What impact does the play have on the audience's understanding of morality?

The correct answer emphasizes that the play challenges the audience to reflect on the complexities of justice and the consequences of actions. Throughout "Oedipus Rex," themes of fate, free will, and moral responsibility are intricately woven into the narrative. Oedipus’s journey reveals how his search for truth leads to devastating revelations and consequences, raising questions about the nature of justice in relation to human actions and the character’s accountability.

Instead of presenting a straightforward moral lesson, the play invites the audience to grapple with the ambiguity of morality and the often unpredictable outcomes of one’s decisions. This exploration encourages viewers to consider how justice is not only about punishment but also about understanding the broader implications of one’s choices within a complex world. It promotes deep contemplation on how moral dilemmas often do not have clear-cut answers, reflecting the nuanced nature of human experience.

The other responses tend to oversimplify the moral landscape of the play by suggesting rigid moral codes, concrete ethical guidelines, or the subjectivity of morality in a way that doesn't align with Sophocles' exploration of these themes. Instead, the play pushes the audience to appreciate the complicated interplay of fate, choice, and moral implications, making the second choice the most aligned with the piece’s thematic depth