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their parents* "onsent6 it is m"h too simple to "all them $ad% Romeo and 5liet are yong+ in lo'e+
no$ler in spirit than their parents%
Torner*s 'ie# is pro$a$ly deri'ed ltimately from an inflential passage in Aristotle*s Poeti"s in
#hi"h Aristotle speaks of hamartia+ sometimes literally translated as missing the target+ sometimes as
'i"e or fla# or #eakness+ $t perhaps $est translated as mistake% Aristotle seems to imply that the
hero is ndone $e"ase of some mistake he or she "ommits+ $t this mistake need not $e the reslt of a
moral falt6 it may $e simply a mis"al"lation!for e.ample+ failre to foresee the "onse/en"es of a deed%
&rts makes a strategi" mistake #hen he lets 2ar" Antony speak at Caesar*s fneral+ $t #e "an hardly
"all it a 'i"e%
&e"ase Aristotle*s hamartia in"ldes mistakes of this sort+ the "ommon translation tragi" fla# is
erroneos% n many Greek tragedies the hero*s hamartia is h$ris or hy$ris4+ sally translated as
o'er#eening pride% The hero forgets that he or she is falli$le+ a"ts as thogh he or she has the po#er
and #isdom of the gods+ and is later hm$led for this arrogan"e% &t one "an arge that this self7
asserti'eness is not a 'i"e $t a 'irte+ not a #eakness $t a strength6 if the hero is destroyed for self7
assertion+ he or she is ne'ertheless greater than the srronding people+ -st as the person #ho tries to
stem a lyn"h mo$ is greater than the mo$+ althogh that person also may $e lyn"hed for his or her 'irte%
8r a hero may $e ndone $y a high7mindedness that makes him or her 'lnera$le% Hamlet is 'lnera$le
$e"ase he is+ as his enemy says+ most generos and free from all "ontri'ing6 $e"ase Hamlet is high7minded+ he #ill not sspe"t that the proposed fen"ing mat"h is a mrderos plot% 8thello "an $e tri"ked
into mrdering 9esdemona not simply $e"ase he is -ealos $t $e"ase he is in the #ords of the
'illainos ago4 of a free and open natre : That thinks men honest $t seem so% ago kno#s+ too+ that
ot of 9esdemona*s goodness he "an make the net : That shall enmesh them all%
;e.t+ here is a statement more or less the re'erse of Torner*s+ $y a Rssian "riti"+
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the #orker that (estern 'isitors to Rssia "ommented on the a$sen"e of "ontemporary tragi" plays% )till+
there is m"h in the idea that the tragi" hero a""omplishes a great deed+ and perhaps #e do resent the
things #hi"h $roght a$ot the hero*s death% The st$$ornness of the 2ontages and Caplets+ the fry
of the mo$ that trns against &rts+ the "rimes of Cladis in Hamlet!all these #old seem to "all for
or indignation%
The third "omment is $y Arthr 2iller,
f it is tre to say that in essen"e the tragi" hero is intent pon "laiming his #hole de as a
personality+ and if this strggle mst $e total and #ithot reser'ation+ then it atomati"ally
demonstrates the indestr"ti$le #ill of man to a"hie'e his hmanity% % % % t is "rios+ althogh
edifying+ that the plays #e re'ere+ "entry after "entry+ are the tragedies% n them+ and in them
alone+ lies the $elief!optimisti"+ if yo #ill!in the perfe"ti$ility of man%
There is m"h in 2iller*s sggestions that the tragi" hero makes a large and total "laim and that the
adien"e often senses trimph rather than despair in tragedies% (e often feel that #e ha'e #itnessed
hman greatness!that the hero+ despite profond sffering+ has li'ed a""ording to his or her ideals% (e
may feel that #e ha'e a"hie'ed ne# insight into hman greatness% &t the perfe"ti$ility of man1 9o #e
feel that 5lis Caesar or 2a"$eth or Hamlet ha'e to do #ith hman perfe"ti$ility1 9on*t these plays
sggest rather that people+ #hate'er their no$ility+ ha'e #ithin them the seeds of their o#n destr"tion1
(ithot o'eremphasizing the gilt of the protagonists+ don*t #e feel that in part the plays dramatize theimperfe"ti$ility of hman $eings1 n m"h tragedy+ after all+ the destr"tion "omes from #ithin+ not from
#ithot,
n tragi" life+ God #ot+
;o 'illain need $e= Passions spin the plot,
(e are $etrayed $y #hat is false #ithin%
!George 2eredith
(hat #e are talking a$ot is tragi" irony+ the "ontrast $et#een #hat is $elie'ed to $e so and #hat is so+ or$et#een e.pe"tations and a""omplishments%> )e'eral e.amples from 2a"$eth illstrate something of the
range of tragi" irony #ithin a single play% n the first a"t+ ?ing 9n"an $esto#s on 2a"$eth the title of
Thane of Ca#dor% &y his kindness 9n"an seals his o#n doom+ for 2a"$eth+ ha'ing a"hie'ed this rank+
#ill ne.t #ant to a"hie'e a higher one% n the third a"t+ 2a"$eth+ kno#ing that &an/o #ill soon $e
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mrdered+ hypo"riti"ally rges &an/o to fail not or feast% &t 2a"$eth*s hollo# re/est is ironi"ally
flfilled, the ghost of &an/o terrorizes 2a"$eth dring the feast% The most per'asi'e irony of all+ of
"orse+ is that 2a"$eth aims at happiness #hen he kills 9n"an and takes the throne+ $t he #ins only
sorro#%
Aristotle*s dis"ssion of peripeteia re'ersal4 and anagnorisis re"ognition4 may $e a #ay of getting at
this sort of irony% He may simply ha'e meant a re'ersal of fortne for e.ample+ good l"k "eases4 and a
re"ognition of #ho is #ho for e.ample+ the paper is really the prin"e4+ $t more likely he meant
profonder things% 8ne "an say that the re'ersal in 2a"$eth lies in the sorro# that 2a"$eth*s in"reased
po#er $rings% The re"ognition "omes #hen he realizes the "onse/en"es of his deeds,
ha'e li'ed long enogh, my #ay of life
s fall*n into the sere+ the yello# leaf6
And #hat #hi"h shold a""ompany old age+
As honor+ lo'e+ o$edien"e+ troops of friends+
mst not look to ha'e6 $t+ in their stead+
Crses+ not lod $t deep+ moth7honor+ $reath
(hi"h the poor heart #old fain deny+ and dare not%
That or deeds often ndo s+ that #e "an aim at or good and prod"e or rin+ #as not+ of "orse+ a
dis"o'ery of the tragi" dramatists% The ar"hetype is the story of Adam and E'e, these t#o aimed at$e"oming like God+ and as a "onse/en"e+ they $roght pon themsel'es "orrption+ death+ the loss of
their earthly paradise% The &i$le is filled #ith stories of tragi" irony% A $rief /otation from E""lesiastes
@0%B4 "an stand as an epitome of these stories,
He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it6 and #hoso $reaketh an hedge+ a serpent shall $ite him%
(hoso remo'eth stones shall $e hrt there#ith6 and he that "lea'eth #ood shall $e
endangered there$y%
He that "lea'eth #ood shall $e endangered there$y% A"ti'ity in'ol'es danger% To $e ina"ti'e is+ often+ to$e igno$le+ $t to $e a"ti'e is ne"essarily to imperil oneself% Perhaps #e "an attempt a smmary of tragi"
figres, they a"t+ and they sffer+ sally as a "onse/en"e of their a"tion% The /estion is not of the
a"tion*s $eing parti"larly $ad Torner*s 'ie#4 or parti"larly good Timofee'*s 'ie#46 the a"tion is
often $oth good and $ad+ a sign of "orage and also of arrogan"e+ a sign of greatness and also of
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limitations%
Dinally+ a $rief "onsideration of the pleasre of tragedy, (hy do #e en-oy plays a$ot sffering1
Aristotle has some o$s"re "omments on "atharsis prgation4 that are often interpreted as saying that
tragedy aroses in s $oth pity and fear and then prges s of these emotions% The idea+ perhaps+ is that
-st as #e "an it is said4 harmlessly dis"harge or aggressi'e implses $y #itnessing a prizefight or $y
shoting at an mpire+ so #e "an harmlessly dis"harge or implses to pity and to fear $y #itnessing the
dramatization of a person*s destr"tion% The theater in this 'ie# is an otlet for emotions that else#here
#old $e harmfl% &t+ it mst $e repeated+ Aristotle*s "omments on "atharsis are o$s"re6 perhaps+ too+
they are #rong%
2ost later theories on the pleasre of tragedy are footnotes to Aristotle*s #ords on "atharsis% )ome
say that or pleasre is sadisti" #e en-oy the sight of sffering46 some+ that or pleasre is maso"histi"
#e en-oy la"erating orsel'es46 some+ that it lies in sympathy #e en-oy e.tending pity and $ene'olen"e to
the #ret"hed46 some+ that it lies in self7"ongratlation #e are reminded+ #hen #e see sffering+ of or
o#n good fortne46 some+ that #e take pleasre in tragedy $e"ase the tragi" hero a"ts ot or se"ret
desires+ and #e re-oi"e in his or her aggression+ e.piating or gilt in his or her sffering6 and so on%
&t this is n"ertain psy"hology+ and it mostly negle"ts the distin"tion $et#een real sffering and
dramatized sffering% n the latter+ srely+ part of the pleasre is in the "ontemplation of an aestheti"
o$-e"t+ an o$-e"t that is nified and "omplete% The "haos of real life seems+ for a fe# moments in drama+ to$e ordered, the protagonist*s a"tion+ his or her s$se/ent sffering+ and the total "osmos seem someho#
related% Tragedy has no se for the passer$y #ho is killed $y a falling $ri"k% The e'ents the person*s
#alk+ the $ri"k*s fall4 ha'e no meaningfl relation% &t sppose a person "hooses to "lim$ a montain+
and in making the as"ent sets in motion an a'alan"he that destroys that person% Here #e find ho#e'er
simple the illstration4 something "loser to tragedy% (e do not say that people shold a'oid montains+ or
that montain "lim$ers deser'e to die $y a'alan"hes% &t #e feel that the e'ent is nified+ as the
a""idental "on-n"tion of $ri"k and passer$y is not%Tragedy ths presents some sort of ordered a"tion6 tragi" drama itself is orderly% As #e see or read it+
#e feel it "annot $e other#ise6 #ord $egets #ord+ deed $egets deed+ and e'ery moment is e./isitely
appropriate% (hate'er the rele'an"e on sadism+ maso"hism+ sympathy+ and the rest+ the pleasre of
tragedy srely "omes in part from the artisti" shaping of the material%
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A NOTE ON GREEK TRAGEDY
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The a"tors all male4 #ore masks+ and they seem to ha'e "hanted m"h of the play% Perhaps the total
reslt of "om$ining spee"h #ith msi" and dan"ing #as a sort of msi"7drama roghly akin to opera #ith
some spoken dialoge+ s"h as 2ozart*s The 2agi" Dlte @K@4%
TWO PLAYS BY SOPHOCLES
SOPHOCLES
8ne of the three great #riters of tragedies in an"ient Gree"e+
)opho"les 1B0 $"e4 #as $orn in Colons+ near Athens+
into a #ell7to7do family% (ell ed"ated+ he first #on p$li"
a""laim as a tragi" poet at the age of FK+ in $"e #hen he
defeated Aes"hyls in a "ompetition for #riting a tragi" play%
He is said to ha'e #ritten some @F0 plays+ $t only se'en
tragedies are e.tant, among them are 8edips Re.+ Antigone+
and 8edips at Colons% He died+ m"h honored+ in his
ninetieth year+ in Athens+ #here he had li'ed his entire life%
Oedipus the King
Translated by Robert Fagles
CHARACTER)
oedipus, king of Thebes
a priest of zeus
creon, brother of Jocasta
a chorus of Theban citizens and their leader
tiresias, a blind prophet
jocasta, the queen, wife of Oedipus
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a messenger from orinth
a shepherda messenger from inside the palace
antigone, ismene, daughters of Oedipus and Jocasta
guards and attendants
priests of Thebes
!T"#$ %&' ($&$) The royal house of Thebes* 'ouble doors dominate the fa ade+ a stone altar
stands at the center of the stage*
#any years hae passed since oedipus soled the riddle of the (phin- and ascended the throne of
Thebes, and now a plague has struck the city* % procession of priests enters+ suppliants, broken and
despondent, they carry branches wound in wool and lay them on the altar*
The doors open* guards assemble* oedipus comes forward, majestic but for a telltale limp, and slowly
iews the condition of his people*.
