Aeschylus (525-456 BC)

Aeschylus was born in about 525 BC and he is earliest of the best known ancient Greek
tragic dramatists. He was very skillful at handling trilogy which refers to a group of three
plays written to be performed consecutively by following sequential development of the
story. He elevated the dramatic presentation from a choral performance to a work of art.
He significantly contributed towards the perfection of tragic form by adding a second
character on the stage to create opportunity for the dialogue. He, also, reduced the number
of chorus from almost fifty to fifteen. He removed all spectacles of bloodshed from the
stage. Aeschylus highlighted the importance of Greek drama through presentation and not
mere recitation. His works reflected a consciousness of the politics of his era specially
Gracio Persian war. He is often remembered for the sublimity of his ideas and loftiness of
his style. He enjoyed the same prestige in Greek era as Shakespeare enjoyed in Elizabethan
period. He wrote ninety plays and only seven of them survived. He died in 456 BC.
Euripides (485-406)
Euripides belongs to the troubled era of upheavals Athens faced as a direct consequence of
war with Sparta. He was born in 485 in Attica, and he is last in the series of great Greek
tragedians of fifth century. Though he composed several plays but only nineteen of them
survived. It is estimated that he wrote more plays than the combined number of other two
tragedians, Aeschylus and Sophocles. He is greatly admired for being a keen innovator and
experimenter who revived the form and content of traditional plays through his works. He
portrayed strong female characters who were driven to violence after long and intense
suffering. His plays are more aptly categorized as melodramas rather than pure tragedies.
He is universally acknowledged as an artist of high-quality rhetorical skills. He has been
labelled as ‘the most tragic of Greek tragedians.’ He is greatly admired for his psychological
insight. He was least successful in the dramatic competitions of festival of Dionysos as
compared to other two tragedians of his time.
Sophocles (496-406)
Sophocles was born in Colonus in 485 BC. He is regarded as the chief representative figure
of Greek drama. He was very skillful at plot construction and the use of dramatic irony. He
regularly participated in Greek dramatic competitions and won majority of them as
compared to other two great tragedians of his times. He is famous for bringing skillful
innovations in Greek drama with respect to plot construction and art of characterization.
His plays reflect intense suffering of the human which is a natural consequence of their own
actions. Greek philosopher Aristotle greatly praises Sophocles’ masterpiece Oedipus Rex for its
dramatic conventions and plot construction. Sophocles’ plays are still the chief concern of modern
scholarship and several of them are being performed on the modern stage. He died in 406
BC.
Question no.
Explain Oedipus Rex as tragic hero;
Oedipus Rex, also known as Oedipus the King, is a play by Sophocles that tells the story of
Oedipus, a tragic hero who unknowingly fulfills a prophecy that he would kill his father and
marry his mother. The play is considered one of the greatest examples of Greek tragedy
and is often studied in literature and theater classes.
As a tragic hero, Oedipus possesses several characteristics that make him a compelling and
complex character. Some of these characteristics include:
1
Hubris: Oedipus is full of pride and self-confidence, which leads him to make rash decisions
and underestimate the power of fate.
Good intentions: Oedipus is a well-intentioned character who is driven by a desire to do
what is right and protect his people.
Tragic flaw: Oedipus's tragic flaw is his inability to see the truth and accept responsibility
for his actions. He is blind to the fact that he has fulfilled the prophecy and instead blames
others for his misfortune.
Suffering: Oedipus experiences a great deal of suffering throughout the play, as he is forced
to confront the truth about his past and the terrible fate that has befallen him.
Growth: Despite his suffering, Oedipus ultimately grows as a character and learns
important lessons about humility, self-awareness, and the limits of human knowledge.
Overall, Oedipus's story is a tragic one, as he is unable to escape the fate that has been
ordained for him. However, it is his journey and the lessons he learns along the way that
make him a tragic hero and make the play so enduring.
