As mentioned above, in Sophocles drama, god of war Ares gets the blame for the plague (lines 190191). creating and saving your own notes as you read. Oedipus must find the killer of former King Laius to save the city. 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. The blind prophet Tiresias arrives, and Creon promises to take whatever advice he gives. WebOedipus is the king of Thebes when the action commences, and one facing the crisis of a plague. Oedipus vows to find the murderer and curses him for . Continue to start your free trial. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. Apparently, the gods have punished Thebes for the cruel murder of the former King Laius. The gods serve punishment for Oedipus's guilt by inflicting a plague on Thebes. Early in the play it is clarified that the disease is a cattle zoonosis of high mortality rate (a blight upon the grazing flocks and herds, line 26, with the herds being cattle,) (2,3). The Plague in the Land of Thebes. Creon asks him his opinion on the issue. The writing of the tragedy Oedipus the King (original Greek title , most commonly known as Oedipus Rex) is placed in the first half of the decade 430420 bc. 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. The words of Tiresias strike fear into the hearts of Creon and the people of Thebes, and Creon reluctantly goes to free Antigone from the tomb where she has been imprisoned. The aforementioned aspects strongly support the notion that the disease was incurable at this time. In despair Jocasta hanged herself, while Oedipus blinded himself in an agony of remorse. No one was following the rules of the land. Creon, covetous of royal power, is all too happy to oblige. 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). New Plague in Thebes 560 BCE % complete There is a new plague in Thebes. The priest begs Oedipus to save Thebes, just as Oedipus . 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. Complete your free account to request a guide. 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. Free trial is available to new customers only. Oedipus says that his time of death has come. Oedipus steps out of the royal palace of Thebes and is greeted by a procession of priests, who are in turn surrounded by the impoverished and sorrowful citizens of Thebes. Discuss the theme of sight and blindness in Oedipus Rex, how it is important, and how it affects the idea of truth. . Cookies used to make website functionality more relevant to you. Only one of his fellow travelers escaped alive. By the end of the play, Oedipus discovers that while attempting to avoid his destiny, he unknowingly killed his father at a place where three roads join as he was fleeing Corinth. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. Purchasing Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. Arriving at Thebes, Oedipus was confronted by the Sphinx: a monster that was half woman and half lion. 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. He thinks he knows what happenedthieves killed Laiusbut is actually blind to the truth. Oedipus eagerly attempts to uncover the truth, acting decisively and scrupulously refusing to shield himself from the truth. The limp marks Oedipus's fate, even though he does not know it yet. After much prodding from Oedipus, Tiresias claims that Oedipus is the source of . You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. Theseus and the Chorus exit toward Athens; Antigone and Ismene head for Thebes. Cookies used to track the effectiveness of CDC public health campaigns through clickthrough data. In fact, it is noteworthy that there is no other historic or poetic reference that links Ares to the spreading of a disease (4). Photo courtesy Effie Poulakou-Rebelakou. The plot - an old myth already known to most of the audience - was . Oedipus also discovers that he married his mother. Almost as soon as he has said this, Creon returns and tells the story which is to lead Oedipus to the truth, and to the conclusion that it would have been better for him never to have been born. It should be noted that exploring the diseases of history requires examining the social, economic, and demographic aspects of each era because this is the only way to better understand how diseases work over centuries (10). Ancient typhoid epidemic reveals possible ancestral strain of. The Sphinx had been terrorizing Thebes for an undisclosed amount of time before Oedipus was able to defeat it. Latest answer posted April 01, 2021 at 5:20:02 PM, Latest answer posted November 20, 2019 at 12:42:51 AM. 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. Both Polynices and Creon are currently en route to try to take Oedipus into custody and thus claim the right to bury him in their kingdoms. This skirmish occurred at the very crossroads where Laius was killed. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. 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). He did not know that his parents in Corinth were not his real parents. 