However, Thucydides correlation of the plague of Athens with the Peloponnesian War (431404 bc) (5) gives us the opportunity to state that Sophocles connects this epidemic of Thebes with the plague of Athens and attempts to point out the disastrous effects wars always have. 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. She runs back into the palace. Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! Haemon, Creons son and Antigones betrothed, enters the stage. 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). At this mention of his parents, Oedipus, who grew up in the distant city of Corinth, asks how Tiresias knew his parents. Yet in saying he would fight for Laius as if he were his own father, Oedipus further displays his own blindness to the truth. PROLOGUE / THE SCENE. His play, Oedipus Rex, tells the sad tale of a king who discovers that he has murdered his father and married his mother. He has already anticipated the priests' request for help and has done what a good Greek ruler should doseek advice from an oracle. When Laius' herald ordered Oedipus to stand aside and make way for the King to pass, Oedipus grew angry and killed both the herald and Laius. In line 28 the word plague () appears for the first time, with the Greek word for disease () being used in lines 150, 217, and 303 (2,3). A group of priests comes to the royal palace to ask for help from Oedipus, their king who once saved them from the tyranny of the terrible Sphinx. We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. Creon asks Oedipus if he wants to hear the news in private, but Oedipus insists that all the citizens hear. Oedipus the King is one of the most ironic plays ever written. Oedipus a Tragedy. Literature usually reflects the echo of the past. Historical medical literature has suggested many infectious diseases over time, but few have lasted as the most probable. He returned with news that the plague was caused by the unpunished murderer who killed Laius. He marries Jocasta, Laius' widow. The Sphinx placed a great plague over Thebes and refused to remove it until someone correctly answered its riddle. Already a member? The references to the decline of land and fields could be an example of poetic exaggeration or a suggestion that the fruits or ears may participate in the transmission route of the plague (a blight is on our harvest in the ear, line 25) (2,3). Much of the fascination of the play comes from watching Oedipus, the remorseless detective, hunt down Oedipus, the unwitting criminal. On the platform Message not sent. These diseases mainly include typhoid fever, epidemic typhus, smallpox, plague, measles, and influenza, all of which could be initial candidates for the plague in Oedipus Rex and have been taken into account in this study (Technical Appendix) (9,10). At Jocastas summons, Oedipus comes outside, hears the news, and rejoices with her. Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? Any proposed pathogen should be a highly contagious, zoonotic disease of cattle that causes stillbirth, miscarriages, and infertility, is characterized by high mortality rates, and has the potential to have caused an epidemic in the 5th century bc. The Leader of the Chorus suggests that Oedipus call for Tiresias, a great prophet, and Oedipus responds that he has already done so. The guilt for the murder of Laius preexists Oedipus's shame. Oedipus naturally refuses to believe Tiresiass accusation. Homer related that Oedipus's wife and mother hanged herself when the truth of their relationship became known, though Oedipus apparently continued to rule at Thebes until his death. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. Oedipus asks Theseus to harbor him in Athens until his death, but warns that by doing him this favor, Theseus will incur the wrath of Thebes. Subscribe now. on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% 20% Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. In the fifth century B.C., the playwright Sophocles begins "Oedipus Tyrannos" with the title character struggling to identify the cause of a plague striking his city, Thebes. to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. Only one of his fellow travelers escaped alive. The fate of Oedipus emerges as a truly tragic one, not so much because he caused the plague, but because of the characters own personal tragedy (Figure 2). Wed love to have you back! 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. 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! You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link. Wishing to be killed or exiled, he gave Thebes to Creon to rule as regent, and Creon promised to care for Oedipus' daughters. 