Question no.2
Explain role of fate and free will in Oedipus Rex In Oedipus Rex, the concept of fate and
free will plays a central role in the story of Oedipus, the tragic hero of the play. On the one
hand, Oedipus is destined to fulfill a prophecy that he will kill his father and marry his
mother, a fate that he is powerless to avoid. On the other hand, Oedipus makes a series of
choices throughout the play that ultimately lead him to fulfill this prophecy, suggesting that
he has some level of free will.
One of the main themes of the play is the tension between fate and free will, and how the
two forces interact with each other. At the beginning of the play, Oedipus is told by the
Oracle at Delphi that he is doomed to kill his father and marry his mother, but he does not
believe that this fate is inevitable. He believes that he has the power to choose his own
path and avoid fulfilling the prophecy.
As the play progresses, however, it becomes clear that Oedipus's choices are not entirely
his own. He is influenced by the words and actions of others, including his parents, the
Oracle, and the people of Thebes, and these influences shape the course of his life. For
example, Oedipus's parents, Laius and Jocasta, abandon him as an infant in an attempt to
prevent the prophecy from being fulfilled, but their actions ultimately contribute to its
realization.
At the same time, Oedipus's actions also have an impact on the events of the play. He is
stubborn and prideful, and his desire to solve the mystery of the plague and find the killer
of Laius drives him to investigate and uncover the truth about his past. In this sense,
Oedipus has some level of free will, as he is able to make choices and take actions that
contribute to the fulfillment of the prophecy.
Ultimately, the play suggests that fate and free will are intertwined and that it is impossible
to fully separate the two. Oedipus's story demonstrates that even though he has the power
to make choices, he is still bound by the forces of fate and cannot escape his destiny. At the
same time, Oedipus's choices and actions play a role in determining the course of his life,
and it is these choices that make him a tragic hero.
Question no.3
Describe role of chorus in Oedipus Rex:

2
In Oedipus Rex, the chorus is a group of Theban elders who provide commentary on the
events of the play and serve as a link between the characters and the audience. The chorus
is intended to represent the voice of the community and serves several important functions
within the play.
One of the main roles of the chorus is to provide emotional and moral support to Oedipus,
the tragic hero. As Oedipus struggles to understand the prophecy that he will kill his father
and marry his mother, the chorus serves as a sounding board, expressing their own fears
and doubts and offering words of encouragement. The chorus is also a source of comfort
and support for Jocasta, Oedipus's mother and wife, as she grapples with the revelations
about her own past. The chorus also serves as a way for Sophocles, the playwright, to
convey the feelings and opinions of the community to the audience. Through the chorus,
the audience is able to see how the events of the play are affecting the people of Thebes
and how they are reacting to the revelations about Oedipus's past. The chorus is
particularly important in this regard, as they provide a contrast to the main characters and
offer a different perspective on the events of the play.
In addition to these roles, the chorus also performs a number of songs and choral odes
throughout the play. These songs often provide insight into the characters and the events
of the play, and they can be used to foreshadow future events or to reflect on events that
have already occurred. For example, in one of the choral odes, the chorus reflects on the
nature of human suffering and the role of the gods in determining the fates of mortals. This
helps to deepen the themes of the play and adds another layer of complexity to the story.
Overall, the chorus plays a significant role in Oedipus Rex, providing emotional support to
the main characters and serving as a conduit between the characters and the audience. The
chorus helps to enrich the themes of the play and adds depth and complexity to the story.
Question no.4
Explain Oedipus Rex as classical tragedy ?
Oedipus Rex, also known as Oedipus the King, is a play by Sophocles that is considered one
of the greatest examples of classical tragedy. In a classical tragedy, the protagonist, or main
character, is a hero who possesses good intentions and noble qualities, but who is
ultimately brought down by a tragic flaw or error in judgment.
In the case of Oedipus Rex, the main character, Oedipus, is a tragic hero who is full of pride
and self-confidence. He is a well-intentioned character who is driven by a desire to do what
is right and protect his people. However, he is also stubborn and unwilling to listen to the
advice of others, which leads him to make rash decisions and underestimate the power off
ate.
