1. Oedipus the king: Day 3: Blindness & Truth
Prologue

2. The Limits of Free Will
Prophecy is a central part of Oedipus the King.
The play begins with Creon’s return from the oracle at Delphi, where he has learned that the plague will be lifted if Thebes banished the man who killed King Laius.

3. The Riddle of the Sphinx
One of the most famous riddles in history:
The Riddle of the Sphinx
In Greek legend, the Sphinx devoured all travelers who could not answer the riddle posed.
The hero, Oedipus, gave the answer, causing the destruction and death of the Sphinx.

4. The Riddle of the Sphinx
What is the creature that walks on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon, and three in the evening?”

5. …Man

6. Riddle me this…

7. Riddle #1
I can run but never walk I have a mouth but never talk I have a bed but never sleep I have a head but never weep What am I?

8. River

9. Riddle #2
This thing all things devours: Birds, beasts, trees, flowers; Gnaws iron, bites steel; Slays king, ruins town, And beats high mountain down What is this thing?

10. Time

11. Riddle #3
A cloud was my mother, the wind is my father, my son is the cool stream, and my daughter is the fruit of the land. A rainbow is my bed, the earth is my final resting place, and I am the torment of man. What am I?

12. Rain

13. Prologue The city of Thebes is ravaged by plague
Citizens beg King Oedipus for help.
Oedipus means “swollen foot,” as he was tied up by his feet as an infant. His father then sent him to Mount Cithaeron to be put to death by exposure (meaning left abandoned).
Oedipus sends his brother-in-law, Creon, to the oracle of Apollo at Delphi.

14. Prologue (continued)
Creon returns and announces that the plague will end when the Thebans punish the murderer of the their previous king, Laius.
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 does not realize that his vow will relentlessly lead him to an encounter with himself, his past, and his darkest secrets!!!

15. Prologue (Parados: entrance of the chorus)
Summary of Message
Characters
The people of Thebes suffer from a horrible plague.
They fear their future.
They ask the God Apollo to take pity on them and spare their pain.
Priest
Oedipus
Creon
Chorus

16. Themes in Oedipus the King
The Limits of Free Will
Prophecy is the central part of Oedipus Rex. (see handout)
Greeks rely on prophets for guidance. (Remember: this predates Jesus. People worshipped many gods.)
Willingness to Ignore the Truth
Oedipus ignores his fate as professed by the Oracle at Delphi.

17. Blindness & Truth Consider the following points:
How is vision and sight (maybe not in the literal sense) connected with knowledge and truth?
What does blindness represent?
What does vision represent?
What could Oedipus be blind to in his life?
What vision has already been presented to the audience in the prologue?

18. Greek Mythology and Oracles