Oedipus is afraid of killing his father, as prophesied by the oracle. However, the Corinth shepherd informs him that Polybus has died. According to the people and Oedipus himself, Polybus is Oedipus' father. Jocasta reassures him that what he had feared his entire life has passed and he no longer has to be concerned. But, Oedipus believes that fate has not passed him by because he was also supposed to marry his mother. As a result, he refuses to return the Shepherd and the Corinth for his coronation. He does this out of concern that the last section will not be answered, which he believes will occur. The Corinth discloses the information that Polybus is not the birth father of Oedipus to reassure him that the prophecy will not transpire. The Corinth goes further to tell him about his upbringing and how he was raised by the shepherds after he had been handed over by Laius servants. It is at this point that the story arouses Oedipus curiosity about his parents. When Oedipus asks who knows about the shepherds who the messengers speak about, all the answers are the same. They all answer that the shepherd is the same one who has been summoned (Sophocles 56). It is at this point that Jocasta realizes the identity of Oedipus. She recognizes that he is her son. She also realizes that the prophecy was true and has been fulfilled. She tries to stop the king from his investigation, but her work is futile. The king is eager to know who his parents are for the sake of the prophecy which he fears.
Analysis
After Jocasta identifies that Oedipus is her son, she commits suicide. An alternative outcome of the scene can be Jocasta finding out Oedipus is her son and Oedipus never finding out about that. We can identify that Jocasta already killed herself because of the unfolding events. The same case could happen again where she murders herself after identifying Oedipus as his son. However, Oedipus would never find out that this was her mother who died. Some of the unfolding events after the death of her mother under this new circumstance include investigations as to why she killed herself. The advisors of the king could point out many people or events that made her kill herself in the palace. Conversely, the king would never believe that his mother killed herself without any valid reason. Some individuals could be accused of killing her and feigning she killed herself. People could be killed for a murder they did not commit because the real reason for the death cannot be identified. Such is one outcome to the people living in the palace.
With the news, Oedipus gouges his eyes, and he becomes blind. He also wanders off to a town outside Athens with the help of her daughter Antigone. With his absence, his sons share power yearly. However, if Oedipus had never known about Jocasta being her mother, she will still be leading the kingdom. One of the outcomes of this ending would have been the death of the Oracle since Oedipus would feel the oracle had lied. The king could have still been living in denial about the prophecy of the oracle. The weight of the prophecy weighed him down. Oedipus felt that the prediction would come at one point in his life. The kingdom would have never been ruled properly because of Oedipus fear. The death of Jocasta would have been a real source of pain for him. With his weakening power as a result of his fears, the son would have taken over the kingdom. Knowing the gullibility of Oedipus sons, one would have murdered the other so that he could rule forever. In the end, the kingdom would have been in tatters with a mad king in the palace.
Antigone and Ismene are the only people that care for their father after the demise of their mother. When Oedipus becomes blind, Antigone helps her. In a different outcome, the two daughters of Oedipus would have led a better life. Antigone, who went to live with his father in a town outside Athens would be in the kingdom. One can identify that Antigone is the only sibling that wants the best for the kingdom. Even with the downfall of her father and his weakening grip on the kingdom, Antigone would have still been a significant contribution to the well-being of the kingdom. Ismene would not make a difference. She was involved in running the kingdom and helping her father compared to Antigone.
With Oedipus being depressed about the death of his wife, the kingdom would have suffered greatly. Both his sons lust for power. Oedipus pain of losing Jocasta would have weakened his rule. The resulting outcome would have been his death at the hands of his sons. The kingdom, in this case, would have been run by two people that lust for power. One would have eventually killed his brother leaving the kingdom with a mad king. Many people would have been killed especially the ones who were against the new king. The different outcome would have been a disaster for the kingdom.
Works cited
Sophocles, E. A. Oedipus the King. Findaway World LLC, 2009.