Oedipus's tragic flaw is his inability to see the truth and accept responsibility for his actions.
He is blind to the fact that he has fulfilled the prophecy to kill his father and marry his
mother, and instead blames others for his misfortune. This flaw ultimately leads to his
downfall, as he is unable to escape the fate that has been ordained for him.
In addition to the tragic hero, other elements of classical tragedy are also present in
Oedipus Rex. The play includes a chorus of Theban elders who provide commentary on the
events of the play and serve as a link between the characters and the audience. The chorus
helps to enrich the themes of the play and adds depth and complexity to the story. The play
also includes a number of dramatic elements, such as foreshadowing, irony, and
heightened language, which contribute to the overall tragic atmosphere of the play. For
3
example, the play is full of irony, as Oedipus's actions and decisions are often the opposite
of what he intends. This irony serves to heighten the tragic nature of the play and adds to
the sense of inevitability that surrounds Oedipus's fate.
Overall, Oedipus Rex is a classical tragedy in which the main character, Oedipus, is a tragic
hero who is brought down by his own flaws and the forces of fate. The play's use of
elements such as the chorus, dramatic irony, and heightened language contribute to its
tragic atmosphere and make it a timeless and enduring work of literature.
Question no.5
Explain Tragic irony/ tragic flaw/ hamartia in Oedipus Rex
Tragic irony, tragic flaw, and hamartia are all literary devices that are commonly found in
classical tragedies, such as Oedipus Rex. These devices serve to deepen the themes of the
play and contribute to the tragic atmosphere.
Tragic irony is a form of irony that occurs when the audience knows something that the
characters in the play do not. In Oedipus Rex, the audience is aware that Oedipus has
fulfilled the prophecy to kill his father and marry his mother, while Oedipus is unaware of
this fact. This creates a sense of irony, as Oedipus's actions and decisions are often the
opposite of what he intends. For example, Oedipus is determined to find the killer of Laius,
his father, and bring him to justice, but he is unaware that he is the killer himself.
Tragic irony is used throughout the play to heighten the tragic nature of the story and to
underscore the sense of inevitability that surrounds Oedipus's fate. For example, the chorus
sings a song in which they reflect on the nature of human suffering and the role of the gods
in determining the fates of mortals. This song serves to foreshadow the suffering that
Oedipus will experience and to underscore the idea that his fate is predetermined by the
gods.
Tragic flaw, also known as hamartia, is a character trait or error in judgment that ultimately
leads to the downfall of the tragic hero. In Oedipus Rex, Oedipus's tragic flaw is his in ability
to see the truth and accept responsibility for his actions. He is stubborn and prideful, and
his desire to solve the mystery of the plague and find the killer of Laius leads him to
investigate and uncover the truth about his past. However, he is blind to the fact that he
has fulfilled the prophecy and instead blames others for his misfortune. This tragic flaw
ultimately leads to his downfall, as he is unable to escape the fate that has been ordained
for him.
Oedipus's tragic flaw is rooted in his pride and self-confidence. He is convinced that he is
the savior of Thebes and that he has the power to solve any problem that arises. This pride
leads him to underestimate the power of fate and to believe that he can control his own
destiny. However, as the play progresses, it becomes clear that Oedipus is not as all-
knowing or all-powerful as he believes, and his tragic flaw ultimately leads to his downfall.
Overall, tragic irony, tragic flaw, and hamartia are important literary devices that contribute
to the tragic atmosphere of Oedipus Rex and deepen the themes of the play. These devices
serve to heighten the sense of inevitability that surrounds Oedipus's fate and make the
playa timeless and enduring work of literature. The use of these devices helps to create a
complex and compelling character in Oedipus, who is a tragic hero who possesses good
intentions and noble qualities, but who is ultimately brought down by his own flaws and the
forces of fate.

4
According to Aristotle's definition, tragedy is a "serious and complete action which has
magnitude, in embellished speech, with each of its species separately in the parts, by
persons acting and not through narrative, effecting through pity and fear the purification
of such emotions."
