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A dreadful prophecy motivates Theban sovereigns, King Laius and Queen Jocasta, to abandon their three day old infant, Oedipus. Laius is warned that he will be killed by his own son. His wife becomes pregnant, and delivers an infant son. Laius tells Jocasta to kill little Oedipus.

The order to kill one's own son sounds brutal. But in ancient Greece, the killing of one's father and of one's sovereign are heinous crimes. A much lesser crime is the killing of a child who's destined to grow up to be a law breaker.

Jocasta doesn't want to lose her husband. But neither does she want to kill her son. She gives the baby to her most trusted servant, a shepherd. The shepherd is supposed to kill Oedipus by leaving him alone on the mountain, and therefore exposed to the weather and the wildlife.

But the shepherd can't bring himself to carry out the deed either. He ends up giving Oedipus to a fellow shepherd, whose home is in Corinth. Upon his return to Corinth, the second shepherd gives Oedipus to the city's childless sovereigns, Corinthian King Polybus and Corinthian Queen Merope.

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Q: Why do Oedipus' parents abandon him?
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Related questions

Who are king polybus and queen merope?

King Polybos and Queen Merope are the king and queen of Corinth who take in Oedipus in Oedipus Rex after his parents abandon him.


How did Oedipus kill his father?

Oedipus ran into his father at a crossroads and was able to kill his father in combat. In this way, Oedipus fulfilled the prophecy that caused Oedipus's father to abandon him in the first place.


Where are Oedipus' parents from in 'Oedipus Rex'?

Thebes is the hometown of Oedipus' parents in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Oedipus is a native son of Thebes, the hometown of his biological parents. But he does not know that. He thinks of Thebes as a fresh start and as protection from a horrendous prophecy concerning his presumed hometown of Corinth and his presumed parents, Corinthian monarchs Polybus and Merope.


Who was Oedipus raised by?

Oedipus was raised by the King and Queen of Corinth...those were his "adoptive parents." His actual parents were King Laios and Queen Jocaste of Thebes. His original parents "executed" him after hearing the fate of their son Oedipus.


Who are Antigone's parents?

They are Oedipus and Iocasta.


Who were Oedipus' parents?

Biologically, Oedipus real parents are King Laius and Queen Jocasta. Non-biologically, King Polybus and his wife raised Oedipus in the city of Corinth. Luv April4Rain ♥ PS ~ Oedipus was unaware of whom his real parents were, creating the central subject of the story.


How did Oedipus get his name?

Oedipus got his name from his guarding parents. Oedipus means "swollen foot" because his original parents wanted to void a prophecy that he would kill his father and marry his mother. His parents stuck a rod through his legs then sent him to a mountain top to be left. His new parents gave the name Oedipus(swollen foot).


Why did Oedipus go tot Delphi when he was a young man?

Oedipus went to find out who his parents were after a intoxicated gentleman at a party mentioned that Polybus and Merope, his adoptive parents, were not his biological parents.


What are the names of Oedipus' presumed parents in 'Oedipus Rex'?

Polybus and Merope are the names of Oedipus' presumed parents in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Polybus and Merope are the childless royal couple of Corinth. They have no one to succeed them until a Corinthian shepherd presents them with the infant Oedipus. Oedipus is raised to think of the Corinthian monarchs as his biological parents and therefore grows up with a very mistaken self-image.


Who makes Oedipus question the identity of his parents in 'Oedipus Rex'?

An unnamed dinner guest is the person who makes Oedipus question his identity and that of his parents in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. -- 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, the guest drinks too much at a dinner in Corinth. He says that Oedipus is not really Corinthian King Polybus' son. Despite the fact that the man is drunk from too much wine, Oedipus is upset and begins to question who he really is and who his parents really are.


Whom does Oedipus assume his parents to be in 'Oedipus Rex'?

Polybus and Merope are the couple whom Oedipus assumes his parents to be in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Oedipus is raised as the only child and heir apparent of Corinthian monarchs Polybus and Merope. He feels confident of their love for him and believes that they have his best interests at heart. That the couple's love is strong makes it all the more shocking when Oedipus hears a rumor that Polybus and Merope are not his biological parents.


Why does King laius and queen jocasta abandon their son?

King Laius and Queen Jocasta abandon their child, Oedipus, because they are told a prophecy where their son is destined to kill his own father and marry his own mother.