He asks that the surviving eyewitness to Laius's murder be brought to him. It's the same place where Oedipus once fought with several people and killed them, one of whom fit the description of Laius. But her description of where Laius was killed-a triple-crossroad-worries Oedipus.

And yet, Laius was killed by strangers, and her own infant son was left to die in the mountains. As an example, she tells him the prophecy she once received-that Laius, her first husband, would be killed by their own son. Jocasta tells Oedipus not to put any stock in what prophets and seers say. He relents, reluctantly, still convinced of Creon's guilt. Jocasta and the chorus believe Creon is innocent and beg Oedipus to let Creon go.

As the argument escalates, Oedipus accuses Tiresias of plotting with Creon to overthrow him, while Tiresias hints at other terrible things that Oedipus has done.Ĭonvinced that Creon is plotting to overthrow him, Oedipus declares his intention to banish or execute his brother-in-law. Tiresias grows angry and says that Oedipus is the cause of the plague-he is the murderer of Laius. Oedipus accuses Tiresias of playing a part in Laius's death. Tiresias comes, but refuses to tell Oedipus what he has seen in his prophetic visions. Oedipus sends for Tiresias, the blind prophet, to help with the investigation. He orders the people of Thebes, under punishment of exile, to give any information they have about the death of Laius. Oedipus curses the unknown murderer and swears he will find and punish him.

The oracle claims that the murderer is still living in Thebes. When Oedipus arrived in Thebes and saved the city, he was made king and married the widowed queen, Jocasta, sister of Creon.) Now Creon returns with the oracle's news: for the plague to be lifted from the city, the murderer of Laius must be discovered and punished. (A little background: before Oedipus arrived in Thebes, the previous king, Laius, was murdered under mysterious circumstances and the murderer was never found. Oedipus has already sent his brother-in-law, Creon, to the oracle of the god Apollo to find out what can be done. A group of priests comes to the royal palace to ask for help from Oedipus, their king who once saved them from the tyranny of the terrible Sphinx. Citizens are dying from plague, crops fail, women are dying in childbirth and their babies are stillborn. At the start of the play, the city of Thebes is suffering terribly.

Oedipus the King by Sophocles