Prophecies and Transient Happiness

     While Oedipus is not a book filled with joyful and pleasant moments, the book can still tell a lot about happiness in a culture. In Ancient Greece, prophets were of utmost importance to the society.  Everything they said was taken in complete seriousness and the prophets were not doubted. Therefore, when a grim prophecy was told, they would take it to heart. In Oedipus, a prophet told his parents, King Laius and Queen Jocasta, a terrifying prophecy and reacted immediately. Instead of thinking about whether this decision of giving up their child would make them happy or not, they attempted to change the destiny of their future. King Laius and Queen Jocasta did not choose happiness in this situation.
      Another example within Oedipus in regard to happiness is about the variability of happiness. Oedipus was a powerful king who had a beautiful wife and a lot of hopes for his kingdom. Before he even realized what was happening, he lost it all. His wife killed herself, he discovered he was the one who murdered the king, and also learned the king and queen were his parents. The chorus sums up Oedipus’ life by stating, “Now, in what a sea of troubles sunk and overwhelmed he lies! Therefore wait to see life’s ending ere thou count one mortal blest; Wait till free from pain and sorrow he has gained his final rest” (pg 101-2). This quote explains that despite how happy and pleasant his life was, it changed so quickly. People cannot assume that the rest of their life will be happy; they need to realize there will be hardships. Oedipus took action after discovering the truth of his life and made a choice of honor, to blind himself and remove himself as king, which, for the kingdom, was a choice of happiness. Even though Oedipus had a lot of struggles, he ended up creating a sense of happiness within his kingdom.

Happiness was his choice.