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Oedipus the King, a la Shmoop. Everyone has their family issues.

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Most people don't need quite as much counseling as Oedipus, though.

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Seriously, you should see the yearly psychiatry bills. Through the roof.

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This guy unknowingly killed his father...

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...well okay, he knowingly killed the guy, but he didn't know who he was at the time...

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...and then he slept with and bore children with his biological mother.

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How did he not get a guest spot on Springer? After all, Oedipus had some advance warning.

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The Delphic Oracle had told him that he would kill his father and sleep with his mother.

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And when the Oracle made a prophecy, you listened. So, if Oedipus had this critical information...

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...why wasn't he a little more discerning about... who he killed and slept with?

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Was it just that, for some reason, he didn't buy it?

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Although prophets were well regarded... more than they are today, anyhow...

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...they were known to be wrong on occasion.

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So perhaps Oedipus just felt the Oracle was having an off day...

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Or maybe Oedipus did believe in the prophesy...

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... but he didn't think that Laius was his dad and Jocasta was mommy dearest.

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It makes sense. He was brought up by Polybus and Merope, whom he believed all along were

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his real parents...

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...although he did end up killing a guy at a crossroads just as the prophecy had foretold.

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You'd think the guy would have some feelers out by that point.

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These people lived by their gut.

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If he felt in the heat of the moment that Laius wasn't dear old dad, then he may have

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just decided to off him and hope for the best.

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And then with Jocasta... well, maybe she just looked really good in a two-piece bathing

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suit. Although... it could be a third... icky option.

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What if Oedipus had a sneaking feeling that he was fulfilling the prophesy... but did

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it anyway? The fact that he gouges out his own eyeballs

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when he learns the truth seems to invalidate this possibility...

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...but what if it was partly subconscious?

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What if he came across this guy, considered the possibility that he was his dad, but...

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just really needed to satisfy his bloodlust?

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And when he met and fell in love with Jocasta, what if he weighed the risks... but still

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couldn't bring himself to ignore his emotions?

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So what really happened?

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Did Oedipus just not believe the prophesy?

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Did he think his adoptive parents were the real deal?

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Or was he throwing all caution to the wind and letting his heart lead him... despite

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the vile places it might take him? Shmoop amongst yourselves.

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