Oedipus Rex

Oedipus Rex

Year: 1967

Runtime: 104 mins

Language: Italian

DramaMoving relationship storiesSurreal and thought-provoking visions of life and deathShow All…

Pasolini renders the classic tragedy with stark, lyrical intensity. Set against pre‑war Italy, a jealous father abandons his newborn son, who is rescued and raised as Oedipus by the king and queen of Corinth. An oracle foretells that he will kill his father and marry his mother; horrified, he flees, only to unknowingly slay his real father on the road, fulfilling the doomed prophecy.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Oedipus Rex (1967)

Trace every key event in Oedipus Rex (1967) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Birth in pre-war Italy

A son is born to a young couple in pre-war Italy. The child opens his eyes and is fed by his loving mother. The father, overwhelmed by jealousy, fears the baby will steal his wife's affection and sets a troubling fate in motion.

birth pre-war Italy
2

Desert abandonment

The father, consumed by jealousy, decides to abandon the infant in the desert. A wagon and armed men confront the scene, and the baby is left to die. The story then leaps to the ancient world as the setting shifts to Greece.

early infancy desert
3

Rescued and raised in Corinth

The child is rescued and brought to King Polybus and Queen Merope of Corinth, who are unable to have children of their own. They raise him as their son and name him Oedipus. He grows up believing Polybus and Merope are his real parents.

infancy Corinth
4

Oracle of Delphi forewarns fate

As a youth, Oedipus seeks guidance from the Oracle of Delphi. The oracle prophesies that he will kill his father and sleep with his mother. The response is chilling, and the oracle urges him to avoid contaminating others by returning home.

youth Delphi
5

Oedipus leaves Corinth

Disturbed by the prophecy, Oedipus decides not to return to Corinth. He wanders the desert, choosing directions at random, hoping to escape his supposed fate. The journey marks a turning point as he moves away from his perceived family.

on the road desert road
6

Confrontation at the crossroads

On the sacred road of Apollo, a wagon blocks the way and Laius is attacked. Oedipus kills Laius and the wounded soldier, leaving the scene in panic. A servant flees, unaware that the fated encounter has just begun.

during journey crossroads
7

Defeating the Sphinx and becoming king

Oedipus encounters the Sphinx and defeats it by solving its riddle. Grateful Thebans crown him king, and he marries Queen Jocasta, who is unaware that she is his birth mother. The city rejoices as the plague-like terror lifts.

after journey Thebes
8

Plague and search for the killer

A plague ravages Thebes, prompting Oedipus to seek a remedy. He dispatches his brother-in-law Creon to consult the Oracle for guidance. The council reveals that punishment for Laius' killer will end the plague.

plague period Thebes
9

Tiresias accuses Oedipus

The blind prophet Tiresias refuses to stay silent and suggests the truth will devastate both Oedipus and the city. Oedipus resents the accusation and banishes Tiresias, suspecting a plot against him by Creon. Tension rises as the investigation deepens.

during plague Thebes
10

Jocasta's revelations

Jocasta reveals that Laius was killed at the crossroads and implies the Oracle's prophecy may have misled them. She cautions Oedipus to consider alternate explanations and that the god's word may not be literal. Her revelations sow seeds of doubt.

revelation moment Thebes
11

The truth surfaces

The old shepherd who bore Oedipus to the desert confirms the tragic lineage. Oedipus realizes with horror that Laius and Jocasta are his birth parents. The prophecy he feared has come true in the most devastating way.

revelation moment Thebes
12

Jocasta's suicide and Oedipus blinds himself

Overcome by grief, Jocasta hangs herself after the truth is spoken aloud. Oedipus, in a crushing act of self-punishment, blinds himself with her brooches. The city mourns as he casts aside his vision for the life he has lived in ignorance.

aftermath of truth Thebes
13

Exile and wandering with Angelo

The scene shifts to modern Italy, where Oedipus and his companion Angelo roam from town to town playing the flute. They drift across landscapes, carrying the memory of the ancient curse with them. The journey is a search for some quiet meaning after catastrophe.

exile modern Italy
14

Return to the meadow of birth

Oedipus returns to the meadow where he first opened his eyes, seeking a fragile peace. There, surrounded by memory, he finds a form of rest after a life defined by fate and revelation. The story closes on a moment of threatened tranquility in a world rebuilt from tragedy.

ending meadow of birth

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 12:41

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Oedipus Rex Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Oedipus Rex

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