The story would have been a familiar one to Sophocles's audience. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance. answer choices . Many people are falling ill, and Oedipus begins to believe that there is a divine cause for the plague. Finally, Oedipus is vehement in his promises of dire punishment for Laiuss murderer, even if the murderer turns out to be someone close to Oedipus himself. Data is collected weekly and does not include downloads and attachments. Each man in the city grieves for himself, but the king grieves for the city and everyone in it. Questioned further, he answers that the baby was in fact the child of Laius himself, and that it was Jocasta who gave him the infant, ordering him to kill it, as it had been prophesied that the child would kill his parents. In fact, it is noteworthy that there is no other historic or poetic reference that links Ares to the spreading of a disease (4). C. The sphinx was terrorizing Thebes, so citizens couldn't investigate. He avidly begins an all-out manhunt. Hearing this, Oedipus fled his home, never to return. The critical reading of Oedipus Rex, its comparison with Thucydides history, as well as the systematic review of the existing historical data, lead us to strongly suggest that this epidemic, for which the name Plague of Thebes may be used, was an actual historical fact, likely caused by B. abortus. It is set in the kingdom of Thebes in This is presented to the audience through the dialogue between Oedipus, the king, and the Priest (167). Ironically, Oedipus thought that by leaving Corinth he was beating the prophecy that he would murder his father and marry his mother. He asks if anyone knows who killed Laius, promising that the informant will be rewarded and the murderer will receive no harsher punishment than exile. Kousoulis, A. Discuss the theme of sight and blindness in Oedipus Rex, how it is important, and how it affects the idea of truth. For the next 7 days, you'll have access to awesome PLUS stuff like AP English test prep, No Fear Shakespeare translations and audio, a note-taking tool, personalized dashboard, & much more! The citizens gather outside the palace of their king, Oedipus, asking him to take action. Oedipus asks who the other shepherd was, and the messenger answers that he was a servant of Laius. The plague is an infestation of disease-carrying insects that spread rapidly through the population, killing many. You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link. Guilt sits with regard to actionin the case of Oedipus, the action of killing his father and marrying his mother. (one code per order). Theseus does in fact return with Oedipuss daughters shortly. Oedipus, stunned, tells his wife that he may be the one who murdered Laius. Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. On the surface, the problem afflicting Thebes is a plague. Oedipus then strides off with a sudden strength, taking his daughters and Theseus to his grave. After consulting an oracle, Oedipus discovered that Thebes was under blood-guilt for the murder of the old king Laius: the plague would end only after the killer had been exiled from the city. $24.99 Oedipus is a vigorous and active leader. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. In the historical case (Athens) and the dramatic case (Thebes), the populace turned to the temples looking for a divine solution to the disaster. from Oxford University Ph.D. from St. Andrews University. Each man in the city grieves for himself, but Start your 48-hour free trial to unlock this answer and thousands more. Any proposed pathogen should be a highly contagious, zoonotic disease of cattle that causes stillbirth, miscarriages, and infertility, is characterized by high mortality rates, and has the potential to have caused an epidemic in the 5th century bc. Jocasta rejoices, convinced that Polybuss death from natural causes has disproved the prophecy that Oedipus would murder his father. They plead to see their fathers tomb, but Theseus insists that Oedipus has forbidden it. The plague in Oedipus Rex is not just a disease that is making people sick, but it is actually ruining . Oedipus eagerly attempts to uncover the truth, acting decisively and scrupulously refusing to shield himself from the truth. Sophocles, one of the most noted playwrights of the ancient world, wrote the tragedy Oedipus Rex in the first half of the decade 430-420 bc. The play has been labeled an analytical tragedy, meaning that the crucial events which dominate the play have happened in the past (2,3). Troy, Mycenae, and the otologic demise of Herr Heinrich Schliemann. Photo courtesy Effie Poulakou-Rebelakou. Figure 1. He praises Oedipus' intellect in solving the riddle of the Sphinx. In Oedipus Rex, why does Oedipus blind himself? At this early moment, we see Oedipuss dangerous pride, which explains his willful blindness and, to a certain extent, justifies his downfall. Please wait while we process your payment. The fate of Oedipus emerges as a truly tragic one, not so much because he caused the plague, but