Oedipus Rex

Antigone, Creon, Ismene, Jocasta, Oedipus, and Teiresiasare the names of the characters in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the above-mentioned characters make onstage appearances. There also are onstage appearances by the unnamed Corinthian messenger, priest of Zeus and Theban shepherd. Additionally, there are references to offstage events involving Eteocles, Laius, Merope, Polybus and Polyneices.

By 442 B.C.E. the play "Antigone" was written, and then by 429 B.C.E. the play "Oedipus Rex" was written.

Specifically, the plays are part of the tragic story of Theban King Oedipus made famous by Sophocles (c. 496 B.C.E. - c. 406 B.C.E.). In terms of the myth's unfolding, "Oedipus Rex" represents the first installment of the story. The second installment is contained in "Oedipus at Colonus," which was written shortly before the ancient Greek playwright's death. The third installment, which was released first, is "Antigone."

Jocasta's and Oedipus' accounts of the murders at the crossroads are examples of flashback in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 40 5B.C.E.).

Specifically, the term flashback describes the telling in the present time of an incident from an earlier time. The description fits Theban monarchs Oedipus and Jocasta swapping murderous crime stories at the Delphi-Daulia intersection in Phocis. It also may fit the reminiscences of the priest of Zeus and of the Corinthian and Theban shepherds, but in far more abbreviated form.

Teiresias does tell Oedipus the truth in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Teiresias the blind prophet announces that Theban King Oedipus is King Laius' killer, Oedipus behaves very badly upon hearing the charge. Teiresias then spells it out that Oedipus will be destroyed before the day's end by the knowledge of his true identity and of the truth behind his role model personal happiness and professional success.

Attributing false motives to his royal advisorand colleague are errors of judgment made by Oedipus in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Oedipus judges Teiresias the blind prophet and his brother-in-law Creon to be conspiring to overthrow him. In a way, it is understandable that he has such an extreme reaction since Teiresias accuses him of killing a king, a serious offense against gods and mortals. But at the same time, it shows flawed judgment given the fact that Oedipus knows from personal experience of Teiresias' integrity and Creon's cooperativeness.

Victim and consenting adult are the roles played by Laius and Jocasta in Oedipus' tragedy in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban monarchs Laius and Jocasta accept the widespread ancient Greek notion that it is far better for a defenseless baby to be killed than to grow up and possibly fulfill a dreadful prophecy of killing one's father and king and marrying one's mother. Oedipus survives and as an adult kills an older version of himself and marries a woman old enough to be his mother. Laius thereby becomes Oedipus' victim and Jocasta his consenting partner in marriage and albeit unknowingly to incest.

It is Oedipus who as protagonist and antagonist begins "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the prologue serves to introduce the protagonist and the problem to be solved. Theban King Oedipus is the protagonist as the main character around whom all action centers and as the doer of great deeds. At the same time, he is the antagonist because he is his own worse enemy.

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.

That the play is meant to be performed is the reason why the audience is important for the understanding of the meaning of "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, a range of audiences can be drawn into a performance of the play. It helps to be familiar with the life and times of Theban King Oedipus. But anyone will be moved by the dramatic irony of events and words have greater meaning that what characters assume them to have.

Elementary school aged is the age of Oedipus' daughters in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, disgraced Theban King Oedipus is worried about what will happen to his young daughters, the sister Princesses Antigone and Ismene. His daughters make no onstage comments. Oedipus needs to explain things, which he does in the way of speaking to children of elementary school age.

It is over groundless charges of treasonous conspiracythat Creon has his principal argument with Oedipus in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Oedipus groundlessly charges his brother-in-law and royal colleague, Creon, with conspiring to grab royal powers for himself and Thebes' royal advisor, Teiresias the blind prophet. Creon defends himself in a spirited but reasoned and respectful fashion. He insists that he prefers not to be supreme ruler of Thebes and that what he says and does is above board and can be verified.

What happens to Jocasta, Laius Oedipus are the primary sources of fear and pity in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban monarchs Jocasta, Laius and Oedipus are given fearful fates just because their ancestors are on a divine hate list. They understandably attempt to keep their unenviable fates from being realized. They fight an uphill battle against the relentless Furies of fate. Their destinies inspire fear, their efforts courage and their sufferings pity.

