Oedipus at Colonus

Oedipus, Fate and Prophesy

Location: Athens, Greece during the year 401 B.C., a place where there was a strong belief that that their gods could see the future and that only certain people could access the immortal information. In Oedipus at Colonus by Sophocles, King Theseus's decision to offer Oedipus protection as a full citizen rather than treating him as an exile shows his leadership abilities to take his country and his people to triumph.

King Theseus' knows about Oedipus crimes and when asked to see him, didn't ask questions or run judgements. "I know all about you, son of Laius" (Sophocle's 621). He had been in the same exile position and is happy just to listen. 643).

Being the noble ruler he is, Theseus' offers Oedipus protection in his country, not as an exile but as a full citizen with all the rights of all Athens citizens, not knowing the full extent of the powers and blessings that could follow. "I will settle him in our land, a fellow-citizen with full rights" (723-724).

King Theseus' decisiveness and loyalty to Oedipus were the weapons to rescue Antigone and Ismene, Oedipus' daughters from Creon, and kept Oedipus from being taken back as well. The king does not care about the criminal past of his friend at this point he just wants to help the old man. He is true to justice: "Oedipus stands cleared, in his own eyes and those of Athens, of any moral guilt" (271).