In the ancient Greek tragedy "Oedipus Rex," the main character Oedipus unknowingly kills his father and marries his mother. The story begins with Oedipus, the King of Thebes, trying to solve the mystery of who killed his predecessor, King Laius. Oedipus is determined to find the killer and bring them to justice in order to lift a curse that has been placed on Thebes.
As the story unfolds, it is revealed that Oedipus himself is the killer. When Oedipus was a baby, his parents, King Laius and Queen Jocasta, learned from a prophecy that their son would one day kill Laius and marry Jocasta. In an attempt to prevent this from happening, Laius ordered his servant to abandon the infant Oedipus on a mountain to die.
However, Oedipus was rescued and eventually adopted by the King and Queen of Corinth. As he grew up, Oedipus became aware of the prophecy and believed that his real parents were the King and Queen of Corinth. In an effort to avoid fulfilling the prophecy, Oedipus left Corinth and set out on a journey.
As he was traveling, Oedipus came across a group of men at a crossroads. One of the men was King Laius, who was traveling with his servant. A disagreement arose and Oedipus killed all of the men, including Laius. Unknowingly, Oedipus had fulfilled the prophecy by killing his own father.
After the murder, Oedipus continued on his journey and eventually arrived in Thebes. There, he found the city suffering under a curse and offered to solve the mystery of who killed King Laius in order to lift the curse. As he investigates the murder, Oedipus eventually learns the truth about his own identity and realizes that he has unknowingly killed his own father and married his mother.
The story of Oedipus is a tragic tale of a man who, despite his best efforts, is unable to avoid fulfilling a prophecy that has been foretold. Oedipus' actions are driven by a desire to do what is right and to protect his loved ones, but ultimately, his actions lead to his own downfall and the destruction of his family.