Fifty-something may be Creon's age in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Creon is older than King Oedipus, his nephew and brother-in-law. But he probably is younger than Queen Jocasta, his sister and Oedipus' wife. Oedipus most likely is in his forties and perhaps about 10 years younger than Creon and about 12 years younger than Jocasta.

Oedipus of Colonus kills a stranger who subsequently turns out to be his father and sovereign, Theban King Laius, in the play "Oedipus Rex."

Although not originally written as such, this play is considered the first of three dramas in the Theban trilogy by Colonus-born Athenian playwright Sophocles (496 B.C.E. - 406 B.C.E.). The second drama is "Oedipus at Colonus," in which Oedipus dies a natural death after a humiliating and miserable exile. Just before the beginning of the third drama, "Antigone," Oedipus' sons, Theban Kings Eteocles and Polyneices, kill each other on the battlefield outside their hometown of Thebes.

That there is one onstage location at which the action takes place within one 24-hour period is the connection between the unities of time, place and action in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the area outside the main entrance to the Theban royal palace is the one location at which all onstage action takes place. The action includes offstage events and past time periods that are revealed to the audience by ways of conversations between the characters, the chorus' commentary and the announcements of messengers and servants. All onstage action happens within the 24-hour period that constitutes the last day in the royal rule of Theban King Oedipus.

Yes, Oedipus becomes King of Thebes after stopping the terrorism of the Sphinx. The monster forces all those entering and leaving the city to answer a seemingly unanswerable question. Before Oedipus, no one knows the answer. No answer or a wrong answer means becoming the Sphinx's next meal.

Oedipus alone figures out the answer as a human being. Specifically, it's a human in the crawling baby stage that crawls on fours in the morning [of life], a healthy adult that goes about on twos in the afternoon, and an elderly person being said to go around on threes what with the use of a cane in the evening [of life].

The Sphinx is so taken aback by Oedipus' unexpected victory that she throws herself over a cliff. The entire city welcomes Oedipus inside. Everyone is happy to introduce him to Jocasta, their beautiful and recently-widowed queen. So Oedipus quickly becomes the Queen's husband and the city's King.

That Creon's son will die, that Creon's people will hate him and that Creon's household will be one of mourning and regretare Teiresias' prophecies in the play "Antigone" by ancient Greek playwright Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, in Episode 4, Teiresias the blind prophet explains that the outcome of the recent battle over the crown of Thebes continues to affect parents of sons who as allies of the invading Argives are left above ground instead of being accorded the divine guarantee of proper, Theban-style burials. The gods do not forgive or forget disrespect to and disobedience of their clearly expressed will regarding Thebes and Theban dead. So as with Thebes so goes Creon: The sorrow that goes around from the loss of a child and the disrespect to the dead comes around as the suicide of Creon's only remaining child and as his complete undoing personally and professionally.

Failure to rule harmoniously and subsequent deathby the other's sword are Oedipus' curses on his sons.

Specifically, Theban King Oedipus curses his own household with execution or exile for harboring King Laius' killer in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.). That curse is not carried out against his twin sons, Eteocles and Polyneices. But according to other sources, Oedipus curses his sons with nothing but conflict in the joint royal rule to which they are heirs. Additionally, he curses them with a fight to the death once the inability to rule together turns to war.

That he wants to go back home and that he needs to be listened to are the statements that Teiresias makes when he respectively arrives in "Oedipus Rex" and "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Oedipus aims for Teiresias the blind prophet's insights into King Laius' killer. Teiresias promptly asks to go back home since he will have to accuse Oedipus of being Laius' killer. He has similarly upsetting comments to make to Oedipus' royal successor, King Creon. He must let Creon know that the current pestilence is rooted in a recent royal edict that contradicts divine will and Theban traditions. He prepares for the difficult charges by insisting that he must be listened to.

To recognize what is right in front of one's face and to understand the course of past, present and future events are what the phrase "to see" means in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the recognition and the understanding are characteristics of the gods. They also are achievements of oracles and prophets. Understanding is not a human characteristic whereas recognition is inconsistently accessed by heroes and other mortals.