Creon was told by Apollo that in order to be free of the plague, they must "Pay the killers back- whoever is responsible" (Sophocles 1430). The oracle announces that the plague is a result of religious pollution and that the god Apollo requests that the people of Thebes exile the previously unknown miasma (a word of Greek origin with a sense of moral noxious pollution) away from the town (lines 9698) (2,3). he mortality rate for untreated brucellosis is difficult to determine from the literature of the preantibiotic era (6); nevertheless, an 80% rate has been reported in situations of comorbidity with endocarditis (7). He knows that the city is sick with plague. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. For the next 7 days, you'll have access to awesome PLUS stuff like AP English test prep, No Fear Shakespeare translations and audio, a note-taking tool, personalized dashboard, & much more! Creon returns to report that the plague is the result of religious pollution, since the murderer of their former king, Laius, has never been caught. Dont have an account? At this mention of his parents, Oedipus, who grew up in the distant city of Corinth, asks how Tiresias knew his parents. Although the above points are of great relevance, they lack the possibility of historical verification and are mainly based on the comparative and critical assessment of Sophocles and Thucydides work. In the historical case (Athens) and the dramatic case (Thebes), the populace turned to the temples looking for a divine solution to the disaster. He's one step ahead of the suggestions his subjects make to him and has already sent for Tiresias. The priest responds that the city is dying and asks the king to save Thebes. To know the cause of the plague, Oedipus sent Creon, Jocasta's brother, consult the oracle at Delphi , and learned that the plague would only cease after the murderer of Laius had been punished. So the tragic truth is that Oedipus, who unwittingly killed his father, the previous king, is the cause of the Theban plague. plague; the plague in Thebes has three features which are closely associated with supernatural forces and appear in re-ligious contexts. Figure 1. Oedipus, King of Thebes, sends his brother-in-law, Creon, to ask the advice of the oracle at Delphi, concerning a plague ravaging Thebes. The play shows that one cannot avert one's fate. C. The sphinx was terrorizing Thebes, so citizens couldn't investigate. Figure 2. No one was following the rules of the land. Soon, a nervous sentry arrives at the palace to tell Creon that, while the sentries slept, someone gave Polynices burial rites. With our Essay Lab, you can create a customized outline within seconds to get started on your essay right away. Several sections, primarily in the first third of the play, refer to the aforementioned plague; the epidemic, however, is not the primary topic of the tragedy. Oedipus asks the priests why they have come. On the surface, the problem afflicting Thebes is a plague. Haemon seems at first to side with his father, but gradually admits his opposition to Creons stubbornness and petty vindictiveness. 2023. Who are the experts?Our certified Educators are real professors, teachers, and scholars who use their academic expertise to tackle your toughest questions. March 3, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 King Theseus arrives and says that he pities Oedipus for the fate that has befallen him, and he asks how he can help Oedipus. Our goals were to clarify whether the plague described in Oedipus Rex reflects an actual historical event; to compare it with the plague of Athens, which was described by Thucydides as occurring around the same time Sophocles wrote; and to propose a likely causative pathogen. oedipus s position in thebes ii his certainty of his own innocence iii. When Creon returns from the oracle, he informs Oedipus that the person responsible for murdering the former King Laius must be banished from Thebes in order to put an end to the devastating plague. $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% Creon threatens to kill anyone who tries to bury Polynices and stations sentries over his body. Finally, although many of the features of the plot and passages have been interpreted as historical allusions, the plague seems to be recognized as the most critical element that reflects a historical event, with enough strength and clarity to be used even for the dating of the tragedy (12). Oedipus then strides off with a sudden strength, taking his daughters and Theseus to his grave. We take your privacy seriously. Youve successfully purchased a group discount. You'll also receive an email with the link. A somewhat similar example is that of archeologist Heinrich Schlieman; before Schlieman, the writings of Homer had been considered a collection of mythological poems. When Oedipus discovers the truth of his actions, he is wrought with horror and self-loathing. This is a supernatural phenomenon caused by harboring a cursed person. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. D. The sphinx was indulging in sexually and other pleasure and wasn't paying much attention to state affairs. How Did Oedipus First Save Thebes? - Reference Oedipus the King opens with a priest describing the terrible plague that has come upon Thebes and begging Oedipus for help. Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website. Yet in saying he would fight for Laius as if he were his own father, Oedipus further displays his own blindness to the truth. Oedipus has a chance to cure the plague in Thebes, and its presented by the legitimate seer, Tiresias. 