To Laius, King of Thebes, an oracle foretold that the child born to him
by his queen Jocasta would slay his father and wed his mother. So when
in time a son was born the infant’s feet were riveted together and he
was left to die on Mount Cithaeron. But a shepherd found the babe and
tended him, and delivered him to another shepherd who took him to his
master, the King of Corinth. Polybus being childless adopted the boy,
who grew up believing that he was indeed the King’s son. Afterwards
doubting his parentage he inquired of the Delphic god and heard himself
the word declared before to Laius. Wherefore he fled from what he
deemed his father’s house and in his flight he encountered and
unwillingly slew his father Laius. Arriving at Thebes he answered the
riddle of the Sphinx and the grateful Thebans made their deliverer
king. So he reigned in the room of Laius, and espoused the widowed
queen. Children were born to them and Thebes prospered under his rule,
but again a grievous plague fell upon the city. Again the oracle was
consulted and it bade them purge themselves of blood-guiltiness.
Oedipus denounces the crime of which he is unaware, and undertakes to
track out the criminal. Step by step it is brought home to him that he
is the man. The closing scene reveals Jocasta slain by her own hand and
Oedipus blinded by his own act and praying for death or exile.