How do people see Oedipus?

What is key to remember in analyzing this opening section of the play is the first glimpse Sophocles’ gives us of Oedipus’ deeper character. Sophocles starts the tragedy when Oedipus’ fortune is at its very height – he has solved the riddle and is a prosperous, respected king with wife and children. Note how many times in this early section of the play he is referred to as Oedipus the ‘great’.

People respect Oedipus so much and they consider him as their God. They obey him because he is the king and he is the only man who can save them from the plague. They glorify him because he is their only hope.