Oedipus

What does Tiresias reveal to Oedipus as a result of the king's angry accusation?

As a result of the king's angry accusations, Tiresias reveals to Oedipus that his parents are not his birth parents.

Where did Oedipus arrive as a result of this information?

As a result of this information, Oedipus arrived at the place where three roads meet.

What motivates Creon's entrance at the beginning of this episode?

At the beginning of the episode, Creon's entrance is motivated by the fact Oedipus charged him with a crime.

What happened at this place?

At this place, a man wouldn't move his carriage so Oedipus killed the man and the men with him.

How does Oedipus feel about Creon at this point?

At this point, Oedipus feels that Creon is being nice to him even though in the past, Oedipus was not nice to Creon.

How does Creon defend himself against Oedipus's accusation?

Creon defends himself against Oedipus's accusation by saying that Oedipus is not being wise by being stubborn and forgetting common sense.

What is dramatic irony?

Dramatic irony is in a story, when the audience understands what the character is saying but the other characters do not.

What is a tragic hero?

A hero who has a tragic flaw and suffers.

What is Oedipus's view of the role of Chance (sometimes translated as 'Fortune') in his life?

A man who lives in chance lives in fear.

What is his attitude toward the suppliants?

His attitude toward the suppliants is that he pities them.

According to Creon, what did Apollo say must be done in order to cure Thebes of its pollution?

According to Creon, Apollo says in order to cure Thebes's pollution they must punish the murderer of Laius, the previous king.

According to Creon, what were the circumstances of Laius's death?

According to Creon, the circumstances of Laius's death were he was killed by a gang of robbers who killed everyone there except one who ran.

Why does Jocasta ask Oedipus not to seek out the herdsman and then leave?

Jocasta asks Oedipus not to seek out the herdsman and then leave because she knows that she is Oedipus's mother.

What does Jocasta attempt to do? Is she successful?

Jocasta attempts to end the argument between Oedipus and Creon. Jocasta is successful.

How does Jocasta try to assure Oedipus that he not guilty of Laius' death?

Jocasta tries to assure Oedipus that he is not guilty of Laius' death by saying no humans has skill in prophecy and tells him the story of the prophecy Laius received.

How does Jocasta try to reassure Oedipus?

Jocasta tries to reassure Oedipus by saying Laius was destined to be killed by Jocasta's son.

What is Jocasta's reaction?

Jocasta's reaction is that it is good since Oedipus didn't kill his father.

What is Jocasta's view of prophecy?

Jocasta's view of prophecies is not to worry about them because what the gods want you to know they will be quite clear with.

Why does Oedipus accuse Creon of conspiracy?

Oedipus accuses Creon of conspiracy because he betrayed him.

What motive does Oedipus assign to the killer of Laius?

Oedipus assigns the motive of bribery, money, and power to the killer of Laius.

Oedipus joins in song with the Chorus, lamenting his fate. Whom does Oedipus blame for his sorrows?

Oedipus blames Apollo and the gods for his sorrows.

How does Oedipus characterize himself?

Oedipus characterizes himself as famous.

What does Oedipus fear?

Oedipus fears that the man was linked to Laius.

What does Oedipus intend to do? Why?

Oedipus intends to leave because of his pain.

How does Oedipus interpret Jocasta's emotional behavior?

Oedipus interprets Jocasta's emotional behavior because she is ashamed of him since she is lady.

Why is Oedipus frightened by the information given by Jocasta?

Oedipus is frightened by the information given by Jocasta because Laius was killed at the place where three roads meet and Oedipus killed a man at the place where three roads meet.

What is Oedipus resolved to do?

Oedipus is resolved to find the murderer of Laius and banish or kill him.

What does Oedipus threaten to do?

Oedipus threatens to punish Creon.

How does Oedipus view Tiresias' behavior?

Oedipus views Tiresias's behavior as he is sad.

Why did Oedipus go to the Oracle at Delphi and what was he told there?

Oedipus went to the Oracle of Delphi because he wanted to know his truth about his parents and he was told nothing except he will kill his father and marry his mother.

What is Oedipus's reaction to this news?

Oedipus's reaction to this news is that it is good since the prophecy 'didn't' come true.

Whom does the Chorus identify as the herdsman mentioned by the Messenger?

The Chorus identified a man in the fields as the herdsman mentioned by the Messenger.

In the first stanza the Chorus addresses the mountain Cithaeron on which Oedipus was exposed as a baby. In the second stanza the Chorus addresses Oedipus and speculates about the identity of his parents. Whom do they suggest as possible parents?

The Chorus suggests kings or one of the gods as possible parents of Oedipus.

What is the reaction of the Chorus to the advice of Apollo to Thebes?

The Chorus's reaction to the advice of Apollo to Thebes is that the bad times will end.

What is the Chorus's view of Tiresias' accusations against Oedipus?

The Chorus's view of Tiresias's accusations against Oedipus are he might be guilty of the crime.

By whom had the Herdsman been employed?

