Oedipus Rex

It is by identifying and punishing the guilty in Laius' murder that Oedipus will help end the pestilence in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Thebes is being ravaged by a pestilence. Such events as pestilence and plague tend to be viewed as expressions of divine wrath over human commissions or omissions in ancient Greece. The Apolline oracle is consulted and says that the pestilence will end with the finding and punishing of the guilty in the murder of King Laius, King Oedipus' royal predecessor.

That she send for the sole eyewitness to Laius' murder is the favor that Oedipus asks of Jocasta in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Oedipus can end the pestilence ravaging Thebes only by identifying and punishing the guilty in the long unsolved murder of Laius, his royal predecessor and his wife's first husband. Based on information from Queen Jocasta about the crime's location, Oedipus fears that he is Laius' killer. At the same time, based on information about the number of killers, Oedipus suspects that he may not be that killer since his long ago crime is carried out alone. He therefore asks Jocasta if the sole survivor of the attack on Laius and his five-member escort party can be brought to the palace for questioning.

It is from the Corinthian messenger and the Theban shepherd that Oedipus knows the truth in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, it is true that King Oedipus is not the biological son of Corinthian monarchs Polybus and Merope. It is true that Oedipus is the killer of Theban King Laius, not of some random stranger, during a street brawl over the right of way at a fateful crossroads. But Oedipus does not know the first truth until he interviews the Corinthian messenger and the Theban shepherd. He does not know the second until the Theban shepherd confirms that Theban monarchs Laius and Jocasta are Oedipus' biological parents.

That he is practical personally and that he is proactive politically are the first personal and professional impressions of Oedipus in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Oedipus interacts directly with his people when they assemble outside the royal palace. He already knows their concerns about the pestilence even though the royal palace is not affected. He lets them know that he awaits information from the prestigious Delphic oracle about the cause of and solution to the pestilence.

"Exodus" is the what the final scene is called in the play "Antigone" by ancient Greek playwright Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the English word is a loan word from the ancient Greek. In ancient Greek, the word is written "ἔξοδος." The meaning of the word translates into English as "departure, expedition, procession." The play's final scene indeed is a departing procession which will culminate in Theban King Creon's exile.

It is an ode that the chorus sings at the conclusion of scene 1 in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, plays follow set rules in ancient Greece. One such rules pertains to structure. An ode separates each scene in the play. It therefore signifies the ending of one scene and the beginning of the next.

It is with horror and shock that the chorus reacts in the fourth choral ode to Oedipus' turn of fortune in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the chorus characterizes disgraced Theban King Oedipus as among the best, most favored and wisest of mortals. They reference his meteoric rise, which is followed by a crushing fall into personal and professional humiliation, loss and suffering. They suggest that no mortal can be happy in a god and fate dominated world where Oedipus, foremost among mortals, experiences such a wretched end to hitherto happy, successful life.

The main characters in 'Oedipus Rex' are Oedipus, Jocasta, Creon, and Teiresias. Oedipus is the King of Thebes. Theban Queen Jocasta is Oedipus' wife and mother. Theban King Creon is Oedipus' brother-in-law and uncle, and Jocasta's brother. He shares royal powers with Jocasta and Oedipus. Teiresias is a blind seer who uses his prophetic skills and talents for the well being of Thebes, by reconciling the actions of mortals with the will of the gods.

The Chorus may be considered among the main characters. It represents a grouping of Theban elders. One of its members is considered the Leader. The Chorus and the Leader switch back and forth in commenting on the play's action.

Minor characters are Antigone and Ismene, who are the daughters of Oedipus and Jocasta. They're the sisters of Eteocles and Polyneices, who are twins and remain nameless, grown sons in the play. They're the granddaughters of Theban King Laius, who is Jocasta's first husband and Oedipus' father.

Other minor characters remain nameless in the play. The first such character is the High Priest of Thebes. He's the second person to speak in the play's prologue. There's also the boy who guides Teiresias into his meeting with Oedipus.

There are other minor characters in the form of attendants and servants, who care for the royal family. One such servant is Oedipus' messenger. Another such servant, whom Jocasta particularly trusts, makes job changes back and forth between palace duties and shepherding. He's the sole survivor of the street brawl that leaves Laius and three others dead. He also is the acquaintance of another shepherd, who changes careers later in life to become a messenger for King Polybus and Queen Merope of Corinth.

That he will make every effort to end the pestilence before it ends Thebes is the promise that Oedipus makes to the priest and suppliants in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Oedipus knows that Thebes suffers from a pestilence of ailing livestock, dying children and failing crops. He learns that the pestilence will end with the identification and punishment of the guilty in King Laius' murder. He loves his city and its people. He promises that he will fight to death to find the guilty and end the pestilence.

It's unknown as to whether Theban King Oedipus was a living, breathing, real life hero. Some experts and specialists consider Oedipus to be a character who was made up, to prove a point and provide entertainment to ancient theater going audiences. A basis for such an opinion is the lack of the telling of the Oedipus story anywhere else.

But on the other hand, it indeed is possible that Oedipus really did exist. His story may not have been repeated, because of the heinousness of his offenses against the gods and against his fellow mortals. A basis for such an opinion is the birthplace of the story's most famous author. Sophocles [c. 496 B.C.E. - c. 406 B.C.E.] was born into a family who were longtime residents of Colonus. Colonus was reputed to be the final resting place of Oedipus.

Knowing Oedipus in Thebes and in Corinth is how the messenger knows what he does about the Theban King. Long ago, the messenger works as a shepherd in Thebes. Heis entrusted with Oedipus' care by a fellow shepherd who's supposed to leave the three day old baby to die. The messenger takes Oedipus back to Corinth with him. He gives the baby to the childless Corinthian monarchs, King Polybus and Queen Merope.

That's why the messenger knows that Oedipus is the adopted son of the Corinthian monarchs. That also is why he knows that a man who's fated to kill his father and marry his mother safely can go back to Corinth. And that's why he knows that Oedipus' real hometown is Thebes.

Birds, fiery gods and ships are metaphors that the priest uses in the beginning of "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the priest compares the Theban suppliants to fledgling birds. He makes the comparison of the pestilence to a fiery god. He notes that the city of Thebes will becomes an empty ship unless the pestilence soon is ended.

That he is ordered to share his information publicly is what happens when Creon returns from Delphi in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Oedipus asks Creon to consult with the Delphic oracle about how to end the pestilence. Creon comes back with a wreath on his head, a sign of good news. Oedipus demands that Creon share his news immediately in public instead of first in private inside the palace.