Oedipus Rex Character List

Tiresias

Blind Prophet of Apollo; Counsels Oedious; ex-counselor of Odysseus; "seer" sees prophecies

Merope

Queen of Corinth; Foster-mother to Oedipus;Wife of Polybus

Jocasta

Queen of Thebes; Oedipus's Mom; Oedipus's Wife

Chorus

Theban Elders and their Leader; Commentator's on the story; good singers led by Choragus

Sphinx

1/3bird1/3human1/3 lion; sets plague on thebes; terrorizes with riddle

Laius

Dead King of Thebes; Original Husband of Jocasta; Father of Oedipus

Polybus

Foster-father of Oedipus; King of Corinth; Husband to Merope

Shephard

Giver of Oedipus to Polybus and Merope; Survivor of Oedipus's Attack on Laius; Previous Laius Servant; herder in nearby mountains;payed to kill Oedipus

Creon

Jocasta's Brother; Oedipus's trusted advisor; Uncle to Oedipus

Oedipus

King of Thebes; Husband of Jocasta; Son of Jocasta

Antigone and Ismene

Oedipus's Daughters; Oedipus's Sisters; young motherless girls Oedipus tells Creon to watch over

Palace Official

Tells Oedipus Jocasta dead;Palace Official; ...

Messenger of Corinth

Tells Oedipus parents aren't birthright; rats out other shephard; Tells Oedipus Polybus is dead

Apollo

god of prophecy; speaks through oracle of delphi; curses thebes