FREE ESSAY ON WHAT WAS OEDIPUS'S CRIME?

WHAT WAS OEDIPUS'S CRIME?

What Was Oedipus's Crime?
Oedipus, ruler of Thebes, murdered his father and married his mother. Such acts are
almost always deemed unnatural and criminal; they are not tolerated within traditional
society. A person who has committed these illegal acts of murder and incest would be
considered a criminal, yet Sophocles's character, Oedipus, is not guilty of either crime.

Prior to the birth of Oedipus, a prophecy was spoken over Laius and his wife Jocasta.
They were told that their son would one day be his father's killer and would then marry
his mother. In fear, King Laius and Queen Jocasta sent the baby Oedipus off with a slave
to be killed. He was never killed, but rather was given to a childless king and queen
which lovingly raised him. Oedipus was never factually told about his lineage. Later in
his life, Oedipus was confronted by several unknown men while traveling. Upon
confrontation, Oedipus killed all but one of the men in self defense. Unknowingly,
Oedipus had begun to fulfill the prophecy for one of the men had been his birth father,
Laius. 
While still traveling, Oedipus had come to the city of Thebes. There, he saved the city
from the wrath of the Sphinx by solving her riddle. Seen as a savior by the citizens of
Thebes, Oedipus was made king and subsequently, the husband of Jocasta. Oedipus and his
wife-mother ruled together and had four children while never knowing of the true
relationship between each other. 
As the tragedy comes to a close, the truth is revealed to Oedipus concerning his lineage
and unnatural actions. Although the truth had been spoken to him about these matters
previously, Oedipus had chosen not to believe and understandably so. True revelation
comes to Oedipus through the same slave that had been ordered to kill him as a baby. 
Since Oedipus had no knowledge of his birth parents, he cannot be accused of knowingly
fulfilling the prophecy. He had no understanding of Laius as his birth father upon
killing him. One might say that Oedipus is then guilty of murder regardless, but if he
had killed in self defense, that cannot be true. Likewise, if Oedipus had no
understanding of Jocasta as his birth mother, then he cannot be guilty of incest. Neither
can he be guilty of defiling Laius's marriage bed, as he did not know that Jocasta was
the wife of the man he had murdered. Oedipus cannot be guilty of lying to the people of
the city of Thebes since he did not know he was not speaking the truth. 
Unfortunately, Oedipus was the victim of destiny. The gods caused him to fall prey to
fate and injustice. According to the norms of modern Criminal Justice, an individual
cannot be guilty of a crime that he did not understandably commit; he cannot be guilty of
a crime unless there is evidence of mens rea. A crime is defined as an act act punishable
by law; a sin; a grave offense. Oedipus cannot be guilty of an act, sin or grave offense
that he did not knowingly commit.