What inference can we make from Oedipus’s following line: “This polluting stain I will remove, not for some distant friend, but
for myself.” Oedipus’s motivation for finding Lauis’s murderer comes from a desire to fulfill Apollo’s prophecy. Oedipus’s motivation for finding Lauis’s murderer is self-serving. Oedipus wants to remove a stain from his shirt. Oedipus makes decisions based on the will of the gods.
The correct answer is Oedipus makes decisions based on the will of the gods.
Indeed, at this point in the plot, the Kingdom of Thebes has fallen to some kind of plague that pollutes the people and the fields, causing starvation. He has a prophet consult the Oracle of Apollo to see what can be done and the prophet comes back with an injunction, not a prophecy to find Laius’ killer.
Of course, Oedipus states that “finding Lauis’ murderer is self-serving” but in the sense that he is one with his people and that his people’s welfare is his own. The only unambiguous choice is that Oedipus makes decisions not based on scientific or criminal research but on his religious beliefs and these command that the will of the gods be obeyed at all times.
