It is Done

            Oh, the horror! I cannot believe this, why oh why does it happen? I am the murderer of my dear father, the husband of my mother! Apollo,why must you do this to me? How did I not know all along? Do the gods hate me,if so then why?
            Do they hate me for the crimes I have committed, the people I have killed, and how I married my own mother? But why would that anger, it is their words that craft my fate. Perhaps it was all meant to be this way, but what if Jocasta had not sent me off?
          I cannot bear the pain, and I went into the palace to speak with my mother, but the only thing I found was her lifeless body with a noose around her neck. Her cheeks are cold, her eyes are still watery with tears. No longer could I bear the sight of anything, not the mother I married, not the people of Thebes that I failed. Not the light of day, for the it was the light of day that shined upon the truth, leading to my mothers death.
           I took the golden pins in Jocasta’s dress, and thrust them into each of my eyes over and over again. I would not let my self see the man I became, I would not let myself see Thebe’s shock concerning my true fate.
           To the mountains for me, I insisted. I must die on the same mountain that my horrid fate began. I will go there, no resources, no hope for survival. Some may say that me obliterating my eyes is not the proper punishment for Laius and Jocasta’s death, but it is more painful for me to live this way. This is the only proper way of me paying for the crimes I have committed, the people’s lives I have ruined. No one forgive me.

Detective Work

          A man entered my palace, stating that he was a messenger from Corinth. I was hesitant to listen to the words he tells me, perhaps my parents would have liked me to come back to their great city. If so, the prophecy would come true. But no, the messenger had shocking news. The first, that my father, Polybus, King of Corinth, is dead of natural causes. I can finally rest with both eyes closed, knowing that I could never kill my father. I felt a wave of confidence wash over me, there was no way the prophecy would come true, I was golden.
           But no, the messenger had more to tell me. After I rejoiced that the prophecies were fake, he revealed to me that Polybus and Merope, the“parents” I grew up to love are not in fact my real parents. I was enraged by this, how could this be? The people I’d grown up with my whole life were not my own blood? The drunk man at the banquet was right, I’m nothing but an orphan.
          After further investigation, my dear Jocasta begged me to stop persueng the matter. After telling her I would not simply end the investigation, she fled into the palace, screaming. She must have been feeling heavy emotional stress because of everything that was going on. I must admit,my head was in a bit of a swirl as well.
          Further on, I learn the fate of Jocasta’s child. Laius’shepherd could not be brought to killing the child, so he unbound its feet.Soon, another shepherd would be given the child. That shepherd decided not to slay it as well, so he took it to Corinth. The child was adopted by Polybus and Merope, so to be king of Corinth one day.

           That child is me.

          I had fled Corinth to get away from who I thought to be my parents, and on the road away from Corinth, I had murdered my real father. How had I not seen this before? Was my mind within a fog, or was I not meant to know this? I may not really be who I think I am.

Nearly There

           My wife calms my confusion with her sweet words, musing that prophecies never come true, that Tiresias is wrong. She tells the tale of years past, when she and Laius bore a child. Their kin was prophesied to slay Laius and wed Jocasta, surely a demon child. Further on I question Laius’ death, and she tells me the place of his murder.  I am in both shock and confusion, the place of his murder is eerily familiar. Recalling a group of men I killed in the same very spot some years ago. Could it be? Was I in fact Laius’ killer, the long King’s blood on my hands? But if I am, then I am the very cause for Thebes’ suffering!

           I needed to justify that I was the killer, just to make sure. The only man to survive the attack on Laius is a mere shepherd, and I called for him.

I'm The Enemy

          I encountered Creon, the man I used to trust, the man I used to consider my brother. He begged for mercy at my feet;  the pitiful man thinks he can persuade me towards his cause. But I am far too intelligent to be caught being fooled by such a traitor. “No,  a  mind which sees things clearly, as I do,would never turn traitor.” He whimpered.

          I want the man dead, in the ground; a justified death, unlike those of Thebes’ citizens.  Although, what if he is the cause for Thebes’suffering? Then, by my word he would not die; he would live the rest of his life in suffering! But my wife, and his sister, Jocasta came to defend him. The claims she makes, that he is loyal because of petty oaths to the Gods. I am confused.

         Even the people are questioning me. What have I done for this city to turn against me?

Traitor Amongst Us

          Tiresias, a man who seemed, as he could be trusted, has turned his back on the truth. The blind, feeble  man came to me seeking to share information, yet hesitated to do so. I was forced to prod him for information, the man was lucky it did not come to blows. He finally revealed the problem, stating that I was the cause of Thebes’ plague. The old man must be pulling my leg. I am the King of Thebes, their savior. They crawl to me for help; I solved the Sphinxes riddle and saved the city from sure destruction. So how could I ever be the cause for its demise?
            And Creon, the man I would have trusted with my life. This information was to be held by a strong, honorable man; I failed by giving him this task. He has been plotting my demise! Any fool would know at this point that he and Tiresias are working to over throw me and to take Thebes into their hands. I should have never trusted him; I don’t even consider him as my brother any more.

The Task At Hand

          My brother-in-law, whom I trust dearly, Creon, has returned to Thebes with valuable information. I hoped that the clues that Creon bore would aide in my investigation, they did not disappoint. He stated that the reason for this plague, so harshly tearing Thebes apart, is that the murder of Thebes former  King, Laius, is going unnoticed in the city streets. 

          My dear brother also said, “It is to his death that Apollo’s command clearly refers. We must punish who killed him – whoever they may be.” I agree on all terms, the man should be punished, severely. The man does not deserve to die, but to live in suffering and disability for the rest of his life. I have made it my mission to solve Laius’ murder, and avenge his death. I have called for one of Apollo’s prophets, Tiresias. Hopefully his words will help us in our time of need.

They Need Me

          Today my people of Thebes called for my aide; a plague has struck them harshly. The skies are dim and thunder claps. The bodies of poor Theban souls lay astray on the ground, the life sucked from their bodies, now hollow. I know what to do to stop this disaster, and I have sent my brother-in-law, Creon, to gather information on the cause of the city’s pain.

         The local priests, harbingers of Apollo’s word, begged me for my help. I have no choice but to return this city to its previously peaceful state.