Oedipus: the riddle of the Sphinx as a metaphor for life Oedipus Rex (the King), written by Sophocles, is the tragic play that describes existence disastrous which Oedipus, an Athenian, is "destined" to resist. With a little help from the gods and Oedipus' "predestined" actions and decisions, an almost unthinkable misfortune unfolds. Athenian perfection may consist of intelligence, self-confidence, and a strong will. Oedipus, the embodiment of such perfection, and his tragedy are commonplace for Athenians. Ironically, the exact same characteristics that lead to the ominous discovery of Oedipus' fate: to kill his father and marry his mother. Oedipus's "destined" decisions trap anyone who means something to him in a quagmire of spiraling tragedy. Sophocles uses the riddle of the Sphinx as a metaphor for the three stages of Oedipus' intricate life, the three stages of human life, and to describe how each life-changing action or decision can affect other lives. As stated in Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama, the Sphinx poses the following conundrum to all who address her: "What goes on four legs in the morning, two at noon, and three in the evening?" (Joy and Kennedy, 1253) Many of Thebes' most intelligent citizens die as a result of incorrect answers. Using his superior discernment and diligence, Oedipus correctly answers the riddle and secures his reward by claiming the high seat of king of Thebes, along with queen Jocasta. As a child, man crawls on his hands and knees, which the Sphinx calls four legs. One depends exclusively on others for nourishment and well-being. Sophocles stages this particular part of the metaphor by telling us about the birth of Oedipus and... in the center of the paper... the circle of life and the enigma of the Sphinx. How many times can one look back on life and see the choices one makes, only to come to the realization that regardless of the decisions one makes about all of life's choices, most of humanity is paralleled in the same metaphor that Sophocles used to guide Oedipus' life? The riddle of the Sphinx is the destiny of every man, woman and child. While in real life the ending is not always so tragic, everyone carries out their own discovery of the truth, and that quest for discovery inevitably touches, and in some cases, radically changes the lives of significant and insignificant friends, family, and household members. acquaintances.Works CitedSophocles. "Oedipus the King." Literature: an introduction to fiction, poetry and drama. Ed. XJ Kennedy and Dana Gioia. 7th ed. New York: Longmann, 1999. 1902.