the Greek dependence on the gods occurs when Oedipus tells why he ran away from home. Oedipus received an oracle that told him of the desperate horrors to befall him, so he fled to somewhere where I [he] should not see fulfilled the infamies told (Sophocles 450). Oedipus believes in the gods ability of foresight so greatly, that he ran from his tremendously comfortable lifestyle without a second thought. Lastly, the chorus shows devotion to the gods when they praise the gods even during the hardest of times. The plague is making Thebes is suffer greatly, and the chorus still praises the gods saying, God is great, and I shall never cease to hold the God as our protector (Sophocles 451). The chorus stays true and devoted to the gods, even though such bad things are happening all throughout Thebes. All through the middle of the play, the needfulness of the Greeks to be faithful to the gods is visible.

The Greek essentiality to be loyal to and dependent on the gods is present in the end, after Jocasta has left. Loyalty to the gods is first shown in the end when Creon is choosing what to do with Oedipus. Creon and Oedipus were not on good terms, because just hours earlier, Oedipus threatened to have Creon killed. Creon could have easily had revenge, but, instead chooses to learn from the God the course of action I [he] should follow (Sophocles 468). Creon shows his allegiance by not taking the chance he has, doing whatever he wants with Oedipus, and choosing to ask the gods how Oedipus should be punished. Creons steadfast act proves that he puts the gods before himself. The next act of being loyal to the gods is shown by Creon when refusing to have a burial for Jocasta, his own sister. Although it is never actually stated in the play, it is inferred when Oedipus has to beseech Creon so that Jocasta might get a funeral and Creon never agrees (Sophocles 469). Those who commit suicide are not supposed to get a funeral, so Creon never agrees and remains faithful to the gods. A last example of the Greek cultural value of being devoted to the gods is made visible by the reason that Oedipus is accursed. Creon finally tells Oedipus to not seek to be master in everything (Sophocles 470). Because Oedipus relied so heavily on himself, instead of being loyal the gods, he greatly suffered. Because Sophocles wrote the play so that Oedipus would suffer for not being loyal, it is safe to think that being loyal to and dependent on the gods is essential to the Greeks. Finding a single event all throughout the play, Oedipus the King, where the Ancient Greek cultural value of being loyal to and dependent on the gods is not evident is difficult.

Beers, Burton et. al. World Masterpieces. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall, 1991. 429-481

Sophocles. "Oedipus the King". Trans. David Greene. World Masterpieces. Ed. James Corcoran et. al. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall, 1991. 433-452, 457-470.