| Sophocles, one of the most noted playwrights of the ancient world, wrote the tragedy Oedipus Rex in the first half of the decade 430-420 bc. A plague besets the city, and Oedipus enters to find a priest and crowd of children praying to the gods to free them from the curse. Skip to document. He has already anticipated the priests' request for help and has done what a good Greek ruler should doseek advice from an oracle. Although the above points are of great relevance, they lack the possibility of historical verification and are mainly based on the comparative and critical assessment of Sophocles and Thucydides work. In the first scene of the play, Sophocles presents the basic social and historical axes around which he will unfold the plot. Summary. Historical medical literature has suggested many infectious diseases over time, but few have lasted as the most probable. For the next 7 days, you'll have access to awesome PLUS stuff like AP English test prep, No Fear Shakespeare translations and audio, a note-taking tool, personalized dashboard, & much more! PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. Creon goes on to tell the story of Laiuss murder. Many people are falling ill, and Oedipus begins to believe that there is a divine cause for the plague. It is difficult to compare a historical record to a poetic drama, but, keeping that in mind, both Sophocles and Thucydides refer to animal illness and death (2,8). Much of the fascination of the play comes from watching Oedipus, the remorseless detective, hunt down Oedipus, the unwitting criminal. Oedipus sends for the man who survived the attack, a shepherd, in the hope that he will not be identified as the murderer. Hellenic holocaust: a historical clinico-pathologic conference. Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. During the time the play is set, Laius is deceased, but he is a critical . This is a supernatural phenomenon caused by harboring a cursed person. He inadvertently killed his father, solved the riddle of the Sphinx, and became king of Thebes. Oedipus a Tragedy. Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. The following 5 points support this correlation. All of this, of course, was unbeknownst to him. The _____ is that Tiresias is blind but can see the truth, and Oedipus has sight but refuses to see the truth. The messenger took the baby to the royal family of Corinth, and they raised him as their own. CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. It is not quite clear why Ares is being called responsible for this plague, since there is no other such reference in the play. Soon, a nervous sentry arrives at the palace to tell Creon that, while the sentries slept, someone gave Polynices burial rites. Unfortunately, the story comes out that Oedipus murdered Laius on the road from Corinth to Thebes, when Laius and his party would not move aside to let him pass. SparkNotes PLUS If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. Oedipus the King. Wishing to be killed or exiled, he gave Thebes to Creon to rule as regent, and Creon promised to care for Oedipus' daughters. King Theseus arrives and says that he pities Oedipus for the fate that has befallen him, and he asks how he can help Oedipus. Tiresias responds cryptically, lamenting his ability to see the truth when the truth brings nothing but pain. Oedipus also learns that Laius is his father and that Jocasta, his wife, is his mother. After an interlude in which Oedipus tells the Chorus who he is, Oedipuss second daughter, Ismene, enters, having gone to learn news from Apollos oracle at Delphi. When Oedipus discovers the truth of his actions, he is wrought with horror and self-loathing. The fate of Oedipus emerges as a truly tragic one, not so much because he caused the plague, but because of the characters own personal tragedy (Figure 2). Pedagogical Institute, Hellenic Ministry of Education. Theseus does in fact return with Oedipuss daughters shortly. Creon asks Oedipus if he wants to hear the news in private, but Oedipus insists that all the citizens hear. The score is derived from an automated algorithm, and represents a weighted count of the amount of attention Altmetric picked up for a research output. The plagues effects are also pointed out by the Chorus: earth her gracious fruits denies and women wail in barren throes (lines 151, 215) (2,3). The stage directions state that. Please wait while we process your payment. "The Murder of Laius by Oedipus," 1867, by Joseph Blanc. The blight At the beginning of the play Oedipus Rex, Thebes is being devastated by a city-wide plague. Oedipus has already sent his brother-in-law, Creon, to the Oracle of Delphi in order to ask Apollo why this is the case. Antigone freely confesses her act to Creon and says that he himself defies the will of the gods by refusing Polynices burial. After Tiresias leaves, Oedipus threatens Creon with death or exile for conspiring with the prophet. Wailing on the altar stair, wives and grandams rend the air, long-drawn moans and piercing cries blent with prayers and litaniesSophocles, Oedipus Rex, lines 184186. