Oedipus Rex

Oedipus

a tragic king of Thebes who unknowingly killed his father Laius and married his mother Jocasta

Dramatic Irony in Oedipus

happens because the audience knows the true identity of Oedipus, but he does not.

Choragos

leader of the chorus that can play a individual role in the play

He thinks himself above the gods leading to them not helping the people of Thebes.

Arrogance leads to gods displeasure

Aristotle's ideas of Oedipus

Considered Oedipus as the "perfect tragedy"

"At least first listen to what I have to say."

Creon

"Don't try to be in charge of everything. Your life has lost the power you once had."

Creon

"I do not know. And when I don't know something, I like to keep my mouth shut."

Creon

"If you think being stubborn and forgetting common sense is wise, then you're not thinking as you should."

Creon

"If you wish to hear the news in public, I'm prepared to speak. Or we could step inside."

Creon

"No, not if you think this through, as I do."

Creon

"That is something I could do, of course, but first I wish to know what the god says about what I should do."

Creon

"Then you'll see clearly, since only time can fully validate a man who's true. A bad man is exposed in just one day."

Creon

Aristotle's basic Ideas/characteristics of the hero:

He had 4 basic Ideas/characteristics of the hero.

"Why should a man whose life seems ruled by chance live in fear—a man who never looks ahead, who has no certain vision of his future? It's best to live haphazardly, as best one can."

Jocasta

"You must hear this man, and as you listen, decide for yourself what these prophecies, these solemn proclamations from the gods, amount to."

Jocasta

Mount Cithaeron represents dark because that is where he was left to die as a baby and where he is exiled. Thebes is light because that is where Oedipus was celebrated as a hero and where he lived his best life up to this point.

Light vs Dark

Theatre of Dionysus:

Major theatre in Athens, considered to be the world's first theatre

Dramatic Irony

Occurs when the reader or audience knows something that a character in a story or drama does not.

"Alas, how will I talk to him? How can I ask him to put his trust in me? Not long ago I treated him with such contempt."

Oedipus

"I will not be convinced I should not learn the whole truth of what these facts amount to."

Oedipus

"The worse for me! I may have just set myself under a dreadful curse without my knowledge!"

Oedipus

"Then I will start afresh, and once againshed light on darkness."

Oedipus

"Truth is not in you— for your ears, your mind, your eyes are blind!"

Oedipus

"Who? Who was he? Do you know? Can you tell me any details, ones you know for certain?"

Oedipus

"You should know I get the feeling you conspired in the act, and played your part, as much as you could do, short of killing him with your own hands."

Oedipus

Oedipus is a scapegoat because he suffers for his ancestor´s mistakes

One man as the scapegoat for all problems

"I pitied the baby, my King, And I thought that this man would take him far away To his own country. He saved him - but for what a fate! For if you are what this man says you are, No man living is more wretched than Oedipus."

Shepherd to Oedipus

Who wrote the play Oedipus Rex?

Sophocles

Introduction to Oedipus

Sophocles opens his play with a situation that the people of Athens could identify with a plague with no end in sight.

"Alas! How dreadful it can be to have wisdom when it brings no benefit to the man possessing it."

Teiresias

"I say that with your dearest family, unknown to you, you are living in disgrace. You have no idea how bad things are."

Teiresias

"It is not your fate to fall because of me. It's up to Apollo to make that happen. He will be enough."

Teiresias

"The truth within me makes me strong."

Teiresias

"Yet events will still unfold, for all my silence."

Teiresias

"You may be king, but I have the right to answer you—and I control that right, for I am not your slave."

Teiresias

"You think I am a fool, but to your parents, the ones who made you, I was wise enough."

Teiresias

Tiresias

The blind prophet of Thebes who revealed to Oedipus that Oedipus had murdered his father and married his mother. See's the future.

shepherd

The former servant of King Laius who took pity on the baby Oedipus and spared his life. The shepherd was also an eyewitness to the death of King Laius.

Literary tragic hero vs. Societal or Personal hero

The literary tragic hero is NOT the same as a societal or Personal hero; it is a Literary concept.

A tragic hero: (A tragic hero is a literary concept)

The main character that strives to achieve something and is ultimately defeated

Elements of Greek Chorus

There are 11 elements of Greek Chorus

Characteristics of a Greek Drama

There are 7 characteristics of a Greek Drama

Poetics

Title of Aristotle's book of literary theory

About Sophocles

☉496 - 406 B.C ☉grew up in a wealthy family in ATHENS, GREECE. ☉produced 123 plays (only seven survive today) ☉The age of Sophocles in Greece was a time when anything seemed possible through human effort and reason. ☉Towards the end of Sophocles' life, Athens raged a war against Sparta, their bitter rivals. ☉there also was a great plague in 430 B.C ☉His plays depict characters caught up in unsolvable dilemmas that test their faith in divine and human justice.

