There is no debate over the fact that Oedipus Rex is a story of suffering in all its forms.

After all, it is a Greek tragedy. But

to what extent and what end is the nature of human suffering explored in this play? Oedipus is arguably the most pathetic
character in the play. By pathetic, it refers directly to the word root, pathos, an appeal to the emotions of an audience. All
suffering illustrated to any degree instigates some response, some emotion. This pathos, is one of the more prominent
modes of illustrating suffering throughout the play. One particular example of such pathos is the famous messenger
speech, Heartbreakingly, like an animal. He laid her gently on the floor, such passion within the words designed to
exhibit a response; it continues, And then this was unbearable, the worst....And suffering were too great for his eyes to
see it. That now they would both be in darkness forever, That he would never see again. By this point, the audience has
succumb to the pathos at the hands of Oedipus' suffering, or at least acknowledge that such a suffering is occurring. This
point in the play is, to Oedipus, the culmination of all the suffering he has endured throughout his life, as well as the
nature of such suffering.

But there a many types of suffering within the play, and they arent all by Oedipus'. Two modes of suffering are
demonstrated at the very start of the play; the plague upon Thebes. What is the meaning of this supplication? the
citizens of Thebes are appealing to their king. Now, Oedipus great and glorious, we seek your help. Again, we are
reminded that the citizens are seeking help from Oedipus. They are subjugated by their suffering and so they beg for
help, furthering their suffering. This is explored in depth, throughout the play; that as one suffers, there is always an
authoritarian power with the perceived responsibility for either causing it, or being able to help. At the beginning, the
supplicants are the citizens with Oedipus being the authority, but further on we see a shift. When Teiresias arrives in
Thebes at the request of Oedipus, he is begged by Oedipus for help in the same manner the citizens begged Oedipus.
Come save us all....We look to you. To help his fellow-men... is a man's most noble work. The suffering of supplication
is a prominent point throughout the play as it allows for the juxtaposition consistently seen; things such as right and
wrong; truth and illusion; light and darkness; sight and blindness. These contrasts try to mirror life, or at least it is what
Sophocles viewed as a mirror of life.

Whilst Oedipus is the predominant medium for

1. You too have seen this city's affliction. Oedipus' first suffering revealed. Oedipus is watching his city in pain,
without any way to relieve it; to help. This is one of the planes of suffering for Oedipus throughout the play. The
suffering of the unknown. Oedipus solved the riddle of the sphinx. He is, for all purposes, a smart man; a
rational man. Though, as we see until the very end of the play, there is no obvious truth to Oedipus. The killer is
unknown no matter how hard he probes Teiresias as illustrated, you show yourself no friend to Thebes... if you
refuse to answer. frustrated to the point of fury Oedipus exclaims, By the gods! If you know, do not refuse to
speak! This absence of knowledge, this blindness, is suffering when almost all others can see the truth should
they look. It is revealed that this truth Oedipus seeks is not such a wise path; it brings about his destruction. In
seeking to relieve his torture from ignorance, a torture of much greater magnitude presents itself. Prevention
presented itself in the form of pleas from both his wife and the Shepard. Doomed man! O never live to learn the
truth! and Damn you, man, hold your tongue! The latter warning is issued in response to the foolhardy attitude
of the messenger. Not hesitating in either case, Oedipus jumps on the opportunity to rid himself of ignorance
and find the answer to who he is. Such is the curse of all men; to know who they are. It was the insufferable not-
knowing of self that drove Oedipus to his doom. In this same vein as Oedipus, are all men, Sophocles would
argue. Human beings constantly seek to find themselves, to know their purpose. In searching for this ultimate
purpose, often the delusion is far greater than the truth. On either side may be suffering and the risk is whether
the truth is a greater suffering or eudaimonia all humans long for. In Oedipus' hubris, he took the risk and lost.

Deserving to be punished


Perhaps the greatest suffering considered in this play is that of unintentional action. What can I say to him? What plea
of mine can now have any justice in his eyes, whom I, as now is seen, have wronged so utterly? I knew how much you
loved them how you love them still.



Through this suffering constantly shown throughout the play, an underlying conclusion about the nature of humanity is
finally reached; it is human nature to suffer and every man is fated to do so.

all the generations of mortal men add up to nothing! Show me the man whose happiness was nothing more than illusion
followed by disillusion.




Sons and daughters of Thebes, behold: this was Oedipus,
Greatest of men; he held the key to the deepest mysteries;
Was envied by all his fellow men for his great prosperity;
Behold what a full tide of misfortune swept over his head.
Then learn that mortal man must always look to his ending,
And none can be called happy until that day when he carries
his happiness down to the grave in peace.