Land and Sea

The entirety of Oedipus the King is pervaded by both nautical and earthly imagery—often producing a direct dichotomy between the two—the purpose of which is to call into question the power of mortal will.

Oedipus is frequently likened to the helmsman of a ship, the crew of which is the Theban populace and the ship over which he reigns is the land of Thebes itself. The first instance in which Thebes is compared to a vessel is in the Priest’s first dialogue: “Our ship pitches wildly, cannot lift her head from the depths, the red waves of death…” (27-30) The chorus perpetuates Oedipus’ role as a helmsman after his fight with Creon: “You set our beloved land—storm-tossed, shattered—straight on course. Now again, good helmsman, set us through the storm!” (762-767)

If Oedipus is referred to the helmsman of Thebes, then who is the captain? One could possibly infer that the implication is that Apollo is the captain, as he is the one that is ultimately in control of the Thebans’ plight. Prior to killing his father, Oedipus “abandoned Corinth, from that day on I gauged its landfall only by the stars, running, always running…” (876-878) Using the stars as his guide, Oedipus acts as a helmsman before ascending to the throne. A helmsman is generally considered to be in control of his craft, but when Oedipus left Corinth in order to escape his fate he was really fulfilling a prophecy. As a helmsman, his will should be exercised, but in this instance it is not.

The word ‘harbor’ has special significance throughout Oedipus the King. The phrase “fatal harbor” is first uttered by Tiresias and later echoed verbatim by Oedipus, the purpose of which is most likely to affirm both the role of fate as an unchanging guide and Tiresias as an all-seeing seer.

Sophocles subtly introduces the dichotomy between land and sea imagery in one line: “Drive the corruption from the land, don’t harbor it any longer, past all cure, don’t nurse it in your soil—root it out!” (109-111) The word “harbor” is meant to preface the nautical imagery used throughout the play, while Oedipus is simultaneously being labeled as “the corruption” in the soil, prefacing the earthly imagery that is equally as prominent. In this instance, Oedipus is being likened to a tree, and this happens in other instances as well.

Tiresias tells Oedipus that no mortal man “will ever be rooted from the earth as brutally as you.” (487-489) Later on, Oedipus is foretold to “tear himself from his native earth, not linger, curse the house with his own curse.” (1427) When Oedipus is talking to his children for the last time, he tells them that “Seeing nothing, children, knowing nothing, I became your father, I fathered you in the soil that gave you life.” (1626)