Oedipus Rex The tragedy continues…

Where we left Oedipus… Oedipus was mad at Creon Teiresias Teiresias explained that Oedipus had killed Laius Jocasta told Oedipus that Laius had died at the place where 3 roads meet when robbers attacked Plus – not all prophesies come true! She was told her son would kill her husband and sleep with her and that hadn’t happened! Oedipus realized when he was leaving Corinth to find out if his parents (Polybus and Merope) were really his parents and had visited the Delphi oracle to find out the prophesy that he would: Sleep with his mom Kill his dad Be a monster He realized that he had killed a man there

A messenger arrives… Polybus (king of Corinth, Oedipus’s dad) has died THIS IS GREAT! Oedipus did not kill him! The prophet (and, therefore, the gods) was wrong! Oedipus has beaten his fate! As long as he doesn’t sleep with Merope – his mom

But then the messenger tells him… Oedipus can go home! Polybus and Merope were not his parents Messenger found him years ago His feet were bound together One of Laius’s herdsmen gave him to the messenger Oedipus MUST find out who his parents were Jocasta wants him to stop searching NOW!

Next… Oedipus sends for the herdsman Jocasta runs off Oedipus thinks Jocasta is worried that he is of a lower class The Chorus sums up everything

The herdsman arrives… Oedipus wants him to recognize the messenger The herdsman does not want the messenger to tell “Plague seize you!” The herdsman reveals: The child was the kid of Jocasta and Laius There was a prophesy that he would kill his dad and have sex with his mom Oedipus: “Oh snap.”

More news from the messenger The queen is dead She Freaked out Yelled Laius’s name Talked about how she had 2 kids with Oedipus Hanged herself Then Oedipus Ran in Blind himself Says “No more shall you behold such horrors”

Oedipus’s plan Self imposed banishment Realizes that he can’t fight his fate Realizes that he can’t fool the gods The moral of the story: You cannot fight your destiny.

Oedipus as tragic hero Dilemma: should he stay in Corinth or not? Hamartia: He believed that leaving Corinth would prevent him from killing his dad and sleeping with his mom But he was lied to about his parents Downfall: tried to save Thebes, found out he was its problem Hubris: he was so outraged at meeting his fate that he blinded himself Catharsis: we feel badly because he tried to do the right thing

Big Ideas from Oedipus Fate happens Oedipus tried to prevent it by running He ran right to his fate Jocasta laughed at soothsayers because she “escaped” fate by killing her son He wasn’t killed He killed Laius She had 2 kids with him

Big Ideas from Oedipus Blindness as symbol Teiresias could see, Oedipus could not Be careful what you say/ask for Oedipus swore vengeance and banishment Oedipus kept after the info even though everyone told him not to