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. Oedipus replies that he is more eager than anyone to find out the cause of the pollution and remove it. . The plague that is described in Oedipus Rex could possibly be related to the plague that struck Athens in 430429 bc (11), the primary source for which is the papers of historian Thucydides (where he refers to an epidemic that has been named the plague of Athens) (5). 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. The Plague of Thebes, a Historical Epidemic in Sophocles Oedipus Rex. But Tiresias answers enigmatically. They want King Oedipus to save the city. Best Answer. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. In the historical case (Athens) and the dramatic case (Thebes), the populace turned to the temples looking for a divine solution to the disaster. Missing, he turned the sword against himself and died embracing Antigones body. Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. 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. 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. 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. The ultimate goals of our study were to clarify whether the plague described in Oedipus Rex could reflect an actual historical event, compare it with the plague of Athens, which was described by the historian Thucydides as occurring not long before the time that Sophocles work appeared (4), and propose the most likely causative pathogen. 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 date of the Oedipus Tyrannus of Sophocles. Creon informs King Oedipus that until the killer of King Laius is identified, the plague cannot be ended. Oedipus curses himself, proclaiming that should he discover the murderer to be a member of his own family, that person should be struck by the same exile and harsh treatment that he has just wished on the murderer. Teachers and parents! A second messenger enters and describes scenes of suffering. 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). Hearing this, Oedipus resolves to solve the mystery of Laiuss murder. Oedipus then strides off with a sudden strength, taking his daughters and Theseus to his grave. A messenger enters and recounts the tragic events: Creon and his entourage first gave proper burial to Polynices, then heard what sounded like Haemons voice wailing from Antigones tomb. She bore two sons, Polynices and Eteocles, and two daughters, Antigone and Ismene. After years of wandering in exile from Thebes, Oedipus arrives in a grove outside Athens. Please wait while we process your payment. King Theseus arrives and says that he pities Oedipus for the fate that has befallen him, and he asks how he can help Oedipus. The play shows that one cannot avert one's fate. The main conflict is when Tiresias tells Oedipus that he is responsible for the plague, and Oedipus refuses to believe Tiresias. As for the clinical features, although Thucydides does not mention the pregnancy or labor pains as described in Sophocles text, he does refer to abdominal and vulvovaginal symptoms (5). Please wait while we process your payment. There is a plague in Thebes, and many people are dying. Answer: Oedipus married his mother. Jocasta tells him that Laius was killed at a three-way crossroads, just before Oedipus arrived in Thebes. The particularity of this reference (4), it seems that Sophocles correlates the epidemic that strikes Thebes with the plague of Athens, which, according to Thucydides, came about as a result of the Peloponnesian War (5). The point of attack is when Creon returns from the Oracle at Delphi with the message that the source of the plague is the murder of the old king, Laius. Apparently, it has not heard Creons news about Laiuss murderer. We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. The Thucydides syndrome. 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. 20% Questioned further, he answers that the baby was in fact the child of Laius himself, and that it was Jocasta who gave him the infant, ordering him to kill it, as it had been prophesied that the child would kill his parents. 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. It is an unfair punishment over the sins of one man (Chapter 22 . The citizens of Thebes hated Laius, so they didn't care. This is presented to the audience through the dialogue between Oedipus, the king, and the Priest (167). 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). Thus, according to the tragedys rhymes and with respect to literary talk, this plague should be treated as an epidemic. So the tragic truth is that Oedipus, who unwittingly killed his father, the previous king, is the cause of the Theban plague. Ironically, Oedipus thought that by leaving Corinth he was beating the prophecy that he would murder his father and marry his mother. We take your privacy seriously. Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? 2012;18(1):153-157. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid1801.ad1801. D. The sphinx was indulging in sexually and other pleasure and wasn't paying much attention to state affairs. Discount, Discount Code The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. Oedipus and Antigone learn from a citizen that they are standing on holy ground, reserved for the Eumenides, goddesses of fate. Oedipus, king of Thebes, is determined to find out the cause of the plague ravishing the city, little suspecting the cause is him. There is death in the land as the story begins. He lived his entire life in Athens and introduced many innovations in the dramatic arts (1). 