Oedipus was a son of Laius, king of Thebes, and Jacasta, his wife. The King learned from an oracle that he was fated to be killed by his son. When a boy was born, the King gave him to a shepherd to leave him on Mt. Kithaeron to die.
However, the compassionate sheppherd gave the infant to the childless king of Corinth, Polybus. When Oedipus reached the age of puberty and an oracle told him that he would kill his father and form an incestuous union with his mother, he decided not to return to Corinth to his alleged father.
In his journey he met Laius, whom he slew in a quarrel. When Oedipus arrived at Thebes the Sphinx presented a riddle for solution. Oedipus solved the riddle and the Theban in gratitude gave him Jacasta as wife.
When finally he discovered the relationship between him and his wife, he blinded himself, while Jacasta hanged herself. Oedipus wandered away, accompanied by his daughter, Antigone. Finally he was destroyed by the avenging deities, the Eumenides.
Book: Three Contributions to the Theory of Sex by Sigmund Freud.


Leave a comment