oedips% 8h my "hildren+ the ne# $lood of an"ient The$es+
#hy are yo here1 Hddling at my altar+
praying $efore me+ yor $ran"hes #ond in #ool%L
8r "ity reeks #ith the smoke of $rning in"ense+
rings #ith "ries for the HealerL and #ailing for the dead%
thoght it #rong+ my "hildren+ to hear the trthfrom others+ messengers% Here am myself!
yo all kno# me+ the #orld kno#s my fame,
am 8edips%
!/elping a priest to his feet*.
)peak p+ old man% Mor years+
yor dignity!yo shold speak for the others% @0
(hy here and kneeling+ #hat preys pon yo so1)ome sdden fear1 some strong desire1
Mo "an trst me% am ready to help+
*ll do anything% #old $e $lind to misery
not to pity my people kneeling at my feet% @
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priest% 8h 8edips+ king of the land+ or greatest po#er=
Mo see s $efore yo no#+ men of all ages
"linging to yor altars% Here are $oys+
still too #eak to fly from the nest+
and here the old+ $o#ed do#n #ith the years+ F0
the holy ones!a priest of NesL myself!and here
the pi"ked+ nmarried men+ the yong hope of The$es%
And all the rest+ yor great family gathers no#+
$ran"hes #reathed+ massing in the s/ares+
kneeling $efore the t#o temples of /een AthenaL F
or the ri'er7shrine #here the em$ers glo# and die
and Apollo sees the ftre in the ashes%L
8r "ity!
look arond yo+ see #ith yor o#n eyes!
or ship pit"hes #ildly+ "annot lift her head
from the depths+ the red #a'es of death % % % 30
The$es is dying% A $light on the fresh "rops
and the ri"h pastres+ "attle si"ken and die+and the #omen die in la$or+ "hildren still$orn+
and the plage+ the fiery god of fe'er hrls do#n
on the "ity+ his lightning slashing throgh s! 3
raging plage in all its 'engean"e+ de'astating
the hose of Cadms=L And $la"k 9eath l.riates
in the ra#+ #ailing miseries of The$es%
;o# #e pray to yo% Mo "annot e/al the gods+yor "hildren kno# that+ $ending at yor altar% 0
&t #e do rate yo first of men+
$oth in the "ommon "rises of or li'es
and fa"e7to7fa"e en"onters #ith the gods%
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Mo freed s from the )phin.+L yo "ame to The$es
and "t s loose from the $loody tri$teL #e had paid
that harsh+ $rtal singer% (e taght yo nothing+
no skill+ no e.tra kno#ledge+ still yo trimphed%
A god #as #ith yo+ so they say+ and #e $elie'e it!
yo lifted p or li'es%
)o no# again+
8edips+ king+ #e $end to yo+ yor po#er! 0
#e implore yo+ all of s on or knees,
find s strength+ res"e= Perhaps yo*'e heard
the 'oi"e of a god or something from other men+
8edips % % % #hat do yo kno#1
The man of e.perien"e!yo see it e'ery day!
his plans #ill #ork in a "risis+ his first of all%
A"t no#!#e $eg yo+ $est of men+ raise p or "ity=
A"t+ defend yorself+ yor former glory=
Mor "ontry "alls yo sa'ior no#
for yor zeal+ yor a"tion years ago% 0;e'er let s remem$er of yor reign,
yo helped s stand+ only to fall on"e more%
8h raise p or "ity+ set s on or feet%
The omens #ere good that day yo $roght s -oy!
$e the same man today=
Rle or land+ yo kno# yo ha'e the po#er+
$t rle a land of the li'ing+ not a #asteland%)hip and to#ered "ity are nothing+ stripped of men
ali'e #ithin it+ li'ing all as one%
oedips% 2y "hildren+
pity yo% see!ho# "old fail to see K0
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#hat longings $ring yo here1 (ell kno#
yo are si"k to death+ all of yo+
$t si"k as yo are+ not one is si"k as %
Mor pain strikes ea"h of yo alone+ ea"h
in the "onfines of himself+ no other% &t my spirit K
grie'es for the "ity+ for myself and all of yo%
#asn*t asleep+ dreaming% Mo ha'en*t #akened me!
*'e #ept throgh the nights+ yo mst kno# that+
groping+ la$oring o'er many paths of thoght%
After a painfl sear"h fond one "re, 0
a"ted at on"e% sent Creon+
my #ife*s o#n $rother+ to 9elphiL!
Apollo the Prophet*s ora"le!to learn
#hat might do or say to sa'e or "ity%
Today*s the day% (hen "ont the days gone $y
it torments me % % % #hat is he doing1
)trange+ he*s late+ he*s gone too long%
&t on"e he retrns+ then+ then *ll $e a traitorif do not do all the god makes "lear%
priest% Timely #ords% The men o'er there 0
are signaling!Creon*s -st arri'ing%
oedips% O)ighting "reon+ then trning to the altar%
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Creon+ prin"e+ my kinsman+ #hat do yo $ring s1
(hat message from the god1
"reon% Good ne#s%
tell yo e'en the hardest things to $ear+
if they shold trn ot #ell+ all #old $e #ell% @00
oedips% 8f "orse+ $t #hat #ere the god*s #ords1 There*s no hope
and nothing to fear in #hat yo*'e said so far%
"reon% f yo #ant my report in the presen"e of these % % %
!0ointing to the priests while drawing oedipus toward the palace*.
*m ready no#+ or #e might go inside%
oedips% )peak ot+
speak to s all% grie'e for these+ my people+ @0
far more than fear for my o#n life%
"reon% Qery #ell+
#ill tell yo #hat heard from the god%
Apollo "ommands s!he #as /ite "lear!
9ri'e the "orrption from the land+
don*t har$or it any longer+ past all "re+ @@0don*t nrse it in yor soil!root it ot=
oedips% Ho# "an #e "leanse orsel'es!#hat rites1
(hat*s the sor"e of the tro$le1
"reon% &anish the man+ or pay $a"k $lood #ith $lood%
2rder sets the plage7storm on the "ity%
oedips% (hose mrder1 @@
(hose fate does Apollo $ring to light1"reon% 8r leader+
my lord+ #as on"e a man named
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or so *'e heard% ne'er sa# the man myself%
"reon% (ell+ he #as killed+ and Apollo "ommands s no#! @F0
he "old not $e more "lear+
Pay the killers $a"k!#hoe'er is responsi$le%
oedips% (here on earth are they1 (here to find it no#+
the trail of the an"ient gilt so hard to tra"e1
"reon% Here in The$es+ he said% @F
(hate'er is soght for "an $e "aght+ yo kno#+
#hate'er is negle"ted slips a#ay%
oedips% &t #here+
in the pala"e+ the fields or foreign soil+
#here did
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no leader appeared to help s in or tro$les%
oedips% Tro$le1 Mor king #as mrdered!royal $lood= @
(hat stopped yo from tra"king do#n the killer
then and there1
"reon% The singing+ riddling )phin.%
)he % % % persaded s to let the mystery go
and "on"entrate on #hat lay at or feet%
oedips% ;o+
*ll start again!*ll $ring it all to light myself= @0
Apollo is right+ and so are yo+ Creon+
to trn or attention $a"k to the mrdered man%
;o# yo ha'e me to fight for yo+ yo*ll see,
am the land*s a'enger $y all rights+
and Apollo*s "hampion too% @
&t not to assist some distant kinsman+ no+
for my o#n sake *ll rid s of this "orrption%
(hoe'er killed the king may de"ide to kill me too+
#ith the same 'iolent hand!$y a'enging
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Apollo has sent his #ord+ his ora"le!
Come do#n+ Apollo+ sa'e s+ stop the plage%
!The priests rise, remoe their branches and e-it to the side* $nter a chorus, the citizens of
Thebes, who hae not heard the news that creon brings* They march around the altar,
chanting*.
"hros% Nes=
Great #el"ome 'oi"e of Nes+L #hat do yo $ring1
(hat #ord from the gold 'alts of 9elphi @K0
"omes to $rilliant The$es1 Ra"ked #ith terror!
terror shakes my heart
and "ry yor #ild "ries+ Apollo+ Healer of 9elosL
#orship yo in dread % % % #hat no#+ #hat is yor pri"e1
some ne# sa"rifi"e1 some an"ient rite from the past @K
"ome rond again ea"h spring1!
#hat #ill yo $ring to $irth1
Tell me+ "hild of golden Hope
#arm 'oi"e that ne'er dies=
Mo are the first "all+ daghter of Nes @0deathless Athena! "all yor sister Artemis+L
heart of the market pla"e enthroned in glory+
gardian of or earth!
"all Apollo+ Ar"her astride the thnderheads of hea'en!
8 triple shield against death+ shine $efore me no#= @
f e'er+ on"e in the past+ yo stopped some rin
lan"hed against or #alls yo hrled the flame of pain
far+ far from The$es!yo gods
"ome no#+ "ome do#n on"e more=
;o+ no@0
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the miseries nm$erless+ grief on grief+ no end!
too m"h to $ear+ #e are all dying
8 my people % % %
The$es like a great army dying
and there is no s#ord of thoght to sa'e s+ no @
and the frits of or famos earth+ they #ill not ripen
no and the #omen "annot s"ream their pangs to $irth!
s"reams for the Healer+ "hildren dead in the #om$
and life on life goes do#n
yo "an #at"h them go F00
like sea$irds #inging #est+ otra"ing the day*s fire
do#n the horizon+ irresisti$ly
streaking on to the shores of E'ening
9eath
so many deaths+ nm$erless deaths on deaths+ no end!
