AP Lit: Week 9 - Oedipus' Struggle

This week we focused on the drama "Oedipus the King". Before we began discussing this drama, I had no idea who or what Oedipus was. I had kind of heard the name before, but I had no idea the meaning attached to it. Now I know that Oedipus is a tragic king, like, REALLY tragic. His life is a mess. He leaves his home to try to avoid fufilling a prophecy that he kills his father and weds his mother, and as he leaves he ends up killing a man. Well, that man happened to be the king, but Oedipus doesn't realize that yet. Oedipus becomes the new king, and weds the queen. Well sure enough, that guy he killed on the street was his dad, and he has been sleeping with his mom/wife. Did I mention he had four kids with his mom? We have just arrived at the scene where Oedipus finally realizes that he did end up fufilling the prophecy. I just cant imagine how he didn't realize it earlier, since it was getting pretty obvious. Plus, he never thought to read the actual prophecy? I mean, he only realized what happened when his wife/mom started explaining what the prophecy said about the king's death. Now, if Oedipus was so worried about finding the king's killer, wouldn't he think to check out some of these prophecies involving him? Also, when he killed his dad, there were lots of guards around, he never thought that was suspicious? My assumption is either Oedipus was very narrowminded, he was just plain stupid, or he knew deep down what had happened but didn't want to admit it to himself. Oedipus' story is a true tragic, in about the most messiest way possible. I can't wait to read about him blinding himself!

Here's a psychoanalysis of Oedipus and his mom's relationship

http://changingminds.org/disciplines/psychoanalysis/concepts/oedipus_complex.htm