Oedipus Rex and Greek Theater

Social and Political – Athens 5 th Century BCE Sophocles born in Athens, 497 BC Athenian Government was “exclusionary democracy” – Run by elected officials in an open forum – About 10% of the population was eligible to participate (women, slaves, non-citizens excluded) Sophocles was a member of the ruling class – Aware of the inequality – His plays warned of divine retribution as a result of prejudices and injustice to the poor

Religious Ideas Greek pantheon consisted of hundreds of deities – familiar “Olympian” gods small part of overall scheme The gods were immortal and powerful but… – subject to Fate and each other’s will – seen in Oedipus Rex as the Delphic Oracle is the prophet of Oedipus’ doomed fate, but not the author (nor is Apollo) Some belief in Free Will – however, the individual still had to face human and cosmic consequences of his/her actions – Free Will is not more powerful than Fate/Destiny

Some Important Gods Zeus-father of the gods and man

Some Important Gods Dionysus was the god of wine and ecstasy. All plays were performed in his honor.

Some Important Gods Apollo/Phoebus—god of light and music- Has an Oracle at Delphi

Origins of Greek Drama Sixth Century BCE Aristotle records that acting was essentially invented by “Thespis” who stepped in front of the chorus and performed a solo Fifth Century BCE Playwrights in Athens produced tragedies for a festival honoring Dionysus

Greek Tragedians Aeschylus (525 – 456 BCE) – Wrote Oresteia, a tragic trilogy – Introduced usage of second actor onstage – Developed more complicated plots Sophocles (496/497 – 405/406 BCE) – “Theban Plays,” Oedipus Rex, Oedipus at Colonus and Antigone (not a trilogy as is often assumed) – Brought third actor onstage Euripedes (480 – 406 BCE) – Represented traditional, mythical heroes as ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances

Conventions of Greek Theater Dramatic Irony Audience was familiar with plots, taken from well-known myths, so they had more information about the action than the actors The suspense was in how the well-known events would transpire and in the audience’s watching the events in “real time.”

Conventions of Greek Theater, cont. The plays were acted in the daytime All actors were male. They wore masks, wigs, and high-heeled boots to increase visibility and add to the formality Due to the religious and dignified style, no violence was shown on stage. The messenger ran on stage and told the audience about any deaths or killings.

Aristotle’s Unities To increase dramatic intensity, the plays observed the three unities – Unity of time: all of the action took place within 24 hours, in continuous time; dialogue and Chorus provided any necessary background information – Unity of place: all of the action was limited to a single setting – Unity of subject: one single main plot focused on the main character. No sub-plots.

Tragedy Aristotle defined tragedy as a form of drama that elicits pity and fear. It focuses on the reversal of fortune and downfall of a tragic hero Audience experiences heightened emotions as they watch the hero suffer, and in the end, audience has a catharsis.

Tragic Hero A tragic hero must have two traits: be a god/demi-god or hero and have a tragic flaw or error in judgment (called hamartia) The most common tragic flaw is pride, or hubris (extreme pride)

Chorus Functions as a narrator men represented citizens Always on stage, frequently sang or danced Had a leader who carried on a dialogue with main character or rest of chorus (as a song called a kommos)

Function of the Chorus Set the tone Give exposition Recall events of past Interpret events Ask questions Offer opinions Give advice, if asked Stay objective (did not disagree with main character) Act as jury of elders who reach a moralistic conclusion at the end All these things were done in a formal/stylized song with 3 major parts  Strophe – first part of choral ode, chorus moves left to right or east to west  Antistrophe – follows strophe, chorus performs return steps across the stage  Epode – third part of choral ode, completes the movements of the chorus

Exposition Information An Oracle foretells that the son of Laius will slay his father and marry his mother Laius has son’s feet bound and leaves him to die on Mount Cithaeron Shepherd finds baby, gives to another shepherd who gives the baby to Polybus, the King of Corinth Child (Oedipus)grows up believing himself the son of Polybus, questions his heritage, consults Oracle Oracle tells him he will slay his father and marry his mother Oedipus runs away, encounters men at crossroads, slays men (except one), arrives at Thebes

Oedipus Rex: the riddle Outside of Thebes, a monster known as the Sphinx has been killing travelers, who couldn't answer her riddle. The riddle was "What creature walk on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon, and three in the evening?" Sphinx The Sphinx had head and chest of woman and body of lion, and in many Greek paintings, she may also have wings of eagle.

Oedipus Rex: the riddle Oedipus arrives and correctly answers the Sphinx' riddle, saying that it was man. Man, because as infant would crawl on it hands and feet; in most of his life, he would walk on two legs; but when he was old, he would have to rely on a walking stick. The Sphinx drowned herself.

Oedipus Rex: the riddle When the Thebans heard that Oedipus had solved the riddle and got rid of the monster that had troubled their land, Creon (the uncle of Oedipus) gave the kingship to the young hero by allowing him to marry his sister Jocasta. Jocasta and Oedipus then had 4 children: Eteocles, Polyneices, Antigone and Ismene.