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. Many heroes attempted to answer the riddle, but each one was eaten alive after answering incorrectly. Oedipus steps out of the royal palace of Thebes and is greeted by a procession of priests, who are in turn surrounded by the impoverished and sorrowful citizens of Thebes. Sophocles describes the main characteristics of the epidemic through sporadic sentences. As the play opens, Oedipus, the king of Thebes, asks from a group of people that why they are gathered there. Oedipus became king of Thebes and married Jocasta. Not knowing where to go now, Antigone says they will have to wander forever alone. Free trial is available to new customers only. Figure 1. Oedipus asks that this shepherd be brought forth to testify, but Jocasta, beginning to suspect the truth, begs her husband not to seek more information. 20% This fact has been used to suggest that there is no connection between the plague in Thebes and the plague in Athens. Oedipus the King opens with a priest describing the terrible plague that has come upon Thebes and begging Oedipus for help. Creon informs the court on his return that the plague will lift once the person who murdered the late King Laius is banished from Thebes. The knowledge of the existence of a highly contagious and fatal disease is phrased clearly in these rhymes, strongly suggesting that Thebans were aware of the oncomingmost possibly from the adjacent city of Athensdanger (24). Oedipus arrives in Thebes, solves the riddle of the Sphinx, and is made their king. eNotes Editorial, 3 Jan. 2020, https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-reason-plague-thebes-sophocles-oedipus-rex-662761. Oedipus, King of Thebes, sends his brother-in-law, Creon, to ask the advice of the oracle at Delphi, concerning a plague ravaging Thebes. Creon, the brother of Jocasta, has learned from soothsayers that the city is being punished for harboring the murderer of the late King Laius. The Thucydides syndrome. He now feels much more inclined to agree with the queen in deeming prophecies worthless and viewing chance as the principle governing the world. A blight, the priest tells Oedipus, has destroyed their crops and livestock - and even rendered their women sterile, unable to have children. A second messenger enters and describes scenes of suffering. On the platform Oedipus encountered the Sphinx and quickly realized that the answer was "man". There is death in the land as the story begins. Oedipus vows to find the murderer and curses him for . It is set in the kingdom of Thebes in Skip to document. Scene from a National Theatre of Greece production of Oedipus Rex at the Odeon of Herodus Atticus, Athens, Greece January 1995. Bearing in mind the aforementioned observations and the fact no other epidemics were reported in the eastern Mediterranean during the 5th century bc, we posit that the plague described by Sophocles in the tragedy Oedipus Rex has an actual basis in the plague of Athens described by Thucydides in his histories. Complete your free account to request a guide. Oedipus sends Creon to Delphi to consult the oracle, or priestess, there, about the cause of the plague in Thebes. Sophocles, the author, is a famous philosopher of the ancient times The Play is about Oedipus, the king of Thebes, who kills his father and marries his mother. Literature usually reflects the echo of the past. . As mentioned above, in Sophocles drama, god of war Ares gets the blame for the plague (lines 190191). Sometimes it can end up there. The aforementioned aspects strongly support the notion that the disease was incurable at this time. Credit: Wikipedia/Public domain. Jocasta has hanged herself, and Oedipus, finding her dead, has pulled the pins from her robe and stabbed out his own eyes. Contact us When Laius' herald ordered Oedipus to stand aside and make way for the King to pass, Oedipus grew angry and killed both the herald and Laius. The priest describes that there is much disease and death in Thebes. At the beginning of the play, Thebes is struck with a terrible plague that ravishes the city, forcing citizens to petition King Oedipus to deliver them from the horrible epidemic. Outside the palace, a messenger approaches Jocasta and tells her that he has come from Corinth to inform Oedipus that his father, Polybus, is dead, and that Corinth has asked Oedipus to come and rule there in his place. Sophocles, a preeminent ancient Greek tragedian, authored plays that have enthralled audiences for over two thousand years. Creons wife, Eurydice, hears this terrible news and rushes away into the palace. -Graham S. Oedipus is a hero and a man of action. The devastating plague that dominates Thebes is presented to the audience through the dialogue between Oedipus and the Priest (lines 167) (2,3). Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. For the next 7 days, you'll have access to awesome PLUS stuff like AP English test prep, No Fear Shakespeare translations and audio, a note-taking tool, personalized dashboard, & much more! Already a member? Greek audiences would have known the Oedipus story, and so in this scene Oedipus would seem to be describing his own fate, or even bringing this fate upon himself. Copy. These diseases mainly include typhoid fever, epidemic typhus, smallpox, plague, measles, and influenza, all of which could be initial candidates for the plague in Oedipus Rex and have been taken into account in this study (Technical Appendix) (9,10). B. Creon wanted to become king, so he never cared enough to investigate. Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. Oedipus sends for Tiresias, the blind prophet, and asks him what he knows about the murder. Enjoy eNotes ad-free and cancel anytime. Finally, although many of the features of the plot and passages have been interpreted as historical allusions, the plague seems to be recognized as the most critical element that reflects a historical event, with enough strength and clarity to be used even for the dating of the tragedy (12). He has sent Creon, his brother-in-law and fellow ruler, to the Delphic oracle to find out how to stop the plague. Accessed 4 Mar. Haemon, Creons son and Antigones betrothed, enters the stage. Oedipus asks Theseus to harbor him in Athens until his death, but warns that by doing him this favor, Theseus will incur the wrath of Thebes. Oedipus the King (429-420 BCE), also known as Oedipus Rex or Oedipus Tyrannos ('Tyrannos' signifies that the throne was not gained through an inheritance) is the most famous surviving play written by the 5th-century BCE poet and dramatist Sophocles.The play is part of a trilogy along with Antigone and Oedipus at Colonus.. The devastating plague that dominates Thebes is presented to the audience through the dialogue between Oedipus and the Priest (lines 1-67) (2,3).The king has already taken some action to deal with this harm by sending his brother-in-law, Creon, to the oracle at Delphi . Figure 2. The first event that elicits emotions of fear and pity is found in the prologue where the people of Thebes suffer from a plague. The lethality of this epidemic is particularly terrifying for the protagonists of the play, and the diseases severity is evinced by the first sentences of the tragedy (reek of incense everywhere, line 4). They went in and saw Antigone hanging from a noose, and Haemon raving. Subscribe now. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. Theseus returns to the stage, asking the daughters to stop their weeping. Brucellosis is a highly contagious zoonosis caused by ingestion of unsterilized milk or meat from infected cows or close contact with their secretions. Creon reports that the gods have caused this plague in response to the murder of Laius, the previous king of . Sophocles audience knew the ancient story of Oedipus well, and would therefore interpret the greatness Oedipus exudes in the first scene as a tragic harbinger of his fall. Had his king been murdered, nothing would have stopped him from finding the murderer, just as he is promising to let nothing stop him now. A., Economopoulos, K. P., Poulakou-Rebelakou, E., Androutsos, G., & Tsiodras, S. (2012). On their way to consult an oracle, Laius and all but one of his fellow travelers were killed by thieves. Wed love to have you back! Historical certainty can be added by studying the alliances and the warfare involving Thebes during the era of Sophocles (e.g., Boeotian prefecture, Athenian dynasty, Spartan alliance, Persian wars) (14). Regarding the plays approach to treatment of the disease, reading through the drama we once again come across with the theocratic perceptions of ancient Greece. Only one of his fellow travelers escaped alive. Polynices tells Oedipus that he never condoned his exile, and that Eteocles is the bad son, having bribed the men of Thebes to turn against Polynices. (including. The pathogen of the plague described in Oedipus Rex reflects the complexity of every historically emerging zoonosis. The reference to the Sphinx reminds the audience that Oedipus is a genuine hero. A plague has stricken Thebes. 