El Complejo de Edipo

THE COMPLEX OF OEDIPUS

Oedipus and the Sphinx
Author: Gustave Moreau
Date: 1864
Location: Metropolitan Museum of Art
,New York

Oedipus at Colonus
Author: Fulchran-Jean
Date: 1798
 Location: Museum of art, 
Cleveland

MYTHOLOGY

Edipo is the son of Laius and Jocasta. According to the oracle, Laius would be killed by his son, who would marry his own mother. Laius tries to change his fate by leaving behind his son on the mountain Kithairon; however, a shepherd finds him and is finally raised by the king of Corinth, Polybius and his wife Merope, who adopts him and name him after them.

The young Oedipus hears rumors that the king and queen are not his parents and decides to consult the oracle at Delphi, where his fate is revealed Oedipus, believing that his parents were those who had raised him decides  not to return to Corinth. He starts his journey where, on the road to Thebes, Oedipus meets Laius, who was travelling to Delphi. They meet at a narrow path, the charioteer of Laius, Polyphontes, asks to head the path first, and drives the chariot over Oesdipus´s foot; as a result, Oedipus, with anger, kills Polyphontes and his own father, Laius.

In Thebes Oedipus married his mother. When Jocasta discovered that Oedipus was his son she committed suicide. Oedipus unable to bear the parricide blinded himself and left the city with his daughter Antigone.

The child Oedipus
Author: Antoine-Denis Chaudet
Date: 1801
Location: Louvre Museum

Oedipus and Antigone at Colonus, sculpture
Author: Jean-Baptiste Hugues
Date: 1885
Location: Musée d’Orsay

MEANING

The meaning of this expression is that you can not escape from what is predicted by the oracle.

EXAMPLES