That he would kill his father, the shepherd replies. The shepherd says the he didn't have the heart to kill the infant, so he took it to another country instead. Aghast, Oedipus finally sees the truth and runs screaming into the house. The messenger and the shepherd leave. The Chorus reflects on the fleeting nature of happiness and the sin of pride.
Nobody can escape fate.
An attendant enters from the palace with horrifying news. When Jocasta went into the palace, she went straight to her bedroom and slammed the door, tearing her hair with her fingers. Oedipus entered the palace, crying for a sword and searching for his wife. No servant answered, but he seemed to know instinctively where she was. He slammed his body against her bedroom doors and broke them open.