How Does Oedipus Finally Discover the Real Identity of the Killer of Laius?

Answer

How does Oedipus finally discover the real identity of the killer of Laius in Oedipus Rex?

Sophocles’ (c. 496 BCE-406 BCE) “Oedipus Rex” (c. 429 BCE) is a classic Greek tragedy. Oedipus, the King of Thebes, is the protagonist of this play.  The play focuses on his quest to discover the truth about King Laius’s murder. Oedipus vows to reveal the identity of the murderer to save his land from a deadly plague. Through a series of revelations, Oedipus finally learns that he himself is the killer. The truth unfolds step by step as Oedipus pieces together his past.

Oedipus’s Determination to Find the Killer: At the beginning of the play, Thebes is suffering from a plague. The Delphic Oracle declares the solution—the plague will end only when the murderer of King Laius is found and punished. Oedipus vows to save Thebes and curses the killer, saying:

Upon the murderer I invoke this curse… may he wear out his life in misery to miserable doom!

He does not know that he is cursing himself. This determination to uncover the truth leads him to discover the murderer of the late king.

Teiresias Discloses the Truth: Teiresias is the blind prophet in this play. Oedipus calls him to help in the investigation. Teiresias initially refuses to speak. The king presses him, and he says:

You yourself are the pollution of this land.

Oedipus does not believe him and accuses Teiresias of lying. This moment marks the first hint that Oedipus might be the killer. However, his pride and anger close his eyes to the truth.

Jocasta’s Story About Laius’ Death: Jocasta (Oedipus’ wife and the queen) tries to calm Oedipus. She tells him not to trust prophecies:

No human being has skill in prophecy.

To prove her point, Jocasta says—long ago, a prophecy said Laius would be killed by his son; but Laius was murdered by strangers at a crossroads, and their baby died in the mountains.

This catches Oedipus’ attention. Oedipus remembers killing a man