Oedipus Rex by Sophocles (pg. 37-77)
Summary: After accusing Tiresias, the prophet, of conspiring with his brother-in-law Creon against Oedipus, Oedipus then confronts Creon and accuses him of treachery, and tells him he wants him dead. However, after another heated argument, Oedipus speaks to his wife Jocasta, and realizes that his prophecy and that of King Laius coincided. It was said that King Laius was “fated to be killed by a child conceived by him and [Queen Jocasta]” (45). Also, it was said that Oedipus would ultimately kill his father and marry his mother. After piecing the information together through the help of a servant and messenger, he realizes that he was placed on a mountain to die during infancy, but he was given to a shepherd and was ultimately adopted by King Polybus of Corinth. Upon realizing his destiny from the Delphic Oracle, Oedipus fled from Corinth in an attempt to avoid it. However, on the road, he encountered King Laius’ company, and in rage at the company’s rudeness, killed all but one messenger who escaped. After arriving at Thebes, he bests the Sphinx and is therefore granted permission to marry Jocasta and become king of Thebes. In this way, he killed his father and married his mother without even knowing it. However, after finding out about his unintentional atrocities, he puts out his eyes, as he can no longer bear to see himself.
Unfamiliar Vocabulary:
Prescribe: to state authoritatively or as a rule that should be carried out
Rack: to cause extreme physical or mental pain
Edict: an official order or proclamation
Besotted: strongly infatuated OR drunk
Imprecation: a curse
Critical Reflection:
As stated in a previous post, the structure of tragedies is generally based on the development and amplification of the protagonist’s tragic flaw. In Oedipus Rex, Oedipus’ tragic flaw is hubris, or excessive pride. However, this “pride” doesn’t refer to our typical conception of pride, but rather refers to an arrogant or conceited pride in oneself. In Oedipus’ case, his excessive pride reflects in his attempt to avoid his fate, as well as in his confidence in being able to save the city from the plague. Although the audience sees his departure from Corinth as admirable, the oracle never lies, and he is inevitably punished for his defiance and does in fact ultimately fulfill his prophecy.
This leads to the role of fate in the play. The idea of fate is an underlying theme throughout the play provided in the form of the Delphic Oracle, and foreshadows the final result and demise of the protagonist. Although this adds predictability to the play, this does not detract from its impact; rather, it enhances it. Because the audience is cued in early on and knows what to expect, it feels even more pity and regret when it sees Oedipus unknowingly take steps to fulfill its prophecy.
A major literary device used in Oedipus Rex is irony. It is used multiple times throughout the play, such as in his conversation with the blind prophet, Tiresias. Also, it is ironic when he condemns the murderer of Laius so vehemently, when in fact he was the murderer. Finally, perhaps the most obvious of examples of irony is the fact that he fulfilled his prophecy during his deliberate attempt to avoid doing so. Irony is used effectively in this tragedy, as it shows that the misfortune was not caused by cruel intentions; contrarily, Oedipus was portrayed as a good man cursed by a critical character flaw and a most unfortunate fate.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Oedipus Rex by Sophocles (pg. 1-36)
Oedipus Rex by Sophocles (pg. 1-36)
Summary: Oedipus Rex opens with an exchange between Oedipus and a priest, setting the scene of the play. Through this conversation, the reader, or in Sophocles' time, the audience immediately becomes aware of the dire state of the city of Thebes, as a plague is mercilessly sweeping through the town and killing copious amounts of citizens. Oedipus has sent his brother-in-law Creon to the Delphi Oracle to ask for Apollo's guidance. When Creon returns, he brings news saying that the city must "drive away the polluting stain" the city had harbored and avenge the murder of King Laius. Then, they engage in a conversation about the details of King Laius' murder, and Creon informs Oedipus (and consequently the reader) that King Laius was murdered on a trip by a band of robbers, and all but one messenger from the king's party were killed. Further investigation of the King's murder was impeded by the Sphinx tormenting of the citizens, which was considered to be the most urgent issue. Oedipus then publicly resolves to do all he can to catch the murderer. Upon suggestion by the "Chorus Leader", Oedipus summons Tiresias, a blind prophet, to tell him about the murderer. Tiresias first resolves to say nothing of the matter, but after Oedipus insists he speak out, he finally announces that Oedipus is the murderer. Oedipus refuses to believe this, and accuses Tiresias of conspiring with Creon against him. They get into a heated argument, which ends in Tiresias leaving the palace.
