Write a short note on the Delphic Oracle
Oedipus Rex is a notable literary work by Sophocles. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of Oedipus Rex.
Answer
Write a short note on the Delphic Oracle.
The Delphic Oracle was a famous temple in ancient Greece where people went to ask the gods for advice. It was located in Delphi and dedicated to Apollo, the god of prophecy. There, a priestess called the Pythia had the power to see the future. She was believed to be chosen by Apollo. She sat above a crack in the earth, where mysterious gases were said to rise. These gases helped her enter a trance and receive messages from Apollo. When someone asked a question, the Pythia would give a prophecy.
In “Oedipus Rex” (first performed in c. 429 BC), the Delphic Oracle plays a huge role. King Laius and Queen Jocasta went to the Oracle and asked about their future. The Oracle warned them their son would grow up to kill his father (Laius) and marry his mother (Jocasta). To stop this, they abandoned their baby, Oedipus, to die. But by fate, Oedipus was raised in the home of Polybus and Merope, the king and queen of Corinth. Years later, Oedipus also went to the Oracle. The Oracle told him the same prophecy: he would kill his father and marry his mother. To avoid this, he ran away from home, not knowing his real parents were Laius and Jocasta. He ended up fulfilling the prophecy by killing Laius (his real father) and marrying Jocasta (his real mother).
The oracle’s prophecies always came true, no matter how hard people tried to escape them. The oracle’s words were like a trap set by fate. The characters thought they were making smart choices. But in reality, they stepped right into the trap. In Greek tragedy, the oracle shows that humans can never defeat fate.