Nature of the Gods As They Are Revealed in Oedipus the King.
Many ancient Greek plays dealt with the interaction of humans with the immortal gods of Olympus. The Greeks believed in what they called fate and always associated their fate with the gods. It is easy to assume that some fates were more horrible and cruel than others. Also, people who seem to be good and just receive a punishment that might be too harsh. This belief can easily be applied to the play Oedipus the King by Sophocles. The gods seem to be unforgiving, unjust, and cruel. Some might believe this display is the complete nature of the gods. It could also be safe to argue that this type of universe is not a favorable one in which to live and thus many would question the righteousness of the gods and how they interact with man. Oedipus might be a victim of the fate set forth by the gods, however, the events that occur between the pages of Oedipus the King do not create an unbiased judgement of the nature of the gods. .
There are several important instances throughout the play that should be remembered when arriving at what the nature of the gods is. First, Oedipus, after being told by Creon that the death of King Laius was never investigated, delivered the punishment that meant for Laius's slayer. "I pray that the slayer wear his unblest life out evilly, as he is evil. And I pray may I suffer the same things which I have just called down upon others" (Sophocles, 82-83). This statement entitles Oedipus to suffer the same punishment as the unknown slayer. Also, Oedipus said that "Our health (with the gods help) shall be made certain - or our ruin" (Sophocles, 80). Oedipus wanted the help of the gods at the beginning. The nature of the gods is to answer such prayers, but not to force decisions onto the mortals. Oedipus continued to hound for answers even after Iocasta tried to persuade him to think otherwise.
