Theater at Epidaurus Sophocles’ Oedipus the King 2 “Know Thyself!” — If you Dare! Sophocles in old age

2 Agenda Recap, Update Discussion –Aristotle on Oedipus… Sweet Dreams –Eros and the Tyrant Illumination, Purification –Rites of Passage, Scapegoat Final Thoughts –Is Oedipus to Blame?

Recap, Update

4 Kinship Network… Tiresias Chorus of Citizens Oedipus and the Sphinx Laius (deceased) = JocastaCreon Menoecius AntigoneIsmenePolynicesEteocles Oedipus =

OK Analysis (Penguin page numbers) prologue 15 ff. –Oed, priest, Creon. plague, oracle parodos 168 ff. –divine invocation. war on plague 1 st episode 171 ff. –Oed, Tiresias. agōn 1 1 st stasimon 186 f. –who the killer? 2 nd episode 188 ff. –Cr, Oed. agōn 2 –1 st kommos (197 ff.) »Chorus, J, Oed –Comparison of oracles 2 nd stasimon 209 f. –pride breeds the tyrant 3 rd episode 211 ff. –J, Corinthian messenger, Oed. Polybus dead. Oed “child of fortune” 3 rd stasimon 224 –desperate optimism 4 th episode 225 ff. –Oed, Shepherd, J. recognition 4 th stasimon 233 f. –Oed man of sorrows exodos –Messenger, Oed. J’s suicide –2 nd kommos (240 ff.) »Chorus, Oed., Oed’s grief –Oed, Creon. final arrangements 5

6 Aeschylean Tragedy Checklist… Analytical concepts koros –Laius as implicated in koros? –Od hubris –Od disbelieves insults T atē –disabelief (Oed’s disbelief – e.g. w/ J) dikē –no. didn’t do anything wrong! –apollo’s justice tragic cycle –connection between events tragic knowledge tragic epiphany Further thoughts? hearing the prophecy – how matters

Discussion Aristotle on Oedipus…

8 Aristotle on OK as Tragedy… Does Ari get it right? –How? –How not? Needs… –supplementing? –other approaches?

9 Discussion… was ok. basically given full marks –good way to look at oed good example –realization – anagnoris - should have come earlier two match up –general plausibility peripeteia & anagnorsis every character pursuing plausibly motivated agenda –you need to connect with characters pity – oed pitiful (both good and bad way) sort of good example –corinth kingship – good or bad fortune foreshadowing right for most part –did not imitate life

Sweet Dreams Eros and the Tyrant

Quotes: “Pride (hubris) breeds the tyrant” (Chorus, OK p. 209) “Many a man before you, in his dreams, has shared his mother’s bed.” (OK, Jocasta to Oedipus, p. 215) “The previous night Hippias [ex-tyrant, hopeful future tyrant of Athens] had a dream in which he slept with his mother. He supposed from the dream that he would return from exile to Athens, recover his rule, and end his days an old man in his own country” (Herodotus ) 11

Illumination, Purification Rites of Passage, Scapegoat

13 Oedipus-pharmakos (“scapegoat”) Oedipus, p. 244: “Quickly, for the love of god, hide me somewhere, kill me, hurl me into the sea where you can never look on me again.”

14 Rite of Passage 1. Separation 2. Transition 3. Incorporation Arnold van Gennep, Les rites de passage (Paris, 1909)

15 Oedipus’ Reverse Rite of Passage 1. Incorporation 2. Transition 3. Separation sight- ignorance- incorporation blindness- knowledge- separation Oedipus transition “I count myself the son of Chance,” (Oedipus, p. 224)

Final Thoughts Is Oedipus to Blame?

Apollo, friends, friends, Apollo - he ordained my agonies — these, my pains on pains! But the hand that struck my eyes was mine, mine alone — no one else — I did it all myself! (Oedipus, OK p. 241) aitiaresponsibility/guilt tukhēfortune/chance moirafate Is Oedipus to Blame? 17