Analyze the image of light and drak in “Oedipus Rex”

Ans- The metaphor of light and darkness is dominantly used in this play. In this play, literal sight is
contrasted with ‘insight’. In this play, both imagery of light and darkness represent Teiresias and
Oedipus. Though Teireias is blind, the imagery of light is used to show that he holds reality on the
ground. Consequently, Oedipus is not blind, but he is shown to be far away from the reality. Oedipus has
been blinded in his reasoning, which he proclaims to be the absolute savior of his people. He says, “Here
I am, I know you all know me and the world” (Sophocles 7). In the play, the blind prophet unravels the
saga around the death of the king Laius though he is blind. Oedipus is blinded by the situation that he
initially dismisses the assertion of the prophet that he is the one who killed his father. There is irony as
the seer, who is blind of his inability, to be aware of what is going wrong and in fact challenges Oedipus.
Tiresias strongly declares the blindness of Oedipus, “you ridicule my blindness, but let me inform you,
that with all your eyes, you are blind to the corruption of your life” (Sophocles 469). This clearly shows
that his blindness made him commit one of the greatest ills, an abomination in the society. This also
demonstrates the inner vision of Tiresias, which is a direct gift from God.

Moreover, Oedipus weird behavior causes him to leave for Corinth as soon as light shone on him about
the fate that was destined to befall him. He says, “I was destined to sleep with my mother, and give rise
to cursed children hated by men while also killing my own father” (Sophocles 791). Though he was
praised of clear sightedness, it is after a many years that Oedipus discovers he had always been blind.
This complicates the situation that he blinds himself physically not to look on his own children. Sea
imagery also shows things turning from orderly into disorderly manner with depiction of darkness. This
is seen, “Dark, horror of darkness” (Sophocles 1313). In addition, the light from the sun is also a form of
reality dawning on Oedipus. Oedipus is running away from this reality and begs light not to shine on him.
He says, “Let not light of the sun shine to me anymore” (Sophocles 1183).

In conclusion, it is clear imagery relates to Oedipus inability to see the reality, and lack of familiarity with
fate bestowed on him. Consequently, the imagery of light is shown to be the final truth as Teiresias
prophesied. In addition, failure to recognize the truth is darkness. This darkness caused Oedipus to run
away from the reality, and made him physically blind.

2. Explain the role of Chorus in Greek Theater. Explain how it used in “Oedipus Rex”

Ans- Chorus, in the theater, is a group of singers and dancers who take part in a drama and are
accompanied by music. Like in Oedipus Rex, the chorus sings lyrical, poetic kinds of comments during
the pauses in the dramatic plot. The group also dances and makes gestures and movements that are
symbolic: their movements indicates the theme and creates the mood of the play.

The music that they sing and the music in the background and the type of mask they wear also go
together with the mood and atmosphere, as thesituations develop. Like in Oedipus Rex, the chorus of
the classical Greek theater would consist of representative citizens of the society which the drama was
supposed to represent. Through the dramatic performance, they would occupy the central circular place
called orchestra. The Chorus would not only act as spectators and careful Observers but also as,
commentators of the dramatic procedure. It took the issue of the changing situations and
developments, and expressed its comments mostly in the form of songs that were called odes. The
Chorus used to be allowed its say at the moment of acute need. When the spectators would feel
uncertainty of the situation, the Chorus guided them with the appropriate kind of feelings and attitude
towards the events in the theater. In Elizabethan drama the chorus consisted of only a single character
whose role was to comment on the action of the play, prologue or epilogue. The chorus is no longer
used as a rule in the modem theater, but in some plays that use it, it is a group of singers and dancers
who provide a suitable accompaniment for the action of a musical play.

The basic role of the chorus in Oedipus Rex is to sing comments about the ongoing situations in the
drama. This chorus, which consists of a group of mature old Theban people, which is highly reliable, as
commentators, serves to make significant dramatic commentary that guides the audience's response
from the beginning to the end of the plot. The functions of the chorus in this play can be categorized
into five headings: 1) mediating, 2) evaluating, 3) foreboding, 4) guiding, and 5) dramatizing.