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). M.A. Oedipus asks the priests why they have come. In this case scenario, we could assume that cattle in Thebes may have been having brucellosis, leptospirosis, or listeriosis, while humans could have been affected by a different pathogen such as Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (8,9). . Oedipus, the king, who is married to Jocasta and has four children, sends Creon (Jocasta's brother) to the oracle for information. Ace your assignments with our guide to The Oedipus Plays! He asks if anyone knows who killed Laius, promising that the informant will be rewarded and the murderer will receive no harsher punishment than exile. In fact, it is noteworthy that there is no other historic or poetic reference that links Ares to the spreading of a disease (4). This is a supernatural phenomenon caused by harboring a cursed person. But while Oedipus finds great comfort in the fact that one-half of the prophecy has been disproved, he still fears the other halfthe half that claimed he would sleep with his mother. For example, when the old priest tells Oedipus that the people of Thebes are dying of the plague, Oedipus says that he could not fail to see this (6872). Soon after, Polynices arrives, seeking his fathers favor in order to gain custody of his eventual burial site. 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. Bust of Sophocles in the Colonnade of the Muses in the Achilleion, Corfu, Greece, July 2011. Creons wife, Eurydice, hears this terrible news and rushes away into the palace. After much prodding from Oedipus, Tiresias claims that Oedipus is the source of . Through the character of the priest, Sophocles makes the audience/reader aware of the sacred and secular state of Thebes. The first event that elicits emotions of fear and pity is found in the prologue where the people of Thebes suffer from a plague. He's one step ahead of the suggestions his subjects make to him and has already sent for Tiresias. Jocasta rejoices, convinced that Polybus's death from natural causes has disproved the prophecy that Oedipus . Each man in the city grieves for himself, but the king grieves for the city and everyone in it. Oedipus doesn't believe him since he did not know who Laius was when he killed him and sends him away. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Complete your free account to request a guide. eNotes Editorial, 3 Jan. 2020, https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-reason-plague-thebes-sophocles-oedipus-rex-662761. The way the content is organized, LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in, The play begins in the royal house of Thebes. There were two shrines to her in Thebes. (one code per order). Troy, Mycenae, and the otologic demise of Herr Heinrich Schliemann. 2023 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Significant Myths and Structure of the Text. Oedipus replies that he is more eager than anyone to find out the cause of the pollution and remove it. A blight, the priest tells Oedipus, has destroyed their crops and livestock - and even rendered their women sterile, unable to have children. Arriving at Thebes, Oedipus was confronted by the Sphinx: a monster that was half woman and half lion. Oedipus the King opens with a plague strangling the life out of Thebes. . March 3, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! On the surface, the problem afflicting Thebes is a plague. The citizens gather outside the palace of their king, Oedipus, asking him to take action. Finally, he answers that the child came from the house of Laius. The priest responds that the city is dying and asks the king to save Thebes. Let us know your assignment type and we'll make sure to get you exactly the kind of answer you need. As when he faced the Sphinx, Oedipus is presented with a puzzle to solve: the identity of Laius's murderer. The reference to the Sphinx reminds the audience that Oedipus is a genuine hero. Latest answer posted April 01, 2021 at 5:20:02 PM, Latest answer posted November 20, 2019 at 12:42:51 AM. Best Answer. Oedipus and the Sphinx, by Gustave Moreau, 1864, The Met. -Graham S. Oedipus is a hero and a man of action. The lethality of this epidemic is particularly terrifying for the protagonists of the play, and the diseases severity is evinced by the first sentences of the tragedy (reek of incense everywhere, line 4). Oedipus brags that he alone was able to solve the puzzle. Oedipus, King of Thebes, sends his brother-in-law, Creon, to ask the advice of the oracle at Delphi, concerning a plague ravaging Thebes. However, taking into account that in modern times brucellosis in humans is a severe granulomatous disease characterized by extremely rare direct transmission from person-to-person, insidious onset in sporadic cases (mainly among veterinarians), and low mortality rates, it may be difficult for 21st century physicians and veterinarians to accept B. abortus as the causative agent of the plague of Thebes. Missing, he turned the sword against himself and died embracing Antigones body. The priest glorifies his honor and describes that a plague is destroying the whole city: blight in the city causing famine and sickness. Table of Contents Volume 18, Number 1January 2012. The epidemic, in fact, is mostly a matter that serves the theatrical economy by forming a background for the evolution of the plot. (one code per order). Oedipus himself remained in Thebes for a few years, a blind and aging misfit cared for only by his daughters, Antigone and Ismene. Oedipus and Antigone learn from a citizen that they are standing on holy ground, reserved for the Eumenides, goddesses of fate. Summary. Oedipus asks why the Thebans made no attempt to find the murderers, and Creon reminds him that Thebes was then more concerned with