1. Serious and complete action: Tragedy must depict a serious and unified sequence of
events, with a clear beginning, middle, and end.
2. Magnitude: The action depicted in a tragedy must be of significant importance and scale,
not trivial or mundane.
3. Embellished speech: The language used in a tragedy should be elevated and poetic, not
plain or ordinary.
4. Species: The different elements of tragedy (plot, character, thought, diction, melody, and
spectacle) must be properly integrated and balanced.
5. Persons acting: Tragedy must be enacted through dialogue and the actions of the
characters, not just narration.
6. Pity and fear: The purpose of a tragedy is to evoke feelings of pity for the protagonist's
suffering and fear for their fate, leading to the "purification" (catharsis) of these emotions
in the audience.
In essence, Aristotle saw tragedy as the highest form of dramatic art, one that could
provide a profound emotional and intellectual experience for the audience through the
depiction of a serious and consequential human story. The careful orchestration of the
various elements of tragedy was key to achieving this effect.
Traits of Tragic Hero In Poetics by Aristotle
Hubris: Hubris is excessive pride or arrogance. It's when someone becomes so full of
themselves and overconfident, they start to think they're better than everyone else, maybe
even as powerful as the gods. This hubris often leads to their downfall.
Imagine a mighty warrior who conquers nation after nation. As their power grows, they
start to believe they are unstoppable, that no force on earth can defeat them. Their hubris
blinds them to their own weaknesses.
Now, to help you remember hubris, picture a glowing, golden crown floating above this
warrior's head. The crown is so bright it almost blinds you. This is the visual representation
of their excessive, blinding pride. Whenever you think of hubris, see that shimmering
crown.
Hamartia: Hamartia is the tragic flaw or mistake that ultimately leads to the hero's
downfall. It's that one fatal weakness or poor judgment that undoes them, despite their
noble qualities.
Imagine a wise and just king who is beloved by his people. But he has a terrible temper -
whenever someone defies him, he lashes out in rage. This hamartia, this uncontrolled
anger, will be his undoing.
To remember hamartia, picture a glowing red crack running through the king's otherwise
spotless crown. That crack represents the flaw, the fatal weakness, that will shatter his
reign.
Peripeteia: Peripeteia is the sudden reversal of fortune that the tragic hero experiences -
when their situation shifts from good to bad, usually as a result of their hamartia.

5
Imagine that same king, at the height of his power, making a rash decision out of anger.
Suddenly, his allies turn against him, his subjects revolt, and he finds himself alone, stripped
of his kingdom and title.
To remember peripeteia, picture the king's glowing crown abruptly shattering into pieces,
scattering across the ground. That dramatic change, that sudden downfall, is the essence of
peripeteia.
Anagnorisis: Anagnorisis is the moment of recognition, when the tragic hero finally
understands the truth of their situation and their own mistakes.
As the fallen king sits amidst the broken shards of his crown, he suddenly sees the truth -
his hamartia of uncontrolled anger is what led to this disaster. The scales fall from his eyes,
and he realizes the full extent of his foolishness.
To remember anagnorisis, picture those shattered crown pieces suddenly lifting up and
reassembling into a new, dimmer crown hovering over the humbled king. This represents
his newfound self-awareness and understanding.
Nemesis: Nemesis is the agent of the hero's downfall - the force, whether divine, societal,
or internal, that enacts revenge or retribution for the hero's hubris and hamartia.
In the king's case, perhaps it was the gods who grew tired of his arrogance and decided to
topple him. Or maybe it was his own subjects, rising up against his tyranny. Nemesis is the
power that brings about the hero's inevitable destruction.
To remember nemesis, picture a shadowy, ominous figure looming over the fallen king, its
hand outstretched to crush the remnants of his crown.
Euthanasia: Euthanasia is the hero's eventual death or exit from the tragic story. It's the
final result of the hero's downfall, often depicted as a merciful release from their suffering.
The king, having lost everything, may choose to end his own life, finding peace in oblivion.
Or perhaps he is executed by his enemies, his story finally reaching its tragic conclusion.
