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Oedipus Rex
More than 2,420 years old but still studied today, the play ‘Oedipus Rex’ tells a tragic tale of mistaken identities, inescapable fates, and horrific human misdeeds. Contributors typically compare and contrast the play’s characters, storytelling techniques, and subject matter with similar pieces of literature from the same and different settings and time periods.
3,240 Questions
Why does Antigone kill herself?
No explicit reason is given in the play 'Antigone'. But she was walled up in a dark, remote cave. She was cut off from Haemon, her cousin and husband-to-be; from Ismene, her sister and the only remaining member of her immediate family; and from Thebes, her hometown. The cave may have had acidic water, disgusting smells, and evil creatures such as snakes. She may not have had a dark-adapted eye. Or she may not have kept her sanity. Or she may not have liked the isolation from her own kind. Or she may have made up her mind to quicken her meeting with her loved ones in the underworld realm of the dead.
In the play 'Antigone', Theban King Oedipus is the husband and son of Queen Jocasta, who is the sister of subsequent Theban King Creon. He also is the son of Theban King Laius, whom he kills and succeeds to the throne of Thebes. He therefore is the descendant of Cadmus, the founder and first King of Thebes; and of Poseidon the sea god. Through his marriage, King Oedipus becomes the father of Antigone, Ismene, and the twins Eteocles and Polyneices. But he also is brother to his children, whose mother is his mother and his wife. The knowledge of his incest with his mother and of his murder of his father swiftly is followed by his loss of his kingdom, his sight, and his wife.
What does Creon suggest about Oedipus in 'Oedipus Rex'?
That he is an effective but controlling leader is what Creon suggests about Oedipus in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).
Specifically, Creon describes Theban King Oedipus in two telling instances. He indicates that he has everything he needs without the stress because his brother-in-law does everything well. But at the end, he mentions that his disgraced former royal colleague easily takes control and cannot get away with that any more.
How is 'Oedipus Rex' still relevant?
The play 'Oedipus Rex' still is relevant nowadays, because of the modern issues that it raises. For example, a main question is the extent to which individuals are responsible for their acts. In the play, Theban King Oedipus unknowingly kills his own father and sovereign, Theban King Laius. He then marries, and has children with, his own mother, Theban Queen Jocasta.
Readers and viewers of the play, and witnesses to events of the twentieth century, well may question Oedipus' character. It may be agreed that Oedipus tries to escape a horrendous fate and that he takes a life in order to save his own. But can he be said truly not to have known of his crimes, and does he do everything possible to avoid committing them?
Yes, he does.
Why does the drunken man's story bother Oedipus in 'Oedipus Rex'?
That the drunk says that Oedipus is adopted and that Oedipus loves and feels loved by his presumed parents are the reasons why his story bothers Oedipus in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).
Specifically, a drunk attends a banquet at the Corinthian royal palace. He reveals that Oedipus is not the biological son of Corinthian monarchs Polybus and Merope. This startles and upsets Oedipus, who believes himself to be the greatly loved son and heir apparent of his presumed parents.
What is symbolic about the way Oedipus chooses to mutilate himself?
He's seen his mother's Woohoo intimately. Would you mutilate your eyes too.
What is Apollo's temple where Oedipus comes in search of the truth in 'Oedipus Rex'?
Delphi is the location of the Apolline temple where Oedipus seeks the truth in the play "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. -- 405 B.C.E.).
Specifically, Apollo the sun god joins the ranks of Aphrodite the love goddess and Artemis the huntress to form three important defenders of the city of Thebes. His oracle therefore is consulted regarding important or problematic events. The most famous of the Apolline oracles is the one at Delphi.
Who helps Oedipus defeat the Sphinx in 'Oedipus Rex'?
No one overtly helps Oedipus defeat the Sphinx in the play "Oedipus Rex" by ancient Greek playwright Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).
Specifically, Oedipus runs away from Corinth because the Delphic Oracle says that he will kill his father and marry his mother. Oedipus therefore decides to cut all contact with his presumed parents, King Polybus and Queen Merope of Corinth, and to live out his life elsewhere. Somehow, he ends up at Thebes, which he can enter only if he solves the monstroux Sphinx's riddle. At the beginning of the play, it is explained that Oedipus is the best of humans and figures things out on his own.
Is the word 'magnitude' used in 'Oedipus Rex'?
It depends upon the particular edition whether or not the word "magnitude" may appear in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).
Specifically, the English translations often do not match up in lines or vocabulary. Some may be more or less imaginative or succinct than others in choosing from a variety of synonyms to ancient Greek words. The word "magnitude" needs to be used in the second half of the play, but may not be found depending upon the choices of the translator in question.
What riddle did Oedipus solve?
The riddle of the Sphinx which goes as follows:
What goes on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon, and on three legs in the evening?
Oedipus was able to answer the question correctly: Man.
Does Oedipus think that Teiresias is framing him for the murder of the previous king of Thebes?
Yes, Theban King Oedipus thinks that Teiresias the blind prophet is framing him for the murder of the previous king of Thebes. Oedipus thinks that he knows himself and his life very well. He knows of having committed a murder before arriving in Thebes. But it's unthinkable to him that the surly individual whom he kills in a street brawl over the right of way at a crossroads may have been a king. So he concludes that Teiresias is lying, for self advancement, in saying that the murderer of Theban King Laius is the current sovereign of Thebes.