2 Pallas: Pallas Athena. In Oedipus Rex, why does Oedipus blind himself? At that time, a Sphinx held the city captive and refused to leave until someone answered her riddle. M.A. This skirmish occurred at the very crossroads where Laius was killed. He asks if anyone knows who killed Laius, promising that the informant will be rewarded and the murderer will receive no harsher punishment than exile. Saving Lives, Protecting People, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece (A.A. Kousoulis, K.P. Oedipus sends Creon to Delphi to consult the oracle, or priestess, there, about the cause of the plague in Thebes. On the surface, the problem afflicting Thebes is a plague. Kousoulis, A. Although the Choruss first ode (168244) piously calls to the gods to save Thebes from the plague, the answer they get to their prayer arrives in human form. Once Oedipus is banished from Thebes, the curse is lifted, and the plague ends. That baby was Oedipus. Oedipus asks a priest why the citizens have gathered around the palace. 2 oedipus rex study guide practice test questions final . Theseus says that he believes Oedipus and asks what to do. What does it suggest about the authors overall emphasis? Thebes has been struck by a plague, the citizens are dying, and no one knows how to put an end to it. He sends Creon, his brother-in-law, to the oracle at Athens . His primary research interests include history of medicine, medical sociology, and epidemiology. Oedipus (UK: / i d p s /, also US: / d -/; Greek: "swollen foot") was a mythical Greek king of Thebes.A tragic hero in Greek mythology, Oedipus accidentally fulfilled a prophecy that he would end up killing his father and marrying his mother, thereby bringing disaster to his city and family.. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. However, Thucydides correlation of the plague of Athens with the Peloponnesian War (431404 bc) (5) gives us the opportunity to state that Sophocles connects this epidemic of Thebes with the plague of Athens and attempts to point out the disastrous effects wars always have. . Subscribe now. The Plague in the Land of Thebes. The priest responds that the city is dying and asks the king to save Thebes. 2012;18(1):153-157. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid1801.ad1801. Latest answer posted November 11, 2019 at 3:50:28 AM. (one code per order). You'll also receive an email with the link. The Sphinx, in her anger, threw herself off a cliff. PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. It was a popular subject for drama, and Sophocles himself wrote other plays about it. Laius' murderer) must be killed orexpelled from Theban territory. Immediately following the ode, Oedipus enters and says that he will answer the Choruss prayers. She runs back into the palace. In the city of Thebes, there is a plague of infertility that strikes. These cookies perform functions like remembering presentation options or choices and, in some cases, delivery of web content that based on self-identified area of interests. The story would have been a familiar one to Sophocles's audience. Troy, Mycenae, and the otologic demise of Herr Heinrich Schliemann. As proof, she notes that the Delphic oracle once told Laius he would be murdered by his son, when in fact his son was cast out of Thebes as a baby, and Laius was murdered by a band of thieves. Oedipus Rex is a figure of Greek mythology from at least the 5th century B.C. At Jocastas summons, Oedipus comes outside, hears the news, and rejoices with her. Oedipus naturally refuses to believe Tiresiass accusation. In the most familiar version, first attested in Sophocles' tragedy Oedipus Tyrannus, Oedipus' downfall all began with a plague. All the people were led by an old priest having garlands and flowers. One such instance of this irony is when Oedipus proclaims proudlybut, for the audience, painfullythat he possesses the bed of the former king, and that marriage might have even created blood-bonds between him and Laius had Laius not been murdered (294300). He prays for the safety of his sisters and then leaves for Thebes. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. He avidly begins an all-out manhunt. Oedipus promises to solve the mystery of Laiuss death, vowing to curse and drive out the murderer. Ace your assignments with our guide to The Oedipus Plays! Oedipus returns and tells the Chorus that he will end the plague himself. Oedipus responds with a terrible curse, upbraiding his son for letting him be sent into exile, and predicting that Eteocles and Polynices will die at one anothers hands. A severe plague is described in Sophocles drama Oedipus Rex. A word with a meaning of something that brings death is used in the original Greek () to refer to the plague, which suggests that at the time of Sophocles his fellow Greeks were aware of the threat posed by infectious disease. Oedipus explains to Jocasta that the prophet has charged him with Laiuss murder, and Jocasta replies that all prophecies are false. The limp marks Oedipus's fate, even though he does not know it yet. Early in the play it is clarified that the disease is a cattle zoonosis of high mortality rate (a blight upon the grazing flocks and herds, line 26, with the herds being cattle,) (2,3). In addition, the realistic descriptions of the historian and the nightmarish lyrical rhymes of the poet, talk about a disease with a high mortality rate (2,10). Creon informs King Oedipus that until the killer of King Laius is identified, the plague cannot be ended. At this early stage in the play, Oedipus represents all that an Athenian audienceor indeed any audiencecould desire in a citizen or a leader. Oedipus is a vigorous and active leader. The priest glorifies his honor and describes that a plague is destroying the whole city: blight in the city causing famine and sickness. Struggling with distance learning? In Sophocles' Oedipus Rex, Oedipus' biological father is Laius, the King of Thebes prior to Oedipus. Data is collected weekly and does not include downloads and attachments. Oedipus zealously takes up the case, and questions the blind prophet Tiresias, only to hear that he, Oedipus, is the canker in the . Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. What is the conflict or problem the people of Thebes face as the play opens? Name: Ariel De Lucas `Oedipus Rex Guided Reading Notes DIRECTIONS: As we read the tragic play Oedipus Rex together, complete the following notes. A somewhat similar example is that of archeologist Heinrich Schlieman; before Schlieman, the writings of Homer had been considered a collection of mythological poems. He's one step ahead of the suggestions his subjects make to him and has already sent for Tiresias. Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs !Sophocles - Oedipus the King! Oedipus brags that he alone was able to solve the puzzle. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. $24.99 He asks Creon to send him away from Thebes and to look after his daughters, Antigone and Ismene. 2023. Who are the experts?Our certified Educators are real professors, teachers, and scholars who use their academic expertise to tackle your toughest questions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website. He marries Jocasta, Laius' widow. Another example of Oedipus's strong leadership. By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. Tiresias defends his skills as a prophet, noting that Oedipuss parents found him trustworthy. Homer related that Oedipus's wife and mother hanged herself when the truth of their relationship became known, though Oedipus apparently continued to rule at Thebes until his death. DNA examination of ancient dental pulp incriminates typhoid fever as a probable cause of the Plague of Athens. The Altmetric Attention Score for a research output provides an indicator of the amount of attention that it has received. The shepherd and the messenger slowly exit the stage. Comment submitted successfully, thank you for your feedback. There is a plague in Thebes, and many people are dying. The Priest of the land describes the death of young children, even those in the womb, as well as adults. C. The sphinx was terrorizing Thebes, so citizens couldn't investigate. These cookies may also be used for advertising purposes by these third parties. The gods serve punishment for Oedipus's guilt by inflicting a plague on Thebes. The citizens carry branches wrapped in wool, which they offer to the gods as gifts. He thinks he knows what happenedthieves killed Laiusbut is actually blind to the truth. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Soon after, Polynices arrives, seeking his fathers favor in order to gain custody of his eventual burial site. He lived his entire life in Athens and introduced many innovations in the dramatic arts (1). He accuses Creon and Tiresias of conspiring against his life, and charges Tiresias with insanity. He tells them they can trust him to help in any way he can. According to the World Health Organization, an epidemic is defined as a disease outbreak and, therefore, the occurrence of cases of disease in excess of what would normally be expected in a defined community, geographic area, or season (15). The oracle has predicted that the burial place of Oedipus will bring good fortune to the city in which it is located, and