Oedipus #2

Wednesday's Homework

• Read to page 210
• Journal: How does the background information on Greek Theater and History inform your reading of Oedipus? Use specific examples to explore the connections between context and content.

Lines 549-577

CHORUS But this rep

roach, it may be, came from wrath

All hasty, rather than from judgment calm.

CREON And who informed him that the seer, seduced

By my false counsel, spoke his lying words?

CHORUS The words were said, but on what grounds I know not.

CREON And was it with calm eyes and judgment clear,

The charge was brought against my name and fame?

CHORUS I cannot say. To what our rulers do

I close my eyes. But here he comes himself.

This part in the text relates to the chorus's that these playwrights used in their plays. So far there have been 4 distinct actors that have been given names.

Oedipus

Teiresias

Creon

Jocasta

Sophocles first introduced 3 actors, I guess what made this a masterpiece is the fact that he added a 4th actor and a couple extras such as the boy that guided Teiresias and the attendant that came with Jocasta.

Lines 651-663

CREON What seek’st thou, then? to drive me from the land?

OEDIPUS Not so. I seek not banishment, but death.

CREON When thou show’st first what grudge I bear to thee?

OEDIPUS

And say’st thou this defying, yielding not?

CREON I see thy judgment fails.

OEDIPUS

I hold mine own.

CREON Mine has an equal claim.

OEDIPUS

Thou villain born!

CREON And if thy mind is darkened…?

OEDIPUS

Still obey!

CREON Not to a tyrant ruler.

OEDIPUS

O my country!

CREON I, too, can claim that country. ’Tis not thine!

Sophocles would increase the complexity of his characters. The fact that he added a conflict between Oedipus and Creon creates this new type of dialog and conversations that only exists between these two characters.