In Oedipus the King, Sophocles tells the story of a man from a foreign land who defends his way to the throne of the city ​​of Thebes. As the play progresses, the audience learns that this stranger, Oedipus, is actually a native Theban. Oedipus, as king, is faced with the task of ridding Thebes of the terrible, spreading plague and finding the individual responsible. The story reflects Greek politics and society and how these relate to religion and the gods. The play explores the importance of being a member of society and the contrast between life inside and outside the city walls. Throughout Oedipus The King, the audience sees how being a member of society comes with protection and unity while living outside the city walls. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essayAt the outset, the notions of civilization and wilderness and the divergence of these constructs are addressed at the birth of Oedipus. After Jocasta and Laius learn of their baby's cursed future, they ask the Shepard to take him out of town to a foreign land. As Thebes is a society that relies heavily on the advice of the gods and oracles, Jocasta and Laius have no doubt that the fate the oracles predicted for their son is true; they willingly abandon their baby to save the city as well as themselves. Living within the city walls is of the utmost importance. The territories outside the city walls are where the outcasts, criminals and unwanted infants are sent. Civilization represents safety and protection from the gods while the wilderness represents a godless land without laws or security. In Oedipus the King, Thebes is characterized as a land watched over by the gods. People entrust their lives to their king because it is believed that those in power are closer to gods and spirits. The people call on Oedipus to save the city when misfortune strikes them, not only because he is the king, but also because they feel he has a direct connection to God. When the plague hits the city, the priest proclaims to Oedipus: “We taught you nothing, no skills, no additional knowledge, you still triumphed. A God was with you, they say, and we believe it: you elevated our lives. The priest tells Oedipus that he knows he is capable of performing such incredible feats without anyone's help because he has a god with him. This interaction further shows the city's reliance on religion and the perceived correlation between powerful upper-class people and piety. The city has the gods on its side while the lands outside the city walls are desolate and lacking in faith. Throughout the play, exile from society is presented as the ultimate punishment, comparable to death. All the characters in the story believe that major conflicts in history can be resolved by ridding the town of the person responsible for them. Laius's murderer must be found, otherwise the plague will continue to wreak havoc in the city. Speaking of the king's murder, Creon says: "Drive corruption out of the earth, feed it no more, feed it not in your soil – uproot it!" » Creon urges Oedipus to understand that corrupt individuals cannot be healed in the city; the only way to restore order is to chase the murderer from his land. Oedipus agrees with Creon when he says, “Banish man, or repay blood with blood.” The murder unleashes a plague on the city. Oedipus reaffirms the idea :.