The most important role of the chorus in this play is to mediate or play the role of middlemen between
the imaginary world of the drama and the real world of the audience. They mediate in terms of space
and in terms of understanding. Because the scene (stage) was too far away from the immense theatron
(seeing place), the chorus had to play the role of coming in between the two places and making the
audience overhear them more easily. They sang aloud commenting on the dramatic actions and
situations moving towards the audience and going round the orchestra (their dancing place in between
the stage and the stadium). But besides filling the gap of space, they also came in between (mediated)
the audience in terms of understanding. Because the Greek audience should have been simple people,
the chorus had to comment and make explicit certain things and themes that developed in the dramatic
world. The simple audience would be able to understand the dramatic world more easily with the help
of the choric commentary.

Another important role of the chorus was to comment and evaluate the incidents and developments,
characters and themes of the drama. In the present drama, the chorus comments on the fall of Oedipus,
on his greatness, on his weakness, and in general in the destiny and frailty of man. Without their
comments, the drama would have lost much of the meaning and perspective that Sophocles wanted to
convey to his audience. Besides, the commentary creates appropriate mood and atmosphere of the
play. Sophocles' theme of fatalism is finally reinforced by the realization of the wise old people of
Thebes (the chorus) who at last surrender before the forces of fate and the gods.

The chorus usually seems to suggest what is going to happen next, thereby suggesting to us to get ready
and accept things as they happen. The forebodings (suggestion of what will happen in the future) of the
chorus are however not always reliable. This keeps the dramatic tension intact. We feel that the chorus
is a fully reliable group of wise old men, and even think that they can know the future or the truth of
anything. But, we see that they are changing and learning, much like ourselves.

The chorus also plays the role of guiding our emotions, response, and our understanding. They tell us
what to feel, what to say and how to look at and evaluate what happens on the stage. They express the
appropriate kind of feeling whenever any important development or discovery takes place in the world
of the characters.
The chorus also dramatizes the process of the drama. They help the characters prepare by letting some
time pass. This also allows the audience to prepare themselves for the next scene. But, most
importantly, the chorus dramatizes their own development. They sometimes think and doubt, wish and
expect the wrong. They are much like us, as they are undergoing the process of being educated and
enlightened by the experience of the reality of life. In the beginning they only express some faith in the
gods, but they disbelieve and even disregard the prophecy of Teiresias by saying that "these evil words
are lies". Then they begin to fear the law of the gods and express that fear, warning us also that the
disobedience of the divine laws brings about doom. In the third ode, they express a false wish that
Oedipus were the son of the gods, but they do emphasize that we can never see the future. At last, they
fully change and purify themselves directing our process of change also. In the fourth ode, they finally
realize the ultimate reality that fate rules us absolutely. They pity and fear the plight of Oedipus, and
they help us have the catharsis. Their comment is thematic and it dramatizes the full development of
their growth: they are now enlightened. That embodies the dramatic effect intended for the audience
also.

The chorus appears five times in Oedipus Rex, and each ode they sing makes a reflection upon each
climatic situation. The first song of chorus sound immediately after Oedipus has declared his resolution
to trace the murderer of Laios. The chorus has already learnt the message from Delphi and consequently
expressed uncertainly about who the murderer might be. The choric song also intensifies the sorrowful
condition prevailing in the city. Sickness has our powered the city like an epidemic and no remedy is
available. The second song is introduced just after Oedipus is accused of being a murderer himself. The
chorus is not prepared to believe the allegation against Oedipus and instead urges the horrible
murdered to free from the city immediately. The third song is a meditation upon a serious defect of
Oedipus's nature. In his dealing with Creon, Oedipus has exhibited extreme pride, arrogance and ill-
temper. The chorus indirectly speaks of the possible fall of tyrants through pride. The fourth ode comes
up while Oedipus is occupied by the crisis of his identity. The chorus speculators on some romantic affair
between gods and nymphs on the mountain side and assume that Oedipus must be such semi-divine
product. The final choric song is an interpretation of Oedipus's fall and reflection upon short-lived
happiness of human beings. The choric songs thus intensify and analyze the developing dramatic
situation helping the audience to understand the drama more fully.

THANK YOU

Submitted to – Tazria Islam

Submitted by- Prince Chakma

ID- ENG 07107-691

Batch- 71