Oedipus Rex
Response and Analysis
Answers
Parts One and Two
Part One
What CONFLICT or problem do the people of
Thebes face at the beginning of the play?
There is a plague on the city causing the young to be
sick and die, mother’s to miscarry, herds to become
sick and die and the people want help from their King.
Part One
According to Ode 1, what god will punish the
murderer of Laius?
Apollo will punish him.
How do the Theban people feel about Oedipus?
He is like a god to them because he rid the city of the
Sphinx.
Part One
When Oedipus questions Creon about the murder of
Laius, what DRAMATIC IRONY does Sophocles
begin to develop?
The audience or reader of the play knows the story of
Oedipus (that he killed his father and married his
mother) and was, in fact, the murderer he was
investigating.
Part One
What is IRONIC about Teiresias the prophet being blind?
A “prophet” is said to be able to “see” the future. Teiresias can
“see” the future but cannot literally see, hence we have irony.
Why is Oedipus’ arrogance and anger toward Teiresias also
IRONIC?
Oedipus unknowingly accuses T. of having had King Laius
killed and is unaware of his own part in the murder; so, in effect,
he is “blind to the truth” but has his sight. This is the irony that
Oedipus can see literally but is blind to the truth.
Part One
What disturbs the chorus’ confidence and how
do they deal with their misgivings?
The chorus hears Teiresias accuse Oedipus of the
murder of their once beloved King Laius, so they
are upset by this. They felt devoted to their new
king because he had saved them from the Sphinx.
They also had witnessed Teiresias’ ability to “see”
the future. They are confused but decide to believe
in their king after all.
Part One
What argument does Jocasta use to persuade
Oedipus to ignore the “soothsayers and oracles”?
She tells him that the prophecy falsely predicted
the murder of Laius by his own son. She goes on
to tell how Laius was killed.
What minor detail in her argument causes
Oedipus to pursue a new line of questioning?
She reveals that Laius’ murdered occurred where
three roads meet.
Part One
Why did Oedipus leave Corinth in the first place?
He had been hearing rumors about his not being the biological son of
Polybus (king of Corinth) and Merope (queen). He wanted to know if
this was true, so he went to the Oracle of Apollo and asked. The
answer given was that he would kill his father and marry and have
children with his mother. This caused Oedipus to leave because he
loved his parents.
What personality traits in Oedipus drive him to insist upon
questioning the Shepherd (p. 233)?
Oedipus is persistent and has a strong desire to know the truth.
Possibly his arrogance played a part in the need to know. He also could
be considered downright stubborn. Curiosity is another trait we might
include.
Part One
If you were Oedipus, would you continue
to question things at this point or would
you pull back?
PART TWO
Part Two
What news has the Corinthian Messenger brought to
Thebes?
The King, Polybus, who is Oedipus’ adoptive father,
has died of old age and illness; the city of Corinth has
called Oedipus to assume the role of King.
The Corinthian Messenger says his news will bring
“both joy and grief.” Explain how this is a classic
example of IRONY as the scene unfolds.
The messenger expects Oedipus to find joy in being
King of Corinth but sadness over the death of his
father, Polybus; instead, Oedipus is joyful that
Polybus is dead but disturbed to hear he is not
Polybus’ son.
Part Two
After Oedipus threatens to kill the Shepherd from
Laius’ court, what crucial information does the
Shepherd reveal?
He tells Oedipus that Laius and Jocasta had sent their
babe with him to Mt. Cithearon to die but the
shepherd took pity on the baby and gave him to the
shepherd from Corinth.
In lines 1000-1002 what conclusion has Jocasta
reached?
She discovers that Oedipus is her true son, the
baby who was supposed to die on the mountain;
and he did fulfill the prophecy made by Teiresias
all those years ago. Oedipus had killed his father
and she had married her son and had his children!
How are lines 1105-1106 the CLIMAX or turning
point in the play?
These lines occur at the highest point of suspense,
just before Oedipus learns the horrible truth about
himself.
Summary of the news brought by the 2nd Messenger:
After Jocasta had run into her chambers, she had wept
out loud, and then had taken the cord from her gown and
used it to hang herself. Oedipus showed up a little later
acting like a madman and tried to get someone to give
him a sword. Finally, when no one would help him, he
threw his whole weight against the giant doors to the
bedchamber and broke in to find Jocasta hanging from
the cord. He took her body down from the noose and
took one of her brooches (large pins) and stuck them
into his own eyes numerous times, blinding himself
from the horrible life he lives- he did not want to see his
fathers in the afterlife; his children would be constant
reminders of his sin; his city would hate him and
condemn him.
According to the Chorus in lines 1151-1155, how have
Oedipus’ fortunes changed?
He had been a most revered King and leader of Thebes
having a wonderful life with his wife and children and now
he is a blind beggar who will roam the countryside alone
and in his own prison of darkness and truth.
Reread lines 1317-1322: consider whether Oedipus
would be judged guilty today for his “crimes”.
Oedipus has judged himself guilty and the punishment was
blindness. The question is whether someone is guilty of a
crime he did not know he had committed.
How do you think Sophocles felt about Oedipus’
crimes?
The acts of murder and of incest were despised in
the time of Sophocles. Perhaps his play reveals
that the author is torn between believing in fate
and free will. Was it Oedipus’ fate to kill his father
and marry Jocasta? Or do his own choices and
flaws bring about the events?
Has Sophocles maintained SUSPENSE throughout the
play even though we knew the basic story?
Yes, there are things that occurred in the play which were
new to us as we read such as the death of Jocasta. There
were many instances of “indirect reporting” by the
messenger and others which left room for our imagination.
Why does the play continue after Oedipus blinds himself?
What DRAMATIC purpose is served by the final meeting
of Oedipus and Creon?
The final scene provides us with a sense of relief from the
dramatic tension and gory nature of the previous scene. It
gives us the feeling that Creon and Oedipus have
reconciled and shows Creon to be a great king – one who
is compassionate and fair. This is also a relief for the
reader.