Unfamiliar Vocabulary:
supplicate: to ask or beg for something earnestly or humbly
augury: an omen
pithy: concise and forcefully expressive
Critical Reflection: This portion of the play serves perhaps primarily as an introduction and also as a means of character development. However, before discussing the specifics of the play, I find it fitting to first discuss some general background information about the time period in which it was written and popular thought at the time.
Oedipus Rex is a quintessential Greek tragedy, a form of theatrical literature that was widely popular during Sophocles’ time in Athens. In these Greek tragedies, the protagonist is general portrayed as a model citizen, seemingly flawless at first in all respects. In the beginning, a specific characteristic shortcoming, known as the protagonist’s tragic flaw, is at first almost undetectable, but as time goes on, it becomes more and more evident until it ultimately leads to the demise of the tragic hero. In Aristotle’s Poetics, he writes that the two main purposes of tragedies is to arouse pity and fear, and therefore to have a cathartic effect on the audience.
In Oedipus Rex, Sophocles uses a chorus effectively, a literary device that has largely been abandoned in modern literature. The chorus has numerous functions in Oedipus Rex. In the play, the chorus takes the role of the public, and interacts both directly with Oedipus and with the audience. However, the chorus also has the liberty of impunity, so it can say whatever it wishes without fear of punishment, much like the voice of a conscience or logic.
I also found the paradox between blindness and knowledge to be rather ironic in the case of Oedipus and Tiresias. Though Tiresias is physically blind, he can “see” clearer than Oedipus, who is blinded by his own pride. Oedipus presses Tiresias to tell him about the identity of the murderer, but when Tiresias finally tells him what he wanted to hear, he refuses to believe him, essentially out of denial.
Summary: Oedipus Rex opens with an exchange between Oedipus and a priest, setting the scene of the play. Through this conversation, the reader, or in Sophocles' time, the audience immediately becomes aware of the dire state of the city of Thebes, as a plague is mercilessly sweeping through the town and killing copious amounts of citizens. Oedipus has sent his brother-in-law Creon to the Delphi Oracle to ask for Apollo's guidance. When Creon returns, he brings news saying that the city must "drive away the polluting stain" the city had harbored and avenge the murder of King Laius. Then, they engage in a conversation about the details of King Laius' murder, and Creon informs Oedipus (and consequently the reader) that King Laius was murdered on a trip by a band of robbers, and all but one messenger from the king's party were killed. Further investigation of the King's murder was impeded by the Sphinx tormenting of the citizens, which was considered to be the most urgent issue. Oedipus then publicly resolves to do all he can to catch the murderer. Upon suggestion by the "Chorus Leader", Oedipus summons Tiresias, a blind prophet, to tell him about the murderer. Tiresias first resolves to say nothing of the matter, but after Oedipus insists he speak out, he finally announces that Oedipus is the murderer. Oedipus refuses to believe this, and accuses Tiresias of conspiring with Creon against him. They get into a heated argument, which ends in Tiresias leaving the palace.
Unfamiliar Vocabulary:
supplicate: to ask or beg for something earnestly or humbly
augury: an omen
pithy: concise and forcefully expressive
Critical Reflection: This portion of the play serves perhaps primarily as an introduction and also as a means of character development. However, before discussing the specifics of the play, I find it fitting to first discuss some general background information about the time period in which it was written and popular thought at the time.
Oedipus Rex is a quintessential Greek tragedy, a form of theatrical literature that was widely popular during Sophocles’ time in Athens. In these Greek tragedies, the protagonist is general portrayed as a model citizen, seemingly flawless at first in all respects. In the beginning, a specific characteristic shortcoming, known as the protagonist’s tragic flaw, is at first almost undetectable, but as time goes on, it becomes more and more evident until it ultimately leads to the demise of the tragic hero. In Aristotle’s Poetics, he writes that the two main purposes of tragedies is to arouse pity and fear, and therefore to have a cathartic effect on the audience.
In Oedipus Rex, Sophocles uses a chorus effectively, a literary device that has largely been abandoned in modern literature. The chorus has numerous functions in Oedipus Rex. In the play, the chorus takes the role of the public, and interacts both directly with Oedipus and with the audience. However, the chorus also has the liberty of impunity, so it can say whatever it wishes without fear of punishment, much like the voice of a conscience or logic.
I also found the paradox between blindness and knowledge to be rather ironic in the case of Oedipus and Tiresias. Though Tiresias is physically blind, he can “see” clearer than Oedipus, who is blinded by his own pride. Oedipus presses Tiresias to tell him about the identity of the murderer, but when Tiresias finally tells him what he wanted to hear, he refuses to believe him, essentially out of denial.
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