 Oedipus
 Creon
 Chorus
 Tiresias
 Jocasta
 Messenger
 King
of Thebes
 Ruled by fate from Apollo
 Destined to marry mother and kill
father
 Raised by King and Queen of Corinth
 Birth parents: King Laius and Jocasta
 Defeated Sphinx
 Brother
of Jocasta
 Brings news from Apollo: find the
murderer of Laius, for he is the
reason for the plague
 Oedipus accuses him for trying to
take over
 Charged with treason
 Turns out to be a true friend and takes
care of Oedipus’ daughters in the end





Citizens of Thebes
March around alter, chanting
Speak for the people of Thebes
Follow their leader
Help reader visualize the people’s
thoughts, concerns, and opinions
 Blind
prophet; predicts fate and
can see the future
 Called by Oedipus for advice
 Admits that Oedipus is indeed the
murderer of Laius
 Oedipus accuses him of conspiring
with Creon to kill him and take his
place as king





Was married to King Laius
Birthed a son and had him killed by a
henchman
Marries Oedipus after husband died
Accidently led Oedipus to realize he killed
his own father, King Laius
Hangs herself after she realizes Oedipus is
her son
 Sends
message that Polybus, King of
Corinth, has died from natural causes
 Reveals that Oedipus was adopted
 Used to be a herdsman
 Gave Oedipus to Polybus and
Merope
 Only survivor of the fight between
Oedipus and Laius.








Oedipus tries to find cause of plague for the
citizens he rules.
He Sends Creon to the priest of Apollo.
Finds out the cause of the plague is from the
unidentified murderer of Laius
Oedipus consults Tiresias, the blind prophet.
Tiresias says Oedipus is the murderer
Creon agrees, and Oedipus is enraged
He accuses Creon of treason
Jocasta calms the men and convinces
Oedipus that Creon is genuine
She tells Oedipus not to worry, and that
oracles are fake.
 Oedipus questions Jocasta about Laius,
and every answer leads to worry.
 Jocasta informs him there was one
survivor, a herdsman
 Oedipus reveals to Jocasta his fate: he
will kill his father and sleep with his
mother.
 Oedipus left his parents in Corinth so
his fate will not come true







A messenger, the last survivor, confirms
that Oedipus was adopted.
He informs people Polybus is dead.
Admits that he received Oedipus from
another herdsman and gave him to
Polybus
Herdsman confirms that he saved Oedipus
and did not kill him
Jocasta kills herself after she realizes
Oedipus is her son
Oedipus gauges his eyes out and exiles
himself, leaving Creon to care of his
daughters.
 One
cannot change his or her
fate.
 One is either born innocent or
guilty.
 Sometimes the blind know more
than the one who sees.
 One shall not promise something,
unless he or she knows the truth.