Greek Literature
Cadmus, the founder of Thebes, angered Apollo by killing the God's favorite snake. As punishment, the descendants of Cadmus lived under a curse prophesized to each generation by Apollo's oracle. According to the prophecy, if Laius, king of Thebes, had a son by Jocasta, his queen, that son would kill his father and marry his mother. In response to this prophecy, Laius had a rivet driven between his infant son, Oedipus' ankles, and instructed a household servant to leave him on Mt. Citheron to die from exposure to the elements. Instead, the servant pitied the infant, and without revealing his identity, gave him to a Shepard. In turn, the Shepard gave Oedipus, to Merope, the wife of Polybus, king of Corinth. They named him Oedipus, which means "swollen foot," for the wounds in his feet.As a young man, Oedipus was taunted for not being the true son of Polybus. Deeply troubled, Oedipus consulted the oracle of Apollo at Delphi about the accusation. But before he could ask this question, the priestess, Pythia, drove him away from Apollo's shrine, declaring that Oedipus would kill his father and marry his mother. Horrified, Oedipus fled Corinth, the home of his supposed parents, in attemp
Part I: As the play opens, Oedipus comes to realize that he has to save the city. The priest asks Oedipus to find strength to rescue the city of Thebes. Oedipus tells the city that their problems only affect one person, but his sorrows about the city affect everyone. Oedipus reveals that he has sent his brother in law, Creon, to Apollo to ask for a way that he may save the city. Creon finally returns, and he says that it's good news. He told Oedipus that Apollo has commanded for them to drive out a pollution from their land, and basically to purify their land. Oedipus questions how he may do this, and Creon replies that he should banish the murderer, who is killing the city. Oedipus asks Creon who this man is, and He says that it is the murderer of Laius, who was king before Oedipus came along. The Sphinx caused the city to neglect the crime, so clues are hard to find. Oedipus says that he will find the person who is responsible for Laius' death. The oracle of Apollo at Delphi, which the Greeks call the navel, or the center of the world, was where the Greeks and foreigners alike traveled form all over the Mediterranean to eek the advice of the god who knew all things and who always spoke the truth. Apparently, Creon sent a prophet to Oedipus, and Jocasta tells Oedipus the exact story of Laius' death. It is said that in Phocis, where the road splits, one way from Delphi and one from Daulia, just before Oedipus became king that Laius was killed. He was a tall, grizzled man. Then Oedipus looked at Jocasta, and realized that something horrid has happened. Oedipus realized that he was the murderer of Laius. Dramatic Irony: is the contradiction between what the character thinks and what the audience knows to be true. Oedipus is famous for dramatic irony such as when Oedipus curses the murderer of Laius, (which the audiences knows of Oedipus being the murderer and he doesn't) and then Oedipus is basically cursing himself. Dr
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Approximate Word count = 1307
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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