What does the shepherd reveal about Oedipus's past?

The shepherd's revelation that he was given Oedipus as a baby and knows his origins is pivotal to understanding Oedipus's tragic past and the unfolding of the story's central themes. This moment highlights the shepherd's role as a crucial link between Oedipus's royal lineage and his fate.

The shepherd had received Oedipus from Jocasta and Lauis, the king and queen of Thebes, after they received a prophecy that their son would kill his father and marry his mother. By revealing that he knows Oedipus's origins, he provides the crucial backstory that connects Oedipus to both his parents and the prophecy. This information sets the stage for Oedipus's ultimate realization of his true identity and the tragic fulfillment of the prophecy—elements that contribute greatly to the themes of fate, knowledge, and ignorance in the play.

Understanding this context underscores how critical the shepherd's knowledge is, as it deepens the tragic irony of Oedipus's situation. He has spent his life trying to avoid the fate foretold by the prophecy, only to be led to it unknowingly, making the shepherd's revelation a turning point in the narrative.