Oedipus the King Chizaram Ajiwe Caitlyn Close Jalen Jones William Li Frederick Lewis

Literal meaning Original Prompt: In “Oedipus the King” identify the mystery and explain how the investigation illuminates the meaning of the work as a whole. Literal Meaning: Find out what the over all mystery of the novel is and look at how the characters process in solving the mystery highlights the story’s overall meaning.

Relating Prompt to Class Material and Sophocles The prompt relates to the novel being read in class (Oedipus the King) because there’s the mystery concerning why Thebes is in shambles, and the mystery concerning whether or not the prophesy of Oedipus has been fulfilled. It also relates because as the plot progresses, we find out that the two mysteries that are initially brought up actually feed into each other, thus adding to the meaning of the overall body of work. According to analysis done by Utah State University over Sophocles’ intention in the presentation of “Oedipus the King”, he focuses on dramatic Irony. He intentionally has the characters say subtle phrases and words that imply the answer to the underlying mystery for the audience, but the characters still haven’t put the pieces together. The audience is watching the characters attempt to escape fate but seeing that they cant. The mystery in the play implies a double meaning for the audience.

Literary Devices and Archetypes

Irony: Dramatic Dramatic Irony: Throughout the play, once Tiresias had proclaimed to Oedipus that he is the murderer, the audience basically watches the dramatic irony unfold as the story continues. With Greek plays, the audience is well aware of the background of Oedipus, therefore forcing them to sit through the suspense and tragedy of the play knowing exactly what is to take place. The mystery of the killer of Laius that Oedipus must solve unfolds ironically, and yet despite knowing that he is the killer himself, the play still remains suspenseful. "For whoever killed Lauis might decide to raise his hand against me. So, acting on behalf of Lauis, I benefit myself too"( 10). 

Irony: Tragic Tragic Irony: the tragic irony of Oedipus as he tries to figure out who is the killer of Laius becomes even more and more tragic as the play unfolds. His search for the truth expands into him finding out his OWN truth that he was unaware of. In trying to run away from his own fate, he ironically runs right into it, killing his real father and marrying his real mother. As he learns this, the mystery behind his origins of who is truly his father and mother become more tragically ironic. He starts to fully engulf all the traits of a tragic hero, mainly the tragic part. "O God! It has all come true. Light, let this be the last time I see you. I stand revealed – born in shame, married in shame, an unnatural murderer" (89).

Theme: Sight “But I will begin afresh. I will bring it all to light” (10). Oedipus’s vision and intuition for the big picture – outwitting the Sphinx and restoring the city – is clearly remarkable. Yet, when it comes down to the finer things, he is so blind, so oblivious to the truth of his own life. “You live your life in one continuous night of darkness” (26). The nature of fate is as such, fickle and unfathomable, as it mockingly reveals itself to a blind man, yet spares no expense to run Oedipus’ efforts to the ground

Symbolism: Crossroads “Well, Laius, so the story goes, was killed by foreign robbers at a place where three highways meet. As for the son – three days after his birth Laius fastened his ankles together and had him cast away…” (50). Crossroads represent a meeting place, a midpoint where the gods bring people, ideas, and events together in order to satisfy destiny. Oedipus and Laius meet in such a manner, shrouded in the mystery of blood, as Apollo’s prophecy begins to unravel.

Examples From The Text

Examples from the Text "It is to his death that Apollo's command clearly refers. We must punish those who killed him- whoever they may be." (Sophocles 7). This quote is at the beginning of the play when Creon returns from Delphi and recites Apollo's prophecy to Oedipus. The prophecy states that they must find and punish the murderer of Laius. This quickly becomes the main mystery in the play and starts the investigation of several people including the seer, Tiresias.

Examples from the Text "I will not give up the search for the truth about my birth." (Sophocles 79). After talking to the Corinthian messenger, Oedipus begins to truly understand the depth of the mystery behind his early childhood. After realizing that he was tied up as a child, he demands to investigate by seeing the shepherd who gave him away . Quickly after talking to him Oedipus solves the puzzle and understands that he ended up fulfilling the prophecy after all.

