Oedipus Rex
Sophocles
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