To remember euthanasia, picture the king's dimmed crown dissolving into stardust, floating
up into the night sky, as if his spirit has been released.
Catharsis: Catharsis is the powerful emotional release the audience experiences by
witnessing the hero's downfall. It's the feeling of pity, fear, and other complex emotions
being purged from the viewer.
As you watch the king's tragic tale unfold, you're overwhelmed by sadness for his plight,
dread for his inevitable end, and a sense of awe at the magnitude of his fall from grace.
These emotions wash over you, leaving you transformed.
To remember catharsis, picture a great, cleansing wave of energy washing over the
audience, sweeping away all their pent-up feelings.
Sure, let me explain the key differences between Greek tragedy and modern tragedy in
simple terms:
Greek Tragedy VS Modern Tragedy
Greek Tragedy:
- The hero is usually of noble or royal birth, often a king or queen.
- The hero has a fatal flaw or weakness, like excessive pride (hubris), that leads to their
downfall.
- The hero's reversal of fortune and suffering creates a powerful emotional response in the
audience - a feeling of pity and fear known as "catharsis."

6
- The tragic ending is often predetermined by the gods or fate, highlighting humanity's lack
of control.
- The plays were performed as part of religious festivals and rituals, with the tragedies
serving a cultural and spiritual purpose.
Modern Tragedy:
- The hero can be an ordinary person, not necessarily of high birth or status.
- The hero's downfall is often a result of societal forces, personal struggles, or complex
moral dilemmas, rather than a single fatal flaw.
- The audience's emotional response is more varied - it may include sadness, anger, or even
a sense of injustice, rather than just pity and fear.
- The tragic ending is not always predetermined, but can arise from the hero's own choices
and actions.
- Modern tragedies are usually presented as entertainment in theaters, rather than as part
of religious or cultural rituals.
The key difference is that Greek tragedy had a more formal, ritualistic structure and focus
on the downfall of great figures, while modern tragedy is often more reflective of the
struggles and complexities of the common person in the modern world.
Greek tragedy sought to evoke a specific emotional response (catharsis) and explore the
relationship between humans and the divine. Modern tragedy tends to be more
psychologically and socially driven, reflecting the concerns and conflicts of contemporary
society.

7
Title: Oedipus Rex
Genre: Play (drama, tragedy)
Author: Sophocles
Period/ School: Ancient Greek
Publication Date: ~400 B.C.
The Author and His Times: Sophocles did not include the gods as characters in this play, likely to
emphasize the human nature of Oedipus’ tragedy. In Sophocles’ time, the traditional faith that people
had in the power of the oracle was faltering, and prophecy was a controversial topic. This implies a
loss of faith and a more humanistic outlook on the universe. Greeks were beginning see their present
as a logical evolution from the past, and hoping for progress in the future.
Form, Structure, Plot: Following the traditional structure of Greek plays, it is split into several parts,
including the prologue, parodos, episodes, stasimons, and exodus. Following the unity of time and
place, there are no flash backs, everything takes place in real time, and in one location. The plot is
linear. The play takes place within the space of a few hours. There are parallel moments at the
beginning and end of the play, when Oedipus says “I am Oedipus.” Characters: There are four major
characters: Oedipus, Tiresias, Jocasta, and Creon. The chorus also has a large role. There are six minor
characters. The major characters are more complex than the minor ones, but Oedipus is the most
developed. There is not enough time for any of the characters to change their personalities drastically,
though Oedipus is shocked when he makes his important realizations. The character’s traits are
revealed through how they act and behave.
Oedipus: 30-35, proud, rash, brave; strong but limps. He bears a physical deformity, showing that he
is not as god-like as he thinks he is at the beginning of the play. He makes decisions quickly and is
eager to carry them out; he thinks the decisions he makes are logical, but often forgets the importance
of being able to think clearly. Quick action was a mark of Athenian society, and thus imbuing that same
personality trait of Oedipus, and having it be one of the elements that lead to his downfall, likely
instilled fear in the heart of Athenian audiences that the traits they valued would be the ones that
destroyed them. He is smart, and enjoys feeling more clever than others. Oedipus means “man of
agony” but refers to foot ailments. He is the embodiment of social progress. There are other times
when he is equated with physicians and mathematicians, emphasizing his connection with logic and
enlightenment. He is the protagonist of the story and his purpose is to call into question the competing
forces of free will and destiny.
