Pages 268 273 OEDIPUS THE KING LAIUS The

Pages 268 - 273 OEDIPUS THE KING

LAIUS � The King who immediately preceded Oedipus � First husband of Jocasta � Murder is mysterious

OEDIPUS’S TASK OF FINDING LAIUS’ MURDERER � Oedipus feels overwhelmed � Oedipus is frightened for his himself and his people � This is considered by Oedipus to be an impossible task.

A THIEF KILLS A KING � Murderer have not known that Laius was a king � Oedipus declares that a thief would not be so daring to kill a king unless paid to do so � Conflicting beliefs on whether the murderer was paid to kill or it was mistaken identity

SPHINX PERSUADED THEBANS TO “LET THE MYSTERY GO” � Sphinx was an evil creature who almost caused the destruction of Thebes before Oedipus solved her riddle � She knew that leaving King Laius’ murder unsolved would bring more havoc to the city � She persuaded the Thebans not to investigate the murder

WHO THE CHORUS REPRESENTS � The citizens of Thebes � Effect of the chorus chanting � Makes the group seem larger � More representative of Thebes � The voice of truth

THE CHORUS LAMENTING � The chorus is lamenting the deaths that the plague has brought to the city � Chorus represents the needs and concerns of the citizens of Thebes � Chorus calls for the help of the gods

LINES 174 - 177 � “I worship you in dead … what now, what is your price? Some new sacrifice? Some ancient rite from the past come round again each spring? --- what will you bring to birth? � They fear what sacrifice the gods will demand from them to end the plague.

LINES 197 - 198 � “No and the women cannot scream their pangs to birth--- screams for the Healer, children dead in the womb” � The plague in Thebes causes not only the earth not to bring forth fruit, but affects Theban women as well, for their infants are still born.

ATHENA � Chorus wants her to drive back the god of � Chorus wants her to save the people of death Thebes “Sail him, blast him out to the Sea-queen’s chamber the black Atlantic gulfs” (Lines 223224) Sends winds to carry the plague westward to the Atlantic Ocean

STAGE DIRECTIONS � Oedipus addresses the Chorus as if addressing the city of Thebes � Directions reinforce the idea that the Chorus represents the common people � Stage directions are put into effect when Oedipus enters

DRAMATIC IRONY � As Oedipus describes the punishment for the criminal, he is describing his own punishment. � He says that the curse should be struck on him if he serves the murderer � It is ironic because he is the murderer --- and the curse is struck on him