Oedipus Rex

Without going into too much detail: he killed his father and married his mother (he didn't know who they were at the time, and they didn't recognize him either). It took years for them to discover the truth ... well, Oedipus and his mother anyway; his father didn't discover anything, what with being dead and all.

When he found what he had done

He tore his eyes out, one by one,

A tragic end to a loyal son

Who loved his mother.

- Tom Lehrer, "Oedipus Rex"

Somewhere in his forties (40s) may be Oedipus' age when he is banished in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Oedipus is old enough to marry and become king when he moves to Thebes. By the time of the action of the play, he has two sons just about ready to succeed him. So Oedipus is probably in his twenties when he gets married and his sons are probably heading towards or in their twenties when Oedipus loses his wife, his sight, his reputation, his job and his home.

The interactions between Creon and Oedipus are examples of foil in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the term foil describes an opposite. The description fits the conversations that Theban King Oedipus has with Creon, his brother-in-law and royal colleague. For example, Oedipus is rash, rude and ruthless in charging Creon with treasonous conspiracy. Creon maintains a spirited but reasoned and respectful defense. He even refuses to stoop to payback when positions are reversed. Creon reigns over the disgraced Oedipus, whom he nevertheless treats kindly and approves a meeting with the latter's daughter.

Theban King Creon appears at the beginning of the third episode, as a logical connectionbetween that episode and the second episode of 'Antigone'. The third episode deals with the King's relationship with his son Haemon. It's the logical, natural progression from the second episode's ending with Antigone, Creon, and Ismene all purporting to know Haemon's feelings. For example, Creon claims that Haemon, as his son, undoubtedly wants better than the 'evil wife' that Antigone will make if allowed to live. He therefore takes up that point, and the notion that women are replaceable in men's emotions and responsibilities, in his interactions with Haemon in the third episode.

The third episode therefore allows Haemon the opportunity to present his feelings. It gives the audience the opportunity to see whether father, fianc

It is his daughter Antigone that convinces Oedipus to hear what Polyneices has to say in "Oedipus at Colonus" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, disgraced Theban King Oedipus dislikes his twin sons, Eteocles and Polyneices, for not helping him at the time of his overthrow for criminal acts and immoral behavior. He does not plan to meet with either one of them ever again. But he ends up being convinced to do so when his daughter, Princess Antigone, persuades him that Polyneices deserves an audience since Eteocles is denying his legitimate claim to the Theban throne.

Widowing, blinding, unemployment, and house arrest are what happens to Oedipus in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Oedipus' wife Jocasta hangs herself after finding out that her husband is also her son. Oedipus blinds himself for not having seen the facts before his very eyes: The man who looks an older version of himself and whom he kills is his father, the beautiful woman who is old enough to be his mother and whom he marries is indeed is mother. As a criminal and immoralist, Oedipus must give up the throne of Thebes. He loses his royal residence and his professional reputation. He ends up isolated and under house arrest until Creon, his brother-in-law and successor, can determine whether the gods seek exile or execution as fitting punishment for crimes against the gods and mortals.

That the choices made by his daughters and by his brother-in-law may make a difference in the course of their lives is what Oedipus says in the monologue at the end of "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, former Theban King Oedipus says that his killing his father and marrying his mother will make life difficult for his daughters, who also are his half-sisters. Because of Oedipus' criminal actions and immoral behavior, Princesses Antigone and Ismene may expect a miserable life of cruelty, isolation, poverty and spinsterhood. But with a protector such as their uncle, King Creon, and with the appropriate attitude and supportive behavior, they just may end up far happier and more fortunate than may be expected of the children of murder and incest.

When Theban King Creon orders that a proper burial be given to the body of Polyneices and that Antigone be released from her cave is the point at which the reversal occurs in the play "Antigone" by ancient Greek playwright Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the reversal in a play refers to the point at which the course of events are changed by the action being stopped in one direction and taking up in a completely opposite sense. In the play's final scene (exodus), Creon changes his mind about the edict that he issues at the play's beginning and that he insists upon enforcing through much of the play. Previously, Creon says that his nephew Polyneices, for having betrayed Thebes, must be left to the ravages of inclement weather and hungry birds and dogs and that his niece Antigone, for having buried her brother Polyneices, must be punished.

Once Creon realizes that a tragedy has been set in motion and that it will affect even his own wife and son, he moves from single-minded enforcement to abandonment of the provisions and consequences of his own edict. This reversal changes the course of events by ending the pollution that afflicts all Thebes and by respecting the will of the gods in terms of according burial to all Thebans, whether they die loyal or disloyal to their city.

What the reversal does not stop is the death of Antigone.

Theban King Laius is the true, biological father of the son, Theban King Oedipus, who ends up killing him.

Specifically, as a young man, Oedipus hears a rumor that King Polybus and Queen Merope of Corinth are his foster or adoptive parents instead of the biological parents that he believes them to be. The Delphic Oracle depresses and scares Oedipus even further by predicting his fate to kill his father and marry his mother.

In reponse, Oedipus decides not to return home to Corinth. Instead, he decides to flee to Thebes, his real hometown. On the way there, Oedipus kills a man who is old enough to be his father and whom he somewhat resembles. Once in Thebes, Oedipus soon marries the beautiful, recently widowed Theban Queen Jocasta, who is old enough to be his mother.

Ironically, the stranger that Oedipus kills and the stranger that Oedipus marries indeed are his respective father and mother.

It is by onstage reporting of offstage or past eventsthat the deaths of family members are dealt with in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, one of the rules of ancient Greek drama disallows the portrayal of death or violence onstage. But the telling of Theban King Oedipus' story involves three deaths and one act of violence. The information therefore is given through the conversations of the characters or by the information of messengers. For example, Queen Jocasta reveals the details of her husband King Laius' death. The Corinthian messenger shares information about the death of Corinthian King Polybus, King Oedipus' presumed father. A palace messenger tells of Jocasta's suicide and Oedipus' self-blinding.