Oedipus
and
• Descended from one of the
foremost families, but rose to
power not because of birth, but
rather because of ability to solve
riddle
• By attempting to do the right
thing, he led the community to
plague
• Even with plague, failed to
recognize he was the cause of
disaster
• Suffered horrible personally
(recognition of his identity, his
incestuous relationship with his
mother and the true nature of his
children)
• Eventually realized error and 1)
blinded himself, then 2) selfostracized himself
Pericles
• Descended from one of the
foremost families, but rose to
power not because of birth,
but rather because of public
speaking skills
• By attempting to do the right
thing, he led the community to
plague
• Even with plague, failed to
recognize he was the cause of
disaster
• Suffered horrible personally
(witnessing the death of his
two natural sons to plague)
• Eventually was voted out of
office, prosecuted and died of
the plague
Sophocles
and
Pericles
• Perhaps only in the Democratic society Pericles created and
nurtured could political criticism such as that leveled by Sophocles
against Pericles have ever been allowed
• Perhaps Sophocles owes Pericles an enormous debt…
– Pericles provided the environment in which Sophocles’ art form could
flourish
– Pericles provided the topics and themes that Sophocles constructed his
dramas around
• How much authority does the state (political community) have to limit the
activities of citizens?
• Do citizens have a responsibility to demonstrate civil disobedience towards
the state at times or is absolute obedience to the state always required?
• Which law is greater: the laws of the gods or the laws of man and the state?
• What does it mean to be a citizen and can a citizen withdraw from the state
and community?
• What responsibilities do we owe to family and do these responsibilities
supersede responsibilities to the gods or to the state?