The$es is dying+ look+ her "hildren F0
stripped of pity % % %
generations stre#n on the grondn$ried+ n#ept+ the dead spreading death
and the yong #i'es and gray7haired mothers #ith them
"ling to the altars+ trailing in from all o'er the "ity! F@0
The$es+ "ity of death+ one long "ortege
and the sffering rises
#ails for mer"y rise
and the #ild hymn for the Healer $lazes ot"lashing #ith or so$s or "ries of morning! F@
8 golden daghter of god+L send res"e
radiant as the kindness in yor eyes=
9ri'e him $a"k=!the fe'er+ the god of death
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that raging god of #ar
not armored in $ronze+ not shielded no#+ he $rns me+ FF0
$attle "ries in the onslaght $rning on!
8 rot him from or $orders=
)ail him+ $last him ot to the )ea7/een*s "ham$er
the $la"k Atlanti" glfs
or the northern har$or+ death to all FF
#here the Thra"ian srf "omes "rashing%
;o# #hat the night spares he "omes $y day and kills!
the god of death%
8 lord of the storm"lod+
yo #ho t#irl the lightning+ Nes+ Dather+
thnder 9eath to nothing= F30
Apollo+ lord of the light+ $eg yo!
#hip yor long$o#*s golden "ord
sho#ering arro#s on or enemies!shafts of po#er
"hampions strong $efore s rshing on=
Artemis+ Hntress+ F3tor"hes flaring o'er the eastern ridges!
ride 9eath do#n in pain=
God of the headdress gleaming gold+ "ry to yo!
yor name and ors are one+ 9ionyssL!
"ome #ith yor fa"e aflame #ith #ine F0
yor ra'ing #omen*s "ries
yor army on the mar"h= Come #ith the lightning"ome #ith tor"hes $lazing+ eyes a$laze #ith glory=
&rn that god of death that all gods hate=
!oedipus enters from the palace to address the chorus, as if addressing the entire city of
Thebes*.
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oedips% Mo pray to the gods1
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#hoe'er he may $e!ne'er shelter him+ ne'er
speak a #ord to him+ ne'er make him partner
to yor prayers+ yor 'i"tims $rned to the gods%
;e'er let the holy #ater to"h his hands
9ri'e him ot+ ea"h of yo+ from e'ery home% FK
He is the plage+ the heart of or "orrption+
as Apollo*s ora"le has -st re'ealed to me%
)o honor my o$ligations,
fight for the god and for the mrdered man%
;o# my "rse on the mrderer% (hoe'er he is+ F0
a lone man nkno#n in his "rime
or one among many+ let that man drag ot
his life in agony+ step $y painfl step!
"rse myself as #ell % % % if $y any "han"e
he pro'es to $e an intimate of or hose+ F
here at my hearth+ #ith my fll kno#ledge+
may the "rse -st "alled do#n on him strike me=
These are yor orders, perform them to the last% "ommand yo+ for my sake+ for Apollo*s+ for this "ontry
$lasted root and $ran"h $y the angry hea'ens% F0
E'en if god had ne'er rged yo on to a"t+
ho# "old yo lea'e the "rime n"leansed so long1
A man so no$le!yor king+ $roght do#n in $lood!
yo shold ha'e sear"hed% &t am the king no#+
hold the throne that he held then+ possess his $ed Fand a #ife #ho shares or seed % % % #hy+ or seed
might $e the same+ "hildren $orn of the same mother
might ha'e "reated $lood7$onds $et#een s
if his hope of offspring hadn*t met disaster!
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$t fate s#ooped at his head and "t him short% 300
)o #ill fight for him as if he #ere my father+
stop at nothing+ sear"h the #orld
to lay my hands on the man #ho shed his $lood+
the son of
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Anyone sear"hing for the trth+ my king+
might learn it from the prophet+ "lear as day% 3F
oedips% *'e not $een slo# #ith that% 8n Creon*s "e
sent the es"orts+ t#i"e+ #ithin the hor%
*m srprised he isn*t here%
leader% (e need him!
#ithot him #e ha'e nothing $t old+ seless rmors%
oedips% (hi"h rmors1 *ll sear"h ot e'ery #ord% 330
leader%
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Relief from the plage "an only "ome one #ay%
Jn"o'er the mrderers of
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and #ill ne'er re'eal my dreadfl se"rets+
not to say yor o#n% 3K
oedips% (hat1 Mo kno# and yo #on*t tell1
Mo*re $ent on $etraying s+ destroying The$es1
tiresias% *d rather not "ase pain for yo or me%
)o #hy this % % % seless interrogation1
Mo*ll get nothing from me%
oedips% ;othing= Mo+ 30
yo s"m of the earth+ yo*d enrage a heart of stone=
Mo #on*t talk1 ;othing mo'es yo1
8t #ith it+ on"e and for all=
tiresias% Mo "riti"ize my temper % % % na#are
of the one yo li'e #ith+ yo re'ile me% 3
oedips% (ho "old restrain his anger hearing yo1
(hat otrage!yo sprn the "ity=
tiresias% (hat #ill "ome #ill "ome%
E'en if shrod it all in silen"e%
oedips% (hat #ill "ome1 Mo*re $ond to tell me that% 30tiresias% *ll say no more% 9o as yo like+ $ild yor anger
to #hate'er pit"h yo please+ rage yor #orst!
oedips% 8h *ll let loose+ ha'e s"h fry in me!
no# see it all% Mo helped hat"h the plot+
yo did the #ork+ yes+ short of killing him 3
#ith yor o#n hands!and gi'en eyes *d say
yo did the killing single7handed=tiresias% s that so=
"harge yo+ then+ s$mit to that de"ree
yo -st laid do#n, from this day on#ard
speak to no one+ not these "itizens+ not myself% 00
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Mo are the "rse+ the "orrption of the land=
oedips% Mo+ shameless!
aren*t yo appalled to start p s"h a story1
Mo think yo "an get a#ay #ith this1
tiresias% ha'e already%
The trth #ith all its po#er li'es inside me% 0
oedips% (ho primed yo for this1 ;ot yor prophet*s trade%
tiresias% Mo did+ yo for"ed me+ t#isted it ot of me%
oedips% (hat1 )ay it again!*ll nderstand it $etter%
tiresias% 9idn*t yo nderstand+ -st no#1
8r are yo tempting me to talk1 @0
oedips% ;o+ "an*t say grasped yor meaning%
8t #ith it+ again=
tiresias% say yo are the mrderer yo hnt%
oedips% That o$s"enity+ t#i"e!$y god+ yo*ll pay%
tiresias% )hall say more+ so yo "an really rage1@
oedips% 2"h as yo #ant% Mor #ords are nothing!ftile%
tiresias% Mo "annot imagine % % % tell yo+yo and yor lo'ed ones li'e together in infamy+
yo "annot see ho# far yo*'e gone in gilt%
oedips% Mo think yo "an keep this p and ne'er sffer1 F0
tiresias% ndeed+ if the trth has any po#er%
oedips% t does
$t not for yo+ old man% Mo*'e lost yor po#er+
stone7$lind+ stone7deaf!senses+ eyes $lind as stone=tiresias% pity yo+ flinging at me the 'ery inslts
ea"h man here #ill fling at yo so soon%
oedips% &lind+ F
lost in the night+ endless night that "rsed yo=
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Mo "an*t hrt me or anyone else #ho sees the light!
yo "an ne'er to"h me%
tiresias% Tre+ it is not yor fate
to fall at my hands% Apollo is /ite enogh+
and he #ill take some pains to #ork this ot% 30
oedips% Creon= s this "onspira"y his or yors1
tiresias% Creon is not yor do#nfall+ no+ yo are yor o#n%
oedips% 8 po#er!
#ealth and empire+ skill otstripping skill
in the heady ri'alries of life+
#hat en'y lrks inside yo= 5st for this+ 3
the "ro#n the "ity ga'e me! ne'er soght it+
they laid it in my hands!for this alone+ Creon+
the sol of trst+ my loyal friend from the start
steals against me % % % so hngry to o'erthro# me
he sets this #izard on me+ this s"heming /a"k+ 0
this fortne7teller peddling lies+ eyes peeled
for his o#n profit!seer $lind in his "raft=Come here+ yo pios frad% Tell me+
#hen did yo e'er pro'e yorself a prophet1
(hen the )phin.+ that "hanting Dry kept her death#at"h here+
#hy silent then+ not a #ord to set or people free1
There #as a riddle+ not for some passer7$y to sol'e!
it "ried ot for a prophet% (here #ere yo1
9id yo rise to the "risis1 ;ot a #ord+yo and yor $irds+ yor gods!nothing% 0
;o+ $t "ame $y+ 8edips the ignorant+
stopped the )phin.= (ith no help from the $irds+
the flight of my o#n intelligen"e hit the mark%
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And this is the man yo*d try to o'erthro#1
Mo think yo*ll stand $y Creon #hen he*s king1
Mo and the great mastermind!
yo*ll pay in tears+ promise yo+ for this+
this #it"h7hnt% f yo didn*t look so senile
the lash #old tea"h yo #hat yor s"heming means=
leader% #old sggest his #ords #ere spoken in anger+ 0
8edips % % % yors too+ and it isn*t #hat #e need%
The $est soltion to the ora"le+ the riddle
posed $y god!#e shold look for that%
tiresias% Mo are the king no do$t+ $t in one respe"t+
at least+ am yor e/al, the right to reply%
"laim that pri'ilege too%
am not yor sla'e% ser'e Apollo%
don*t need Creon to speak for me in p$li"%
)o+
yo mo"k my $lindness1
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(hat ro"k of CithaeronL #on*t s"ream $a"k in e"ho1
That day yo learn the trth a$ot yor marriage+
the #edding7mar"h that sang yo into yor halls+
the lsty 'oyage home to the fatal har$or=
And a "ro#d of other horrors yo*d ne'er dream
#ill le'el yo #ith yorself and all yor "hildren%
There% ;o# smear s #ith inslts!Creon+ myself+
and e'ery #ord *'e said% ;o man #ill e'er
$e rooted from the earth as $rtally as yo%
oedips% Enogh= )"h filth from him1 nsffera$le! 0
#hat+ still ali'e1 Get ot!
faster+ $a"k #here yo "ame from!'anish=
tiresias% #old ne'er ha'e "ome if yo hadn*t "alled me here%
oedips% f thoght yo #old $lrt ot s"h a$srdities+
yo*d ha'e died #aiting $efore *d had yo smmoned%
tiresias% A$srd+ am = To yo+ not to yor parents,
the ones #ho $ore yo fond me sane enogh%
oedips% Parents!#ho1 (ait % % % #ho is my father1tiresias% This day #ill $ring yor $irth and yor destr"tion%
oedips% Riddles!all yo "an say are riddles+ mrk and darkness% 00
tiresias% Ah+ $t aren*t yo the $est man ali'e at sol'ing riddles1
oedips% 2o"k me for that+ go on+ and yo*ll re'eal my greatness%
tiresias% Mor great good fortne+ tre+ it #as yor rin%
oedips% ;ot if sa'ed the "ity!#hat do "are1
tiresias% (ell then+ *ll $e going%!To his attendant*.
Take me home+ $oy% 0
oedips% Mes+ take him a#ay% Mo*re a nisan"e here%
8t of the #ay+ the irritation*s gone%
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!Turning his back on tiresias, moing toward the palace*.
tiresias% #ill go+
on"e ha'e said #hat "ame here to say%
*ll ne'er shrink from the anger in yor eyes!
yo "an*t destroy me%
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to otra"e the stallions of the storm
his feet a streak of speed!