both sons, as well as Creon, know of this prophecy. King Oedipus vows to find King Laius's murderer and immediately remove him from Thebes to lift the curse. In other words, he became a hero by figuring out the truth. The citizens gather outside the palace of their king, Oedipus, asking him to take action. Oedipus fears mass destruction of the city of Thebes (with the god's good help success is sure; 'tis ruin if we fail, line 146), while the words weltering surge of blood (line 24), fiery plague (line 166), the land is sore distressed (line 685), and wailing on the altar stair, wives and grandams rend the air, long-drawn moans and piercing cries blent with prayers and litanies (lines 184186) (2,3) all illustrate vividly the severity of the situation. He returned with news that the plague was caused by the unpunished murderer who killed Laius. Creon was told by Apollo that in order to be free of the plague, they must "Pay the killers back- whoever is responsible" (Sophocles 1430). Creon is more pragmatic and less inclined to take action. Acting blindly, he curses himself. Economopoulos). Cookies used to track the effectiveness of CDC public health campaigns through clickthrough data. The king has already taken some action to deal with this harm by sending his brother-in-law, Creon, to the oracle at Delphi to ask for a salvation plan (lines 6872). plague; the plague in Thebes has three features which are closely associated with supernatural forces and appear in re-ligious contexts. Although we are able to see him as a mere puppet of fate, at some points, the irony is so magnified that it seems almost as if Oedipus brings catastrophe upon himself willingly. Sophocles, one of the most noted playwrights of the ancient world, wrote the tragedy Oedipus Rex in the first half of the decade 430420 bc. Oedipus the King opens with a plague strangling the life out of Thebes. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. Tiresias advises that Creon allow Polynices to be buried, but Creon refuses. Oedipus curses himself, proclaiming that should he discover the murderer to be a member of his own family, that person should be struck by the same exile and harsh treatment that he has just wished on the murderer. The plague is an infestation of disease-carrying insects that spread rapidly through the population, killing many. He asks that they provide him with a proper burial should he die in battle. Apparently, the gods have punished Thebes for the cruel murder of the former King Laius. He did not know that his parents in Corinth were not his real parents. PROLOGUE / THE SCENE. The Plague of Thebes, a Historical Epidemic in Sophocles Oedipus Rex. for a group? The Sphinx had the city under a spell. 216-275: Oedipus asks the Thebans to help him find and expel Laius' murderer. Answer: Oedipus married his mother. The Leader of the Chorus suggests that Oedipus call for Tiresias, a great prophet, and Oedipus responds that he has already done so. Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! With the deadly plague, which struck one of the most historic Greek cities, on the one hand and the tragic fate of a character who has become among the most recognizable in world theater on the other, Sophocles masterminded a dramatic frame and offered a lyrical, literary description of a lethal disease. As when he faced the Sphinx, Oedipus is presented with a puzzle to solve: the identity of Laius's murderer. In Oedipus Rex the plague is a miasma that destroys everything, rather than just a disease. The citizens have become suppliants to the monuments of the gods, asking for mercy (Why sit ye here as suppliants, in your hands branches of olive filleted with wool?, lines 23; the common folk, with wreathed boughs crowd our two market-places, or before both shrines of Pallas congregate, or where Ismenus gives his oracles by fire, lines 1921) (2,3). Creon, covetous of royal power, is all too happy to oblige. Oedipus, the king of Thebes, has sent his brother-in-law, Creon, to the house of Apollo to ask the oracle how to end the plague. The plague results from the shame of not punishing Thebe's former king's murderer. In the first scene of the play, Sophocles presents the basic social and historical axes around which he will unfold the plot. Best Answer. A lethal plague is described in this drama. Oedipus the King: What is the significance of the plays title? Let us know your assignment type and we'll make sure to get you exactly the kind of answer you need. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. PART I: Before Reading STATEMENT RESPONSE (3-5 sentences) It is important to know who we truly are, where we came .
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