answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

It is with a pestilence that the gods punish Thebes for harboring Laius' murderer in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, a pestilence is so threatening that Thebans fear life will end in their city before the pestilence does. It manifests itself through ailing livestock, dying children and failing crops. It turns out that its cause is the city's harboring Theban King Laius' murderer and its solution the city's punishing of the guilty for the long unsolved murder of the gods' earthly representative in Thebes.

User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: How do the gods punish Thebes for harboring Laius' murderer in 'Oedipus Rex'?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Continue Learning about Performing Arts

What is ironic about Oedipus calling Creon a murderer in 'Oedipus Rex'?

That he himself is a murderer is what is ironic about Oedipus calling Creon a murderer in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, all Thebes is looking for the murderer of Theban King Laius, King Oedipus' royal predecessor. Oedipus needs to make good on his promise to find and punish the guilty. But he starts off badly by making groundless accusations against Creon, his brother-in-law and royal colleague, and against Teiresias, his royal advisor, and Thebes' respected blind prophet.


What is Oedipus' second reason for wanting to bring the murderer to justice in 'Oedipus Rex'?

That the murderer may try to kill him too is Oedipus' second reason for wanting to bring the murderer to justice in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Oedipus must identify and punish the guilty in the unsolved murder of his royal predecessor, King Laius. He gives as his first reason that the Apolline oracle says that these two actions will end the current pestilence in Thebes. Additionally, Oedipus expresses the concern that he needs to find the king-killer before the latter finds him.


What does the prophet do when Oedipus asks him about the murderer in 'Oedipus Rex'?

A request to go back home, a reluctance to share, and a charge of royal guilt are what the prophet does when Oedipus asks him about the murderer in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Oedipus needs to identify and punish the killer of his royal predecessor, Laius. He requests the presence and counsel of Teiresias the blind prophet, advisor to every King of Thebes since the city's founding by Oedipus' ancestor, Cadmus. Teiresias does not appear to know why he is being summoned. When he finds out, Teiresias just wants to go back home since Oedipus is definitely not going to like what he will be told: the guilty person is Oedipus himself.


Who is the murderer Oedipus seeks in 'Oedipus Rex'?

He himself is the murderer sought by Oedipus in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Oedipus seeks to identify and punish the guilty in the murder of his royal predecessor, King Laius. The chorus speaks of a group of travellers as the rumored perpetrators at the time of the long-ago crime. But Teiresias the blind prophet tells Oedipus that he himself is the killer.


Is the act of Oedipus blinding himself is that weakness or strength?

You could say Oedipus blinds himself as a punishment. He said when he found Laius's jiller he would punish him, when it was found out that he himself was the murderer he punished himself.

Related questions

What is ironic about Oedipus calling Creon a murderer in 'Oedipus Rex'?

That he himself is a murderer is what is ironic about Oedipus calling Creon a murderer in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, all Thebes is looking for the murderer of Theban King Laius, King Oedipus' royal predecessor. Oedipus needs to make good on his promise to find and punish the guilty. But he starts off badly by making groundless accusations against Creon, his brother-in-law and royal colleague, and against Teiresias, his royal advisor, and Thebes' respected blind prophet.


What is Oedipus' second reason for wanting to bring the murderer to justice in 'Oedipus Rex'?

That the murderer may try to kill him too is Oedipus' second reason for wanting to bring the murderer to justice in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Oedipus must identify and punish the guilty in the unsolved murder of his royal predecessor, King Laius. He gives as his first reason that the Apolline oracle says that these two actions will end the current pestilence in Thebes. Additionally, Oedipus expresses the concern that he needs to find the king-killer before the latter finds him.


What does the prophet do when Oedipus asks him about the murderer in 'Oedipus Rex'?

A request to go back home, a reluctance to share, and a charge of royal guilt are what the prophet does when Oedipus asks him about the murderer in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Oedipus needs to identify and punish the killer of his royal predecessor, Laius. He requests the presence and counsel of Teiresias the blind prophet, advisor to every King of Thebes since the city's founding by Oedipus' ancestor, Cadmus. Teiresias does not appear to know why he is being summoned. When he finds out, Teiresias just wants to go back home since Oedipus is definitely not going to like what he will be told: the guilty person is Oedipus himself.


Who is the murderer Oedipus seeks in 'Oedipus Rex'?

