The Trial of Oedipus
English/Social Studies Project #2
Fall 2002
Caemmerer/Mabie
The Task
Your job for this project will be to determine the guilt or innocence of Oedipus and if necessary the appropriate
sentence for his crime. In doing so you will be exploiting:
 your understanding of Oedipus
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your ability to interpret literature
your knowledge of Greek Theater
your understanding of the US legal system and appropriate precedents
your understanding of basic court room procedures.
To achieve this task successfully you must demonstrate both individual determination and good group skills.
The Project
Oedipus often behaves questionably, and these behaviors can be interpreted in a number of ways through the
text. In the end his guilt is discovered, and he is exiled in accordance with the law that he, himself, has decreed. If
Oedipus lived in the 21st Century, however, and were arrested under the laws of the US legal system, would he be
found guilty? If so, of what crime? And what would his punishment be?
For this assignment, you will all be actors. Some of you will be traditional stage actors, showing the audience
scenes for Oedipus that might prove his guilt or innocence. Others will be the great actors of the last 50 years—
lawyers. It will be your job to define a case either attempting to prosecute Oedipus or defend him. Still others will
serve as witnesses of the events that could prove his guilt or innocence. In the end, your group task will be twofold.
Your team will either prosecute or defend Oedipus depending on which side of the trial you find yourself; we will
decide this. As support for your case you will begin by writing, interpreting, memorizing and acting one entire scene
from Oedipus The King in such a way as to support your side of the case. This scene is the first scene listed below.
You teachers believe that to argue a convincing case during your team’s remaining trial time, you will need to use/act
other scene; we will leave this up to you, however. The trial and drama will be blended into a single presentation upon
which you will be graded. At the end of the trial, you will all be responsible for writing your own verdict. You will be
graded on this as well.
What you must know to put on a successful trial
Prior to being given this assignment, you learned about the trial process in American Studies and read the Sophocles’
tragedy, Oedipus the King, in English. You will need to continually refer to both of these throughout your planning.
Good presentations/trials will show solid use of the trial process and strong interpretations of the text. You have two
essential packets of material.
The Legal Process
You were given this already in American Studies class. It is a detailed list that includes vocabulary that you are
expected to use and procedures you are expected to follow. Stray from it at your own peril—or at least the peril of your
grade.
The Passages
The below passages are your primary sources of evidence. Your case must be based on these key events. Some facts of
the case are common knowledge in so far as it is assumed that you have all read and know the play. Any events
outside of these scenes, however, must only be brought out in the actual examination of these scenes. In addition, all
of your witnesses must come from these scenes. Opposing council may object to either witnesses or information that
does not come directly from these scenes. You are required to use the first scene listed below for your performance.
The scene provides Jocasta’s second-hand description of Laius’ murder. It is followed by Oedipus’ description of a
murder in which he, Oedipus, was once involved. This murder—the one Oedipus was involved in—in some ways
sounds like Laius’ murder; in one significant way, it does not. For this scene, you must memorize all the lines and
interpret them so that they support your side of the case. Secondly, your team must write lines for the actual murder
scene, memorize these lines, interpret them and act them out—also in such a way as to support your side of the case.
Technically, this is all the acting (from the tragedy) required of you. Will your case be much stronger if you act and
utilize other listed below? Indubitably. You have to figure out, however, how to use your time judiciously and provide
enough text/acting evidence from the play in order to present a solid case.
Required:
1)
page 200, lines 667-953
Oedipus, really paranoid, thinks that Creon wants his crown. It has been prophesized by Tiresias a couple of
pages earlier that Oedipus is the killer of Laius. Jocasta here says that this is hogwash and relives what
actually happened to Laius on the fateful day—according to the sole survivor.
This scene is effective for it can actually be divided into two scenes—the one above between Jocasta and
Oedipus and also a recreation of the actual murder. The murder would have to be pieced together and
“written” based on the second-hand testimony of Jocasta.
Two Parts for first, main scene:
Oedipus and Jocasta
Many Parts for the murder scene:
Laius, Oedipus, Guards, and People on the Road
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Suggested:
2) page 162, lines 92-168
Creon returns from the Delphic Oracle. He has been told that Thebes must “drive corruption from the land” by
finding the killer of Laius; the city must then banish or execute him. Oedipus is angered that Thebes did not
do this earlier after Laius’ death but vows to do it now.
Three Parts:
Priest, Oedipus and Creon
3) page 176, lines 359-432 (really, for the scene’s true effect, it should be acted through line 507)
Tiresias, the blind prophet, has been summoned and arrives to give Oedipus answers regarding the killer of
Laius. Tiresias comes reluctantly. Oedipus angers when Tiresias suggests that he, Oedipus, is involved.
Oedipus grows paranoid and eventually accuses Tiresias of compacting with Creon to dethrone him.
Two Parts:
Tiresias, Oedipus
4)
page 213, lines 1017-1114
A messenger from Corinth shows up to tell Oedipus that his “father,” Kind Polybus of Corinth, has just passed
away. Oedipus is relieved that his father has passed away of old age, for this means that the prophecy that he
will kill his father and marry his mother cannot come true.
Three Parts:
Oedipus, Jocasta and the Messenger.
5)
page 225, lines 1228-1310
Oedipus questions a Corinthian shepherd. A Corinthian messenger is there and refreshes the shepherd’s
memory about a baby that he (the Corinthian shepherd who used to serve Laius) gave to him (the messenger)
to raise as his own. After a bit of torture, the shepherd reveals that it was Jocasta, the Queen of Thebes, who
actually gave the baby to him. He, the Corinthian Shepherd, then passed the baby onto the messenger, for he
pitied it. Oedipus is starting to put all of the pieces together.
Four/Five Parts:
Oedipus, Corinthian Shepherd