Study Guide Pgs. 1-28 Oedipus the King by Sophocles Translated by Bernard Knox Characters: * Oedipus- King of Thebes; saved the Thebans from the sphinx by solving the riddle. Son of Lauis and Jocasta, his name means “swollen footed”.
* Priest of Zeus- asks for Oedipus’s help on this plague in Thebes. * Creon- brother of Jocasta and he was sent by Oedipus to the oracle of Apollo to figure out a way to stop this plague. * Chorus- the citizens of Thebes * Tiresias- blind prophet, servant of Apollo. Blinded by Athena after witnessing her nude but was given the gift of prophecy.Interpreter of the strange plague gripping the city.
* Lauis- was supposedly killed by a band of robbers. Oedipus tries to find the killer of Lauis in order to stop the plague as said by the oracle. Setting: * Thebes- City in central Greece, site of one of the main legendary cycles of Greek mythology, the cycle of the House of Cadmus. Plot: The priest and citizens carried olive branches that have tufts of wool tied and lay them on the altar and sat in front of it.
They were praying to gods for the plague to be gone.Thebes is dying because there is blight on crops, ranging herds of cattle, and the women are unable to reproduce. The priest begs Oedipus to get rid of this plague because he was noble and wise since he was able to solve the riddle before, given by a Sphinx, and saved the city of Thebes. Oedipus then claims that he has already taken action to try and find a solution to this disease by sending Creon, his brother-in-law, to the prophetic oracle of Apollo to find out what actions should be taken to rid the plague. Therefore, as of then, Oedipus and the citizens of Thebes must wait for Creon’s return.
Read also essay about Zeus Actions in Prometheus Bound.When Oedipus asked Creon about the oracle, Creon stated that there is good news. “Here is what I was told by Apollo. He ordered us, in clear terms, to drive out the thing the defiles this land, which we, he says, have fed and cherished.
” must find the murderer of their previous king, Lauis, and banish or punish them. During the time Lauis was killed, the investigation of his death was dropped because of the situation with the Sphinx. Oedipus then decides continue the investigation that was dropped so that he can save this city once again.The chorus, the people representing the people of Thebes, prayed to the gods for help and protection so that their people wont suffer. Oedipus answers their prayer and makes a proclamation, “speaking as one who has no connection with this affair, nor with the murder” claiming that the person whom killed Lauis should speak up and confess of his sins so that he can escape indictment and will only be exiled.
However, if the people chose not to speak up and were covering up for a family or friend they will be banished and not spoken to or able to attend religious activities.He will be cursed and live a life in misery. Oedipus summoned Tiresias as suggested by Creon and also the chorus. When Oedipus asked Tiresias of whom the murderer is, Tiresias refuses to say anything and asks Oedipus to dismiss him.
Oedipus, being stubborn, keeps insisting that Tiresias should speak up about this matter so that the city of Thebes will once again be normal. Tiresias claims that although he is keeping it silent, the truth will reveal itself within time. However, Oedipus is angry that Tiresias keeps refusing to tell who the murderer of Lauis is and blames him of helping the murder.When Oedipus made those statements, Tiresias was enrage and reveals that the murderer of Lauis is Oedipus and that he needs to follow his proclamation. However, Oedipus doesn’t believe Tiresias, he believes that he is making up a story and that him and Creon are trying to get the throne to Thebes by making up this ridiculous lie.
Oedipus refuses to believe Tiresias’s words because he claims that when Thebes was in a state of danger, Tiresias didn’t come forward to solve the riddle, rather he was the one, with no help of gods or his prophecy skills, who solved it.Oedipus thinks that Creon and Tiresias are plotting a conspiracy and that Tiresias’s story is invalid. Nevertheless, Tiresias claims that it’s the truth and that he will regret his decisions. The chorus was confused and unable to decide whether the blind prophet was correct or that Oedipus wasn’t the murderer but because Oedipus had helped them in their time of need, they’ve decided to not judge him of guilty evil actions until proven upon. Personification: “My fearful heart is stretched on the rack and shudders in terror. Similes: “One after another you can see our people speed like winged birds, faster than irresistible fire, to the shore of evening, to death.
” Metaphor: “You have no power or truth. You are blind, your ears and mind as well as eyes. ” Foreshadowing: “You see straight now but then you will see darkness. You will scream aloud on that day; there is no place which shall not hear you, no part of Mount Cithaeron here which will not ring in echo, on that day when you know the truth about our wedding, that evil harbor into which you sailed before a fair wind. ” Side Notes/Definition:Zeus: the father of the Olympian gods and the supreme ruler of the pantheon of Greek gods.
Two temples of Athena: Athena is the offspring of Zeus (emerged fully grown directly from his forehead) and was revered as patron goddess by the inhabitants of many cities in central Greece. Apollo/Ismenus: according to poet Hesiod, Apollo was the son of Zeus and Leto, and brother of Artemis. One of the many shrines in Apollo’s honor was by the river Ismenus, which flowed near Thebes. Oracle of Apollo: as a god associated with light, intelligence, and justice, Apollo was frequently consulted as an oracle.His Pythian shrine, on the slopes of Mt.
Parnassus, was thought to be holy and reliable. Lord of Delos: Apollo was believed to have been born on the isolated island of Delos, in the Aegean Sea. Artemis: Shrines were located in the marketplace (agora) of the cities where worship of her was active. Far-shooting Apollo: a stock epithet for the god.
War-god: Ares, son of Zeus and Hera. God of plagues and pestilence and war. Thracian coasts: Thrace was a favorite hangout of Ares, located in northeastern Greece, east of present-day Macedonia.Dionysus: son of Zeus and Semele (Daughter of Cadmus). Associated with fertility and the abundance of nature and was often accompanied by wildly dancing and celebrating women. Agenor: Legendary king of Phoenicia, and the father of Cadmus, who was the source of the Theban line.
Mount Cithaeron: Mountain southwest of Thebes on the border between Attica and Boeotia. Delphi- Oracular shrine in central Greece, from which Apollo or his priests/priestesses often uttered mysterious and influential prophecies. Parnassus: Mountain in central Greece. Delphi was situated at its foot.
