The Many Loves Of Oedipus Rex

Oedipus was cursed. Oedipus lost his eyes. Oedipus went into exile. Oedipus loved. A possible correlation. In Oedipus Rex, the great tragedy written by Sophocles, is littered with love. From the beginning of this tale, love has proved to end in despair. The original love of the story was between Laius and Jacosta, the love that created Oedipus. The love that created the monster that murdered his own father. The love Laius bore Jacosta, as represented by Oedipus, proves to be his death in the end. Love is weakness. The second love, was quite different, involving the love a mother has for her own child. Jacosta was forced into murdering her own son. The love she had for Oedipus prevented her from carrying out the action, causing Oedipus to live. This love shames Jacosta in the end, but saved her child's life. Love is strength. The third love, between Oedipus and Jacosta, leads to the demise of them both. This forbidden love between mother and son, unknowingly yes, undoubtedly ruins them both in the end. The love hurting Jacosta so much, she hangs herself. Love is weakness. Last is the fourth love, the love Oedipus holds for his two daughters. He feels deep remorse for having them being born into a family of sin. He begs Creon to protect them while he is in exile. The last love shows that through darkness and wrath, love can protect. Love is strength. The similarity between the loves that prove useful only involves the warmth and trust between child and parent. The fatal attractions between normal people with no real connection is where the weakness stems from. Yet from just these examples a conclusion is impossible. Love is a complex beast, giving both life and death, transforming into both a strength and a weakness. A labyrinth that must be traversed, not knowing the truth until the walls cease to form and the exit is all that remains. The question persists.