Oedipus: Oh my children, the new blood of ancient Thebes, why are you here? Holding at my alter,
praying before me, your branches wound in wool. Our city reeks with the smoke of burning incense, rings
with cries for the Healer and wailing for the dead. I thought it wrong, my children, to hear the truth from
others, messengers. Here I am myself—you all know me, the world knows my fame; I am Oedipus.
This quote shows two competing forces within Oedipus—his fierce pride, but also his lurking
insecurity and uneasiness. He sees that the townspeople revere him, and doesn’t understand why they
have so much faith in him. Thus, he acts more prideful in order to make himself feel adequate in
resolving the situation, and his pride is only exacerbated as the situation becomes worse. This passage
also reveals how deeply Oedipus feels about his subjects, which makes his sacrifice to save them all
the more wrenching.
Jocasta: 45-50; caring, smart, sensitive; appears young because of a magic broach; Jocasta acts
motherly towards Oedipus, trying to resolve the conflicts he has with others and encouraging him to
make more moderate choices, she is respected by the prominent figures in the community; she is
Oedipus’ wife and mother.
Jocasta: Have you no sense? Poor misguided men, such shouting—why this public outburst? Aren’t you
ashamed, with the land so sick, to stir up private quarrels? Into the palace now. And Creon, you go home.
Why make such a furor over nothing?
This quote shows the powerful effect that Jocasta has over Oedipus and Creon. She acts as a mother
and ultimate moral authority over both them, and is a strong voice for moderation.
Creon: 30, moderate, logical, fair; Creon has a forceful personality and strong convictions, but is more
willing to compromise and think things out than Oedipus is. He strives to do things correctly,
completely, logically, and fairly.

8
Creon: I haven’t come to mock you, Oedipus, or to criticize your former failings. You there, have you lost
all respect for human feelings? At least revere the Sun, the holy fire that keeps us all alive. Never expose a
thing of guilt and holy dread so great it appalls the earth, the rain from heaven, the light of day! Get him
into the halls—quickly as you can. Piety demands no less. Kindred alone should she a kinsman’s shame.
This is obscene.
In this scene, Creon behaves coolly and rationally. He shows Oedipus respect and sensitivity, though
there is clearly a distance between them that didn’t exist previously. In this scene Creon reveals how
different he is from Oedipus, he thinks things out carefully and asks the advice of others, and is free
from the weight of shame that Oedipus carries. However, the two men are united by having shared a
great horrific revelation.
Setting: Ancient Greece, Thebes; currently experiencing a plague. It is Oedipus’ desire to save the
city that ultimately leads to his discovering the truth of his parentage. The city’s struggles mirror
Oedipus’ destruction and create a dismal atmosphere at the play’s opening.
Diction: The diction is formal. Fagles carefully chooses his use of italics to emphasize a truth that the
audience is supposed to see but the characters do not, or to reinforce the verbal tone of one of the
characters speaking. The recurring words related to sailing, farming, hunting, calculations, and
medicine also enforce the characterization of Oedipus and his relation to central theme of the play.
Doctorial and mathematical images are abundant. There are allusions to figures in ancient Greek
mythology, and the choral odes tend to be written in a more flowery manner, whereas the dialogue
tends to be plainer and truer to life. Oedipus speaks in a more forceful, and arrogant, manner than the
rest of the characters, and Jocasta speaks kindly. Tiresias: What rock of Cithaeron won’t scream back in
echo? The day you learn the truth about your marriage, the wedding-march that sang you into your
halls, the lusty voyage home to the fatal harbor! And a crowd of other horrors you’d never dream will
level you with yourself and all your children.
