Oedipus

Main Ideas

• The tragedy of fate and inevitability: Seneca explores the theme of fate, illustrating how Oedipus cannot escape his destined path, despite all attempts to alter his fate.
• The theme of blindness and insight: Oedipus's physical blindness becomes a symbol of his inability to see the truth about his origins and crimes until he gains inner insight.
• Moral responsibility and guilt: The tragedy raises questions about Oedipus's moral responsibility for his actions, even if they were committed unknowingly.
• The conflict between human will and divine predestination: Seneca examines how human efforts stand against the divine forces that govern fate.
• The theme of self-discovery and identity: Oedipus undergoes a process of self-discovery, revealing his true identity and accepting the consequences of his actions.