because of the characters own personal tragedy (Figure 2). Latest answer posted November 11, 2019 at 3:50:28 AM. During the time the play is set, Laius is deceased, but he is a critical . Much of the fascination of the play comes from watching Oedipus, the remorseless detective, hunt down Oedipus, the unwitting criminal. His play, Oedipus Rex, tells the sad tale of a king who discovers that he has murdered his father and married his mother. By the end of the play, Oedipus discovers that while attempting to avoid his destiny, he unknowingly killed his father at a place where three roads join as he was fleeing Corinth. Oedipus is so competent in the affairs of men that he comes close to dismissing the gods, although he does not actually blaspheme, as Creon does in Antigone. The Sphinx placed a great plague over Thebes and refused to remove it until someone correctly answered its riddle. Thus, the most probable cause of the plague in Thebes is B. abortus. B. Creon wanted to become king, so he never cared enough to investigate. Alternatively, the plague of Thebes could be a composite of >2 causative agents, as it has been suggested for the contemporary plague of Athens (6,7). You'll be billed after your free trial ends. Antigone and Ismene, the daughters of Oedipus, discuss the disaster that has just befallen them. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. Want 100 or more? Oedipus sends for Tiresias, the blind prophet, and asks him what he knows about the murder. He has sent Creon, his brother-in-law and fellow ruler, to the Delphic oracle to find out how to stop the plague. Shame was believed to have real-world consequences. The story of Oedipus is the subject of Sophocles' tragedy Oedipus . Dont have an account? This meant that they must find the killer of their dead king, Laius. Oedipus interrogates him, asking who gave him the baby. Name: Ariel De Lucas `Oedipus Rex Guided Reading Notes DIRECTIONS: As we read the tragic play Oedipus Rex together, complete the following notes. The Altmetric Attention Score for a research output provides an indicator of the amount of attention that it has received. Creon, covetous of royal power, is all too happy to oblige. In line 28 the word plague () appears for the first time, with the Greek word for disease () being used in lines 150, 217, and 303 (2,3). The citizens carry branches wrapped in wool, which they offer to the gods as gifts. "What is the reason for the plague in Thebes in Sophocles' Oedipus Rex?" Complete your free account to request a guide. Sophocles, the author, is a famous philosopher of the ancient times The Play is about Oedipus, the king of Thebes, who kills his father and marries his mother. for a customized plan. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. The king has already taken some action to deal with this harm by sending his brother-in-law, Creon, to the oracle at Delphi to ask for a salvation plan (lines 6872). Oedipus, now blind, entrusting his children to the gods. The Theban Plays Oedipus the King (or Oedipus Rex) is one of three surviving plays by Sophocles centering on the Greek myth of Oedipus (EHD ih puhs), king of Thebes; the other two are Oedipus at . After years of wandering in exile from Thebes, Oedipus arrives in a grove outside Athens. The plague results from the shame of not punishing Thebe's former king's murderer. In other words, he became a hero by figuring out the truth. Subscribe now. Oedipus angrily declares that justice will be done to this murderer. SparkNotes PLUS The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. Oedipus also learns that Laius is his father and that Jocasta, his wife, is his mother. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. They went in and saw Antigone hanging from a noose, and Haemon raving. The blind prophet Tiresias arrives, and Creon promises to take whatever advice he gives. "The Murder of Laius by Oedipus," 1867, by Joseph Blanc. Although we are able to see him as a mere puppet of fate, at some points, the irony is so magnified that it seems almost as if Oedipus brings catastrophe upon himself willingly. 3. These cookies perform functions like remembering presentation options or choices and, in some cases, delivery of web content that based on self-identified area of interests. A severe plague is described in Sophocles drama Oedipus Rex. