Answer:
The people of Thebes viewed Oedipus as their rightful king, capable of saving them through any obstacle like he did by destroying the Sphinx. He then implored him to help bring the fate of Thebes back from the bad and help raise and improve the condition of the people.
Explanation:
The speech of the priest in the beginning of the play "Oedipus the King" reveals how the people of Thebes were indebted and happy to have Oedipus as their King. He had saved them from the curse of the Sphinx and had helped them get through many obstacles.
But, the priest also added that he should help "Restore our city, so that it stands secure." He laments how the city had been besieged with extreme poverty and told the king about the city that had been "shaken—she cannot raise her head above the depths of so much surging death. Disease infects fruit blossoms in our land, disease infects our herds of grazing cattle, makes women in labor lose their children". He implored the king to
"Be that same man today. If you’re to rule
as you are doing now, it’s better to be king
in a land of men than in a desert.
An empty ship or city wall is nothing
if no men share your life together there."
