Sophocles’ Oedipus the King

The Sphinx’s Riddle Q: What walks on four legs in the morning, on two legs at noon, and on three legs in the evening? A: A man, who crawls on all fours as a baby, walks on two legs as an adult, and walks with a cane in old age.

FATEFREE WILL CHANCE “…man has no free will but is a puppet in the hands of the gods who pull the strings that make him dance” (Dodds, 35). “Oedipus… is tyrannos, self-made ruler, the proverbial Greek example of worldly success won by individual intelligence and exertion, [making] him an appropriate symbol of civilized man, who was beginning to believe, in the fifth century B.C., that he could seize control of his environment and make his own destiny, become, in fact, equated to the gods” (Knox, 6). “Oedipus’ life history is the operation of chance; found by one shepherd, passed on to another, given to Polybus who was childless, brought up as heir to a kingdom, self-exiled from Corinth he came to Thebes a homeless wanderer, answered the riddle of the Sphinx, and won a city and the hand of a queen” (Knox, 15).

“Oedipus… is a play about the blindness of man and the desperate insecurity of the human condition; in a sense every man must grope in the dark as Oedipus gropes, not knowing who he is or what he has to suffer; we all live in a world of appearance which hides from us who-knows-what dreadful reality.” E.R. Dodds

New Riddle Who is the murderer of Laius? BECOMES Who am I?

The Oracle at Delphi Believed to be the rock Cronos vomited when Zeus poisoned him Later becomes a shrine of Apollo when he defeats Hera’s Python that nested there As God of Truth and Light, Apollo is associated with prophecy

Theater of Apollo at Delphi Capacity: 12,000

Greek Tragedy Terms Tragedy: The genre that depicts downfall of noble hero through fate or hubris Hamartia: Tragic flaw; quality in excess that leads to downfall Hubris: Extreme pride; arrogance (Oedipus’ tragic flaw) Anagnorisis: Moment of realization Pathos: Suffering that gains audience sympathy; a destructive act Catharsis: A sudden emotional climax; audience reaction where pity and fear are released

Greek Tragedy Terms Peripeteia: A reversal Tyrannos: Absolute ruler who seized power vs. inheriting it; may be good or bad Oracle: Person or agency considered to be source of prophetic opinion Chorus: A group of actors (12 in Greek theater) that represents general population Strophe:Chorus moves right to left across stage while delivering ode Antistrophe: Choral reaction from left to right while delivering ode

Perepiteia: reversal Tyrannos Knowledge Law In Power King Blindness Fugitive At Mercy

Aristotle’s Definition of Tragedy “Tragedy, then, is an imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude; in language embellished with each kind of artistic ornament, the several kinds being found in separate parts of the play; in the form of action, not of narrative; with incidents arousing pity and fear, wherewith to accomplish its katharsis of such emotions.... Every Tragedy… must have six parts… namely, Plot, Characters, Diction, Thought, Spectacle, Melody.”

Aristotle’s Definition of Tragedy The tragic hero is "a [great] man who is neither a paragon of virtue and justice nor undergoes the change to misfortune through any real badness or wickedness but because of some mistake” (hamartia). “Great man”: "one of those who stand in great repute and prosperity, like Oedipus: conspicuous men from families of that kind." The hero is neither a villain nor a model of perfection but is basically good and decent.

Theban Knows Laius was his father Brought Oedipus out of Thebes Also the witness to Laius’ murder Knows awful truth: “God! I am on the verge of saying it!” Corinthian Knows Polybus was not Brought Oedipus to Corinth Returns to announce Polybus’ death Oblivious: “My friend, here is the man who was that baby!” Neither to be confused with the MESSENGER that announces Iocosta’s suicide and Oedipus’ blinding

Oedipus Fate All 3 prophecies come true word for word, as does Teiresias’ prediction Iocosta and Oedipus both try to exercise free will to change destiny, but fail Teiresias tells him not to seek truth but oracle told him to avenge Lauis— impossible situation Free Will Immediately after hearing he will kill dad/marry mom, he kills someone and gets married Continues search for truth ignoring pleas of Teiresias, Iocosta and the Theban Conquest over sphinx has gone to his head

Hubris: Extreme Pride Oedipus murders Laius and his company for insult to his pride Ignores Teiresias and Iocasta when they beg him to seek the truth no further Belief that he knows everything makes it impossible to consider what Teiresias and Creon are telling him “When the Sphinx chanted her music here, why did not you speak out and save the city?... I scorn your taunts; my skill has brought me glory.”

Laius & Iocasta Theban Corinthian Polybus & Merope

Why Hubris? Oedipus reacts explosively whenever his will is denied – Kills Laius – Accuses Teiresias of bribery, mocks blindness, brags about Sphinx – Creon: threatens with death with no proof of guilt

Why Hubris? – Tortures Theban: “Here, someone, quickly! Twist this fellow’s arms.” – Intends to kill Iocosta: “He, ranging through the palace, came up to each man calling for a sword, calling for her whom he had called his wife.” – Blinds himself

Why Hubris? Like Adam and Eve with apple: Divine knowledge may not be for man to know This is a hard lesson for solver of Sphinx’s riddle – TEIRESIAS: The truth will come to light, without my help. – OEDIPUS: If it is bound to come, you ought to speak it.

Why Hubris? Oedipus, as tyrannos, represents the self-made man; he, not the gods, would be responsible for his greatness and success IOCOSTA: “Prophetic art touches our human fortunes not at all.” CHORUS: “Mighty Zeus… Now are thy oracles falling into contempt, and men deny Apollo’s power. Worship of the gods is passing away.”