OEDIPUS REVISION NOTES: SUMMARYS, THEMES AND SCHOLARS
BACKGROUND INFO OF OEDIPUS
SOPHOCLES AND TRAGEDY
His change to Tragedy - He introduced the third actor
- Increased the number of chorus
members from 12 to 15
- Made the set more atmospheric
through enhancing the look of the
skene
- Reduced the role of the chorus- when
comapred to Aeschylus
His success - Won at least 18 contests and never
came third place
- He was believed to have written more
than 120 plays but only 7 survived
- He was a pre-eminent political figure in
Athens, serving as a general alongside
Pericles in 441
- Played an important role in welcoming
the new religious cult of the healing g-d
Asclepius into Athens
His writing style - Master of stage craft
- Skilled in handling structure and plot
- He does not have characters narrate
the “story- he converts the information
in the back story which is introduced at
different points in the play
- He does not start with a prologue- but
a monologue between the priest and
Oedipus which allows the important
facts to be established in a way that
seems natural and revelas Oedipus’
personality
CHARACTERS
OEDIPUS- The protagonist, he is the king of Thebes. He was taken from the house of Lauis as a baby
and left in the mountains with his feet bound togther “swollen foot”- then escaped from his
“parents” Polybus and Merope upon realising his fate- solved the riddle of the Sphyx
JOCASTA- Oedipus wife and mother
CREON- Oedipus’ brother in law
CHORUS- the people of Thebes- help the audience interpret what is happening in the play
MESSANGER AND SHEPHERD – Bring messages
TIRESIAS- blind prophet
, PROLOGUE- not a typical prologue. Oedipus talks to a priest and finds out that the people of Thebes
have been hit by a deadly plague- he addresses his people
QUOTES
PRIEST SUMMARY
“Oh Oedipus of the land, our - Oedipus steps out of the royal palace of Thebes
greatest power!” and is greeted by a procession of priests, who
are in turn surrounded by the impoverished
“we bend to you, your power” and sorrowful citizens of Thebes
- The situation in Thebes at the start of the play =
“the best of men” a plague has just hit and oedipus sends Creon
to the oracle at Delphi to find out what is
“man of experience” happening
- Oedipus is very sympathetic towards his people
Theme of illness: “cattle sicken and he gains the auidence respect in this
and die” opening as he suggests that no one is in more
“children stillborn” pain than him having to watch his people in
“Thebes is dying” pain- he makes it clear that he will do anything
OEDIPUS to relieve them of this
“I would be blind to my - The plague has come as a result of him
misery” marrying his mother and killing his father but
he does not know this yet- whole play is
”I sent Creon, my wife’s own centred around his discovery of this
brother to Delphi” - There is lots of irony presented here- “how
could I fail to see what longinings bring you
“My spirit grieves for the city” here”- he is the one who has brought the
plague- theme of sight and blindness
“I have wept through the - The priest uses a theme of sickness to describe
nights; you must know that I the situation in thebes- doing this because he is
pity you” desperate for Oedipus to help, makes the
situation sound more serious
“Here I am myself, you all - The priest addresses Oedipus’ power in his
know me, the world knows my speech and shows him a lot of respect-
fame, I am Oedipus” reference to the Sphinx suggeting he has saved
the city before so he can do it again
“but sick as you are, no one is
sick as I”
- Creon arrives and asks Oedipus if he wants to
CREON ENTERS – he returns from near the news in private but Oedipus insists
Delphi with the news that all citizens hear
- Oracle spoke through Apollo- killer of Laius
CREON must be driven out of Thebes to end the plague
“I am ready now..or we might - The oracle said that the plague was cast
go inside” because someone killed the king
‘Drive the corruption from the - He tells the story of king Lauis’ death- on their
land” way to consult an oracle, Lauis and all but one
“pay the killers back, whoever of his men were killed
is responsible” - Oedipus is now determined to find the killer
BACKGROUND INFO OF OEDIPUS
SOPHOCLES AND TRAGEDY
His change to Tragedy - He introduced the third actor
- Increased the number of chorus
members from 12 to 15
- Made the set more atmospheric
through enhancing the look of the
skene
- Reduced the role of the chorus- when
comapred to Aeschylus
His success - Won at least 18 contests and never
came third place
- He was believed to have written more
than 120 plays but only 7 survived
- He was a pre-eminent political figure in
Athens, serving as a general alongside
Pericles in 441
- Played an important role in welcoming
the new religious cult of the healing g-d
Asclepius into Athens
His writing style - Master of stage craft
- Skilled in handling structure and plot
- He does not have characters narrate
the “story- he converts the information
in the back story which is introduced at
different points in the play
- He does not start with a prologue- but
a monologue between the priest and
Oedipus which allows the important
facts to be established in a way that
seems natural and revelas Oedipus’
personality
CHARACTERS
OEDIPUS- The protagonist, he is the king of Thebes. He was taken from the house of Lauis as a baby
and left in the mountains with his feet bound togther “swollen foot”- then escaped from his
“parents” Polybus and Merope upon realising his fate- solved the riddle of the Sphyx
JOCASTA- Oedipus wife and mother
CREON- Oedipus’ brother in law
CHORUS- the people of Thebes- help the audience interpret what is happening in the play
MESSANGER AND SHEPHERD – Bring messages
TIRESIAS- blind prophet
, PROLOGUE- not a typical prologue. Oedipus talks to a priest and finds out that the people of Thebes
have been hit by a deadly plague- he addresses his people
QUOTES
PRIEST SUMMARY
“Oh Oedipus of the land, our - Oedipus steps out of the royal palace of Thebes
greatest power!” and is greeted by a procession of priests, who
are in turn surrounded by the impoverished
“we bend to you, your power” and sorrowful citizens of Thebes
- The situation in Thebes at the start of the play =
“the best of men” a plague has just hit and oedipus sends Creon
to the oracle at Delphi to find out what is
“man of experience” happening
- Oedipus is very sympathetic towards his people
Theme of illness: “cattle sicken and he gains the auidence respect in this
and die” opening as he suggests that no one is in more
“children stillborn” pain than him having to watch his people in
“Thebes is dying” pain- he makes it clear that he will do anything
OEDIPUS to relieve them of this
“I would be blind to my - The plague has come as a result of him
misery” marrying his mother and killing his father but
he does not know this yet- whole play is
”I sent Creon, my wife’s own centred around his discovery of this
brother to Delphi” - There is lots of irony presented here- “how
could I fail to see what longinings bring you
“My spirit grieves for the city” here”- he is the one who has brought the
plague- theme of sight and blindness
“I have wept through the - The priest uses a theme of sickness to describe
nights; you must know that I the situation in thebes- doing this because he is
pity you” desperate for Oedipus to help, makes the
situation sound more serious
“Here I am myself, you all - The priest addresses Oedipus’ power in his
know me, the world knows my speech and shows him a lot of respect-
fame, I am Oedipus” reference to the Sphinx suggeting he has saved
the city before so he can do it again
“but sick as you are, no one is
sick as I”
- Creon arrives and asks Oedipus if he wants to
CREON ENTERS – he returns from near the news in private but Oedipus insists
Delphi with the news that all citizens hear
- Oracle spoke through Apollo- killer of Laius
CREON must be driven out of Thebes to end the plague
“I am ready now..or we might - The oracle said that the plague was cast
go inside” because someone killed the king
‘Drive the corruption from the - He tells the story of king Lauis’ death- on their
land” way to consult an oracle, Lauis and all but one
“pay the killers back, whoever of his men were killed
is responsible” - Oedipus is now determined to find the killer
