Oedipus Rex

Consultation with the Delphic oracle, exile from Thebes, and meeting and shared exile with his daughters are Oedipus' requests of Creon in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Oedipus first asks his brother-in-law and royal colleague Creon to consult the Delphic oracle about what causes and ends the pestilence in Thebes. He then makes three requests after his overthrow and Creon's succession to the throne. In quick succession, he requests to be exiled instead of executed, to meet with his two young daughters and then to share exile with his daughters.

Character and fate both are involved in Oedipus' tragedy in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, a tragedy deals with an unfortunate turn or end to life. Oedipus hears a horrible prophecy that causes him to run scared for the rest of his life. His understandable panic over a fate of killing his father and marrying his mother leads him to make less than the best choices. In fact, he makes all the choices that the gods need in order for his fate to be fulfilled.

It is unknown on which day Jocasta is born in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the dramatist gives no information as to the ages or birthdays of his characters. But one may suspect that Jocasta was born on a Wednesday. Wednesday's child meets with woe, which describes Jocasta's life as a result of arranging to kill her son, whom she years later marries.

Jocasta is the Roman name of the Queen in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Jocasta is the ancient Latin form of an ancient Greek name. The original form in ancient Greek is Iοκαστη. The way in which the original Greek name literally is written with letters from the Latin alphabet is "Iokasti." But the forms Epikastê and Iokastê also are found in "The Iliad" by Homer (fl. 8th century B.C.E.).

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

Specifically, Teiresias is the blind seer of Thebes. He is Thebes' wisest citizen because of his vast experience and expertise. His experience includes advice to every king since Thebes' founding by Theban King Oedipus' great-great-grandfather Cadmus. His expertise extends from divine blessings (despite equally divine curses) to innate knowledge to skills in interpreting divine will as expressed in ritual sacrifices.

That Oedipus neglects mandatory cleansing rituals is an example of arrogance in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, arrogance can mean an exaggerated sense of self, pride. Theban King Oedipus demonstrates arrogance when he thinks that he can get away with not carrying out mandatory purification procedures. He makes the choice not to carry out the cleansing rituals on two occasions. He neglects undergoing cleansing after his murderous crimes at the Delphi-Daulia intersection. He likewise neglects them when he arrives in Thebes, learns of King Laius' death and marries Laius' beautiful widow without conducting cleansing rituals in regard to Laius.

That it is better for him not to be born is the way in which the chorus leader responds to Oedipus' despair in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the leader of the chorus of Theban elders is there for the king. But things may change when gods become angry and kings fall. The leader observes that he wishes that he never had known Oedipus and that Oedipus never had been born.

That he is the doer of the loftiest and basest of actionsis one reason why Oedipus' character inspires fascination and repulsion in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Oedipus defeats the thus far unbeatable Sphinx and wins the heart of Thebes' beautiful, widowed queen and the respect of Thebes' citizens. Years later, he exhibits similar courage and conscientiousness in trying to deliver Thebes from the pestilence that threatens to destroy all life in and around the city. But by the end of the play, the audience and all Thebes realize that their role model king of personal happiness and professional success is at the same time an albeit unknowing killer of his own father and king, husband of his own mother and half-brother of his own children. This represents a combination of fascination and repulsion to the utmost degree.

That Oedipus succeeds where other mortals do not and that he benefits from divine favor are the reasons why the priest thinks Oedipus better able than any other individual to help Thebes in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the priest of Zeus gives the example of Theban King Oedipus' victory over the monstrous Sphinx. Without any more experience or expertise than any one else, Oedipus alone figures out the correct answer to the deadly riddle posed by the Sphinx to all who enter or leave Thebes. The priest therefore concludes that Oedipus is foremost among mortals and favored by the gods.

The incarnation of free will versus fate is the contrast between Oedipus and Teiresias in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Oedipus represents freely chosen actions to avoid an unenviable prophesied fate. Teiresias the blind prophet represents fate. He seeks for Oedipus' fate to be realized to the last horrific personal and professional detail. He starts the relentless process by accusing Oedipus of being King Laius' killer.

Time, place and action are the three unities in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the time takes place within one 24-hour period. The place for all onstage action is before the main entrance to the Theban royal palace. The action involves the presentation and solution of one problem regarding the main character: What is the identity of the guilty in the unsolved murder of Theban King Laius?

No, Jocasta is not a tragic hero, but she is a tragic character in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, a hero is the main character, the holder of great powers, and the doer of great deeds. The tragic hero comes to an unfortunate end, usually through a character flaw or a flawed personality. Jocasta cannot be described as the main character, the holder of great powers or the doer of great deeds. But she can be described as tragic character whose life takes an unfortunate turn and ends most miserably.

