In Oedipus the King, Sophocles tells the story of a man from a foreign land who makes his way to the throne of the city of Thebes . As the play progresses, the audience learns that this foreign man, Oedipus, is actually a native Theban. Oedipus, as king, is faced with the task of freeing Thebes from the ferocious plague that is spreading and finding the individual responsible for it. The story reflects Greek politics and society and how these are intertwined with religion and gods. The show explores the importance of being a member of society and the contrast between life within the city walls and outside of them. Throughout Oedipus the King, the audience sees how being a member of society brings protection and unity while living outside the city walls. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay now, 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 child's cursed future, they ask Shepard to take the child out of the city into foreign territory. Since Thebes is a society that relies heavily on the guidance of the gods and the Oracles, Jocasta and Laius do not doubt that the fate the Oracles have predicted for their son is true; they willingly give up their child to save the city as well as themselves. Living within the city walls is of the utmost importance. The lands outside the city walls are where outcasts, criminals and unwanted children are sent. Civilization represents safety and protection from the gods while wilderness represents a land without God, without laws or safety. In Oedipus Rex, Thebes is characterized as a land watched over by the gods. People trust their king with their lives because those in power are believed to be closer to the gods and spirits. The people call upon Oedipus to save the city when misfortune befalls 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 have not taught you nothing, no skills, no extra knowledge, you still triumphed. A God was with you, so they say, and we believe it: you raised our lives. The priest tells Oedipus that he knows he is capable of achieving such extraordinary feats without anyone's help because he has a god with him. This interaction further shows the city's dependence on religion and the perceived correlation between powerful, upper-class people and deities. The city has the gods on its side while the land on the outskirts of the city walls is desolate and devoid of faith. Throughout the work, exile from society is presented as the ultimate punishment, comparable to death. All the characters in the story believe that the main conflicts of the story can be resolved by ridding the city of the person responsible. Laius' killer must be found, otherwise the plague will continue to ravage the city. When talking about the murder of the king, Creon states: "Expel corruption from the earth, do not harbor it anymore, beyond all care do not cultivate it in your land, eradicate it!". Creon urges Oedipus to realize that corrupt individuals cannot be cured in the city; the only way to restore order is for the killer to be driven from their land. Oedipus agrees with Creon, saying, “Banish man, or repay blood with blood. The murder unleashes the plague storm on the city.” Oedipus reaffirms the idea that exile is the same level of punishment as death. Inside the city walls,:.