Cased in armor+ Apollo son of the Dather
lnges on him+ lightning7$olts afire= 3
And the grim nerring DriesL
"losing for the kill%
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not to a'enge a mrder gone #ithot a tra"e% 0
Nes and Apollo kno#+ they kno#+ the great masters
of all the dark and depth of hman life%
&t #hether a mere man "an kno# the trth+
#hether a seer "an fathom more than !
there is no test+ no "ertain proof
thogh mat"hing skill for skill
a man "an otstrip a ri'al% ;o+ not till see
these "harges pro'ed #ill side #ith his a""sers%
(e sa# him then+ #hen the she7ha#kL s#ept against him+
sa# #ith or o#n eyes his skill+ his $rilliant trimph! K0
there #as the test!he #as the -oy of The$es=
;e'er #ill "on'i"t my king+ ne'er in my heart%
!$nter creon from the side*.
"reon% 2y fello#7"itizens+ hear ?ing 8edips
le'els terri$le "harges at me% had to "ome%
resent it deeply% f+ in the present "risis K
he thinks he sffers any a$se from me+anything *'e done or said that offers him
the slightest in-ry+ #hy+ *'e no desire
to linger ot this life+ my reptation in rins%
The damage *d fa"e from s"h an a""sation 0
is nothing simple% ;o+ there*s nothing #orse,
$randed a traitor in the "ity+ a traitor
to all of yo and my good friends%leader% Tre+
$t a slr might ha'e $een for"ed ot of him+
$y anger perhaps+ not any firm "on'i"tion%
"reon% The "harge #as made in p$li"+ #asn*t it1
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pt the prophet p to spreading lies1
leader% )"h things #ere said % % %
don*t kno# #ith #hat intent+ if any%
"reon% (as his glan"e steady+ his mind right 0
#hen the "harge #as $roght against me1
leader% really "oldn*t say% ne'er look
to -dge the ones in po#er%
!The doors open* oedipus enters*.
(ait+
here*s 8edips no#%
oedips% Mo!here1 Mo ha'e the gall
to sho# yor fa"e $efore the pala"e gates1
Mo+ plotting to kill me+ kill the king!
see it all+ the marading thief himself
s"heming to steal my "ro#n and po#er=
Tell me+
in god*s name+ #hat did yo take me for+
"o#ard or fool+ #hen yo spn ot yor plot1 00Mor trea"hery!yo think *d ne'er dete"t it
"reeping against me in the dark1 8r sensing it+
not defend myself1 Aren*t yo the fool+
yo and yor high ad'entre%
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find yo a mena"e+ a great $rden to me%
"reon% 5st one thing+ hear me ot in this%
oedips% 5st one thing+
don*t tell me yo*re not the enemy+ the traitor%
"reon%
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if yo had a shred of de"en"y%
"reon% (hat1
f kno#+ #on*t hold $a"k%
oedips% )imply this,
if the t#o of yo had ne'er pt heads together+
#e #old ne'er ha'e heard a$ot my killing
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leader% Good ad'i"e+ 0
my lord+ for anyone #ho #ants to a'oid disaster%
Those #ho -mp to "on"lsions may go #rong%
oedips% (hen my enemy mo'es against me /i"kly+
plots in se"ret+ mo'e /i"kly too+ mst+
plot and pay him $a"k% Rela. my gard a moment+
#aiting his ne.t mo'e!he #ins his o$-e"ti'e+
lose mine%
"reon% (hat do yo #ant1
Mo #ant me $anished1
oedips% ;o+ #ant yo dead%
"reon% 5st to sho# ho# gly a grdge "an % % %
oedips% )o+
still st$$orn1 yo don*t think *m serios1 K00
"reon% think yo*re insane%
oedips% ite sane!in my $ehalf%
"reon% ;ot -st as m"h in mine1
oedips% Mo!my mortal enemy1"reon% (hat if yo*re #holly #rong1
oedips% ;o matter! mst rle%
"reon% ;ot if yo rle n-stly%
oedips% Hear him+ The$es+ my "ity=
"reon% 2y "ity too+ not yors alone= K0
leader% Please+ my lords%
!$nter jocasta from the palace*.
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s"h shoting!#hy this p$li" ot$rst1 K@0
Aren*t yo ashamed+ #ith the land so si"k+
to stir p pri'ate /arrels1
!To oedipus*.
nto the pala"e no#% And Creon+ yo go home%
(hy make s"h a fror o'er nothing1
"reon% 2y sister+ it*s dreadfl % % % 8edips+ yor hs$and+K@
he*s $ent on a "hoi"e of pnishments for me+
$anishment from the fatherland or death%
oedips% Pre"isely% "aght him in the a"t+ 5o"asta+
plotting+ a$ot to sta$ me in the $a"k%
"reon% ;e'er!"rse me+ let me die and $e damned KF0
if *'e done yo any #rong yo "harge me #ith%
-o"asta% 8h god+ $elie'e it+ 8edips+
honor the solemn oath he s#ears to hea'en%
9o it for me+ for the sake of all yor people%
!The chorus begins to chant*.
"hors% &elie'e it+ $e sensi$le KFgi'e #ay+ my king+ $eg yo=
oedips% (hat do yo #ant from me+ "on"essions1
"hors% Respe"t him!he*s $een no fool in the past
and no# he*s strong #ith the oath he s#ears to god%
oedips% Mo kno# #hat yo*re asking1
"hors% do%
oedips% Then ot #ith it= K30"hors% The man*s yor friend+ yor kin+ he*s nder oath!
don*t "ast him ot+ disgra"ed
$randed #ith gilt on the strength of hearsay only%
oedips% ?no# fll #ell+ if that is #hat yo #ant
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yo #ant me dead or $anished from the land%
"hors% ;e'er! K3
no+ $y the $lazing )n+ first god of the hea'ens=
)tripped of the gods+ stripped of lo'ed ones+
let me die $y in"hes if that e'er "rossed my mind%
&t the heart inside me si"kens+ dies as the land dies
and no# on top of the old griefs yo pile this+ K0
yor fry!$oth of yo=
oedips% Then let him go+
e'en if it does lead to my rin+ my death
or my disgra"e+ dri'en from The$es for life%
t*s yo+ not him pity!yor #ords mo'e me%
He+ #here'er he goes+ my hate goes #ith him% K
"reon%
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or so it seems to me % % %
End the tro$le here+ -st #here they left it%
oedips% Mo see #hat "omes of yor good intentions no#1 K0
And all $e"ase yo tried to $lnt my anger%
"hors% 2y king+
*'e said it on"e+ *ll say it time and again!
*d $e insane+ yo kno# it+
senseless+ e'er to trn my $a"k on yo%
Mo #ho set or $elo'ed land!storm7tossed+ shattered! K
straight on "orse% ;o# again+ good helmsman+
steer s throgh the storm=
!The chorus draws away, leaing oedipus and jocasta side by side*.
-o"asta% Dor the lo'e of god+
8edips+ tell me too+ #hat is it1
(hy this rage1 Mo*re so n$ending%
oedips% #ill tell yo% respe"t yo+ 5o"asta+ KK0
m"h more than these % % %
!1lancing at the chorus*.
Creon*s to $lame+ Creon s"hemes against me%
-o"asta% Tell me "learly+ ho# did the /arrel start1
oedips% He says mrdered
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no skill in the #orld+
nothing hman "an penetrate the ftre%
Here is proof+ /i"k and to the point%
An ora"le "ame to
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-o"asta% A pla"e "alled Pho"is+ #here t#o $ran"hing roads+
one from 9alia+ one from 9elphi+
"ome together!a "rossroads% @0
oedips% (hen1 Ho# long ago1
-o"asta% The heralds no sooner reported
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-o"asta% A ser'ant #ho rea"hed home+ the lone sr'i'or%
oedips% )o+ "old he still $e in the pala"e!e'en no#1
-o"asta% ;o indeed% )oon as he retrned from the s"ene
and sa# yo on the throne #ith
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shoted ot!he #as far gone+ mind yo!
that am not my father*s son% Dighting #ords= 0
$arely restrained myself that day
$t early the ne.t #ent to mother and father+
/estioned them "losely+ and they #ere enraged
at the a""sation and the fool #ho let it fly%
)o as for my parents #as satisfied+
$t still this thing kept gna#ing at me+
the slander spread! had to make my mo'e%
And so+
nkno#n to mother and father set ot for 9elphi+
and the god Apollo sprned me+ sent me a#ay
denied the fa"ts "ame for+ K0
$t first he flashed $efore my eyes a ftre
great #ith pain+ terror+ disaster! "an hear him "ry+
Mo are fated to "ople #ith yor mother+ yo #ill $ring
a $reed of "hildren into the light no man "an $ear to see!
yo #ill kill yor father+ the one #ho ga'e yo life= K heard all that and ran% a$andoned Corinth+
from that day on gaged its landfall only
$y the stars+ rnning+ al#ays rnning
to#ard some pla"e #here #old ne'er see
the shame of all those ora"les "ome tre% 0
And as fled rea"hed that 'ery spot
#here the great king+ yo say+ met his death%;o#+ 5o"asta+ #ill tell yo all%
2aking my #ay to#ard this triple "rossroad
$egan to see a herald+ then a $ra"e of "olts
dra#ing a #agon+ and monted on the $en"h % % % a man+
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Poly$s #ho reared me+ ga'e me life%
&t #hy+ #hy1
(oldn*t a man of -dgment say!and #oldn*t he $e right!
some sa'age po#er has $roght this do#n pon my head1
8h no+ not that+ yo pre and a#esome gods+
ne'er let me see that day=
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And e'en if he shold 'ary his first report
$y one man more or less+ still+ my lord+
he "old ne'er make the mrder of
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&t the healthy strife that makes the "ity strong!
pray that god #ill ne'er end that #restling, K0
god+ my "hampion+ #ill ne'er let yo go%
&t if any man "omes striding+ high and mighty
in all he says and does+
no fear of -sti"e+ no re'eren"e
for the temples of the gods! K
let a rogh doom tear him do#n+
repay his pride+ $reakne"k+ rinos pride=
f he "annot reap his profits fairly
"annot restrain himself from otrage!
mad+ laying hands on the holy things nto"ha$le= 0
Can s"h a man+ so desperate+ still $oast
he "an sa'e his life from the flashing $olts of god1
f all s"h 'iolen"e goes #ith honor no#
#hy -oin the sa"red dan"e1
;e'er again #ill go re'erent to 9elphi+
the in'iolate heart of Earthor Apollo*s an"ient ora"le at A$ae
or 8lympia of the fires!
nless these prophe"ies all "ome tre
for all mankind to point to#ard in #onder% 0
?ing of kings+ if yo deser'e yor titles
Nes+ remem$er+ ne'er forget=
Mo and yor deathless+ e'erlasting reign%They are dying+ the old ora"les sent to
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!$nter jocasta from the palace, carrying a suppliant2s branch wound in wool*.
-o"asta%
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oedips% And #ho is he1 (hat "an he ha'e for me1
-o"asta% He*s from Corinth+ he*s "ome to tell yo@0
yor father is no more!Poly$s!he*s dead=
oedips% O(heeling on the messenger%
(hat1
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oedips% &t my mother*s $ed+ srely mst fear!
