1. OEDIPUS REX
INTRODUCTION

2. MAIN CHARACTERS

3. Teiresias
Blind prophet and servant of Apollo
Reveals the reasons for the devastation and plague in Thebes

4. Teiresias
One of the most powerful characters in the play
Tells Oedipus he will become blind and poor

5. Jocasta Wife AND mother of Oedipus
She tells Oedipus not to trust in the oracles
She tries to protect Oedipus from the awful truth

6. Jocasta
She alternately condemns and upholds the authority of the oracles as best suits the direction of the argument at the moment

7. Oedipus Protagonist His name means “swollen-foot”
He inspires both pity and fear

8. Oedipus
A hereditary curse has been placed on his family, and he unknowingly has fulfilled the terms of the prophecy that he would kill his father (Laius) and marry his own mother (Jocasta)

9. Oedipus
When he curses the murderer of Laius, he is cursing himself and predicting his own exile and consequent life of “wretchedness.”

10. Oedipus
He is wise, revered by his subjects, and dedicated to the discovery of truth
He wants to rid Thebes of the plague, but Fate and the Gods have other things in store for him

11. Chorus of Theban Elders
Men of Thebes who honor and respect the king and the gods
Their odes reveal both a strong attachment to the king as well as grounding in religious culture

12. Creon
Brother of Laius
Oedipus feels threatened by Creon and believes that he covets the throne
Creon defends himself saying he has no desire to be king and that Oedipus harms himself in making such accusations

13. Messenger Tells Oedipus that King Polybos of Corinth is dead
Oedipus learns from the messenger that Polybos was not his father
The messenger had been given Oedipus as an infant by one of Laius’ men

14. Shepherd of Laius
Reveals his information only after Oedipus threatens his life
Admits to receiving the infant (he gave to Polybos’ messenger) from Laius and Jocasta
Oedipus eventually realizes his own identity and his crimes of patricide and incest after hearing the shepherd’s story

15. Second Messenger Announces and describes Jocasta’s suicide
Predicts future sorrows for a people whose kings descend from this polluted line

16. The Chorus Choral odes bring an additional viewpoint to the play
Offer a broader and more socio-religious perspective than those offered by individual characters

17. MAIN THEMES

18. KEY THEMES The Limits of Free Will The Willingness to Ignore the Truth
Sub-themes:
Quest for Identity and Truth
Nature of Innocence and Guilt
Nature of Moral Responsibility

19. THEMES Cont’d. Limits of Free Will Prophecy is CENTRAL to story
Oedipus and Jocasta debate the extent to which prophecies should be trusted
When ALL prophecies come true, it appears that ONE of Sophocles’ aims is to justify the power of the Gods and prophets
Can in fact just be showing that error/disaster can happen to anyone, that humans are relatively powerless before Fate or the Gods, and that a cautious humility is the best attitude toward life

20. THEMES Cont’d. Willingness to Ignore the Truth
Oedipus fastens on to any detail in hope that it will exonerate him
Seeking the truth is his only motivation (so he believes = illusion)
Information given in key speeches is largely intended to make audience aware of IRONY, BUT –---
Also emphasizes how desperately Oedipus and Jocasta want to avoid the obvious truth (they look at the info presented to them but pretend not to see it)

21. Sub-themes Quest for Identity and Truth Nature of Innocence and Guilt
Oedipus begins seeking justice for Thebes (murder mystery) and then begins seeking his own identity
Nature of Innocence and Guilt
Can Oedipus be held accountable when it seems he is MADE to do what he does?
Nature of Moral Responsibility
Killing father and sleeping w/ mother are major crimes (unforgivable)

22. Symbols and Motifs Symbols Motifs Oedipus’s swollen foot
The Three-Way Crossroads
Motifs
Sight and Blindness

23. AUTHOR STYLE

24. Literary Devices
Dramatic Irony
Foreshadowing
Imagery

25. Author Style - Imagery
References to light and darkness to predict the future

26. Example of Imagery
The priest says at the beginning: "All the house of Kadmos is laid waste; all emptied, and all darkened.”

27. Example of Imagery
Oedipus promises Creon: “Then once more I must bring what is dark to light.”

28. Author Style - Foreshadowing
Teiresias tells Oedipus that it is he who is blind
“But I say that you, with both your eyes, are blind. You cannot see the wretchedness of your life.”

29. Irony
Use of Dramatic Irony heightens audience response to actions of story
Audience already knows the details of the story, legend
Reinforces audience empathy for Oedipus (key to catharsis)