Significant Moments

Thebes's Dilemma/Creon’s Message At the beginning of the play Oedipus is greeted by several priests that are surrounded by the poor and sorrowful citizens of Thebes. The citizens come with gifts for the Gods and are asking for help from the king to stop the deadly plague. So Oedipus says that he has sent Creon to the Oracle to find out how to end the plague. So Creon comes back and shares the news that the murderer of the previous ruler of Thebes, Laius, has to be banished in order for the plague to end. Both of these moments display a sense of mystery because the city of Thebes is clueless to why they have this horrible fate and even when Creon delivers the news why this plague is among them the citizens and even the culprit himself are trying to figure out who killed Laius to stop the plague.

Tiresias Accuses The King In the midst of Oedipus trying to find the murderer of Laius we are introduced to the blind prophet Tiresias. Oedipus pleas to Tiresias to tell him who is the murderer but he is hesitant to tell him who it is…..because it Oedipus. After he insults and threatens Tiresias enough he finally tells him that he is the reason for the plague and Oedipus loses it. He insults his blindness and even accuses him of conspiring with Creon to overthrow him. This moment displays mystery because out of all people we never would have guessed the king himself is the reason for his city suffering the way it is. We are also left with confusion because how could Oedipus kill his father and sleep with his mother when he doesn't even know them.

Jocasta? Near the ending of the play a messenger comes to tell Oedipus the story of when he was found on Mount Cithaeron by a shepherd, in order to figure out who his parents are since they found out Polybus and his wife, Merope could not be his parents. After being told this story of course Oedipus wants to find this shepherd but surprisingly Jocasta is against this. She screams and pleads to her husband but he does not listen and she runs back to the palace. Although Oedipus thinks she is worried because she doesn't want him to find out that maybe his parents are poor, the audience are left with other assumptions. This moment is very mysterious because we are left wondering why Jocasta is so against Oedipus finding out who his real parents are and I think this is also an important section in the story because it can kind of be inferred that she is his mother through her actions and emotions displayed.

AP Prompts and Explanations

AP Prompt Chosen 2017 AP Prompt: “Oedipus Rex” features a character whose origins are unusual or mysterious. Analyze how the origins shape the character and that the character’s relationship, and how the origins contribute to the meaning of the work as a whole.

Explaining the AP Prompt and Connecting it to Our Prompt This prompt again touches on mystery, just as our original topic does. The only difference is that the original prompt refers to the mystery of the work as a whole, while the AP prompt focuses on the mystery of the origins of the main character, Oedipus. The thing about the topic and the prompt is that they feed into each other. Oedipus’ origins gave birth to the whole story of “Oedipus the King”. He was born from parents that rejected him away due to a prophesy, and he is then brought into a family that isn’t related to him by blood. These origins then facilitate the prophesy to come to pass later on in his life which incites the mystery, such as the torment of Thebes, and the eventual fall of King Oedipus.

AP Prompt Chosen 2004 AP Prompt: Critic Roland Barthes has said, “Literature is the question minus the answer.” In “Oedipus Rex,” considering Barthes’ observation, analyze a central question the work raises and the extent to which it offers any answers. Explain how Sophocles’ treatment of this question affects your understanding of the work as a whole.

Explaining the AP Prompt and Connecting it to Our Prompt This prompt connects to not only our original topic but addresses the whole strategy for the delivery of “Oedipus the King,” as well as the sense of mystery and string of unanswered questions throughout the story. Just as the prompt suggest, however, there is one central question that eventually gets answered, but is drawn out until the end of the story; Has the Prophesy been fulfilled? The story opens up with the problem of Thebes being in jeopardy and no one knows the cause. Tiresias arrives and eventually spills the information that Oedipus is the cause for the destruction and chaos in Thebes because he has the blood of his father on his hands, and his horrible fate is closing in on him because a prophesy has been fulfilled. Then the audience goes the whole rest of the story making inferences about the credibility of what the old man says, and doesn’t get a definite answer until Oedipus’ downfall.