Literature: What does it say? Oedipus Rex Scene 1 Name: Mysteries Revealed: Foreshadowing in Teiresias’ Speech The Oedipus Myth
The Oedipus myth was deeply rooted in the consciousness of Sophocles’ community. Cadmus, the founder of Thebes, angered Apollo by killing the god’s favorite snake. As punishment, the descendants of Cadmus lived under a curse prophesied to each generation by Apollo’s oracle. According to the prophecy, if Laius, the king of Thebes, had a son by Jocasta, his queen, that son would kill his father and marry his mother. In response to the prophecy, Laius had a rivet driven between Oedipus’ infant ankles and instructed a household servant to leave him on Mr. Cithaeron to die from exposure to the elements. Instead, the servant pitied the infant Oedipus and, without revealing his identity, gave him to a shepherd. In turn, the shepherd gave Oedipus to Merope, the wife of Polybus, king of Corinth. They named him Oedipus (swollen foot) for the wounds on his feet. As a young man, Oedipus was taunted for not being the true son of King Polybus. Deeply troubled, Oedipus consulted the oracle of Apollo at Delphi about the accusation. But before he could ask his question, the priestess, Pythia, drove him away from Apollo’s shrine, declaring that Oedipus would kill his father and marry his mother. Horrified at the prophecy, Oedipus fled Corinth, the home of his supposed parents, in an attempt to avoid fulfilling the prophecy. Not far from Delphi, Oedipus met a man in a chariot whose charioteer demanded that Oedipus move aside. When he refused the charioteer drove his horses forward so that a wheel of the car grazed Oedipus’ foot. As the chariot passed him, someone inside struck Oedipus on the head with a goad. Enraged, Oedipus killed the rider and the charioteer and continued on his way. Eventually, Oedipus found his way to Thebes. Upon arrival he found the city in turmoil. A female monster called the Sphinx was terrorizing the Thebans, eating them one by one. Before eating her victims, the Sphinx would ask them a riddle: “What is it that goes on four legs in the morning, two at midday, and three in the evening?” Unfortunately, the Sphinx would continue tormenting the Thebans until someone answered the riddle. Worse yet, a nearby king, Damasistratus, reported that kind Laius had been killed on his way to Delphi. The preoccupied Thebans had no time to seek the murderer. Creon’s priority was to find someone who could save Thebes from the Sphinx by solving her riddle. He offered the hand of his sister Jocasta, Laius’ widow, and a share in the kingdom to any man who could answer the Sphinx correctly. Oedipus visited the Sphinx with the correct answer: “man, who crawls at infancy, walks upright in his prime, and leans on a cane in old age.” The Sphinx flung herself to her death, and Oedipus was made king of Thebes with Jocasta as his wife. After he ruled for almost two decades, Thebes was visited with a plague because Laius’ murderer was living in Thebes unpunished for his crime. Oedipus opened an investigation immediately to locate the murderer and relieve Thebes of the plague. At this point in Oedipus’ story, Sophocles begins the play. Literature: What does it say? Oedipus Rex Scene 1 Name: Mysteries Revealed: Foreshadowing in Teiresias’ Speech Teiresias. Scene 1, Line 347 (p.216) 1. If Teiresias considers himself to have a regal (kingly) status, what do you think Teiresias values in a leader? What qualities should a leader have, in HIS opinion, that he possesses and illustrates here? 2. What does this show us about Teiresias and who he respects as his authority? I say that you are the murderer whom you seek. Teiresias. Scene 1, Line 394-­‐417 (p. 218) You are a king. But where argument’s concerned I am your man, as much a king as you. (1) I am not your servant, but Apollo’s. (2) I have no need of Creon to speak for me. 3. Explain this line using the myth. Listen to me. You mock my blindness, do you? But I say that you, with both your eyes are blind: 4. According to the myth, what is his parents’ curse and why are they cursed? You cannot see the wretchedness of your life, Nor in whose house you live, no, nor with whom. (3) Who are your father and mother? Can you tell me? You do not even know the blind wrongs That you have done them, on earth, and in the world below. But the double lash of your parents’curse will whip you (4) Out of this land some day, with only night Upon your precious eyes. (5) Your cries then – where will they not be heard? What fastness of Cithaeron will not echo them? (6) And that bridal melody of yours – you’ll know it then, The song they sang when you came here to Thebes And found your misguided berthing. (7) All this, and more, that you cannot guess at now, Will bring you to yourself among your children. (8) Be angry, then. Curse Creon. Curse my words. I tell you, no man that walks upon the earth Shall be rooted out more horribly than you. 5. Teiresias is foreshadowing what will happen to Oedipus when he knows the truth. Predict Oedipus’ fate if “only night” will shine upon his eyes? 6. What is Cithaeron and its significance to Oedipus according to the myth? 7. Berthing is a place to sleep. How is Oedipus’ berthing misguided? Berthing is a homonym of birthing. How is Oedipus’ birthing also misguided? 8. Given your new knowledge of Oedipus’ dual relationship with Jocasta, explain this line. What does is mean that Oedipus is among his children?
Literature: What does it say? Oedipus Rex Scene 1 Name: Mysteries Revealed: Foreshadowing in Teiresias’ Speech