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. For example, when the old priest tells Oedipus that the people of Thebes are dying of the plague, Oedipus says that he could not fail to see this (6872). The Thucydides syndrome. Then, before leaving the stage, Tiresias puts forth one last riddle, saying that the murderer of Laius will turn out to be both father and brother to his own children, and the son of his own wife. Her description of Laiuss murder, however, sounds familiar to Oedipus, and he asks further questions. DNA examination of ancient dental pulp incriminates typhoid fever as a probable cause of the Plague of Athens. This assignment asks readers to pick a person to blame for the tragedy of Oedipus. Oedipus swears he will never give his support to either of his sons, for they did nothing to prevent his exile years ago. . What is the cause of the plague in Thebes quizlet? Oedipus saved Thebes from the Sphinx by answering the Sphinx's riddle. Oedipus himself is the accursed person who brings the plague to Thebes. !Sophocles - Oedipus the King! Arriving at Thebes, Oedipus was confronted by the Sphinx: a monster that was half woman and half lion. As for the clinical features, although Thucydides does not mention the pregnancy or labor pains as described in Sophocles text, he does refer to abdominal and vulvovaginal symptoms (5). he mortality rate for untreated brucellosis is difficult to determine from the literature of the preantibiotic era (6); nevertheless, an 80% rate has been reported in situations of comorbidity with endocarditis (7). Sophocles lived between 496 and 406 bc; although he seems to have written 123 plays, only 7 have survived in a complete form (1). The Plague of Thebes, a Historical Epidemic in Sophocles Oedipus Rex. A second messenger enters and describes scenes of suffering. Seven Against Thebes, in Greek mythology, the seven champions who were killed fighting against Thebes after the fall of Oedipus, the king of that city. He has already anticipated the priests' request for help and has done what a good Greek ruler should doseek advice from an oracle. Sophocles describes the main characteristics of the epidemic through sporadic sentences. He has the answers Oedipus is looking for, and can help cure the plague, but, rather than . Discount, Discount Code Oedipus encountered the Sphinx and quickly realized that the answer was "man". All of this, of course, was unbeknownst to him. Before the palace of Oedipus, King of Thebes. The characteristics of pathogens that might be responsible for the plague on the basis of Sophocles descriptions in Oedipus Rex are summarized in the Technical Appendix. Oedipus steps out of the royal palace of Thebes and is greeted by a procession of priests, who are in turn surrounded by the impoverished and sorrowful citizens of Thebes. Sophocles, a preeminent ancient Greek tragedian, authored plays that have enthralled audiences for over two thousand years. Thucydides and Sophocles use similar terms when describing attempts to deal with the epidemic. The play opens in front of Oedipus' palace at Thebes. According to the World Health Organization, an epidemic is defined as a disease outbreak and, therefore, the occurrence of cases of disease in excess of what would normally be expected in a defined community, geographic area, or season (15). Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. Ancient typhoid epidemic reveals possible ancestral strain of. Oedipus and the Sphinx, by Gustave Moreau, 1864, The Met. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. The audience is not surprised, therefore, but is watching Oedipus intently for the dawning realization that he himself is the source of the pollution and the plague. Skip to document. When Creon returns from the oracle, he informs Oedipus that the person responsible for murdering the former King Laius must be banished from Thebes in order to put an end to the devastating plague. Although the above points are of great relevance, they lack the possibility of historical verification and are mainly based on the comparative and critical assessment of Sophocles and Thucydides work. The plagues effects are also pointed out by the Chorus: earth her gracious fruits denies and women wail in barren throes (lines 151, 215) (2,3). Haemon storms out. King Oedipus vows to find King Laius's murderer and immediately remove him from Thebes to lift the curse. Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. Subscribe now. You'll also receive an email with the link. Apparently, it has not heard Creons news about Laiuss murderer. Bearing in mind the aforementioned observations and the fact no other epidemics were reported in the eastern Mediterranean during the 5th century bc, we posit that the plague described by Sophocles in the tragedy Oedipus Rex has an actual basis in the plague of Athens described by Thucydides in his histories. The blight The main conflict is when Tiresias tells Oedipus that he is responsible for the plague, and Oedipus refuses to believe Tiresias. The Plague of Thebes, a Historical Epidemic in Sophocles Oedipus Rex. Early in the play it is clarified that the disease is a cattle zoonosis of high mortality rate (a blight upon the grazing flocks and herds, line 26, with the herds being cattle,) (2,3). A word with a meaning of something that brings death is used in the original Greek () to refer to the plague, which suggests that at the time of Sophocles his fellow Greeks were aware of the threat posed by infectious disease. Oedipus replies that he is more eager than anyone to find out the cause of the pollution and remove it. . We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. 