Oedipus Rex

Subservient actions and harmonizing wishes versus domination and confrontation is the way in which Creon's actions and wishes compare to those of Oedipus in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Creon acts in a subordinate capacity to his brother-in-law and to the gods. He aims to harmonize with others as part of a team and not its leader. In contrast, Theban King Oedipus aspires to dominate others and to confront and challenge whatever he dislikes.

It is when the Corinthian messenger speaks of Oedipus' adoption that the reversal of the situation occurs in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the reversal describes the point at which the hero's fortune ends and misfortune begins. It happens when the Corinthian messenger speaks of Oedipus' birth in the Theban royal household but adoption into the Corinthian royal household. It is the point at which Oedipus realizes that his horrible prophesied fate as his father's killer and mother's husband are true and that there is no escape from the Furies of fate.

Teiresias is the person whom the chorus leader suggests as being able to help Oedipus locate the murderer's whereabouts in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Teiresias the blind prophet is the long-lived advisor to all of Thebes' kings from the time of the city's founding by Cadmus, first Theban king and Oedipus' great-great-grandfather. He is a storehouse of past, present and future knowledge through his own wisdom and through his skilled interpretation of ritual sacrifices. But he can share that expertise only if his presence is requested by the reigning king of Thebes. Otherwise, he must sit on his knowledge.

That it keeps Theban Queen Jocasta beautiful and young enough to get married a second time is the role that the Necklace of Harmonia plays in "Oedipus Rex."

The necklace is a gift from Hephaestus the blacksmith god to Harmonia upon her marriage to Cadmus, founder and first king of Thebes. The gift keeps the wearer from aging and becoming unattractive, but at a high price. The price is an unlucky life.

Hephaestus is the maker of the necklace. He knows what the necklace will do to the wearer. He sees it as just punishment for the infidelities of his perpetually beautiful, young wife, Aphrodite the love goddess. Specifically, Harmonia is the child of Aphrodite's extramarital affair with Ares the war god.

The necklace seems to bring initial luck into Jocasta's life by keeping her attractive enough to get married a second time after the tragic death of her first husband, Theban King Laius. But at the same time, the necklace brings bad luck because the man that Jocasta attracts turns out to be her very own son, Oedipus.

That he follows proper procedure is the image of Creon left by his final words to Oedipus in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Creon has to place Oedipus, his brother-in-law and former royal colleague, under house arrest. He must await the decision of the gods as to how to punish Oedipus for criminal acts and immoral behavior. He needs to draw upon all the strength that he can find within his character to withstand Oedipus' alternately domineering and wheedling attempts to have things go his way.

"Oedipus Rex" and "Oedipus Tyrannus" are two other names for the play "Oedipus the King" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the original name of the play is "Oedipus Tyrannus." The literal English translation is "Oedipus the Tyrant." But the English translation instead is a literal translation of the play's name in Latin, "Oedipus Rex."

That they may not be true is the chorus' attitude toward the old prophecies in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the chorus has about the same reaction as Theban Queen Jocasta in terms of old prophecies. The members maintain that Zeus the chief god and Apollo the god of prophecy are perfect in their wisdom. But they take the prophecies of oracles and prophets on a case by case basis since the knowledge of mortals is imperfect.

Robes and golden brooches are what Jocasta wears in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban Queen Jocasta is described as wearing robes that are held in place by two golden brooches. The description occurs in connection with King Oedipus, her son and second husband, finding her dead body hanging by the threads of her robes. Additionally, the actor who plays Jocasta's role wears an elaborate mask that sports make-up, jewelry and hair.

No, Oedipus' mother does not know at first who he is in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban Queen Jocasta is Oedipus' mother. She does not recognize Oedipus even though he has the same injured feet that her son would have and even though he is a younger version of her dead first husband Laius. Jocasta cannot see what is staring her in the face until almost 20 years after she marries her own son and has four children with him.

Calling upon the gods for help is the chorus' reaction to Apollo's advice for Thebes in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the chorus asks for divine assistance in identifying and punishing the guilty in King Laius' murder. The members call for help from Zeus the chief god as well as Apollo the god of prophecy, Artemis the beautiful goddess of the hunt, Athena the goddess of wisdom and Bacchus the wine god.

Character witnesses is the role of Oedipus' daughters in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, disgraced Theban King Oedipus' daughters, the sister Princesses Antigone and Ismene, appear onstage in the closing minutes of the play. They attest to the more cautious, wiser man that their father becomes with his downfall. Oedipus' monologue pinpoints his recognition of the importance of being happy and working with others even when fate is unenviable.

Practical, proactive, results oriented and straightforward is how Odipus is as a ruler in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Oedipus anticipates his people's needs by keeping tabs on his city and taking action before meeting with them. He comes up with a battle plan against the pestilence. He leaves the channels of communication open about the identification and punishment of King Laius' killer.

Truth is what light symbolizes in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, light comes from the sun. Apollo is the god of the sun and of prophecy. He ushers in the truth of mortal existence through the custom-made fateful predictions of oracles and prophets.

Creon is Oedipus' uncle in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Creon is the brother of Theban Queen Jocasta, Oedipus' wife and mother. He therefore is Oedipus' brother-in-law and uncle. Additionally, he shares royal powers with his brother and sister-in-law.

Somewhere in his twenties is probably Oedipus' age when he kills his father in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Oedipus is old enough to make trips on his own. For example, he is old enough to visit the Delphic Oracle on his own and to travel from Corinth to Delphi and Thebes. But he is still young enough to react violently and without self-control during a street fight over right-of-way at the meeting of the Daulia, Delphi and Thebes roads in the land of Phoci. This is the very fight in which he hot-headedly kills a stranger who turns out to be his father, Theban King Laius.

Yes, "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.) is an ancient but still very modern play.

Specifically, the play dates from about 2,460 years ago. But it is modern in its theme of whether or not the universe is friendly to humans and why or why. It also is modern in its treatment of mistaken identities, a common happening with the armed conflicts and technological breakthroughs of the 20th and 21st centuries.

Eteocles and Polyneices are Oedipus' sons in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Oedipus' sons are nameless in the play. In fact, the sole reference is found in the last conversation between Oedipus and King Creon, his brother-in-law, uncle, and royal successor. Oedipus refers namelessly to his sons as grown men but names his daughters, the Princesses Antigone and Ismene.

Yes, Oedipus is narcissistic in his conceit but no, he is not narcissistic in terms of selfishness in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Oedipus is raised as the only child and heir apparent to the older, childless royal couple of Corinth. When he learns that King Polybus and Queen Merope are not his biological father and mother, Oedipus is surprised because of the great love always shown for him by his presumed parents. It therefore is possible that Oedipus is somewhat conceited from being an only, pampered, treasured child. But at the same time, he is not selfish since he cares for his city and his family.