The Herdsman has been employed by Laius.

Why is the Herdsman reluctant to answer the questions of Oedipus and the Messenger?

The Herdsman is reluctant to answer the questions of Oedipus and the Messenger because what he has to say is terrible.

Summarize briefly the account of Oedipus's life given by the Chorus in the next two stanzas.

The account of Oedipus's life made by the Chorus is he went from being the best of the best, the one who defeated the Sphinx, the honored king of Thebes to a terrible story full of a troubled man.

What conditions in Thebes does the Chorus describe?

The conditions in Thebes that the Chorus describes are sickness, babies dying in the womb, and death.

What conditions in Thebes does the Priest describe?

The conditions in Thebes that the Priest describes are there is much disease and death.

What detail in Jocasta's story of Laius's death does Oedipus take comfort in?

The detail in Jocasta's story of Laius's death Oedipus takes comfort in is that Laius was killed by a band of thieves.

What further information does the Messenger give to Oedipus?

The further information that the Messenger gives Oedipus is that Polybus is not his father.

What future does Oedipus foresee for his two daughters?

The future Oedipus foresees for his two daughters is that they will never marry and never have children because of what Oedipus did.

What general comment on human life does the Chorus make based on the example of Oedipus?

The general comment on human life the Chorus makes based on the example of Oedipus is no human is ever blessed.

What general lesson does the Chorus draw from the example of Oedipus's life?

The general lesson that the Chorus draws from the example of Oedipus's life is you can't be happy without having pain.

What horrible fact with regard to Oedipus's marriage does the Chorus point out?

The horrible fact with regard to Oedipus's marriage that the Chorus points out is child and parent were married.

What important truth about his life does Creon point out to Oedipus?

The important truth about his life that Creon points out to Oedipus is that he lost the power he used to have.

Note the emphasis on sight and blindness in the dialogue between Oedipus and Tiresias. What irony is implicit in this emphasis?

The irony in this is Tiresias is blind.

Explain the irony of the arrival of the Messenger occurring just after Jocasta's prayer. Is the Messenger's news really the good news he thinks it is?

The irony of the arrival of the messenger is that Jocasta asked for the opposite. No its not.

Note the frequent equation of physical sight with knowledge throughout this scene and the rest of the play. What is the irony of this equation?

The irony of this equation is that Tiresias can see the situation even though he is blind but Oedipus, who is able to see, can not see the situation.

What news does the Second Messenger announce?

The news that the Second Messenger announces is that Jocasta killed herself.

After her prayer a Messenger arrives. What news does he deliver to Oedipus?

The news the Messenger delivers is that Oedipus's father died.

What happened to the one surviving witness to the killing of Laius?

The one surviving witness to the killing of Laius is a servant who works in the fields.

Jocasta appears at the beginning of this scene alone on stage. What prayer does she make and to whom?

The prayer she makes is that they will have some cleansing in their household and she makes this prayer to the Apollo.

What reasons does Oedipus give for his self-blinding?

The reasons Oedipus gives for his self-blinding are he couldn't look at his parents when he dies, he could not look at his children, and he could not look at his city.

What request does Oedipus make?

The request Oedipus makes is that Jocasta sends for the peasant.

What request does the Priest make of Oedipus?

The request that the Priest makes of Oedipus is to find help for the city.

What requests does Oedipus make of Creon?

The requests that Oedipus makes of Creon are to bury Jocasta, banish him, to not worry about his sons, but take care of his daughters.

What revelation does the Herdsman make?

The revelation that the Herdsman makes is that Oedipus is the baby that he took into the woods.

What step has Oedipus already taken to deal with the problem?

The step that Oedipus has already taken to deal with the problem is he sent his brother-in-law, Creon, to the shrine to try to learn what to do.

What superiority does Oedipus claim over Tiresias?

The superiority that Oedipus claims over Tiresias is that he is king.

How do the suppliants view Oedipus?

The suppliants view Oedipus as "first of men in what happens in this life and in our interactions with the gods".

What suspicion does Oedipus begin to harbor about Creon?

The suspicion that Oedipus begins to harbor about Creon is he is trying to steal the throne.

What is the symbolic significance of Oedipus's self-blinding?

The symbolic significance of Oedipus's self-blinding is he losing sight of everything he knows.

What wish does the Chorus express in the first stanza?

The wish that the Chorus makes in the first stanza is fate still finds them worthy.

What does Tiresias predict will happen to Oedipus?

Tiresias predicts that Oedipus will suffer.

What is Tiresias' reaction to Oedipus's request for help?

Tiresias's reaction to Oedipus's request for help is he knew it was coming.

Why do you agree/disagree with Oedipus?

Yes

In the beginning of the second stanza the Chorus says that hubris' 'arrogant disregard for the rights of others' produces the tyrant, without a doubt referring to Oedipus. In your opinion is Oedipus a tyrannical ruler? Is he guilty of hubris? Why?

Yes. Yes, because he is prideful and thinks about himself.