Which of these values does Creon praise in his initial speech to the Chorus?
In Sophocles Antigone, Creon praises loyalty to the Theban monarchy. He says that the best value is for Thebans to respect the monarchy no matter who the legitimate ruler is.
How is Creon treating the body of Eteocles and why?
Creon is treating Eteocles body badly and does not want Antigone to bury him.
No!
Eteocles is the loyal prince in the eyes of Creon and so is honorably buried.
His brother Polyneices is the one treated badly.
Whom does Oedipus believe to be his enemy in 'Oedipus Rex'?
Creon, the gods and Teiresias are those whom Oedipus believes to be his enemies in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).
Specifically, Theban King Oedipus believes his brother-in-law Creon and his royal advisor Teiresias the blind prophet to be his enemies. He in fact charges them with being co-conspirators in trying to overthrow him. But by the end of the play, he makes more additions to his list of enemies. He observes that the gods and especially Apollo the god of prophecy are not his friends.
Why is 'Antigone' called a tragedy?
Because of the drastic consequences of the story's events. the play "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.) is called a tragedy.
Specifically, excepting Teiresias the blind prophet, Theban Princess Ismene, and Theban King Creon, every single one of the main characters dies. Additionally, there is the massive destruction of enemy and native life through the battle whose end is the beginning of the play. Similarly, there is the large-scale misery of Thebans in the aftermath of their own deliberately unburied dead. Finally, there is the individual heartbreak of Creon who loses everything that makes his life worth living.
Who solved the Sphinx's riddle in 'Oedipus Rex'?
Oedipus solved the Sphinx's riddle in the play Oedipus Rex ("Oedipus the King"). He alone understood that a people-killing Sphinx would pose an apparently unanswerable riddle about people.
How did Antigone overcome her hardships?
In the play 'Antigone', the main character of the same name experiences the loss of her twin brothers, Eteocles and Polyneices, in an armed struggle. She faces the challenge of burying her brother, on her own and against manmade laws. For she feels the pain of one brother being given the proper funeral of a loyal Theban dead, and the other being denied that god-given right. She has the heartbreak of seeing her betrothal to her first cousin Haemon ended, and of knowing that she won't live to enjoy the love of a husband or children. She knows the humiliation of shameful treatment from her sister Ismene, and from her uncle, Theban King Creon. She passes from life to the cold darkness of a walled up, isolated cave. Ultimately, she overcomes these hardships, and more, by taking her own life. The play doesn't give much information over the imprisonment of Antigone other than to let readers know that she commits suicide by hanging herself with her own halter.
What was an example of the conflict between fate and free will in 'Oedipus the King'?
Oedipus defies the will of the gods by trying to avoid his fate. Ironically, what he does to avoid his fate only leads him to complete it. It is more of a paradox than a conflict.
Are there pictures of Antigone and Ismene?
There's a well known painting of Ismene. It's found on the side of a large, handled jar that dates back to about 560 B.C.E. The jar counts among the Louvre Museum's collection, in Paris, France.
Ismene has long, dark hair that's styled into twists that may be held in place by metal rings. Her face is shown in profile. She has large eyes and distinct eyebrows. She wears a series of armlets just below her right shoulder, which is gripped by the left hand of Tydeus. In his right hand, Tydeus readies his sword to kill Ismene. Tydeus is one of the six captains who support Ismene's brother Polyneices' rightful claim to the throne of Thebes against Ismene's other brother, Eteocles.
A copy of a photograph of the amphora may be found at one of two sites that relate to the play 'Seven Against Thebes' by Aeschylus [525/524 B.C.E.- 456/455 B.C.E.]. One is a site on Ismene: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ismene. The other is on her purported killer: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tydeus.
Whom does Romeo see at the window?
Romeo sees Juliet at the window in Shakespeare's play "Romeo and Juliet." They are professing their love for each other in the famous balcony scene, which is Act 2, Scene 2.
Why is Oedipus every man and every man potentially Oedipus in 'Oedipus Rex'?
That we all have inherent limits to self-knowledgeand that we take on trust critical information about ourselves are reasons why Oedipus is every man and every man is potentially Oedipus in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).
Specifically, Theban King Oedipus believes himself to be a certain way. He chooses and decides according to what he thinks to be true about himself and others. But he finds out that all his actions are not in his best interest because of his mistaken self-identity. His mistake is due to his accepting misrepresentations about a time when he is most dependent on and vulnerable to the information of others: the facts of his birth and parentage.
After he leaves Thebes, but before he gets to the Delphic Oracle, is when Theban King Laius is killed. He's described as having silver in his hair. So he may have been around 40 or 50 at the time. It may have been about 20 years after his wedding, since his killer is an adult. So it also may have been about 20 years before the action of the play 'Oedipus Rex'.
Who is responsible for Oedipus murdering his father and marrying his mother in 'Oedipus Rex'?
It is Apollo who is responsible for Oedipus murdering his father and marrying his mother according to Oedipus in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).
Specifically, Theban King Oedipus admits that he is killer ignorant of his victim's true identity. He concedes that he is an immoralist likewise ignorant of his wife's true identity. He does not intend his crime and immorality. Oedipus insists that his misdeeds result from divine meddling in human lives.
How do you overcome Oedipus complex and electra among children?
Most children outgrow this as they mature into teenagers.