-o"asta% Dear1
(hat shold a man fear1 t*s all "han"e+
"han"e rles or li'es% ;ot a man on earth @0K0
"an see a day ahead+ groping throgh the dark%
&etter to li'e at random+ $est #e "an%
And as for this marriage #ith yor mother!
ha'e no fear% 2any a man $efore yo+
in his dreams+ has shared his mother*s $ed% @0K
Take s"h things for shado#s+ nothing at all!
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)o for years *'e gi'en Corinth a #ide $erth+
and it*s $een my good fortne too% &t still+
to see one*s parents and look into their eyes @0
is the greatest -oy kno#%
messenger% Mo*re afraid of that1
That kept yo ot of Corinth1
oedips% 2y father+ old man!
so #oldn*t kill my father%
messenger% )o that*s it%
(ell then+ seeing "ame #ith s"h good #ill+ my king+
#hy don*t rid yo of that old #orry no#1 @@00
oedips% (hat a ri"h re#ard yo*d ha'e for that=
messenger% (hat do yo think "ame for+ ma-esty1
)o yo*d "ome home and *d $e $etter off%
oedips% ;e'er+ #ill ne'er go near my parents%
messenger% 2y $oy+ it*s "lear+ yo don*t kno# #hat yo*re doing% @@0
oedips% (hat do yo mean+ old man1 Dor god*s sake+ e.plain%
messenger% f yo ran from them+ al#ays dodging home % % %oedips% Al#ays+ terrified Apollo*s ora"le might "ome tre!
messenger% And yo*d $e "o'ered #ith gilt+ from $oth yor parents%
oedips% That*s right+ old man+ that fear is al#ays #ith me% @@@0
messenger% 9on*t yo kno#1 Mo*'e really nothing to fear%
oedips% &t #hy1 f *m their son!2erope+ Poly$s1
messenger% Poly$s #as nothing to yo+ that*s #hy+ not in $lood%
oedips% (hat are yo saying!Poly$s #as not my father1messenger% ;o more than am% He and are e/als%
oedips% 2y father! @@@
ho# "an my father e/al nothing1 Mo*re nothing to me=
messenger% ;either #as he+ no more yor father than am%
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oedips% Then #hy did he "all me his son1
messenger% Mo #ere a gift+
years ago!kno# for a fa"t he took yo
from my hands%
oedips% ;o+ from another*s hands1 @@F0
Then ho# "old he lo'e me so1 He lo'ed me+ deeply % % %
messenger% Tre+ and his early years #ithot a "hild
made him lo'e yo all the more%
oedips% And yo+ did yo % % %
$y me1 find me $y a""ident1
messenger% stm$led on yo+
do#n the #oody flanks of 2ont Cithaeron%
oedips% )o "lose+@@F
#hat #ere yo doing here+ -st passing throgh1
messenger% (at"hing o'er my flo"ks+ grazing them on the slopes%
oedips% A herdsman+ #ere yo1 A 'aga$ond+ s"raping for #ages1
messenger% Mor sa'ior too+ my son+ in yor #orst hor%
oedips% 8h!#hen yo pi"ked me p+ #as in pain1 (hat e.a"tly1 @@30
messenger% Mor ankles % % % they tell the story%
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oedips% (hat1 Mo took me from someone else1
Mo didn*t find me yorself1
messenger% ;o sir+ @@0
another shepherd passed yo on to me%
oedips% (ho1 9o yo kno#1 9es"ri$e him%
messenger% He "alled himself a ser'ant of % % %
if remem$er rightly!
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-o"asta% )top!in the name of god+
if yo lo'e yor o#n life+ "all off this sear"h=
2y sffering is enogh%
oedips% Corage=
E'en if my mother trns ot to $e a sla'e+ @@
and a sla'e+ three generations $a"k+
yo #old not seem "ommon%
-o"asta% 8h no+
listen to me+ $eg yo+ don*t do this%
oedips%
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it may $e! mst see my origins fa"e7to7fa"e% @@
)he perhaps+ she #ith her #oman*s pride
may #ell $e mortified $y my $irth+
$t + "ont myself the son of Chan"e+
the great goddess+ gi'er of all good things!
*ll ne'er see myself disgra"ed% )he is my mother= @@0
And the moons ha'e marked me ot+ my $lood7$rothers+
one moon on the #ane+ the ne.t moon great #ith po#er%
That is my $lood+ my natre! #ill ne'er $etray it+
ne'er fail to sear"h and learn my $irth=
"hors% Mes!if am a tre prophet @@
if "an grasp the trth+
$y the $ondless skies of 8lymps+
at the fll moon of tomorro#+ 2ont Cithaeron
yo #ill kno# ho# 8edips glories in yo!
yo+ his $irthpla"e+ nrse+ his montain7mother= @F00
And #e #ill sing yo+ dan"ing ot yor praise!
yo lift or monar"h*s heart= Apollo+ Apollo+ god of the #ild "ry
may or dan"ing please yo=
8edips!
son+ dear "hild+ #ho $ore yo1 @F0
(ho of the nymphs #ho seem to li'e fore'er
mated #ith Pan+L the montain7striding Dather1
(ho #as yor mother1 #ho+ some $ride of Apollothe god #ho lo'es the pastres spreading to#ard the sn1
8r #as it Hermes+ king of the lightning ridges1 @F@0
8r 9ionyss+ lord of frenzy+ lord of the $arren peaks!
did he seize yo in his hands+ dearest of all his l"ky finds1!
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fond $y the nymphs+ their #arm eyes dan"ing+ gift
to the lord #ho lo'es them dan"ing ot his -oy=
!oedipus strains to see a figure coming from the distance* %ttended by palace guards, an old
shepherd enters slowly, reluctant to approach the king*.
oedips% ne'er met the man+ my friends % % % still+ @F@
if had to gess+ *d say that*s the shepherd+
the 'ery one #e*'e looked for all along%
&rothers in old age+ t#o of a kind+
he and or gest here% At any rate
the ones #ho $ring him in are my o#n men+@FF0
re"ognize them%
!Turning to the leader*.
&t yo kno# more than +
yo shold+ yo*'e seen the man $efore%
leader% kno# him+ definitely% 8ne of
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shepherd% (ell+ @F3
Cithaeron sometimes+ or the foothills rond a$ot%
oedips% This man!yo kno# him1 e'er see him there1
shepherd% OConfsed+ glan"ing from the messenger to the king%
9oing #hat1!#hat man do yo mean1
oedips% OPointing to the messenger%
This one here!e'er ha'e dealings #ith him1
shepherd% ;ot so "old say+ $t gi'e me a "han"e+ @F0
my memory*s $ad % % %
messenger% ;o #onder he doesn*t kno# me+ master%
&t let me refresh his memory for him%
*m sre he re"alls old times #e had
on the slopes of 2ont Cithaeron6 @F
he and + grazing or flo"ks+ he #ith t#o
and #ith one!#e $oth str"k p together+
three #hole seasons+ si. months at a stret"h
from spring to the rising of Ar"trsL in the fall+
then #ith #inter "oming on *d dri'e my herds @F0to my o#n pens+ and $a"k he*d go #ith his
to
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messenger%
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god*s sake+ master+ no more /estions= @F0
oedips% Mo*re a dead man if ha'e to ask again%
shepherd% Then!the "hild "ame from the hose % % % of
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all "ome tre+ all $rst to light=
8 light!no# let me look my last on yo=
stand re'ealed at last!
"rsed in my $irth+ "rsed in marriage+
"rsed in the li'es "t do#n #ith these hands= @3@0
!Rushing through the doors with a great cry* The orinthian messenger, the shepherd and
attendants e-it slowly to the side*.
"hors% 8 the generations of men
the dying generations!adding the total
of all yor li'es find they "ome to nothing % % %
does there e.ist+ is there a man on earth
#ho seizes more -oy than -st a dream+ a 'ision1 @3@
And the 'ision no sooner da#ns than dies
$lazing into o$li'ion%
Mo are my great e.ample+ yo+ yor life
yor destiny+ 8edips+ man of misery!
"ont no man $lest%
Mo otranged all men= @3F0 &ending yor $o# to the $reaking7point
yo "aptred pri"eless glory+ 8 dear god+
and the )phin. "ame "rashing do#n+
the 'irgin+ "la#s hooked
like a $ird of omen singing+ shrieking death! @3F
like a fortress reared in the fa"e of death
yo rose and sa'ed or land%Drom that day on #e "alled yo king
#e "ro#ned yo #ith honors+ 8edips+ to#ering o'er all!
mighty king of the se'en gates of The$es% @330
&t no# to hear yor story!is there a man more agonized1
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2ore #ed to pain and frenzy1 ;ot a man on earth+
the -oy of yor life grond do#n to nothing
8 8edips+ name for the ages!
one and the same #ide har$or ser'ed yo @33
son and father $oth
son and father "ame to rest in the same $ridal "ham$er%
Ho#+ ho# "old the frro#s yor father plo#ed
$ear yo+ yor agony+ harro#ing on
in silen"e 8 so long1
&t no# for all yor po#er @30
Time+ all7seeing Time has dragged yo to the light+
-dged yor marriage monstros from the start!
the son and the father tangling+ $oth one!
8 "hild of
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terri$le things+ and none done $lindly no#+
all done #ith a #ill% The pains @30
#e infli"t pon orsel'es hrt most of all%
leader% God kno#s #e ha'e pains enogh already%
(hat "an yo add to them1
messenger% The /een is dead%
leader% Poor lady!ho#1
messenger% &y her o#n hand% &t yo are spared the #orst+ @3
yo ne'er had to #at"h % % % sa# it all+
and #ith all the memory that*s in me
yo #ill learn #hat that poor #oman sffered%
8n"e she*d $roken in throgh the gates+
dashing past s+ franti"+ #hipped to fry+ @3K0
ripping her hair ot #ith $oth hands!
straight to her rooms she rshed+ flinging herself
a"ross the $ridal7$ed+ doors slamming $ehind her!
on"e inside+ she #ailed for
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like a maddened $east+ stalking+ here+ there+
"rying ot to s!
Gi'e him a s#ord= His #ife+
no #ife+ his mother+ #here "an he find the mother earth
that "ropped t#o "rops at on"e+ himself and all his "hildren1
He #as raging!one of the dark po#ers pointing the #ay+ @30
none of s mortals "ro#ding arond him+ no+
#ith a great shattering "ry!someone+ something leading him on!
he hrled at the t#in doors and $ending the $olts $a"k
ot of their so"kets+ "rashed throgh the "ham$er%
And there #e sa# the #oman hanging $y the ne"k+ @3
"radled high in a #o'en noose+ spinning+
s#inging $a"k and forth% And #hen he sa# her+
gi'ing a lo#+ #ren"hing so$ that $roke or hearts+
slipping the halter from her throat+ he eased her do#n+
in a slo# em$ra"e he laid her do#n+ poor thing % % % @00
then+ #hat "ame ne.t+ #hat horror #e $eheld=
He rips off her $roo"hes+ the long gold pinsholding her ro$es!and lifting them high+
looking straight p into the points+
he digs them do#n the so"kets of his eyes+ "rying+ Mo+ @0
yo*ll see no more the pain sffered+ all the pain "ased=
Too long yo looked on the ones yo ne'er shold ha'e seen+
$lind to the ones yo longed to see+ to kno#= &lind
from this hor on= &lind in the darkness!$lind=His 'oi"e like a dirge+ rising+ o'er and o'er @@0
raising the pins+ raking them do#n his eyes%
And at ea"h stroke $lood sprts from the roots+
splashing his $eard+ a s#irl of it+ ner'es and "lots!