The words that Tiresias uses in this scene are designed to instill in Oedipus the greatest sense of
fear and uncertainty possible. He taunts Oedipus with what he does not know, and every word is
threatening. His reference to the “fatal harbor” reinforces the motif as Oedipus as a sailor, and
the circular nature of his life.
Oedipus: I count myself the son of Chance, the great goddess, giver of all good things—I’ll never see
myself disgraced. She is my mother! And the moons have marked me out, my blood-brothers, one moon
on the wane, the next moon great with power.
This quote contrasts chance and destiny. Oedipus seems to believe in both, connecting himself closely
to the powers of chance, but also claiming that his destiny is marked by the passage of astrological
features. His reference to himself as the “son” of chance is also ironic, considering that at this point he
does not know who is mother is.
Oedipus: Oh but this I know: no sickness can destroy me, nothing can. I would never have been saved from
death—I have been saved from something great and terrible, something strange. Well let my destiny
come and take me on its way!
The sickness that Oedipus mentions is parallel to the sickness that Thebes suffers. He also has only a
vague grasp on the magnitude of his sins, and still believes in the power of destiny.
Syntax: The sentence structure on the whole is direct, though there are exceptions. Many
discussions, especially at the most pivotal moments, are in the form of riddles, reflecting the
uncertainty inherent in Oedipus’ struggle, and mocking his supreme riddle-solving ability. Sentences
tend to be complete, except in moments of greatest emotional intensity, which is likely done to tense
the audience. They also are shorter and quipped when characters are arguing or distressed. Flow and
rhythm and created by the translation, and the sentences flow nicely during calmer periods in the
story, but pick up intensity and fragment during the most dramatic scenes. The abrupt nature of the
syntax makes the audience feel uneasy and adds intensity and drama. Creon: Just one thing, hear me
out in this.
Oedipus: Just one thing, don’t tell me you’re not the enemy, the traitor.
Creon: Look, if you think crude, mindless stubbornness such a gift, you’ve lost your sense of balance.
Oedipus: If you think you can abuse a kinsman, then escape the penalty, you’re insane. This passage
makes heavy use of parallel structure, which, because it is Oedipus who repeats Creon, makes him

9
appear childish and incapable of progress, and thereby exposes his insecurity. It adds tension to the
scene by showing the extent of Oedipus’ anxiety.
Concrete Detail/ Imagery: There are many references to the ocean, farming, and hunting.
Oedipus is also compared to doctors and mathematicians. Vulgar images are used to jar and shock the
audience, especially regarding Oedipus’ relationship to his mother. The Chorus’ language is often the
most elaborate, and uses the most imagery of death and destruction. 1. Chorus: Thebes is dying, look,
her children stripped of pity…generations strewn on the ground unburied, unwept, the dead spreading
death and the young wives and gray-haired mothers with them cling to the altars, trailing in from all
over the city—Thebes, city of death, one long cortege and the suffering rises wails for mercy rise and wild
hymn of the Healer blazes out clashing with our sobs our cries of mourning.
2. Oedipus: Dark, horror of darkness my darkness, drowning, swirling around me crashing wave on wave
—unspeakable, irresistible headwind, fatal harbor! Oh again, the misery, all at once, over and over the
stabbing daggers, stab of memory raking me inside.
Symbolism: At the end of the play, Oedipus removes his eyes, spiritually separating him from the
grief that he has caused himself and others. He was blind to the truth of his existence before, but once
he understands it he must be blind to everything else.
Figurative Language: There are references to the ocean, tides, and harbors, emphasizing the
circular nature of Oedipus’ fate and the futility of trying to escape what destiny has ordained for him.
Oedipus is compared to a sailor, farmer, and hunter, showing that he has conquered the sea, land, and
animals, though failed to defeat the gods or even understand himself. The comparisons created
between Oedipus and the enlightened ideals of the times show anxiety regarding modern technology
and the underlying fear that humans are not as powerful and all-knowing as they believe their
discoveries make them. The chorus uses apostrophes during their odes. The city of Thebes is
personified by the chorus. Apostrophes are used in the choral odes. These features add emotional
intensity to the chorus’ speeches, and make them appear as a complex assortment of characters who
are invested in Oedipus’ actions.
