Troublesome Sources Within Oedipus Rex And The Crucible

In many works of literature, new and old, there is most often a source of problems. This source is usually a person or ideal, which can create havoc, confusion, conflict, and other troublesome issues. The source is most commonly used, and becomes a theme of the work of literature. The Crucible and Oedipus Rex both have major problem sources. In the Crucible the problem source is viewed to be the "devil", while in Oedipus Rex, the source is viewed to be Oedipus. Both sources have similarities and differences that both relate and oppose them.

Oedipus Rex is an ancient play written by Sophocles. The main character is Oedipus, son of King Laius of Thebes and Queen Jocasta. Oedipus was ankles were bound and left for dead on a mountainside as an infant, in an effort to avoid a prophecy that he would kill his father and marry his mother. However, he was found by a shepherd and raised in the care of King Polybus of Corinth and his wife, Merope. Hearing from an oracle that he was destined to kill his father and marry his mother, and believing Polybus and Merope to be his real parents, he left Corinth. Meeting Laius by chance on a road and not recognizing him, Oedipus became involved in a fight with Laius and killed him. Oedipus went on to solve the Sphinx's riddle, "What uses four legs in the morning, two in the day, and three at night?" The answer is Man (infants crawl on their four limbs, adults walk on two legs, and the elderly walk with the aid of a cane). His reward for this is the kingdom of Thebes, and the hand of Jocasta. However, neither recognizes the other. Afterward, the kingdom is stricken with a plague, and the townsfolk claim the cause to be angered gods. They are angry over the death of Laius. Oedipus places a curse upon the killer, not knowing that it is he, himself who killed his father, and the previous king of Thebes, Laius. Several messengers from various cities, including Corinth, expose vital information about the truth of Laius' death as well as Oedipus' true identity. Horrified by, and unable to cope with the truth, Jocasta hangs herself. Upon discovering Jocasta's suicide, Oedipus gouges his own eyes out with his dead mother/wife's broach. Oedipus is now aware of the truth, and that he has placed a curse on himself. He accepts his fate and sends himself into exile, leaving his children in the care of Creon.

One of the major reasons that Oedipus is the problem source in this play is, because, without him, none of these tragic events would have occurred. He fulfills his prophesized fate, and causes many deaths. He thinks he places a curse on another, but he only curses himself. He saves the kingdom of Thebes, but, at the same time, causes it to become infected with a plague. However,