Oedipus Rex

Jocasta diesbefore Oedipus blinds himself in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.E.C.).

Specifically, Theban Queen Jocasta realizes first that Theban King Oedipus is not only her husband but also her son and the half-brother of their children. Incest is a blasphemous offense against the gods, and so Jocasta goes into the royal palace to kill herself. Shortly afterward, Oedipus realizes his true self-identity, goes into the palace, and finds Jocasta's body hanging from a noose made of the threads from her own robes.

Yes, there is a pestilence in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the play begins with Theban King Oedipus and all Thebes trying to figure out what causes and what ends the pestilence. Oedipus gets the news from the Delphic oracle on how to end the pestilence. By the end of the play, Oedipus knows that the pestilence will end even though he loses his friends, his home, his job and his sight in the process.

Apollo is the healer in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the characters and the chorus most often invoke Apollo. Apollo is the sun god as well as the god of prophecy and of healing. Fate, healing, light, prophecy and wisdom all play important parts in the lives of the characters, and particularly of the Theban monarchs.

In Storr's English translation*, there are at least three approaches to alliteration. One is Creon's line, 'Banishment, or the shedding blood for blood. This stain of blood makes shipwreck of our state'. Another example is Teiresias' line, 'Not Creon; thou thyself art thine own bane'.

*http://classics.mit.edu/Sophocles/oedipus.html

No, Oedipus does not deserve his fate in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, his fate is to kill his father and marry his mother. He does what he can to avoid offending mortals and blaspheming the gods. But he cannot escape the gods, who do not let up once they decide to pick on someone.

Yes, Oedipus is a tyrant in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the original title of the play is "OedipusTyrannus" in Greek. According to the ancient Greeks, a tyrant seizes power by illegal means. Oedipus becomes King of Thebes by killing Laius, his royal predecessor and own father, and by marrying Jocasta, Laius' widow and Oedipus' mother. Both actions that lead to his kingship are illegal.

That it keeps the victim immobilized is the reason for the binding of Oedipus' feet in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, a rod is run through both ankles of the infant Oedipus. It makes it easy for the baby to be tossed to higher terrain for exposure to ravaging weather and wildlife on the mountains outside Thebes. It makes it impossible for the baby to crawl away. It makes it inevitable that his survival will be uncomfortable since the permanent side effects are a shuffling gait and permanently scarred, swollen ankles.

Oedipus does not choose the spokesman of the group of suppliants in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the suppliants arrange altars outside the main entrance to the Theban royal palace. They bring garlands, offerings and suppliant sticks. A priest of Zeus heads and represents the group even before Theban King Oedipus exits from the palace.

Yes, Creon is exiled from Thebes according to some versions of the stories about the Theban royal family.

Specifically, Creon issues an edict that is contrary to the divinely expressed will of the gods. Offenses against the gods are punishable, and the punishment tends to be execution or exile in terms of royal perpetrators. The play "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.) ends with Creon being deserted by his family, all of whom choose suicide over life with him and with his losing his job and being escorted away from the public eye.

Remove her body from the noose, place her on the floor, remove the gold brooches from her robes, and blind himself are what Oedipus does when Jocasta die in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban Queen Jocasta hangs herself with threads from her own robes. Oedipus removes the body from the noose and places it on the floor. He then removes the gold brooches that help hold her robes together and uses them to blind himself.

It is the Corinthian messenger who tells Oedipus about his abandonment in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the Corinthian messenger says that Oedipus is not Corinthian born. He states that he found Oedipus and brought him to Corinth. The messenger tells of finding the abandoned infant Oedipus outside Thebes.

Ending the pestilence is the priest's request of Oedipus in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, a pestilence afflicts Thebes. It causes children to die, crops to fail and livestock to ail. It has a chance of being solved if Theban King Oedipus gets involved.

That it can include episodes from the life and times of Oedipus's family is a way in which Greek art relates to "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, mosaics, pottery and sculpture are highly prized art forms in ancient Greece. Artists like to make their media both entertaining and illuminating. They make use of their art to keep in the memories of their clients and future generations cherished or elucidating aspects of ancient Greek culture. For example, a bowl may be the only indication of the fate of Theban Princess Ismene, King Oedipus' youngest daughter. It shows Ismene being stabbed to death by Tydeus, brother-in-law to Ismene's brother Polyneices.

The deaths of Oedipus and his sons Eteoclesand Polyneices,the crowning of Creon and the betrothal of Antigone are what happens between "Oedipus Rex" and "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, "Oedipus Rex" ends with Theban King's house arrest. "Antigone" begins with Princesses Antigone and Ismene discussing whether or not to bury their disgraced brother Polyneices. "Oedipus at Colonus," which is the middle play in the trilogy, acts to inform the audience of Oedipus' exile with his two daughters, his death in the presence of Athenian King Theseus, and the conflict between Eteocles and Polyneices.

Corinth is where Oedipus grows up in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Thebes is Oedipus' actual hometown. But as an infant, he moves to Corinth in the initial company of a Corinthian shepherd. He therefore remembers nothing of any home life other than that of the Corinthian royal palace.

To entertain, explain, interpret and summarize are the functions of the chorus in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the chorus entertains by dancing across the stage and singing odes. The members explain the offstage, onstage and past events of the characters. They interpret the characters and their interactions. They summarize the happenings and have the last words in the play.

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.

That she realizes that he is her husband's killer and her son is the reason why Jocasta suddenly begs Oedipus to forget everything and to stop asking questions in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban Queen Jocasta listens to the conversation between the Corinthian messenger and her husband, King Oedipus. She is fine with the information until she learns that Oedipus is Theban, not Corinthian, born. She becomes upset and leaves when she cannot get her husband to just drop the matter.