2 Pallas: Pallas Athena. M.A. Oedipus asks the priests why they have come. Oedipus' wife and mother hanged themselves when the truth of their relationship was known, although Oedipus continued to rule Thabs until his death. LitCharts Teacher Editions. Our goals were to clarify whether the plague described in Oedipus Rex reflects an actual historical event; to compare it with the plague of Athens, which was described by Thucydides as occurring around the same time Sophocles wrote; and to propose a likely causative pathogen. This skirmish occurred at the very crossroads where Laius was killed. The following 5 points support this correlation. Not knowing where to go now, Antigone says they will have to wander forever alone. He tells them they can trust him to help in any way he can. Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. The priest responds that the city is dying and asks the king to save Thebes. 2023. Who are the experts?Our certified Educators are real professors, teachers, and scholars who use their academic expertise to tackle your toughest questions. In lines 167215 the Chorus stays on stage to summarize the situation and beg for salvation (2,3). Sending for Theseus, he tells the king he must carry out certain rites on his body, and that by doing so he may assure divine protection to his city. 6. Greek playwright Sophocles first introduced us to this character in his trilogy series known as the "Theban Plays," which explore themes of fate, truth, and guilt. He accuses Creon and Tiresias of conspiring against his life, and charges Tiresias with insanity. Jocasta has hanged herself, and Oedipus, finding her dead, has pulled the pins from her robe and stabbed out his own eyes. Oedipus and Antigone learn from a citizen that they are standing on holy ground, reserved for the Eumenides, goddesses of fate. . Who is Creon? He sends Creon, his brother-in-law, to the oracle at Athens. It's actually a case of a pestilence that's wiping out the city's people, livestock and harvests . The shepherd refuses to disclose anything, and Oedipus threatens him with torture. Creon condemns both Antigone and Ismene to death. Theseus and the Chorus exit toward Athens; Antigone and Ismene head for Thebes. Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. It was then, on the journey that would take him to Thebes, that Oedipus was confronted and harassed by a group of travelers, whom he killed in self-defense. Antigone, in spite of Creons edict and without the help of her sister Ismene, resolves to give their brother a proper burial. He now feels much more inclined to agree with the queen in deeming prophecies worthless and viewing chance as the principle governing the world. Creon appears in order to abduct Oedipus, but, proving unsuccessful, he kidnaps Antigone and Ismene instead. On the platform If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! Oedipus must find the killer of former King Laius to save the city. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. The opening of the drama, with the city of Thebes in the midst of plague has often been, historically, taken as a reference to the plague that devastated Athens in the opening years of the Peloponnesian War and has been used to assist in the dating of this play (13). Oedipus promises to solve the mystery of Laiuss death, vowing to curse and drive out the murderer. Oedipus tells Antigone that, earlier in his life, when Apollo prophesied his doom, the god promised Oedipus that he would come to rest on this ground. It would not be irrational to trust the historical credibility of a literary text. A lethal plague is described in this drama. Regarding the plays approach to treatment of the disease, reading through the drama we once again come across with the theocratic perceptions of ancient Greece. The lethality of this epidemic is particularly terrifying for the protagonists of the play, and the diseases severity is evinced by the first sentences of the tragedy (reek of incense everywhere, line 4). The ultimate goals of our study were to clarify whether the plague described in Oedipus Rex could reflect an actual historical event, compare it with the plague of Athens, which was described by the historian Thucydides as occurring not long before the time that Sophocles work appeared (4), and propose the most likely causative pathogen. The Sphinx had the city under a spell. Oedipus asks that this shepherd be brought forth to testify, but Jocasta, beginning to suspect the truth, begs her husband not to seek more information. Creon now rules the city, and he has ordered that Polynices, who brought a foreign army against Thebes, not be allowed proper burial rites. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! (VladoubidoOo/CC BY-SA 3.0) From there, Oedipus goes on to Thebes, and on the way answers the Sphinx's riddle. It is not quite clear why Ares is being called responsible for this plague, since there is no other such reference in the play. She runs back into the palace. Joel Christensen is an associate professor of classical studies at Brandeis. creating and saving your own notes as you read. Oedipus also discovers that he married his mother.