Ironic Devices: The story of Oedipus was well-known to ancient Greek audiences, so they knew
what the shocking revelation would be. It is Oedipus’ own persistence and dedication to discovering
the truth that ultimately leads to his downfall. It can also be speculated that if Oedipus had not gone to
such great lengths to avoid the Oracle’s prophecy, it might indeed have never come to pass. Oedipus
also uses irony himself when he speaks to others sarcastically, often when he feels threatened or
upset, which further reflects the childishness of his temperament.
Tone: Tension mounts as Oedipus comes close to realizing the truth. This sense of frustration is
aggravated by the fact that the audience already knows how the play will end. The end of the play is
very dismal. The chorus projects a feeling of hopelessness as they beg Oedipus for assistance at the
beginning of the play; their tone becomes more pleading as Oedipus begins to act more rashly. The
sense of hopelessness, uncertainty, and despair returns at the end.
Theme: There is a struggle between the gods and man, between destiny and free will. It seems that
we are in control of our lives, but this is not the case, for our lives are set out in advance by the gods.
Thus, the question is raised of whether or not the things we do and decisions we make have a
difference. You cannot avoid your fate, and you may suffer not for something you did, but for crimes
committed by people from past generations. The harder you try to run from your density, the more
painful it will be when it catches up to you. Progress is not possible. Another theme that influences
many of Oedipus’ actions is the importance of personal responsibility. Despite the difficulties that
Oedipus faces, and the arguments that they were not his fault, he carries the blame on himself so that
the curse will end with him. This implies that free will does exist, as least to a certain extent. The play
presents a conflict between two conceptions of the universe—one in which everything is preordained
and unavoidable, and one in which everyone is free but freedom means nothing. Another theme is the
importance of the search—the search for the truth about life and about oneself. This is the redeeming
quality that Oedipus has left, he is shattered by the truth, but empowered by completing the journey.
Searching for the truth is a human quality, and by searching Oedipus captures a part of the human
spirit, the desire to think, know, understand. Oedipus’ journey is all the more wrenching because he is
searching for the truth about himself, facing as many internal difficulties as external ones, and thereby

10
embodies many facets of the internal struggles that everyone faces at some point or another in their
lives. Significance of Title: Informs readers that the play is about Oedipus during his time as king.
Memorable Quotes:
Chorus: O generations of men the dying generations—adding the total of all your lives I find they come to
nothing…does there exist, is there a man on earth who seizes more joy than just a dream, a vision? And
the vision no sooner dawns than dies blazing into oblivion.
This quote emphasizes the underlying fear in the play that all human progress and achievement
essentially amount to nothing when compared to the forces that we cannot control. Oedipus: How do
we cleanse ourselves—what rites? What’s the source of the trouble?
These questions highlight another anxiety in the play, the fear that people can do something so
horrendous that there is no chance of escape or recovery, there is no way to find purity or make
ourselves right again. This is one of the problems that Oedipus grapples with.
Tiresias: I charge you, then, submit to that decree you just laid down: from this day onward speak to no
one, not these citizens, not myself. You are the curse, the corruption of the land!
This is an important ironic moment for the audience—they know the truth of Tiresias’ words, but
Oedipus does not. This quote also points to an interesting paradox in the play: the hero must also be
the villain, the curse must also be the cure. The disease that Oedipus wreaked on Thebes was too great
to be cured by anyone but himself.
Oedipus: More hated by the gods? I am the man no alien, no citizen welcomes to his house, law forbids it
—not a word to me in public, driven from every hearth and home. And all these curses I—no one else but
I brought down these piling curses on myself! […] Wasn’t I born for torment? Look me in the eyes! I am
abomination—heart and soul!
This passage questions destiny and free will. It is the moment when the system that Oedipus created
ensnares him, and he no longer has anything else to protect him from the truth.

11