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. Oedipus the King: What is the significance of the plays title? Oedipus the King opens with a priest describing the terrible plague that has come upon Thebes and begging Oedipus for help. 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. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. 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 . 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). Sophocles, one of the most noted playwrights of the ancient world, wrote the tragedy Oedipus Rex in the first half of the decade 430420 bc. Oedipus naturally refuses to believe Tiresiass accusation. The king has already taken some action to deal with this harm by sending his brother-in-law, Creon, to the oracle at Delphi to ask for a salvation plan (lines 6872). He returned with news that the plague was caused by the unpunished murderer who killed Laius. In lines 167215 the Chorus stays on stage to summarize the situation and beg for salvation (2,3). The priest describes that there is much disease and death in Thebes. That baby was Oedipus. PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. He knows that the city is sick with plague. Years passed while Oedipus was king of Thebes. 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. They went in and saw Antigone hanging from a noose, and Haemon raving. Why is Thebes experiencing trouble at the start of Oedipus? Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! Oedipus himself is the accursed person who brings the plague to Thebes. Economopoulos). 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. Creon returns with a message from the oracle: the plague will end when the murderer of Laius, former king of Thebes, is caught and expelled; the murderer is within the city. Skip to document. Thebes has been struck by a plague, the citizens are dying, and no one knows how . Oedipus asks a priest why the citizens have gathered around the palace. Wailing on the altar stair, wives and grandams rend the air, long-drawn moans and piercing cries blent with prayers and litaniesSophocles, Oedipus Rex, lines 184186. It is not quite clear why Ares is being called responsible for this plague, since there is no other such reference in the play. Data is collected weekly and does not include downloads and attachments. 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). A severe plague is described in Sophocles drama Oedipus Rex. Theseus does in fact return with Oedipuss daughters shortly. Oedipus the King is one of the most ironic plays ever written. 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). 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. As proof, she notes that the Delphic oracle once told Laius he would be murdered by his son, when in fact his son was cast out of Thebes as a baby, and Laius was murdered by a band of thieves. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. Oedipus promised to save his city, so he ordered his brother-in-law Creon to consult the oracle at Delphi. In this way Theseus and his heirs may always rule over a safe city. Creon enters, carrying Haemons body and wailing against his own tyranny, which he knows has caused his sons death. Sophocles and The Oedipus Plays Background. The citizens carry branches wrapped in wool, which they offer to the gods as gifts. Regarding the plays approach to treatment of the disease, reading through the drama we once again come across with the theocratic perceptions of ancient Greece. The chorus, which represents the elders of Thebes, appeals to the gods as the agents of fate and rulers of the world to save the city. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. The citizens carry branches wrapped in wool, which they offer to the gods as gifts. Thank you for taking the time to confirm your preferences. His play, Oedipus Rex, tells the sad tale of a king who discovers that he has murdered his father and married his mother. Want 100 or more? Hence, the citizens of Thebes were often called children of Cadmus or Cadmeians. Although we are able to see him as a mere puppet of fate, at some points, the irony is so magnified that it seems almost as if Oedipus brings catastrophe upon himself willingly. He ends up blinding himself before being exiled from the city. This meant that they must find the killer of their dead king, Laius. Polynices tells Oedipus that he never condoned his exile, and that Eteocles is the bad son, having bribed the men of Thebes to turn against Polynices. PROLOGUE / THE SCENE. 276-379: The blind priest Tiresias has information about the plague, which he refuses to divulge. A central door and two lateral doors open onto a platform which runs the length of the facade. In doing so, he unwittingly fulfilled the first half of the prophecy: he has killed his own father. When Creon retells the story of Laiuss murder, Oedipus is shocked and dismayed that the investigation of the murder of a king was so swiftly dropped (145147).