Greek Tragedy Sophocles

Sophocles 496 – 406 B. C. a playwright who lived a long, comfortable, happy life grew up in a wealthy family in ATHENS, GREECE

Sophocles his dramatic work portrayed misery and tragedy he also became a distinguished public official

Sophocles produced 123 plays (only seven survive today) the age of Sophocles in Greece was a time when anything seemed possible through human effort and reason

Sophocles toward the end of Sophocles’ life, Athens raged a war against Sparta, their bitter rivals there also was a great plague in 430 B. C.

Sophocles Sophocles’ surviving plays (written after 440 B.C.) are deeply troubling

Sophocles These plays depict characters caught up in unsolvable dilemmas that test their faith in divine and human justice

OEDIPUS REX INTRODUCTION

one of the world’s greatest tragedies

OEDIPUS REX a TRAGEDY is a serious drama featuring a main character who strives to achieve something and is ultimately defeated!

OEDIPUS REX the tragic flawThe main character’s downfall is often due to an inborn character flaw or weakness – the tragic flaw.

Oedipus Rex DRAMATIC IRONY= Involves a discrepancy between a character’s perception and what the reader or audience knows to be true. (The slow motion Nooooo!)

OEDIPUS REX - Background During the early years of the Peloponnesian War, when Oedipus Rex was produced, Athens suffered from political instability and devastating plague.

OEDIPUS REX - Background Sophocles opens his play with a situation that the people of Athens could identify with: a plague with no end in sight!

Ancient Athens – 5 th Century B. C.

OEDIPUS REX-Prologue The city of Thebes is ravaged by plague Citizens beg King Oedipus for help

OEDIPUS REX-Prologue Oedipus sends his brother-in-law, Creon, to the oracle of Apollo at Delphi.

OEDIPUS REX-Prologue Creon returns and announces that the plague will end when the Thebans punish the murderer of the their previous king, Laius.

OEDIPUS REX-Prologue Oedipus tries to take the role of savior and vows to do everything in his power to apprehend the murderer and save his people

OEDIPUS REX-Prologue Oedipus does not realize that his vow will relentlessly lead him to an encounter with himself, his past, and his darkest secrets!!!

MAIN CHARACTERS

Teiresias blind prophet and servant of Apollo reveals the reasons for the devastation and plague in Thebes

Teiresias one of the most powerful characters in the play tells Oedipus he will become blind and poor

Jocasta the wife and mother of Oedipus she tells Oedipus not to trust in the oracles she tries to protect Oedipus from the awful truth

Jocasta she alternately condemns and upholds the authority of the oracles as best suits the direction of the argument at the moment

Oedipus protagonist his name means “swollen-foot” he inspires both pity and fear

Oedipus a hereditary curse has been placed on his family, and he unknowingly has fulfilled the terms of the prophecy that he would kill his father (Laius) and marry his own mother (Jocasta)

Oedipus when he curses the murderer of Laius he is cursing himself and predicting his own exile and consequent life of “wretchedness.”

Oedipus he is wise, revered by his subjects, and dedicated to the discovery of truth he wants to rid Thebes of the plague, but fate and the gods have other things in store for him

Chorus of Theban Elders men of Thebes who honor and respect the king and the gods their odes reveal both a strong attachment to the king as well as grounding in religious culture

Creon brother of Laius Oedipus feels threatened by Creon and believes that he covets the throne Creon defends himself saying he has no desire to be king and that Oedipus harms himself in making such accusations

Messenger tells Oedipus that King Polybos of Corinth is dead Oedipus learns from the messenger that Polybos was not his father the messenger had been given Oedipus as an infant by one of Laius’ men

Shepherd of Laius Oedipus eventually realizes his own identity and his crimes of patricide and incest after hearing the shepherd’s story

Second Messenger predicts future sorrows for a people whose kings descend from this polluted line

The Chorus choral odes bring an additional viewpoint to the play offer a broader and more socio-religious perspective than those offered by individual characters

The Chorus Strophe = the first of two movements made by a chorus during the performance of a choral ode. Antistrophe = the second of two movements made by a chorus during the performance of a choral ode.

THEMES quest for identity and truth nature of innocence and guilt nature of moral responsibility Pride Sight vs. Blindness/Light vs. Darkness Fate vs. Choice

TRAGIC FLAW-HAMARTIA In Greek tragedy, the concept of hamartia as an error in judgment or unwitting mistake is applied to the actions of the hero. For example, the hero might attempt to achieve a certain objective X; by making an error in judgment, however, the hero instead achieves the opposite of X, with disastrous consequences. Oedipus acts to prevent the fulfillment of the prediction that he would kill his father and marry his mother, but by his actions instead cause those very things to happen.

Major Concepts: Bad things can happen to good people. Oedipus was trying to escape trouble, not run to it, but fate had other plans for him. Accountability for our actions. Oedipus never tried to revoke his promise for punishment for Laius’ murderer, even when he discovered it was himself. There is more than one way to “see”. Tiresias provides a clear example of being able to see and recognize truth, even without eyesight.

Imagery references to light and darkness to predict the future

Things to look for: Examples of imagery Point of view/narrative voice Examples of foreshadowing Irony, especially DRAMATIC IRONY What’s the tone? STOP UNTIL AFTER THE PLAY!

Example of Imagery darkenedThe priest says at the beginning: "All the house of Kadmos is laid waste; all emptied, and all darkened”

Example of Imagery Oedipus promises Creon: “Then once more I must bring what is dark to light.”

