OEDIPUS:
A Super Short Version
&
His Family Line
By the end of this class you should-• Feel like the fate of Oedipus’ family is doomed
• Know the complex and incestuous family tree of Oedipus
• Remember that the Greeks knew these myths as part of their religion
OEDIPUS TRILOGY:
1. OEDIPUS REX
2. OEDIPUS AT
COLONUS
3. ANTIGONE
KING AND QUEEN OF THEBES
Laius
HEAR A PROPHECY FROM
Jocasta
Teiresias
“ Your baby will kill you, Laius
and marry you, Jocasta”
KING AND QUEEN OF THEBES
Laius
Jocasta
Oedipus
“ Since we don’t want our
son to kill and/or marry us
(respectively) we should
probably take necessary
precautions. ”
“ All right…
Let’s have Some Guy do it
so we don’t have killing a
baby on our consciences:
the gods might not like
that.”
Oedipus
Some Guy:
“I don’t really want to kill a baby. I’ll
nail him to this mountain, and the
gods can decide.”
Some Sympathetic Peasants
Find
and
and
take
take
care
care
ofof
him.
him.
HeHe
ends
ends
up
upbecoming
becomingroyalty.
royalty.
One
Oneday
dayhe
hegets
getsininto
to aa“skirmish”
“skirmish”with
with a guy
vs. a guy
Oedipus wins.
Oedipus
Remember: “a guy” is dead
KINGKING
AND AND
QUEEN
OF THEBES
(New)
QUEEN
OF THEBES
Laius
Oedipus
Jocasta
goes to Thebes.
Laius is dead.
(Note: Laius & “a guy” share the same color font.)
SO….
(New) KING AND QUEEN OF THEBES
Oedipus
Polyneices
Eteocles
Jocasta
Ismene
Antigone
Through a series of unfortunate
events…. Oedipus comes to realize
the bad news. Mostly because
THEY HEAR A PROPHECY FROM
Teiresias:
“ You’re going to kill your dad and marry your
mom…and your two sons are going to kill each
other…. I’m also going to hint at the fact that you’re
going to be blind one day.”
Oedipus
“ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?!?!”
Oedipus:
“I’M SO UPSET RIGHT
NOW I’M GOING TO
STAB MY EYES OUT
WITH THIS PIN FROM
YOUR ROBE—THE ONE
YOUR’E WEARING,
RIGHT NOW, WHEN
YOUR DEAD, JOCASTA.”
Jocasta
(hangs herself)
OEDIPUS FAMILY TREE
Labdacus
Laius
Menoeceus
Jocasta
Creon
Eurydice
Haemon
Megareus
Oedipus Jocasta
Polyneices
Eteocles
Ismene Antigone
Oedipus leaves the throne to Creon (Jocasta’s brother).
He also asks to be banished from the kingdom.
He walks around blind until he dies one day.
This is the end of OEDIPUS REX
HOW CLOSELY HAVE YOU BEEN LISTENING:
WHAT PART OF TEIRESIAS’
PROPHECY HAS NOT BEEN
FULFILLED?
OEDIPUS FAMILY TREE
Labdacus
Menoeceus
Laius
Jocasta
Creon
Eurydice
Haemon
Megareus
Oedipus Jocasta
Polyneices
Eteocles
Ismene Antigone
THESE TWO SHARE THE THRONE.
POLYNEICES WANTS ALL THE POWER.
SO HE GATHERS AN ARMY FROM ARGOS.
THE BATTLE OF SEVEN GATES
Megareus
Dies.
Why is that important?
OEDIPUS FAMILY TREE
Labdacus
Laius
Menoeceus
Jocasta
Creon
Eurydice
Haemon
Megareus
Oedipus Jocasta
Polyneices
Iteocles
Ismene Antigone
THE BATTLE OF SEVEN GATES
Polyneices
Eteocles
Megareus
Dies.
Who are you
betting on?
What’s going to
happen?
REVIEW OF DEAD PEOPLE
Labdacus
Laius
Menoeceus
Jocasta
Creon
Eurydice
Haemon
Megareus
Oedipus Jocasta
Polyneices
Iteocles
Ismene Antigone
GUESS:
WHO IS THE PROTAGONIST OF OUR NEXT PLAY?
WHO IS THE ANTAGONIST?
REVIEW OF DEAD PEOPLE
Labdacus
Laius
Menoeceus
Jocasta
Creon
Eurydice
Haemon
Megareus
Oedipus Jocasta
Polyneices
Eteocles
Ismene Antigone
Creon
SAYS
“Give Eteocles a proper burial. He deserves it.
Do not bury Polyneices . Do no mourn his death. He is a traitor.”
Who might have a problem with that?
AND SO BEGINS
Antigone
(Review with string)
CHECK YOURSELF
• Do the Greeks know this story before seeing the
play?
• How is Oedipus related to Jocasta?
• How is Creon related to Jocasta?
• Name at least one of Oedipus’ children.
(Bonus if you name three or more)