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$la"k hail of $lood plsing+ gshing do#n%
These are the griefs that $rst pon them $oth+ @@
"opling man and #oman% The -oy they had so lately+
the fortne of their old an"estral hose
#as deep -oy indeed% ;o#+ in this one day+
#ailing+ madness and doom+ death+ disgra"e+
all the griefs in the #orld that yo "an name+ @F0
all are theirs fore'er%
leader% 8h poor man+ the misery!
has he any rest from pain no#1
!% oice within, in torment*.
messenger% He*s shoting+
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(hat madness s#ept o'er yo1 (hat god+ @3
#hat dark po#er leapt $eyond all $onds+
$eyond $elief+ to "rsh yor #ret"hed life1!
godforsaken+ "rsed $y the gods=
pity yo $t "an*t $ear to look%
*'e m"h to ask+ so m"h to learn+ @0
so m"h fas"inates my eyes+
$t yo % % % shdder at the sight%
oedips% 8h+ 8hh!
the agony= am agony!
#here am going1 #here on earth1
#here does all this agony hrl me1 @
#here*s my 'oi"e1!
#inging+ s#ept a#ay on a dark tide!
2y destiny+ my dark po#er+ #hat a leap yo made=
"hors% To the depths of terror+ too dark to hear+ to see%
oedips% 9ark+ horror of darkness @0
my darkness+ dro#ning+ s#irling arond me "rashing #a'e on #a'e!nspeaka$le+ irresisti$le
head#ind+ fatal har$or= 8h again+
the misery+ all at on"e+ o'er and o'er
the sta$$ing daggers+ sta$ of memory @
raking me insane%
"hors% ;o #onder yo sffer
t#i"e o'er+ the pain of yor #onds+the lasting grief of pain%
oedips% 9ear friend+ still here1
)tanding $y me+ still #ith a "are for me+
the $lind man1 )"h "ompassion+ @0
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loyal to the last% 8h it*s yo+
kno# yo*re here+ dark as it is
*d kno# yo any#here+ yor 'oi"e!
it*s yors+ "learly yors%
"hors% 9readfl+ #hat yo*'e done % % %
ho# "old yo $ear it+ goging ot yor eyes1 @
(hat sperhman po#er dro'e yo on1
oedips% Apollo+ friends+ Apollo!
he ordained my agonies!these+ my pains on pains=
&t the hand that str"k my eyes #as mine+
mine alone!no one else! @K0
did it all myself=
(hat good #ere eyes to me1
;othing "old see "old $ring me -oy%
"hors% ;o+ no+ e.a"tly as yo say%
oedips% (hat "an e'er see1
(hat lo'e+ #hat "all of the heart @K
"an to"h my ears #ith -oy1 ;othing+ friends% Take me a#ay+ far+ far from The$es+
/i"kly+ "ast me a#ay+ my friends!
this great mrderos rin+ this man "rsed to hea'en+
the man the deathless gods hate most of all= @0
"hors% Pitifl+ yo sffer so+ yo nderstand so m"h % % %
#ish yo*d ne'er kno#n%
oedips% 9ie+ die! #hoe'er he #as that day in the #ilds
#ho "t my ankles free of the rthless pins+
he plled me "lear of death+ he sa'ed my life @
for this+ this kindness!
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Crse him+ kill him=
f *d died then+ *d ne'er ha'e dragged myself+
my lo'ed ones throgh s"h hell%
"hors% 8h if only % % % #old to god%
oedips% *d ne'er ha'e "ome to this+ @0
my father*s mrderer!ne'er $een $randed
mother*s hs$and+ all men see me no#= ;o#+
loathed $y the gods+ son of the mother defiled
"opling in my father*s $ed+ spa#ning li'es in the loins
that spa#ned my #ret"hed life% (hat grief "an "ro#n this grief1 @
t*s mine alone+ my destiny! am 8edips=
"hors% Ho# "an say yo*'e "hosen for the $est1
&etter to die than $e ali'e and $lind%
oedips% (hat did #as $est!don*t le"tre me+
no more ad'i"e% + #ith my eyes+ @00
ho# "old look my father in the eyes
#hen go do#n to death1 8r mother+ so a$sed % % %
ha'e done s"h things to the t#o of them+"rimes too hge for hanging%
(orse yet+
the sight of my "hildren+ $orn as they #ere $orn+ @0
ho# "old long to look into their eyes1
;o+ not #ith these eyes of mine+ ne'er%
;ot this "ity either+ her high to#ers+
the sa"red glittering images of her gods! am misery= + her $est son+ reared @@0
as no other son of The$es #as e'er reared+
*'e stripped myself+ ga'e the "ommand myself%
All men mst "ast a#ay the great $lasphemer+
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the "rse no# $roght to light $y the gods+
the son of
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a man "an do+ ha'e done them all=
;o more!
it*s #rong to name #hat*s #rong to do% i"kly+
for the lo'e of god+ hide me some#here+
kill me+ hrl me into the sea @
#here yo "an ne'er look on me again%
!5eckoning to the chorus as they shrink away*.
Closer+
it*s all right% To"h the man of grief%
9o% 9on*t $e afraid% 2y tro$les are mine
and am the only man ali'e #ho "an sstain them%
!$nter creon from the palace, attended by palace guards*.
leader% Pt yor re/ests to Creon% Here he is+ @0
-st #hen #e need him% He*ll ha'e a plan+ he*ll a"t%
;o# that he*s the sole defense of the "ontry
in yor pla"e%
oedips% 8h no+ #hat "an say to him1
Ho# "an e'er hope to #in his trst1 #ronged him so+ -st no#+ in e'ery #ay% @
Mo mst see that! #as so #rong+ so #rong%
"reon% ha'en*t "ome to mo"k yo+ 8edips+
or to "riti"ize yor former failings%
!Turning to the guards*.
Mo there+
ha'e yo lost all respe"t for hman feelings1At least re'ere the )n+ the holy fire @0
that keeps s all ali'e% ;e'er e.pose a thing
of gilt and holy dread so great it appalls
the earth+ the rain from hea'en+ the light of day=
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Get him into the halls!/i"kly as yo "an%
Piety demands no less% ?indred alone @
shold see a kinsman*s shame% This is o$s"ene%
oedips% Please+ in god*s name % % % yo #ipe my fears a#ay+
"oming so generosly to me+ the #orst of men%
9o one thing more+ for yor sake+ not mine%
"reon% (hat do yo #ant1 (hy so insistent1 @K0
oedips% 9ri'e me ot of the land at on"e+ far from sight+
#here "an ne'er hear a hman 'oi"e%
"reon% *d ha'e done that already+ promise yo%
Dirst #anted the god to "larify my dties%
oedips% The god1 His "ommand #as "lear+ e'ery #ord, @K
death for the father7killer+ the "rse!
he said destroy me=
"reon% )o he did% )till+ in s"h a "risis
it*s $etter to ask pre"isely #hat to do%
oedips% )o misera$le!
yo*d "onslt the god a$ot a man like me1 @0"reon% &y all means% And this time+ assme+
e'en yo #ill o$ey the god*s de"rees%
oedips% #ill+
#ill% And yo+ "ommand yo! $eg yo % % %
the #oman inside+ $ry her as yo see fit%
t*s the only de"ent thing+ @
to gi'e yor o#n the last rites% As for me+ne'er "ondemn the "ity of my fathers
to hose my $ody+ not #hile *m ali'e+ no+
let me li'e on the montains+ on Cithaeron+
my fa'orite hant+ ha'e made it famos% @0
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2other and father marked ot that ro"k
to $e my e'erlasting tom$!$ried ali'e%
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he "ropped the 'ery roots of his e.isten"e%
)"h disgra"e+ and yo mst $ear it all=
(ho #ill marry yo then1 ;ot a man on earth%
Mor doom is "lear, yo*ll #ither a#ay to nothing+
single+ #ithot a "hild%
!Turning to creon*.
8h Creon+ @
yo are the only father they ha'e no# % % %
#e #ho $roght them into the #orld
are gone+ $oth gone at a stroke!
9on*t let them go $egging+ a$andoned+
#omen #ithot men% Mor o#n flesh and $lood= @0
;e'er $ring them do#n to the le'el of my pains%
Pity them%
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"reon% Tell me% *m listening%
oedips% 9ri'e me ot of The$es+ in e.ile%
"reon% ;ot % 8nly the gods "an gi'e yo that%
oedips% )rely the gods hate me so m"h!
"reon% Mo*ll get yor #ish at on"e%
oedips% Mo "onsent1 @K0
"reon% try to say #hat mean6 it*s my ha$it%
oedips% Then take me a#ay% t*s time%
"reon% Come along+ let go of the "hildren%
oedips% ;o!
don*t take them a#ay from me+ not no#= ;o no no=
!lutching his daughters as the guards wrench them loose and take them through the palace
doors*.
"reon% )till the king+ the master of all things1 @K
;o more, here yor po#er ends%
;one of yor po#er follo#s yo throgh life%
!$-it oedipus and creon to the palace* The chorus comes forward to address the audience
directly*.
"hors% People of The$es+ my "ontrymen+ look on 8edips%
He sol'ed the famos riddle #ith his $rillian"e+
he rose to po#er+ a man $eyond all po#er% @0
(ho "old $ehold his greatness #ithot en'y1
;o# #hat a $la"k sea of terror has o'er#helmed him%
;o# as #e keep or #at"h and #ait the final day+
"ont no man happy till he dies+ free of pain at last%!$-it in procession*.