Point of View, Narrative Voice: The play uses an objective, dramatic point of view, in which we as the audience take a strict observer’s role of the events as they occur. At times we get some of the benefits of limited omniscient narration when certain characters interact with the Chorus, revealing their feelings, ideas, or actions. The play focuses, however, on the events as they are revealed to, and as they affect, Oedipus. The Chorus acts as Narrator, helping the audience to come to conclusions and determine how the story should affect them.

Foreshadowing: The oracles: The oracle at Delphi prophecies to Jocasta and Laius that their son will grow up to murder both of his parents. Years later, the oracle prophecies to Oedipus that he will kill his father and marry his mother. Oedipus’ fear that he killed Laius: The tale of Laius’ death begins to ring a little too true to Oedipus, who killed a man at a crossing where three roads meet just prior to defeating the Sphinx and assuming the throne of Thebes.

Foreshadowing Jocasta’s fear that Oedipus is her son: Jocasta realizes after speaking with the messenger that the story of Oedipus being given to the king and queen of Corinth is too coincidental for comfort, and she begins to dissuade him from finding out more about his past. Oedipus’ name means “Swollenfoot”, indicating that he is Jocasta’s son: It would seem as though Jocasta would have put these two facts together immediately, but then the story would have been over before it began. Tiresias’ verdict that Oedipus killed Laius: Although blind, Tiresias was a seer. He indicated to Oedipus that the man he was seeking was himself. He did not provide details, however, because he cared about the family and did not wish for the assured tragic results of the revelation of the truth.

Foreshadowing Teiresias tells Oedipus that it is he who is blind “But I say that you, with both your eyes, are blind. You cannot see the wretchedness of your life”

Tone The overall tone of the play is ominous and foreboding. It becomes clear to the audience that Oedipus has killed his father and married his mother, fulfilling the prophecies of the oracle. There is tension as the audience or reader must watch Oedipus and Jocasta set themselves up for the big fall of realizing the truth. The audience is trapped, waiting to see the worst played out before them.

Irony Irony is the driving force of the play. It is unfortunate, but very ironic, that everyone goes to such great lengths to avoid the prophecy of the oracle that Oedipus will grow up to, only to place him in exactly the right position to do so! Jocasta and Laius send Oedipus to be killed as a baby, which would have worked, except the shepherds decided to let him live as long as it was somewhere far away. Then, the whispered warning at the banquet that Polybus was not Oedipus’ father sent Oedipus to the oracle again, causing him to receive the prophecy that he would kill his father and sleep with his mother. This information sent him on the road to Thebes, so by running away from the prophecy, he actually ran to fulfill it! It is also ironic that the person who can see most clearly, Tiresias, is blind, and that Oedipus’ “sight” into his own life pushes him to blind himself.

SUMMARY SUMMARY Oedipus Rex is the story of a king of Thebes upon whom a hereditary curse is placed and who therefore has to suffer the tragic consequences of fate.

SUMMARY SUMMARY During the time of plague, fires,and other forms of decimation, Oedipus decides to take action to restore life and prosperity to his kingdom.

SUMMARY SUMMARY Oedipus discovers, through his quest for truth, that his identity is not what he thought. He learns he has killed his father, married his mother, and had children with her.

SUMMARY SUMMARY Oedipus’ wife/mother – Jocasta – kills herself and Oedipus blinds himself and goes into exile

Antigone After Oedipus is exiled, he leaves the ruling rights of Thebes to his two sons, Eteocles and Polyniecess who must take it in turns to rule.After Oedipus is exiled, he leaves the ruling rights of Thebes to his two sons, Eteocles and Polyniecess who must take it in turns to rule. Eteocles rules first but the two become enemies after Eteocles refuses to give up the throne, and Polynieces is exiled.Eteocles rules first but the two become enemies after Eteocles refuses to give up the throne, and Polynieces is exiled. At the beginning of the play, both brothers are dead, apparently slain by the other's hand.At the beginning of the play, both brothers are dead, apparently slain by the other's hand.

Antigone The current ruler, Creon, has made a decree: Since Polynieces fought against Thebes, he shall not be buried. Meanwhile, Eteocles is to be buried with full military honors.The current ruler, Creon, has made a decree: Since Polynieces fought against Thebes, he shall not be buried. Meanwhile, Eteocles is to be buried with full military honors.

Antigone Antigone, the daughter of Oedipus and the sister of the dead brothers, believes this proclamation to be against the gods' orders.Antigone, the daughter of Oedipus and the sister of the dead brothers, believes this proclamation to be against the gods' orders. She confides her plan to bury Polynices herself to her sister Ismene. The more timid of the two, Ismene refuses to take part out of fear, but agrees with her motive.She confides her plan to bury Polynices herself to her sister Ismene. The more timid of the two, Ismene refuses to take part out of fear, but agrees with her motive.

Antigone--Themes Free Will vs. The Law The Law of the Gods vs. The Law of man Justice Pride Fate (again)

A Reminder—Parts of Greek Tragedy Prologue: beginning of the play, before the action occurs Parodos: song that marks the entry of the chorus Scene: where the majority of the action of the play takes place Ode: song that is chanted by the chorus, often is a commentary on the action from the scene. Sometimes the Ode is a comparison to the actions of the gods or historical figures Paean: hymn sung by the chorus, appealing to the gods for assistance Exodos: last episode in the play. It is followed by a final speech addressed directly to the audience by the chorus

Antigone—Literary Techniques Foreshadowing Symbolism Imagery