He himself is the murderer sought by Oedipus in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Oedipus seeks to identify and punish the guilty in the murder of his royal predecessor, King Laius. The chorus speaks of a group of travellers as the rumored perpetrators at the time of the long-ago crime. But Teiresias the blind prophet tells Oedipus that he himself is the killer.


Is the act of Oedipus blinding himself is that weakness or strength?

You could say Oedipus blinds himself as a punishment. He said when he found Laius's jiller he would punish him, when it was found out that he himself was the murderer he punished himself.


What pledges does Oedipus make to the people of Thebes in 'Oedipus Rex'?

That he will find out the cause of and solution to the pestilence in Thebes and that he will identify and punish Laius' killer are the pledges made by Oedipus to the people of Thebes in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, the Apolline oracle says that the pestilence will end when the killer of Theban King Laius is identified and punished. Oedipus promises that he will do precisely that. He even goes so far as to add that the punishment of execution or exile will be applied to whomsoever has information but does not share and whomsoever helps or harbors the guilty.


What is the theory that Oedipus immediately develops about Laius' death in 'Oedipus Rex'?

That it is the work of thugs hired by Laius' enemies in Thebes is the theory that Oedipus immediately develops about Laius' death in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Oedipus has to find and punish the guilty in King Laius' murder. He hears what his brother-in-law and royal colleague Creon has to say. Creon identifies robbers on the basis of the sole surviving eyewitness to Laius' murder. Oedipus observes that money from Laius' enemies in Thebes is behind the crime and that the same can happen to him as current king of Thebes.


What is Thebes in 'Oedipus Rex'?

The setting of the play, Oedipus' hometown, the Sphinx's favorite dining establishment, and the location of the pestilence are what Thebes is in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Thebes is the birthplace of Theban monarchs Oedipus and Jocasta and of their four children. It also is the birthplace of Jocasta's first husband Laius and of her brother Creon. Additionally, it is the location of two punishments from the gods. The first divine punishment takes the shape of the Sphinx, who gets to ask a seemingly impossible riddle and then kill and eat all Thebans who are clueless as to the correct answer. The second divine punishment takes the shape of the pestilence which will kill all of Thebes if Oedipus does not identify and punish with execution or exile the guilty in Laius' murder.


What clue does Creon give about Laius' murder in 'Oedipus Rex'?

That the murder happens away from Thebes and that it is the act of robbers are clues that Creon gives about Laius' murder in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Oedipus has to identify and punish the guilty in the murder of his royal predecessor, King Laius. He looks to others for clues in his investigation. Creon, his brother-in-law and royal colleague, mentions that the murder does not take place in Thebes and that robbers bribed by Laius' enemies in Thebes are responsible for the crime.


Is Oedipus' cursing Laius' murderer an example of hamartia in 'Oedipus Rex'?

Yes, Theban King Oedipus' cursing Theban King Laius' murderer is an example of hamartia in 'Oedipus Rex'. The word 'hamartia' comes to us from Aristotle [384 B.C.E. - 322 B.C.E.]. The ancient Greek philosopher uses the word to refer to a 'flaw' or 'error' in a character or personality.The curse identifies Oedipus as an individual who's capable of rash actions and words. Specifically, Oedipus says that he will seek out and punish Laius' murderer even if the perpetrator is found within his own household. That may sound democratic and fair and impartial in the carrying out of justice. But it leaves no room for the role of good intentions, limits on human understanding, or mercy.


What is the cause of the plague that strikes Thebes when Oedipus is king in 'Oedipus Rex'?

Failure to identify and punish the guilty as well as to carry out cleansing rituals is the cause of the plague that strikes Thebes during Oedipus' kingship in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. -- 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, the cause of the plague is unknown to Thebans and the Theban monarchs. But the cause is determined by consulting the oracle at Apollo's shrine. Theban King Creon is told that lack of appropriate action in the aftermath of the unsolved murder of Theban King Laius is the cause.


What is the status of Oedipus in 'Oedipus Rex' and 'Oedipus at Colonus'?

From respected royal to blind prisoner and then from blind exile to lucky spirit is the Oedipus' respective status in "Oedipus Rex" and "Oedipus at Colonus" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Oedipus begins with the status of king. But by the end of the play, he loses it all to become a blind prisoner under house arrest in Thebes. Between the two plays, the gods punish Oedipus with exile. At the beginning of "Oedipus at Colonus" he moves as a blind exile to the area of Athens. But his status rises when he disappears as a luck bearing spirit.