J Topi"s for Criti"al Thinking and (riting
The Play on the Page
@% 78n the $asis of lines @B@+ "hara"terize 8edips% 9oes he seem an effe"ti'e leader1 (hat
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additional traits are re'ealed in lines F0B@1
F% 7n yor opinion+ ho# fair is it to say that 8edips is morally gilty1 9oes he arge that he is
morally inno"ent $e"ase he did not intend to do immoral deeds1 Can it $e said that he is gilty of
hy$ris $t that hy$ris see page @04 has nothing to do #ith his fall1
3% 78edips says that he $linds himself in order not to look pon people he shold not% (hat frther
reasons "an $e gi'en1 (hy does he not like 5o"asta4 "ommit si"ide1
% 79oes the play sho# the ftility of hman effots to a"t intelligently1
% 7n 8edips+ do yo find the gods e'il1
% 7Are the "horal odes lyri"al interldes that ser'e to separate the s"enes+ or do they ad'an"e the
dramati" a"tion1
K% 72atthe# Arnold said that )opho"les sa# life steadily and sa# it #hole% &t in this play is
)opho"les fa"ing the fa"ts of life1 8r+ on the "ontrary+ is he a'oiding #hat #e think of as normal
life+ and presenting a series of nnatral and otrageos "oin"iden"es1 n either "ase+ do yo think
the play is rele'ant today1
% 7Can yo des"ri$e yor emotions at the end of the play1 9o they in"lde pity for 8edips1 Pity
for all hman $eings+ in"lding yorself1 Dear that yo might $e pnished for some nintended
transgression1 A#e+ engendered $y a per"eption of the interrelatedness of things1 Relief that the
story is only a story1 E.hilaration1 E.plain yor rea"tion%The Play on the )tage
% 79ring yor first "onsideration of the play+ start #ith a reading of lines @B@% Choose someone
from the grop to stand on a "hair 8edips4+ t#o other readers to stand near$y the Priest and
Creon4+ and se'eral others to kneel or lie on the floor The$an "itizens4% After this rogh ena"tment+
ask the readers ho# they felt a$ot their roles% Then dis"ss the #ays a modern staging "old "reate
a po#erfl opening for the play% )ome /estions to "onsider, 9o the The$ans e'er to"h 8edips1
)hold the a"tor playing 8edips make eye "onta"t #ith anyone on the stage1
@0% 78riginally the Greek "hors "hanted and dan"ed% (hat are yor re"ommendations for a
dire"tor today1 Choose a parti"lar passage from the play to illstrate yor ideas%
@@% 7magine that yo are dire"ting a prod"tion of 8edips% Propose a "ast for the prin"ipal roles+
sing #ell7kno#n a"tors or people from yor o#n "ir"le% E.plain the reasons for yor "hoi"es%
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@F% 7(hat might $e gained or lost $y performing the play in modern dress1 8r is there some period
other than an"ient Gree"e!let*s say the Qi"torian period!in #hi"h yo think the play might $e
effe"ti'ely set1
@3% 7Alan 2a"Qey+ #ho dire"ted a prod"tion at the Jni'ersity of o#a+ sed "lassi"al "ostmes $t
after#ard said that he #ished he had sed a "onferen"e ta$le as the set and had "ostmed the royalty
in po#er sits% (hat is yor response to this idea1
Antigone
Translated by Robert Fagles
CHARACTER)
antigone, daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta
ismene, sister of %ntigone
a chorus, of old Theban citizens and their leader
creon, king of Thebes, uncle of %ntigone and "smene
a sentry
haemon, son of reon and $urydice
tiresias, a blind prophet
a messenger
eurydice, wife of reon
guards, attendants, and a boy
!T"#$ %&' ($&$) The royal house of Thebes* "t is still night, and the inading armies of %rgos
hae just been drien from the city* Fighting on opposite sides, the sons of oedipus, eteocles and
polynices, hae killed each other in combat* Their uncle, creon, is now king of Thebes*
$nter antigone, slipping through the central doors of the palace* (he motions to her sister, ismene,
who follows her cautiously toward an altar at the center of the stage*.
antigone% 2y o#n flesh and $lood!dear sister+ dear smene+
ho# many griefs or father 8edipsL handed do#n=
9o yo kno# one+ ask yo+ one grief
that NesL #ill not perfe"t for the t#o of s
#hile #e still li'e and $reathe= There*s nothing+
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no pain!or li'es are pain!no pri'ate shame+
no p$li" disgra"e+ nothing ha'en*t seen
in yor griefs and mine% And no# this,
an emergen"y de"ree+ they say+ the Commander
has -st de"lared for all of The$es% @0
(hat+ ha'en*t yo heard1 9on*t yo see1
The doom reser'ed for enemies
mar"hes on the ones #e lo'e the most%
ismene% ;ot + ha'en*t heard a #ord+ Antigone%
;othing of lo'ed ones+ @
no -oy or pain has "ome my #ay+ not sin"e
the t#o of s #ere ro$$ed of or t#o $rothers+
$oth gone in a day+ a do$le $lo#!
not sin"e the armies of Argos 'anished+
-st this 'ery night% kno# nothing more+ F0
#hether or l"k*s impro'ed or rin*s still to "ome%
antigone% thoght so% That*s #hy $roght yo ot here+
past the gates+ so yo "old hear in pri'ate%ismene% (hat*s the matter1 Tro$le+ "learly % % %
yo sond so dark+ so grim% F
antigone% (hy not1 8r o#n $rothers* $rial=
Hasn*t Creon gra"ed one #ith all the rites+
disgra"ed the other1 Eteo"les+ they say+
has $een gi'en fll military honors+
rightly so!Creon*s laid him in the earth 30and he goes #ith glory do#n among the dead%
&t the $ody of Polyni"es+ #ho died misera$ly!
#hy+ a "ity7#ide pro"lamation+ rmor has it+
for$ids anyone to $ry him+ e'en morn him%
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He*s to $e left n#ept+ n$ried+ a lo'ely treasre 3
for $irds that s"an the field and feast to their heart*s "ontent%
)"h+ hear+ is the martial la# or good Creon
lays do#n for yo and me!yes+ me+ tell yo!
and he*s "oming here to alert the ninformed
in no n"ertain terms+ 0
and he #on*t treat the matter lightly% (hoe'er
diso$eys in the least #ill die+ his doom is sealed,
stoning to death inside the "ity #alls=
There yo ha'e it% Mo*ll soon sho# #hat yo are+
#orth yor $reeding+ smene+ or a "o#ard!
for all yor royal $lood%
ismene% 2y poor sister+ if things ha'e "ome to this+
#ho am to make or mend them+ tell me+
#hat good am to yo1
antigone% 9e"ide%
(ill yo share the la$or+ share the #ork1 0
ismene% (hat #ork+ #hat*s the risk1 (hat do yo mean1antigone% ORaising her hands% (ill yo lift p his $ody #ith these
$are hands
and lo#er it #ith me1
ismene% (hat1 Mo*d $ry him!
#hen a la# for$ids the "ity1
antigone% Mes=
He is my $rother and!deny it as yo #ill!yor $rother too%
;o one #ill e'er "on'i"t me for a traitor%
ismene% )o desperate+ and Creon has e.pressly!
antigone% ;o+
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*ll lie #ith the one lo'e and lo'ed $y him!
an otrage sa"red to the gods= ha'e longer
to please the dead than please the li'ing here,
in the kingdom do#n $elo# *ll lie fore'er% 0
9o as yo like+ dishonor the la#s
the gods hold in honor%
ismene% *d do them no dishonor % % %
$t defy the "ity1 ha'e no strength for that%
antigone% Mo ha'e yor e."ses% am on my #ay+
*ll raise a mond for him+ for my dear $rother%
ismene% 8h Antigone+ yo*re so rash!*m so afraid for yo=
antigone% 9on*t fear for me% )et yor o#n life in order%
ismene% Then don*t+ at least+ $lrt this ot to anyone%
?eep it a se"ret% *ll -oin yo in that+ promise%
antigone% 9ear god+ shot it from the rooftops% *ll hate yo @00
all the more for silen"e!tell the #orld=
ismene% )o fiery!and it oght to "hill yor heart%
antigone% kno# please #here mst please the most%ismene% Mes+ if yo "an+ $t yo*re in lo'e #ith impossi$ility%
antigone% Qery #ell then+ on"e my strength gi'es ot @0
#ill $e done at last%
ismene% Mo*re #rong from the start+
yo*re off on a hopeless /est%
antigone% f yo say so+ yo #ill make me hate yo+
and the hatred of the dead+ $y all rights+#ill hant yo night and day% @@0
&t lea'e me to my o#n a$srdity+ lea'e me
to sffer this!dreadfl thing% *ll sffer
nothing as great as death #ithot glory% OE.it to the side%
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ismene% Then go if yo mst+ $t rest assred+
#ild+ irrational as yo are+ my sister+ @@
yo are trly dear to the ones #ho lo'e yo%
!6ithdrawing to the palace* $nter a chorus, the old citizens of Thebes, chanting as the sun
begins to rise*.
"hors% Glory=!great $eam of sn+ $rightest of all
that e'er rose on the se'en gates of The$es+
yo $rn throgh night at last=
Great eye of the golden day+ @F0
monting the 9ir"e*s $anksL yo thro# him $a"k!
the enemy ot of Argos+ the #hite shield+ the man of $ronze!
he*s flying headlong no#
the $ridle of fate stampeding him #ith pain=
And he had dri'en against or $orders+ @F
lan"hed $y the #arring "laims of Polyni"es!
like an eagle s"reaming+ #inging ha'o"
o'er the land+ #ings of armor
shielded #hite as sno#+ a hge army massing+ @30
"rested helmets $ristling for assalt%
He ho'ered a$o'e or roofs+ his 'ast ma# gaping
"losing do#n arond or se'en gates+
his spears thirsting for the kill
$t no# he*s gone+ look+ @3
$efore he "old glt his -a#s #ith The$an $loodor the god of fire pt or "ro#n of to#ers to the tor"h%
He grappled the 9ragon none "an master!The$es!
the "lang of or arms like thnder at his $a"k=
Nes hates #ith a 'engean"e all $ra'ado+ @0
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the mighty $oasts of men% He #at"hed them
"oming on in a rising flood+ the pride
of their golden armor ringing shrill!
and $randishing his lightning
$lasted the fighter -st at the goal+ @
rshing to shot his trimph from or #alls%
9o#n from the heights he "rashed+ ponding do#n on the earth=
And a moment ago+ $lazing tor"h in hand!
mad for atta"k+ e"stati"
he $reathed his rage+ the storm @0
of his fry hrling at or heads=
&t no# his high hopes ha'e laid him lo#
and do#n the enemy ranks the iron god of #ar
deals his re#ards+ his stnning $lo#s!AresL
raptre of $attle+ or right arm in the "risis% @
)e'en "aptains marshaled at se'en gates
se'en against their e/als+ ga'e
their $razen trophies p to Nes+ god of the $reaking rot of $attle+
all $t t#o, those $lood $rothers+ @0
one father+ one mother!mat"hed in rage+
spears mat"hed for the t#in "on/est!
"lashed and #on the "ommon prize of death%
&t no# for Qi"tory= Glorios in the morning+
-oy in her eyes to meet or -oy @ she is #inging do#n to The$es+
or fleets of "hariots #heeling in her #ake!
;o# let s #in o$li'ion from the #ars+
thronging the temples of the gods
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in singing+ dan"ing "hoirs throgh the night= @K0
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not till he*s sho#n his "olors+ rling the people+
making la#s% E.perien"e+ there*s the test%
As see it+ #hoe'er assmes the task+
the a#esome task of setting the "ity*s "orse+
and refses to adopt the sondest poli"ies F00
$t fearing someone+ keeps his lips lo"ked tight+
he*s tterly #orthless% )o rate him no#+
al#ays ha'e% And #hoe'er pla"es a friend
a$o'e the good of his o#n "ontry+ he is nothing,
ha'e no se for him% Nes my #itness+ F0
Nes #ho sees all things+ al#ays!
"old ne'er stand $y silent+ #at"hing destr"tion
mar"h against or "ity+ ptting safety to rot+
nor "old e'er make that man a friend of mine
#ho mena"es or "ontry% Remem$er this, F@0
or "ontry is or safety%
8nly #hile she 'oyages tre on "orse
"an #e esta$lish friendships+ trer than $lood itself%)"h are my standards% They make or "ity great%
Closely akin to them ha'e pro"laimed+ F@
-st no#+ the follo#ing de"ree to or people
"on"erning the t#o sons of 8edips%
Eteo"les+ #ho died fighting for The$es+
e."elling all in arms, he shall $e $ried+
"ro#ned #ith a hero*s honors+ the "ps #e por FF0to soak the earth and rea"h the famos dead%
&t as for his $lood $rother+ Polyni"es+
#ho retrned from e.ile+ home to his father7"ity
and the gods of his ra"e+ "onsmed #ith one desire!
