Oedipus The King, aka

Oedipus Rex

Sophocles•496-406 BC

•Most awarded playwright of ancient Athens

•Wrote 120 Playso Only 7 complete

plays existo Fragments of others

Theban Plays•Cycle of three plays

o Oedipus The Kingo Oedipus at Colonus o Antigone

•Not performed together

•Written over 35+ years apart

History of Greek Theater

• Great change during Sophocles's time

• Changes in structureo Only choruso Two actors --> three actors

• Greater character developmento Characters more dimensionalo Audience could relate to themo Conflict between characters

Roles in Greek Theater• Chorus

o Provides background, reflects on actions, anticipates future actions

o Represents citizens, morals & valueso Strophe (movement across stage from right

to left) and antistrophe (reaction to strophe which moves left to right)

• Tragic Heroo High social standingo Tragic flaw

• Other Characterso Speak in order of ranko Only three characters onstage

Goal of Greek Theater

•Catharsiso Goal of tragedy is the purging of

tragic flaw in hero of high station and superior values

o Audience identifies with the flaw and is emotionally connected with character’s demise

Structure of Greek TragedyI. Prologue-background info before chorusII. Parodos-entrance song sung by chorus III. Episodes/Scenes-main action in playIV. Odes-song reflecting events; weaves plot together-performed by Choragos and ChorusV. Paean-a prayer of thanksgiving to honour Dionysus VI. Exodos-sung by chorus as it exits; offers words of wisdom

Major Themes in Oedipus The King

• Fateo Are we victims of fate?o Do we control our destiny?

• State of Controlo Government & Politicso Roles of leaders

• Sight & Blindnesso What do we see? What don’t we see? o What do we want to see? Why?

Characters

• The Chorus• Oedipus The King• Queen Jacosta• Creon• Antigone & Ismene (daughters)• Tiresias the Seer• Laius (dead; not in play) • Polybus & Merope (not in play)• Oracle at Delphi (not in play)

Before the Play…

•Queen Jacosta & King Laius of Thebes o Fortold of son’s future by Oracle

of Delphi o Bind child’s feet in ropeo Ask servant to kill him (but he

doesn’t)o Child is found and raised as King

Polybus’s son o Oedipus means “Swollen Feet”

Before the Play…

•Oedipus (Adult)o Hears rumors about lineageo Asks Oracle about parentso Oracle tells him that he will:

"Mate with [his] own mother, and shed/ With [his] own hands the blood of [his] own sire.”

o Leaves because he does not want this to happen (he believed Polybus and Merope were his birth parents)

Before the Play…

•On the way to Thebes Oedipus encounters Laiuso Argument over right of way in

chariotso Oedipus’s pride leads him to kill

Laius and his meno Part of prophecy fulfilled because

Laius was his biological father

Before the Play…

• Thebes blocked by Sphinx

• Oedipus solves riddle of the Sphinx: "What is the creature that walks on four legs in

the morning, two legs at noon and three in the evening?”

• Reward is kingship and marriage to Queen Jocasta

• Second part of prophecy fulfilled

The Start of the Play

• Many years later• Oedipus and Jacosta Have four

children: o Two Sons (Polynices &Eteocles)o Daughters (Antigone & Ismene)

• Plague in Thebes due to Laius’s death

• Oedipus has vowed to find Laius’s murderer and exile him (unaware that HE murdered Laius)