Oedipus Rex analysis

Fearing that his son will kill him, Laius binds Oedipus at the ankles and commands Jocasta to kill the young boy. However, Jocasta not one to murder her son enlists the help of the shepherd to kill him. As the play unfolds, it becomes evident that the shepherd gave Oedipus away to be raised by the messenger (a shepherd) in the play. The play builds the conflict by using the shepherds and the oracle to advance the central conflict. Jocasta gives Oedipus to the shepherd who instead chooses to spare Oedipus’ life meaning what was prophesied concerning the boy will happen. In another scene, the shepherd confirms the identity of Oedipus when he states “he was said to be the child of that man himself” (Sophocles 42) implying that Oedipus was the son of Laius.