Oedipus Rex Socratic Seminar Prep Notes
Quotes
 “Cast me immediately from this land somewhere I can avoid all mortal
speech.” (Sophacles,60)
 “Under whose guidance I was to kill my own father? But he died and sleeps
below the earth; and I am here without touching a spear-unless somehow
he perished for losing for me, and thus died by me but still Polybus has
taken those prophecies as they are worthless with him and lies in hades.”
(Sophacles,44)
 “People are naturally good; society corrupts them.” (Jean Jacques
Rousseau)
Questions
 Imagine if you were Oedipus and just found out the truth do you think you
would react the same way? Why or why not?
 Why do you think Tiresias did not tell Oedipus the truth from the very
beginning?
 Why do you think Oedipus’s foster parents did not tell him the truth when
he asked about the prophecy?
Notes
 I don’t think it is possible to have a good king. I see it as if someone has that
kind of power they will eventually be corrupted because I feel no one man
can handle all that power.
 I think Creon would be a better king than Oedipus because he seems more
cautious and not as quick to make decisions like Oedipus was.
 I think it’s better to know the truth always other than going around being
completely blind to whatever the truth may be.