the curse of the Sphinx. After years of wandering in exile from Thebes, Oedipus arrives in a grove outside Athens. PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. He sends Creon, his brother-in-law, to the oracle at Athens . Free trial is available to new customers only. plague; the plague in Thebes has three features which are closely associated with supernatural forces and appear in re-ligious contexts. Oedipus is so filled with pride or hubris that he can't imagine he could possibly be the wrongdoer. Free trial is available to new customers only. Oedipus replies that he already sent his brother-in-law, Creon, to the oracle at Delphi to learn how to help the city. But the shepherd pitied the child, and decided that the prophecy could be avoided just as well if the child were to grow up in a foreign city, far from his true parents. Instant PDF downloads. "What is the reason for the plague in Thebes in Sophocles' Oedipus Rex?" A plague followed and the stage was set for the action of Sophocles' Oedipus Rex. Once Oedipus is banished from Thebes, the curse is lifted, and the plague ends. The knowledge of the existence of a highly contagious and fatal disease is phrased clearly in these rhymes, strongly suggesting that Thebans were aware of the oncomingmost possibly from the adjacent city of Athensdanger (24). Jocasta tells him that Laius was killed at a three-way crossroads, just before Oedipus arrived in Thebes. Citizens are dying from plague, crops fail, women are dying in childbirth and their babies are stillborn. Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! Log in here. Creon now rules the city, and he has ordered that Polynices, who brought a foreign army against Thebes, not be allowed proper burial rites. Hellenic holocaust: a historical clinico-pathologic conference. Creon appears in order to abduct Oedipus, but, proving unsuccessful, he kidnaps Antigone and Ismene instead. 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 Murder of Laius by Oedipus," 1867, by Joseph Blanc. In the first scene of the play, Sophocles presents the basic social and historical axes around which he will unfold the plot. From the start of the drama, the plague in Thebes is a serious matter, as in line 23 where it is referred to as weltering surge of blood ( ). There is a plague in Thebes, and many people are dying. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." He has sent Creon, his brother-in-law and fellow ruler, to the Delphic oracle to find out how to stop the plague. He insists upon allowing all his people to hear what the oracle has said, despite Creons suggestion that Oedipus hear the news in private. Oedipus responds with a terrible curse, upbraiding his son for letting him be sent into exile, and predicting that Eteocles and Polynices will die at one anothers hands. Section 6: Oedipus the King, lines 338-706, Section 8: Oedipus the King, lines 1008-1310, Section 9: Oedipus the King, lines 1311-1684, Section 10: Oedipus at Colonus, lines 1-576, Section 11: Oedipus at Colonus, lines 577-1192, Section 12: Oedipus at Colonus, lines 1193-1645, Section 13: Oedipus at Colonus, lines 1646-2001. Skip to document. Oedipus asks a priest why the citizens have gathered around the palace. In the first scene of the play, Sophocles presents the basic social and historical axes around which he will unfold the plot. Jocasta rejoices, convinced that Polybuss death from natural causes has disproved the prophecy that Oedipus would murder his father. The Chorus calls on various Olympians to aid Thebes. The plagues effects are also pointed out by the Chorus: earth her gracious fruits denies and women wail in barren throes (lines 151, 215) (2,3). In the historical case (Athens) and the dramatic case (Thebes), the populace turned to the temples looking for a divine solution to the disaster. Oedipus replies that he sees and understands the terrible fate of Thebes, and that no one is more sorrowful than he. Theseus returns to the stage, asking the daughters to stop their weeping. He avidly begins an all-out manhunt. In Greek mythology, King Oedipus of Thebes who unwittingly killed his father and married his mother. Discount, Discount Code In other words, he became a hero by figuring out the truth. Name: Ariel De Lucas `Oedipus Rex Guided Reading Notes DIRECTIONS: As we read the tragic play Oedipus Rex together, complete the following notes. Oedipus is notable for his compassion, his sense of justice, his swiftness of thought and action, and his candor. This article is republished from The Conversation.Read the original article.. In addition, the realistic descriptions of the historian and the nightmarish lyrical rhymes of the poet, talk about a disease with a high mortality rate (2,10). Oedipus arrives in Thebes, solves the riddle of the Sphinx, and is made their king. Please use the form below to submit correspondence to the authors or contact them at the following address: Antonis A. Kousoulis, History of Medicine Department, School of Medicine, University of Athens, 131 Lambrou Katsoni Str., Athens, 18344 Greece. The audience is not surprised, therefore, but is watching Oedipus intently for the dawning realization that he himself is the source of the pollution and the plague. Sophocles audience knew the ancient story of Oedipus well, and would therefore interpret the greatness Oedipus exudes in the first scene as a tragic harbinger of his fall. Immediately following the ode, Oedipus enters and says that he will answer the Choruss prayers. Oedipus (UK: / i d p s /, also US: / d -/; Greek: "swollen foot") was a mythical Greek king of Thebes.A tragic hero in Greek mythology, Oedipus accidentally fulfilled a prophecy that he would end up killing his father and marrying his mother, thereby bringing disaster to his city and family.. He praises Oedipus' intellect in solving the riddle of the Sphinx. 