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to $rn them roof to roots!#ho thirsted to drink FF
his kinsmen*s $lood and sell the rest to sla'ery,
that man!a pro"lamation has for$idden the "ity
to dignify him #ith $rial+ morn him at all%
;o+ he mst $e left n$ried+ his "orpse
"arrion for the $irds and dogs to tear+ F30
an o$s"enity for the "itizens to $ehold=
These are my prin"iples% ;e'er at my hands
#ill the traitor $e honored a$o'e the patriot%
&t #hoe'er pro'es his loyalty to the state,
*ll prize that man in death as #ell as life% F3
leader% f this is yor pleasre+ Creon+ treating
or "ity*s enemy and or friend this #ay % % %
The po#er is yors+ sppose+ to enfor"e it
#ith the la#s+ $oth for the dead and all of s+
the li'ing%
"reon% Dollo# my orders "losely then+ F0
$e on yor gard%leader% (e*re too old%
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"an*t say *m #inded from rnning+ or set ot
#ith any spring in my legs either!no sir+ F0
#as lost in thoght+ and it made me stop+ often+
dead in my tra"ks+ #heeling+ trning $a"k+
and all the time a 'oi"e inside me mttering+
diot+ #hy1 Mo*re going straight to yor death%
Then mttering+ )topped again+ poor fool1 F
f some$ody gets the ne#s to Creon first+
#hat*s to sa'e yor ne"k1
And so+
mlling it o'er+ on trdged+ dragging my feet+
yo "an make a short road take fore'er % % %
$t at last+ look+ "ommon sense #on ot+ F0
*m here+ and *m all yors+
and e'en thogh "ome empty7handed
*ll tell my story -st the same+ $e"ase
*'e "ome #ith a good grip on one hope+
#hat #ill "ome #ill "ome+ #hate'er fate! F"reon% Come to the point=
(hat*s #rong!#hy so afraid1
sentry% Dirst+ myself+ *'e got to tell yo+
didn*t do it+ didn*t see #ho did!
&e fair+ don*t take it ot on me% FK0
"reon% Mo*re playing it safe+ soldier+
$arri"ading yorself from any tro$le%t*s o$'ios+ yo*'e something strange to tell%
sentry% 9angeros too+ and danger makes yo delay
for all yo*re #orth% FK
"reon% 8t #ith it!then dismiss=
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Dinally+ after all this #rangling "ame to nothing+
one man spoke ot and made s stare at the grond+ 30
hanging or heads in fear% ;o #ay to "onter him+
no #ay to take his ad'i"e and "ome throgh
safe and sond% Here*s #hat he said,
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tossing #ildly+ ne'er keeping their ne"ks $eneath
the yoke+ loyally s$mitting to their king%
These are the instigators+ *m "on'in"ed!
they*'e per'erted my o#n gard+ $ri$ed them
to do their #ork%
2oney= ;othing #orse 33
in or li'es+ so "rrent+ rampant+ so "orrpting%
2oney!yo demolish "ities+ root men from their homes+
yo train and t#ist good minds and set them on
to the most atro"ios s"hemes% ;o limit+
yo make them adept at e'ery kind of otrage+ 30
e'ery godless "rime!money=
E'eryone!
the #hole "re# $ri$ed to "ommit this "rime+
they*'e made one thing sre at least,
sooner or later they #ill pay the pri"e%
!6heeling on the sentry*.
7ou8
s#ear to Nes as still $elie'e in Nes+ 3
if yo don*t find the man #ho $ried that "orpse+
the 'ery man+ and prod"e him $efore my eyes+
simple death #on*t $e enogh for yo+
not till #e string yo p ali'e
and #ring the immortality ot of yo% 30
Then yo "an steal the rest of yor days+$etter informed a$ot #here to make a killing%
Mo*ll ha'e learned+ at last+ it doesn*t pay
to it"h for re#ards from e'ery hand that $e"kons%
Dilthy profits #re"k most men+ yo*ll see! 3
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they*ll ne'er sa'e yor life%
sentry% Please+
may say a #ord or t#o+ or -st trn and go1
"reon% Can*t yo tell1 E'erything yo say offends me%
sentry% (here does it hrt yo+ in the ears or in the heart1
"reon% And #ho are yo to pinpoint my displeasre1 30
sentry% The "lprit grates on yor feelings+
-st annoy yor ears%
"reon% )till talking1
Mo talk too m"h= A $orn nisan"e!
sentry% 2ay$e so+
$t ne'er did this thing+ so help me=
"reon% Mes yo did!
#hat*s more+ yo s/andered yor life for sil'er= 3
sentry% 8h it*s terri$le #hen the one #ho does the -dging
-dges things all #rong%
"reon% (ell no#+
yo -st $e "le'er a$ot yor -dgments!if yo fail to prod"e the "riminals for me+
yo*ll s#ear yor dirty money $roght yo pain% 3K0
!Turning sharply, reentering the palace*.
sentry% hope he*s fond% &est thing $y far%
&t "aght or not+ that*s in the lap of fortne6
*ll ne'er "ome $a"k+ yo*'e seen the last of me%
*m sa'ed+ e'en no#+ and ne'er thoght+ ne'er hoped! 3K
dear gods+ o#e yo all my thanks= ORshing ot%
"hors% ;m$erless #onders
terri$le #onders #alk the #orld $t none the mat"h for man!
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that great #onder "rossing the hea'ing gray sea+
dri'en on $y the $last of #inter
on throgh $reakers "rashing left and right+ 30
holds his steady "orse
and the oldest of the gods he #ears a#ay!
the Earth+ the immortal+ the ine.hasti$le!
as his plo#s go $a"k and forth+ year in+ year ot
#ith the $reed of stallions trning p the frro#s% 3
And the $lithe+ lightheaded ra"e of $irds he snares+
the tri$es of sa'age $easts+ the life that s#arms the depths!
#ith one fling of his nets
#o'en and "oiled tight+ he takes them all+
man the skilled+ the $rilliant= 30
He "on/ers all+ taming #ith his te"hni/es
the prey that roams the "liffs and #ild lairs+
training the stallion+ "lamping the yoke a"ross
his shaggy ne"k+ and the tireless montain $ll%
And spee"h and thoght+ /i"k as the #ind 3and the mood and mind for la# that rles the "ity!
all these he has taght himself
and shelter from the arro#s of the frost
#hen there*s rogh lodging nder the "old "lear sky
and the shafts of lashing rain! 00
ready+ resor"efl man=
;e'er #ithot resor"esne'er an impasse as he mar"hes on the ftre!
only 9eath+ from 9eath alone he #ill find no res"e
$t from desperate plages he has plotted his es"apes% 0
2an the master+ ingenios past all measre
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past all dreams+ the skills #ithin his grasp!
he forges on+ no# to destr"tion
no# again to greatness% (hen he #ea'es in
the la#s of the land+ and the -sti"e of the gods @0
that $inds his oaths together
he and his "ity rise high!
$t the "ity "asts ot
that man #ho #eds himself to inhmanity
thanks to re"kless daring% ;e'er share my hearth @
ne'er think my thoghts+ #hoe'er does s"h things%
!$nter antigone from the side, accompanied by the sentry*.
Here is a dark sign from the gods!
#hat to make of this1 kno# her+
ho# "an deny it1 That yong girl*s Antigone=
(ret"hed+ "hild of a #ret"hed father+ F0
8edips%
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$t a stroke of l"k $eyond or #ildest hopes+
#hat a -oy+ there*s nothing like it% )o+
$a"k *'e "ome+ $reaking my oath+ #ho "ares1 3
*m $ringing in or prisoner!this yong girl!
#e took her gi'ing the dead the last rites%
&t no "asting lots this time+ this is my l"k+
my prize+ no one else*s%
;o#+ my lord+
here she is% Take her+ /estion her+ 0
"ross7e.amine her to yor heart*s "ontent%
&t set me free+ it*s only right!
*m rid of this dreadfl $siness on"e for all%
"reon% Prisoner= Her1 Mo took her!#here+ doing #hat1
sentry% &rying the man% That*s the #hole story%
"reon% (hat1
Mo mean #hat yo say+ yo*re telling me the trth1
sentry% )he*s the one% (ith my o#n eyes sa# her
$ry the $ody+ -st #hat yo*'e for$idden%There% s that plain and "lear1
"reon% (hat did yo see1 9id yo "at"h her in the a"t1 0
sentry% Here*s #hat happened% (e #ent $a"k to or post+
those threats of yors $reathing do#n or ne"ks!
#e $rshed the "orpse "lean of the dst that "o'ered it+
stripped it $are % % % it #as slimy+ going soft+
and #e took to high grond+ $a"ks to the #ind so the stink of him "oldn*t hit s6
-ostling+ $aiting ea"h other to keep a#ake+
shoting $a"k and forth!no napping on the -o$+
not this time% And so the hors dragged $y
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ntil the sn stood dead a$o'e or heads+ 0
a hge #hite $all in the noon sky+ $eating+
$lazing do#n+ and then it happened!
sddenly+ a #hirl#ind=
T#isting a great dst7storm p from the earth+
a $la"k plage of the hea'ens+ filling the plain+
ripping the lea'es off e'ery tree in sight+
"hoking the air and sky% (e s/inted hard
and took or #hipping from the gods%
And after the storm passed!it seemed endless!
there+ #e sa# the girl= K0
And she "ried ot a sharp+ pier"ing "ry+
like a $ird "ome $a"k to an empty nest+
peering into its $ed+ and all the $a$ies gone % % %
5st so+ #hen she sees the "orpse $are
she $rsts into a long+ shattering #ail K
and "alls do#n #ithering "rses on the heads
of all #ho did the #ork% And she s"oops p dry dst+handfls+ /i"kly+ and lifting a fine $ronze rn+
lifting it high and poring+ she "ro#ns the dead
#ith three fll li$ations%
)oon as #e sa# 0
#e rshed her+ "losed on the kill like hnters+
and she+ she didn*t flin"h% (e interrogated her+
"harging her #ith offenses past and present!she stood p to it all+ denied nothing% tell yo+
it made me a"he and lagh in the same $reath%
t*s pre -oy to es"ape the #orst yorself+
it hrts a man to $ring do#n his friends%
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And if am to die $efore my time @
"onsider that a gain% (ho on earth+
ali'e in the midst of so m"h grief as +
"old fail to find his death a ri"h re#ard1
)o for me+ at least+ to meet this doom of yors
is pre"ios little pain% &t if had allo#ed F0
my o#n mother*s son to rot+ an n$ried "orpse!
that #old ha'e $een an agony= This is nothing%
And if my present a"tions strike yo as foolish+
let*s -st say *'e $een a""sed of folly
$y a fool%
leader%
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if lo'e yo mst!lo'e the dead= (hile *m ali'e+
no #oman is going to lord it o'er me%
!$nter ismene from the palace, under guard*.
"hors%
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the dead together%
antigo
