Oedipus Essay, Research Paper

Oedipus the King

Sophocles

( c. 427 B.C. )

Drumhead

The drama opens in forepart of the castle of Oedipus at Thebes. Oedipus asks a priest and his prayers what they are desiring. The priest thanks him for salvaging them from the Sphinx, but tells him that the metropolis needs salvaging once more from a pestilence that has descended. Oedipus admits this and says that he has sent a courier to Apollo & # 8217 ; s shrine to happen out what he must make to salvage the metropolis. The courier arrives merely so. The courier says that Apollo told him that the adult male who murdered former King Laius must be discovered and driven from the land. Oedipus vows to make so. All issue but the chorus. The chorus laments the pestilence.

Oedipus returns. He asks anyone cognizing the individuality of the liquidator to step frontward without fright of injury. He curses those who have knowledge and do non step away. The chorus says he should inquire the prophesier Teiresias. Oedipus says that he has already sent for him. Teiresias enters. He says he knows something but refuses to talk. Oedipus is ferocious. He accuses Teiresias of holding a portion in the slaying. Teirasias accuses Oedipus of being the liquidator. Oedipus concludes that former male monarch Creon must hold put Teiresias up to doing the accusals. Teireaias tells Oedipus that his ruin will come when he learns the secret of his matrimony, and asks him if he knows who his parents are. Oedipus orders him out of the house. Teiresias tells him that the liquidator will be proved both father and brother to his kids. Teiresian and Oedipus leave individually. The chorus sides with Oedipus.

Creon enters, denying the allegations that he has heard Oedipus made. Oedipus enters and accuses Creon of being the liquidator and seeking to take the throne. Creon denies this. He says that he & # 8217 ; s happy with his place. He lives like a male monarch without holding to bear the frights of a male monarch. Oedipus proposes to kill Creon. Oedipus & # 8217 ; married woman, Jocasta, enters. Everyone, including Jocasta, begs Oedipus to save Creon on the strength of Creon & # 8217 ; s oath that he is guiltless. Oedipus consents, but pledges to forever hatred Creon. Creon issues.

Oedipus tells Jocasta that Creon had sent the prophesier to impeach him of the slaying. She tells him that worlds make hapless Prophetss. As an illustration, she tells how an prophet one told male monarch Laius that he would be killed by his ain boy, but Laius ensured that it wouldn & # 8217 ; t go on by piercing his 3-day-old boy & # 8217 ; s mortise joints and go forthing him for dead on a distant hillside. Oedipus asks for inside informations of Laius & # 8217 ; decease. Jocasta tells him. She says that the lone life informant to the slaying is a adult male who now works as a shepherd outside the metropolis. Oedipus Tells Jocasta that when he was

immature he was told by an prophet that he was fated to kill his ain male parent and slumber with his female parent. He tells her that he believes that he quarreled with Laius and his work forces at the hamlets and he killed tham. The chorus says non to judge himself till he meets the shepherd. Oedipus grounds that if the shepherd says that they encountered a lone adult male, he is guilty ; if many work forces, he is guiltless. All issue.

A courier arrives and tells Jocasta that Oedipus & # 8217 ; father Polybus has died and the Corinthians want Oedipus as their male monarch now. Jocasta sends for Oedipus and tells him the & # 8220 ; good & # 8221 ; intelligence & # 8212 ; his male parent is dead, and it is non at Oedipus & # 8217 ; manus. Oedipus is comforted, but he is still afraid that he is fated to kip with Polybus & # 8217 ; married woman. He tells the courier his fright. The courier tells him that he is no blood kin to his parents. The courier had given Oedipus to them when a shepherd had given him over as an abandoned babe. The chorus believes the courier is mentioning to the shepherd that Oedipus wanted to see. Jocasta begs Oedipus non to seek the truth. Oedipus sends for the shepherd. Jocasta exits.

The old shepherd enters, led by Oedipus & # 8217 ; retainers. The courier asks if he remembers giving him a kid. The shepherd remembers, but doesn & # 8217 ; t want to state the narrative. Oedipus has his work forces twist the shepherd & # 8217 ; s arm and endanger & # 8217 ; s him with decease if he does non state all. He tells of how Laius & # 8217 ; married woman gave him the kid to make away with. Oedipus cries out that he is cursed. All issue but the chorus. The chorus weeps for Oedipus.

A 2nd courier enters and announces that Jocasta has hanged herself. When Oedipus came upon the organic structure, he tore her broachs off and gouged them into his ain eyes, shouting that they will ne’er see the offense he has committed. Teh courier says that Oedipus wants to demo himself to the people of Thebes, and so go forth the metropolis everlastingly. The doors open, and Oedipus enters. The chorus expresses their commiseration. Oedipus cries out about his evil workss and asks the chorus to take him off from the metropolis or kill him. Creon enters. He tells a servant to take Oedipus indoors. Oedipus asks Creon to drive him from the metropolis. Creon wants to wait for the Gods to state him what to make. Oedipus tells Creon to bury his married woman, to allow him populate on the mountain where he was left as a kid, and to take attention of Oedipus & # 8217 ; girls. Oedipus & # 8217 ; two girls enter. Oedipus laments the hard life they will take now that their lineage is revealed. He once more begs Creon to take attention of them. Creon tells Oedipus to travel indoors. Oedipus agrees on status that Creon banishes him. Creon wants to go forth the penalty to the Gods. Oedipus says that the Gods hate him. Creon agrees to take him off from the metropolis. Creon and Oedipus leave together.