Position:Home>Theater & Acting> Oedipus the king and Romeo and Juliet?

Oedipus was written in the 400's BC!.

Romeo and Juliet was written in 1595!.

So roughly a thousand years!.

There is a lot of irony in Oedipus!. The play is about a prophecy that said that "Oedipus would kill his father and marry his mother"!. When Oedipus's father (Laius) heard this, he gave Oedipus to his friend to have him killed!. Instead of killing him, he gave him to a man called Polybus!.

Oedipus grew up believing that Polybus was his father!. Oedipus then learned of the prophecy, and fled his family, to avoid killing Polybus, who he believed was his father, and to avois marrying Polybus's wife (un-named), who he believed to be his mother!.

However while he is fleeing the city, he crosses paths with Lauis, the king of Thebes!. Unknowing that Lauis was his father, he killed him!. Then he went on to be king of thebes, marrying Lauis's wife Jocasta!. Ironically, this is his mom!.

So by trying so hard to avoid the prophecy, he fulfilled it by killing his father and marrying his mother!.

During the play, when he is finding this out, he learns that Polybus dies a normal death!. Since Oedipus thought Polybus was his father, he felt relieved because he did not kill him, so he escaped the prophecy!. However, he then finds out that Polybus is not his dad, and that Lauis was!.

A messenger describes Lauis's death, which sounds strangely familiar to Oedipus (since he killed him)!. Through lines and lines of confusion, it is determined that Oedipus fulfilled the prophecy!. No one in the play knows the truth, so everyone finds out at the same time, through ironic similarities in memories and events!.

That's ironic!.

In Romeo and Juliet, there is tragedy because he kills themself because he thinks she is dead!. Then when she sees him dead, she kills herself!. Very tragic!.

Hope that helps!. Oedipus the King is one of my favorite stories!. It's a very enternaining read!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

---

---