That the murderers are a group of robbers is the only thing that the lone survivor of the attack on Laius remembers about the murder in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles(495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the long survivor is Theban Queen Jocasta's most trusted servant. He returns from the attack to find Oedipus already ensconced as the Savior of Thebes for defeating the monstrous Sphinx. He tells Jocasta what he remembers and then asks for a transfer to shepherding duty outside Thebes.

Yes, Oedipus is guilty of hubris in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, hubris refers to the character flaw of arrogance, exaggerated sense of self, pride. The description fits Theban King Oedipus. His self-confidence from his personal happiness and professional success as a much loved only child in Corinth and as the proclaimed savior of Thebes cause him to become over-confident and believe in his own self-importance. For example, he becomes arrogant in killing five people in a street brawl and in neglecting mandatory purification procedures regarding those murders and that of his royal predecessor, King Laius. He also acts arrogantly when he rashly charges his royal advisor and colleague with conspiracy to commit treason and when he rashly extends the grounds for applying divine punishment.

That the murder happens away from Thebes and that it is the act of robbers are clues that Creon gives about Laius' murder in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Oedipus has to identify and punish the guilty in the murder of his royal predecessor, King Laius. He looks to others for clues in his investigation. Creon, his brother-in-law and royal colleague, mentions that the murder does not take place in Thebes and that robbers bribed by Laius' enemies in Thebes are responsible for the crime.

That the chorus does not accept Oedipus as Laius' killeris how the second ode can be summarized in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the chorus begins with the necessary pursuit of Theban King Laius' murderer by Apollo the god of prophecy and his Furies of fate. The members defer to the perfect wisdom of Zeus the chief god and Apollo. They question Teiresias' charges because human wisdom is imperfect, no known quarrel exists between the Corinthian and Theban royal houses, and Oedipus' reputation for defeating the Sphinx and ruling wisely argue against a criminal past.

That it is his fate is the reason that Teiresias says that Oedipus will be blind in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Teiresias the blind prophet announces that Theban King Oedipus has physical sight. But he advises that Oedipus actually does not see in the sense of processing or understanding what stares him in his face about his true identity. He cautions that Oedipus will lose his physical sight before the day ends.

That whoever killed Laius must be found and punished is what must be done to cure the plague in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. -- 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the killing of a king is an offense against gods and mortals. It cannot go unsolved, and the perpetrators cannot go unpunished. That Theban King Laius' death is not looked into and that the guilty are not brought to justice contaminates the Theban environment and opens the city up to all sorts of horrors, such as plague and pestilence.

It is as cultural heritage, moral instruction and public entertainment that "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.) was important in ancient times.

Specifically, the above-mentioned play preserved a story from the ancient Greek body of creation stories, legends and myths. It also represented a means by which moral lessons in civic duty and divine respect were taught. Finally, it served as entertainment to cultured, theater going ancient Greek audiences.

Self-blinding is Oedipus' catharsis in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the term catharsis describes an emotional release that cleanses and heals. The description fits what Theban King Oedipus does after hearing what the Corinthian messenger and the Theban shepherd have to say. Oedipus goes into the palace, moves the dead body of his wife Queen Jocasta onto the floor, and removes her golden brooches in order to plunge them deep into both of his eyes.

It is the chorus of Theban elders that Oedipus blames for not solving Laius' murder in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Oedipus hears that the pestilence in Thebes can end only with the identification and punishment of King Laius, his royal predecessor and his wife's first husband. Oedipus is results oriented and therefore unimpressed with the murder of a king being allowed to remain unsolved. He observes that that will change with his investigation, which he heads precisely because the Theban elders did not do their job in the first place.

That he defeats the monstrous Sphinx is the reason why Oedipus is called the savior of Thebes in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the Sphinx shows up at Thebes after Theban King Laius is murdered while on the way to consult the Delphic oracle. She requires upon pain of death the answer to a riddle whose solution escapes Thebans. But Oedipus figures out the solution, which causes the Sphinx to throw herself over a cliff and which thereby saves Thebes before the Sphinx ends all life in the city.

It is with his wife's gold brooches that Oedipus gouges out his eyes in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban Queen Jocasta hangs herself with the threads from her own robes. King Oedipus, her son and her second husband, removes her body to the floor. He then takes the gold brooches that hold the robes together and uses them as a weapon with which to blind himself.