Oedipus the KingSophocles

Harry Kim Balois

BSCS 42A

By PresenterMedia.com

Background of the Literature

Oedipus the King (ancient Greek: Oidipous Tyrannos), also known by the Latin title Oedipus Rex, is an Athenian tragedy by Sophocles that was first performed c. 429 BCE. It was the second of Sophocles's three Theban plays to be produced, but it comes first in the internal chronology, followed by Oedipus at Colonus and then Antigone. Over the centuries, it has come to be regarded by many as the Greek tragedy par excellence.

Background of the Literature

Sophocles is considered one of the great ancient Greek tragedians. Among Sophocles' most famous plays are Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus, and Antigone. These plays follow the fall of the great king, Oedipus, and later the tragedies that his children suffer.

Literary Devices and Elements

Dramatic irony Dramatic irony is when the words and

actions of the characters of a work of literature have a different meaning for the reader than they do for the characters.

Characterization art of creating characters

Flashback the story switches from the present to an

event that occurred in the past.

SETTINGS

Thebes Corinth

CHARACTERS

• Oedipus Rex: The ruler of Thebes

• Creon: Oedipus' brother-in-law, and Jocasta's brother.

• Jocasta: Oedipus' wife and motherMinor Characters

• Apollo: The Sun god and Healer god.

• Laios: Oedipus' father and Jocasta's first husband.

• Delphi: An oracle that predicts Oedipus will kill his father and sleep with his mother.

• Tiresias: The blind prophet who predicts fate and can see the future.

• Polybus: Oedipus' surrogate father in Corinth, and the ruler of Corinth

CHARACTERS• Zeus: The elders call upon the god, Zeus, to give help to Thebes and Oedipus.

• Corinthian: The man who brings news of Polybus' death and who asks Oedipus to rule Corinth.

• Merope: Oedipus' surrogate mother in Corinth, and current ruler of Corinth

• Herdsman/Shepherd: Oedipus was given to the herdsman by Jocasta, who tried to get rid of her ill-fated child.

• Labdakos: The ruling family of Thebes, consisting of Creon, Laios and Jocasta want to rule.

• Antigone: One of Oedipus' daughters.

• Ismene: One of Oedipus' daughters.

Plot Suffering of Thebes Oracle of Teiresius Murder of Laois Riddle of the sphinx King of Corinth Prophecy came true Iocaste commits suicide Oedipus gouges out his eyes He says bye to his children, and leaves the

city.

Conflict And Resolution

It’s when Oedipus went far away from Polybus to avoid the Oracle to come true. But unknowingly, his decision led to make the oracle as it is.

His biological mother commits suicide; and he outraged his eyes and leaves his home city

Results/Effects

Oedipus killed his biological father Marrying his biological mother Having daughters and at the same

time sisters Suicide of his mother Farewell to his Home City

Tones Fates and Free will State Control Sight and blindness

Themes

Sorrow and Grief

Symbolism

The scar on Oedipus foot The Three-way Crossroads

Significance

The Oedipus plays have had a wide-reaching influence and are particularly notable for inspiring Sigmund Freud’s theory of the "Oedipus Complex," which describes a stage of psychological development in which a child sees their father as an adversarial competitor for his or her mother’s attention (or in non-psychology speak, it’s the kill-the-father-sleep-with-the-mother complex).

Famous Lines

"he'll be revealed a brother and a father to his children in his house, husband and son to her who gave him birth; wife-sharer and the killer of his father."

-- Line 457"send him to the fields, the sheep pastures, so far he couldn't even lay eyes on Thebes."

-- Line 761"Time alone can make it clear a man is just while you can know a traitor in a day.“

--Line 613

Reflection/ Realization Life is full of options and

choices with corresponding consequences at the end.

It is better to know everything relevant to it before you make a decision.

Truth is not always a sign of fulfillment.

Desiny is not an oracle to be based but it’s a choice to be made.

THE END