Oedipus RexSophocles

Sophocles

Works examine the depth of human despair and suffering

He, however, was a happy, well to do man

Won the most writing/dramatic competitions in all of Greece

Plays often depict characters caught up in unsolvable dilemmas that test their faith in divine and human justice.

Oedipus Rex

Considered one of the worlds greatest tragedies

Tragedy—a serious drama featuring a main character, often of noble birth, who strives to achieve something and is ultimately defeated.

Tragic Flaw—inborn character flaw or weakness

Greek Theater

Only men performed

Characters wore masks so they often switched roles or played many roles.

Basic background and terms

Oedipus=king of Thebes with a mysterious past

The whole of Greek civilization know his story which gives the tale SERIOUS dramatic irony

Dramatic Irony—occurs when the reader or audience knows something important that the character does not.

Oedipus

Jocasta and Laius receive a prophecy that their son will kill his father and marry his mother.

Instead of allowing this to happen they decide to kill the baby first.

They give him to a shepherd who was ordered to abandon the child with his ankles pinned together on the side of the mountain.

BUT…the shepherd pities the child.

Before the play begins… Oedipus has won the hand

of Queen Jocasta, whose husband, King Laius, had been killed on the road by another traveler.

Oedipus does this (gets her to marry him) by solving a riddle posed by the Sphinx (who at the time was terrorizing Thebes).

But what Oedipus does NOT know is very important and moderately troubling…

SO

Our friend “Ed” turns out to be that baby who was given to a royal couple in another city-state.

Oedipus then goes on to meet King Laius in the street…kill him…win Jocasta…by beating the sphinx…and therefore…

KILL HIS FATHER AND MARRY HIS MOTHER.

Remember, Remember, Remember

Dramatic Irony—the play is dripping with it. Nearly every line can be taken with a double meaning.

The audience already knows the story, they know that Oedipus is who he is, but Oedipus himself has no idea.

Themes

Quest for identity

Nature of innocence and guilt

Nature of moral responsibility

Limitations of human will versus fate

Abuse of power