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. The opening of the drama, with the city of Thebes in the midst of plague has often been, historically, taken as a reference to the plague that devastated Athens in the opening years of the Peloponnesian War and has been used to assist in the dating of this play (13). 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. As Eteocles' turn came first, Polyneices withdrew to . He tells them they can trust him to help in any way he can. Oedipus asks Theseus to drive Polynices away, but Antigone convinces her father to listen to his son. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. Moreover, we could not overlook that Sophocles is the most realist of the Greek tragedians (1), and ancient tragedies were often placed into a historical frame strongly influenced by major contemporary events (13). What does it suggest about the authors overall emphasis? Haemon storms out. A., Economopoulos, K. P., Poulakou-Rebelakou, E., Androutsos, G., & Tsiodras, S. (2012). He sends Creon, his brother-in-law, to the oracle at Athens. Youve successfully purchased a group discount. Sophocles, one of the most noted playwrights of the ancient world, wrote the tragedy Oedipus Rex in the first half of the decade 430-420 bc. Oedipus has a chance to cure the plague in Thebes, and its presented by the legitimate seer, Tiresias. After an interlude in which Oedipus tells the Chorus who he is, Oedipuss second daughter, Ismene, enters, having gone to learn news from Apollos oracle at Delphi. Photo courtesy Antonis A. Kousoulis. The aforementioned aspects strongly support the notion that the disease was incurable at this time. The plague results from the shame of not punishing Thebe's former king's murderer. After a close inspection of the characteristics, the pathogens that include most (5 of 7) of the features described by Sophocles in Oedipus Rex are Leishmania spp., Leptospira spp., Brucella abortus, Orthopoxviridae, and Francisella tularensis. C. The sphinx was terrorizing Thebes, so citizens couldn't investigate. In Oedipus Rex, why does Oedipus blind himself? Sophocles and The Oedipus Plays Background. Despite the warning, Theseus agrees to help Oedipus. Why was there a terrible plague in Thebes? 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). Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. Sophocles, the author, is a famous philosopher of the ancient times The Play is about Oedipus, the king of Thebes, who kills his father and marries his mother. The people of Thebes honored and worshipped the gods, surely there is an easier way to play detective. Economopoulos, E. Poulakou-Rebelakou, G. Androutsos, S. Tsiodras), Society of Junior Doctors, Athens (A.A. Kousoulis, K.P. Purchasing on 50-99 accounts. Sending for Theseus, he tells the king he must carry out certain rites on his body, and that by doing so he may assure divine protection to his city. In the most familiar version, first attested in Sophocles' tragedy Oedipus Tyrannus, Oedipus' downfall all began with a plague. 216-275: Oedipus asks the Thebans to help him find and expel Laius' murderer. The shepherd therefore passed the boy on to the shepherd in Corinth. Thus, the most probable cause of the plague in Thebes is B. abortus. The _____ is that Tiresias is blind but can see the truth, and Oedipus has sight but refuses to see the truth. $24.99 Oedipus the King. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. Oedipus' wife and mother hanged themselves when the truth of their relationship was known, although Oedipus continued to rule Thabs until his death. The plot - an old myth already known to most of the audience - was . Sophocles lived between 496 and 406 bc; although he seems to have written 123 plays, only 7 have survived in a complete form (1). At the beginning of the play, Thebes is struck with a terrible plague that ravishes the city, forcing citizens to petition King Oedipus to deliver them from the horrible epidemic. Creon reports that the gods have caused this plague in response to the murder of Laius, the previous king of . The stage directions state that. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! Oedipus sends for Tiresias, the blind prophet, and asks him what he knows about the murder. 