K r u t i  P a t e l

 

Entry One

 

         Many years ago, I had seen tears coming out of little Oedipus’ eyes. The tears were understandable due to the pin that was pierced through his ankles, bounding them together.

After hearing what the oracle had to say, King Laius had pushed a pin in Oedipus’ ankles and ordered his wife, Jocasta, to murder their child because of the repulsive fortune they were given. To say, I was furious would be an understatement. But, I had remained calm and tried to contain my rage. I would test this family, and see if they could pass this riddle. But, I had clearly seen Laius was so fearful of “fate,” he decided he would rather kill off his own flesh and blood than die from its hands.

         But, I knew Jocasta was not as disregarding in her emotions and feelings as her cherished husband was, so with that I set my plan in motion. Jocasta handed her nameless child to a shepherd. He was to take the child to a mountain and leave it there to die and rot until it was nothing more than lifeless dirt.

         Though, this widowed shepherd could not kill an innocent child, which I knew. The shepherd was a very kind man, having a family once upon a time. Having his own child snatched away from him, he could not end this child’s life before it even had begun. Feeling pity, he handed the little one over to a messenger of Corinth.

         Many years later, meaning now, I had decided it was time to begin my simple test for Oedipus. I temporarily took possession of a mortal, found the old shepherd, and fed him words to the point he was drunk heavy on guilt and wine.

         So prevailed over by guilt, the old shepherd, unknowingly blurted out Oedipus was not the true heir of King and Queen Polybius. This created and perpetuated talk among the Corinthians.

         By this time, I was certain Oedipus was on his way to question his “mother” and father” about this scandal. Though, this does make me wonder. Would Oedipus be reasonable and think things through or would he be impulsive as ever? Probably the latter…

Fate

 

 

Entry Two

 

         It was as malevolence and acrimony were Oedipus’ second nature. It had been clearly seen that Oedipus was on his way to his downfall. His anger did not only make him stoop so low that he would insolently kill a stranger, who so happened to be his father by birth.

He had refused to believe anything Tiresias had been saying. Oedipus went as far to mock the Gods, bragging how he had saved Thebes from the Sphinx (while the Gods had done nothing). It was clear as the sky on a beautiful day that Oedipus was, indeed an arrogant man, and not only short-tempered, whom was blinded by his own pride.

         I had witnessed how enraged Oedipus had become as Tiresias made accusations against him. His shoulders had tensed and his jaw was clenched tightly. His nostrils flared, while his face was flushed with the tint of a maroon rose. His left hand had also been balled up, tightly into a fist; so tight his knuckles had turned the color of the clouds. His other hand held onto his cane so firmly, it almost splintered into two pieces. His locks were wild, swinging everywhere, not even bothering to frame his face. With his eyebrows furrowed, he attacked Tiresias with words.

         I did not fail to notice how Tiresias had foully, outright refused to tell Oedipus of the answer to the murder case of King Laius.  I could not deny that I was not amused by the quarrel the pair had. Tiresias had grown angry as Oedipus insulted him greatly, but nevertheless, he returned the favor by having a few, colorful words of his own to say to Oedipus.

Watching Tiresias grow angry was much different from seeing Oedipus angry. Very different, indeed. But, it was immensely entertaining. It was bit odd to find out the whole situation seemed bizarre to me, while the atmosphere was oh so tense for the king, seer, and all the others.

         In the many years I had watched over Tiresias, I had never seen him so enraged. He had literally been shaking. The blind seer had always been calm, a bit crude, but calm.

It seemed as if Oedipus’ anger was rubbing off onto others.

Fate

 

Entry Three

 

         I could only watch with a small smile as Oedipus Rex limped away from his former kingdom. I was truly overjoyed to see that once again I had overcome everything. Even, the one they had called king fell to his feet before me.

Oedipus may have been given the title of the King of Thebes, but I was the true ruler. I was the one to conjure up and determine one’s true path in life. It was in my hand. Solely, in my hand…

         Refusal could not even come out of me, if I was asked to feel pity towards the blinded and discontented man that the son of Laius had become. Even as cruel and heartless I had meant to become, I could not become such a creature. And I would not. Even something as I, would be bound to have emotions.

         The once anger-filled and arrogant man had been given many opportunities. He was never bound by his “fate” for life. It was just what I had planned for a man such as him. It could have been changed. Oedipus could have changed his original shameful, planned-out life into one filled with mellowness and prosperity.

         I had given him multiple chances and many loopholes, yet he foolishly ignored them. If he had not gotten angry at the unknown stranger that was his father, he would not have been in this state; blinded and assigned to live in misery and darkness for eternity, or at least until I decided to put an end to his pain. His pride had blinded him.

         Oedipus had always been an angry fellow. He had become angry at his mother, Jocasta, the moment he had discovered that she knew of the horrid crime (and incest) that had taken place in the city of Thebes. Though, his rage had calmed down once he saw his beloved mother/wife had committed herself to death. His anger had turned into a raw mixture of pity, depression, and embarrassment.

         He had gotten so overwhelmed by his own emotions, he struck his lifeless mother’s pins directly into his own eyes, gauging them out, one by one. Then, he had proceeded onto declaring himself the most misery-filled man on the Earth. He had exiled his own self and passed his crown to Creon, Jocasta’s brother. Oedipus had always been one to be overly theatrical and create tons of drama.

         I could not deny that I had not played a significant part in Oedipus’ life, but in the end, when all was said and done, his own nature and character had been his downfall. His anger and pride were his tragic flaws. He had never stopped to think and be understanding, studying/observing factors from all angles. He had always been so…impulsive. Oedipus Rex owed his misery to himself.

Fate