2 Pallas: Pallas Athena. In addition, the Chorus provides us with a major social aspect, as they put the blame on god of war, Ares (Ares whose hot breath I feel, though without targe or steel he stalks, whose voice is as the battle shout, lines 190191) (2,3). Oedipus is so competent in the affairs of men that he comes close to dismissing the gods, although he does not actually blaspheme, as Creon does in Antigone. There is a plague in Thebes, and many people are dying. How does Oedipus Rex by Sophocles follow the unities? The oracle has predicted that the burial place of Oedipus will bring good fortune to the city in which it is located, and both sons, as well as Creon, know of this prophecy. The priest describes that there is much disease and death in Thebes. The priest begs Oedipus to help the city and rescue it from the clutches of famine, fire, and plague. Discount, Discount Code Oedipus sends Creon to Delphi to consult the oracle, or priestess, there, about the cause of the plague in Thebes. Oedipus also discovers that he married his mother. Oedipus and the Plague: The Will to Endure Many heroes attempted to answer the riddle, but each one was eaten alive after answering incorrectly. Oedipus the King: What is the significance of the plays title? Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. Photo courtesy Effie Poulakou-Rebelakou. He asks why Tiresias did nothing when Thebes suffered under a plague once before. The critical reading of Oedipus Rex, its comparison with Thucydides history, as well as the systematic review of the existing historical data, lead us to strongly suggest that this epidemic, for which the name Plague of Thebes may be used, was an actual historical fact, likely caused by B. abortus. In the city of Thebes, there is a plague of infertility that strikes. http://www.who.int/topics/disease_outbreaks/en/, The Plague of Thebes, a Historical Epidemic in Sophocles Oedipus Rex, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Kousoulis AA, Economopoulos KP, Poulakou-Rebelakou E, Androutsos G, Tsiodras S. The Plague of Thebes, a Historical Epidemic in Sophocles Oedipus Rex. She tells him that, back in Thebes, Oedipuss younger son, Eteocles, has overthrown Polynices, the elder, and that Polynices is now amassing troops in Argos for an attack on his brother and on Creon, who rules along with Eteocles. Literature usually reflects the echo of the past. Oedipus replies that he sees and understands the terrible fate of Thebes, and that no one is more sorrowful than he. Blind and frail, he walks with the help of his daughter, Antigone. Week 6 Summary and Response - Katlynn Havens Humanities 201 11/28/ Week Laius' murderer) must be killed orexpelled from Theban territory. He thinks he knows what happenedthieves killed Laiusbut is actually blind to the truth. Oedipus In Greek mythology and literature, son of Laius (king of Thebes) and Jocasta; father of Antigone, Ismene, Eteocles and Polynices by his own mother. According to the World Health Organization, an epidemic is defined as a disease outbreak and, therefore, the occurrence of cases of disease in excess of what would normally be expected in a defined community, geographic area, or season (15). He accuses Creon and Tiresias of conspiring against his life, and charges Tiresias with insanity. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. Creon informs the court on his return that the plague will lift once the person who murdered the late King Laius is banished from Thebes. The messenger remarks that Oedipus need not worry, because Polybus and his wife, Merope, are not Oedipuss biological parents. Oedipus brags that he alone was able to solve the puzzle. | The characteristics of pathogens that might be responsible for the plague on the basis of Sophocles descriptions in Oedipus Rex are summarized in the Technical Appendix. Just as the messenger finishes his story, Antigone and Ismene come onstage, chanting a dirge. In their final words, the chorus reminds the audience that it was Oedipus who solved the riddle of the sphinx. Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? Oedipus Rex or Oedipus the King, is the first play in this trilogy of Athenian Tragedies . Oedipus fears mass destruction of the city of Thebes (with the god's good help success is sure; 'tis ruin if we fail, line 146), while the words weltering surge of blood (line 24), fiery plague (line 166), the land is sore distressed (line 685), and wailing on the altar stair, wives and grandams rend the air, long-drawn moans and piercing cries blent with prayers and litanies (lines 184186) (2,3) all illustrate vividly the severity of the situation. Sophocles lived between 496 and 406 bc; although he seems to have written 123 plays, only 7 have survived in a complete form (1). By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. The Theban Plays Oedipus the King (or Oedipus Rex) is one of three surviving plays by Sophocles centering on the Greek myth of Oedipus (EHD ih puhs), king of Thebes; the other two are Oedipus at . Oedipus then advises his subjects to search and apprehend the murderer before he consults with the blind seer, Teiresias, who cautions Oedipus about searching for the truth. Regarding the specific clinical features of the disease, it is clear that the causative pathogen leads to miscarriages or stillbirths (a blight on wives in travail, lines 2627, meaning women give birth to dead babies) (2,3). In Oedipus Rex the plague is a miasma that destroys everything, rather than just a disease. Oedipus Rex by Sophocles Plot Summary | LitCharts By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. Creon reports that the gods have caused this plague in response to the murder of Laius, the previous king of Thebes, and they demand that the murderer ("the pollution of this land") be killed or exiled. Lines 179181 turn out to be of high interest: wasted thus by death on death all our city perishes; corpses spread infection round (2,3). He had four children by Jocasta. 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