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. answer choices . The story of Oedipus is perhaps the most tragic story of ancient Greece.The mythological character was the king of Thebes and lived under the shadow of a curse that could not be avoided to the end of his days. This fact has been used to suggest that there is no connection between the plague in Thebes and the plague in Athens. According to the Oracle, Apollo regards religious or moral pollution (miasma) resulting from the murder of the former king, Laius,to be the cause of the plague and that the cause of it (i.e. Oedipus swears he will never give his support to either of his sons, for they did nothing to prevent his exile years ago. We adopted a critical approach to Oedipus Rex in analyzing the literary description of the disease, unraveling its on 50-99 accounts. The first writing of Oedipus Rex most probably took place during the time of the plague of Athens. Creon returns from the oracle to deliver what explanation he has been given, and WebOedipus met Jocasta and they were married, unknowingly completely fulfilling the prophecy. In despair Jocasta hanged herself, while Oedipus blinded himself in an agony of remorse. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. A plague has stricken Thebes. Sophocles seizes every opportunity to exploit this dramatic irony. B. Creon wanted to become king, so he never cared enough to investigate. SparkNotes PLUS is the priest doing this there is a plague on the city oedipus asked him to the sphinx has attacked the city it s a holiday oedipus rex questions and answers enotes com Apparently, it has not heard Creons news about Laiuss murderer. Not knowing where to go now, Antigone says they will have to wander forever alone. When Oedipus discovers the truth of his actions, he is wrought with horror and self-loathing. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. Oedipus, king of Thebes, is determined to find out the cause of the plague ravishing the city, little suspecting the cause is him. Data is collected weekly and does not include downloads and attachments. Oedipus quickly hatches plans to deal with both his peoples suffering and Laiuss unsolved murder, and he has even anticipated the Choruss suggestions that he send someone to the oracle and call forth Tiresias. The Sphinx, in her anger, threw herself off a cliff. Emerg Infect Dis. A somewhat similar example is that of archeologist Heinrich Schlieman; before Schlieman, the writings of Homer had been considered a collection of mythological poems. In Sophocles' Oedipus Rex, Oedipus' biological father is Laius, the King of Thebes prior to Oedipus. The blind prophet Tiresias arrives, and Creon promises to take whatever advice he gives. At this early moment, we see Oedipuss dangerous pride, which explains his willful blindness and, to a certain extent, justifies his downfall. The story of Oedipus is the subject of Sophocles' tragedy Oedipus . Discuss the theme of sight and blindness in Oedipus Rex, how it is important, and how it affects the idea of truth. Creon decides to pardon Ismene, but vows to kill Antigone by walling her up alive in a tomb. Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? The main conflict is when Tiresias tells Oedipus that he is responsible for the plague, and Oedipus refuses to believe Tiresias. Blind and frail, he walks with the help of his daughter, Antigone. Oedipus replies that he is more eager than anyone to find out the cause of the pollution and remove it. Oedipus the King: What is the significance of the plays title? Want 100 or more? on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Hence, the citizens of Thebes were often called children of Cadmus or Cadmeians. for a customized plan. Enjoy eNotes ad-free and cancel anytime. Oedipus eagerly attempts to uncover the truth, acting decisively and scrupulously refusing to shield himself from the truth. He lived his entire life in Athens and introduced many innovations in the dramatic arts (1). Creon, the brother of Jocasta, has learned from soothsayers that the city is being punished for harboring the murderer of the late King Laius. Oedipus asks who the other shepherd was, and the messenger answers that he was a servant of Laius. Finally, we cannot reject the possibility of dealing with a Brucella strain that has evolved to become less deadly than a more lethal ancestor (6). Oedipus also discovers that he married his mother. Cookies used to enable you to share pages and content that you find interesting on CDC.gov through third party social networking and other websites. Skip to document. Oedipus castigates the citizens of Thebes for letting the murderer go unknown so long. 2 (CC) BY-NC-SA, Ian Johnston 2004 1 Cadmus: legendary founder of Thebes. 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). What is the conflict or problem the people of Thebes face as the play opens? Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. A lethal plague is described in this drama. After blinding himself in anguish over what he has done, Oedipus allows himself to be exiled, and the plague ends. Jocasta tells him that Laius was killed at a three-way crossroads, just before Oedipus arrived in Thebes. 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. You can review and change the way we collect information below. Figure 2. Theseus promises Oedipus that he will get his daughters back. For a moment, Oedipus takes upon himself the role of a goda role the Chorus has been both reluctant and eager to allow him (see 3943). You'll be billed after your free trial ends. CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website.