List at least three possible themes of the play and give examples of how each theme is presented.

FATE: Fate engineers the whole messed up situation. So many characters have heard oracles - Laius and Jocasta, Oedipus, Tiresias - and how they choose to deal with that shows something about them. Only Tiresias accepts fate as immovable. The others try to escape their fates.

FREE WILL: Despite realizing what is happening, that he is being revealed, Oedipus continues to pursue the truth fully. It shows that even in the fate of meaningless before fate, humans can pursue their small victories of being great, and that sometimes greatness comes from choosing the hard choice even when you see it will hurt you.

COMMUNITY: Oedipus, as king, is pushed onwards by his concern for his people, who are suffering under the plague. Additionally, the chorus has an effect on the story, helping talk him down after he accuses Creon of treason being one example. It is the community above all (both the chorus and the audience as community) who are most affected by the catharsis.