Dionysus

☉Dionysus: God of wine ✶ Son of Zeus ✶ A mortal ✶ raised by Satyrs (half men/half goats) ✶ Was murdered and dismembered, only then did Zeus turn him into a God.

Oedipus Rex Background

☉During the early years of the Peloponnesian War, when Oedipus Rex was produced, Athens suffered from political instability and a devastating plague .

Aspects of Human condition seen throughout the play:

☉Fate vs. Free will ☉nature of innocence and guilt ☉nature of moral responsibility ☉quest for identity and truth

The Festival of Dionysus:

☉Festival became play competition ☉The prize for best play: A GOAT! ✶ Tragedy: Goat song

Religious Festivals:

☉Festival of Dionysus ☉More like a week long party ☉People decided to act out the story of his life ☉The FIRST play ever ✶ Greek drama is born, and people continue to act out many plays.

Greek people are polytheistic

☉Polytheistic: Believe in many Gods. ☉One God is critical to the development of Oedipus ✶Dionysus: God of wine

4th Characteristic of a Greek Drama

4) Time of action is continuous

5th Element of Greek Chorus

5) Clarify psychology and emotions of characters

5th Characteristic of a Greek Drama

5) Occurs in a single place

6th Characteristic of a Greek Drama

6) Based on myth or history

6th Element of Greek Chorus

6) Introduce characters

7th Element of Greek Chorus

7) Question characters

7th Characteristic of a Greek Drama

7) The greeks would know exactly how each play would turn out because they had been hearing the stories from birth. Why go see something you've seen before?

8th Element of Greek Chorus

8) Point out significance of events as they occur

9th Element of Greek Chorus

9) Establish facts

"He was big—his hair was turning white. In shape he was not all that unlike you."

Jocasta

"I will suffer—that will be enough."

Jocasta

"Listen to me, and ease your mind with this— no human being has skill in prophecy. "

Jocasta

"Oh, you unhappy man! May you never find out who you really are!"

Jocasta

4th Element of Greek Chorus

4) Ideal spectator

1st Element of Greek Chorus

1) A group of dancers or singers

Aristotle's first Idea/characteristic of the hero:

1) Nobleness (but not perfection) ✶ How they are viewed and as part of who they are.

1st Characteristic of a Greek Drama

1) Requires considerable exposition (Background information)

10th Element of Greek Chorus

10) Cover passage of time

11th Element of Greek Chorus

11) Affirm outlook of society (Most important*)

2nd Element of Greek Chorus

2) Clarify feelings of characters

2nd Characteristic of a Greek Drama

2) Keeps death and violence off the stage

Aristotle's second Idea/characteristic of the hero:

2) Tragic Flaw: (Hamartia) ✶ Triggers tragedy, character flaw or bad judgement on tragic hero.

3rd Element of Greek Chorus

3) Clarify thoughts and experiences of characters

Aristotle's third Idea/characteristic of the hero:

3) The punishment often exceed the crime and is not wholly deserved. (Perpetia)

3rd Characteristic of a Greek Drama

3) Uses messengers to tell off-stage events

Aristotle's fourth Idea/characteristic of the hero:

4) Discovery/Recognition: Realizes his reversal was caused by something he did. (Anagnorisis)

"What is it, Oedipus? Why is your spirit so troubled?"

Jocasta

Creon

Brother of Jocasta

"But at last Teiresias is being guided here, our god-like prophet, in whom the truth resides more so than in all other men."

Chorus Leader ( Choragos )

"Creon is coming. He is just in time to plan and carry out what you propose. With you gone he's the only one who's left to act as guardian of Thebes."

Chorus Leader ( Choragos )

"Why has the queen rushed off, Oedipus, so full of grief? I fear a disastrous storm will soon break through her silence."

Chorus Leader ( Choragos )

"You should not accuse a friend of yours and thus dishonour him with a mere story which may not be true."

Chorus Leader ( Choragos )

Oedipus refuses to believe he is the killer

Denial of Truth/Refuse to Believe

Tragedy:

Drama whose main character strives to achieve something and is ultimately defeated

"Do not worry you will wed your mother. It's true that in their dreams a lot of men have slept with their own mothers, but someone who ignores all this bears life more easily."

Jocasta

"But still, your father's death is a great comfort to us."

Jocasta

"Why do you say that? What's worrying you?"

Jocasta

He thinks of himself a savior and that he can save the kingdom but he ends up being the reason for his downfall.

Pride leads to downfall

Jocasta

Queen of Thebes who unknowingly married her own son Oedipus

When Tiresias tells Oedipus he is the killer, he does not see it. The blind prophet recognizes the truth instead of the king with proper eyesight.

Truth vs Ignorance