The Truth About Oedipus

What does maturity look like in Oedipus Rex? 

Remember that one man who killed his dad and married his mom? Oh yeah, that guy... rough...

We all recognize the infamous story of Oedipus Rex. Doomed to murder his father and marry his mother, Oedipus proves the futility of attempting to outrun fate. While the story undoubtedly explores issues such as free will and human control, Sophocles' dramatic work also offers great insight into the process of human maturity. At first glance, it seems that Oedipus gains no ground. Not only does Oedipus fail to thwart his tragic fate despite honest efforts; he has multiple opportunities to confront and possibly escape the truth of his situation, and instead he continues "living blind" (Sophocles, 72). Although Oedipus was unsuccessful regarding his situation, Sophocles reveals through his character's transition from naive to aware that maturity has less to do with outward circumstance, and more to do with the recognition of reality. 

If maturity were simply a matter of adult decision-making, Oedipus has it down. After first learning of his proposed fate, Oedipus makes the difficult choice to leave his home and (adoptive) parents in order to save them all from their "now more desolate" future together (67). Each choice that Oedipus makes is made in earnest, yet the future ahead of him involves only tragedy. He still is a murderer and "in wedlock cursed" (66), yet Oedipus does not stay the same. The real growth lies in the revealing of reality. As Oedipus peels back the layers of truth and discovers who he really is in the midst of a desolate situation, he may be doing the most mature act possible. With utmost strength, Oedipus utters "let the storm burst... for nothing can make me other than I am" (59), and in this statement Sophocles suggests a profound truth about maturity. Sophisticated people confront reality, no matter how dark, no matter how difficult. They confront the reality of who they are, for nothing can make them other than they are, and they confront the reality of the world around them. Let the storm burst. Truth is the catalyst, and it takes maturity to acknowledge that it exists, but we must. What that truth may be, is another matter altogether...