In the city of Thebes, there is a plague of infertility that strikes. Oedipus replies that he already sent his brother-in-law, Creon, to the oracle at Delphi to learn how to help the city. Oedipus eagerly attempts to uncover the truth, acting decisively and scrupulously refusing to shield himself from the truth. Creon curses him and threatens to slay Antigone before his very eyes. 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. In the end, it turns out that Oedipus has also murdered his father. The Thucydides syndrome. Years passed while Oedipus was king of Thebes. He asks why Tiresias did nothing when Thebes suffered under a plague once before. He sends Creon, his brother-in-law, to the oracle at Athens. Oedipus swears he will never give his support to either of his sons, for they did nothing to prevent his exile years ago. If you need to go back and make any changes, you can always do so by going to our Privacy Policy page. Antigone freely confesses her act to Creon and says that he himself defies the will of the gods by refusing Polynices burial. Each man in the city grieves for himself, but the king grieves for the city and everyone in it. He returned with news that the plague was caused by the unpunished murderer who killed Laius. Oedipus himself remained in Thebes for a few years, a blind and aging misfit cared for only by his daughters, Antigone and Ismene. $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% 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. 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). Historical certainty can be added by studying the alliances and the warfare involving Thebes during the era of Sophocles (e.g., Boeotian prefecture, Athenian dynasty, Spartan alliance, Persian wars) (14). The story of Oedipus begins in Thebes, the Greek city founded by Cadmus, at a time when Laius had been restored to the throne.Laius would wed Jocasta, sister to Creon, and descendant of one of the Spartoi, but almost immediately a prophecy was made that said that the son of Laius . After years of wandering in exile from Thebes, Oedipus arrives in a grove outside Athens. Complete your free account to request a guide. March 3, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. Thebes has been struck by a plague, the citizens are dying, and no one knows how . What is the conflict or problem the people of Thebes face as the play opens? We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. All of this, of course, was unbeknownst to him. Sometimes it can end up there. 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. Why was there a terrible plague in Thebes? Oedipus' wife and mother hanged themselves when the truth of their relationship was known, although Oedipus continued to rule Thabs until his death. Oedipus returns and tells the Chorus that he will end the plague himself. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. Oedipus sends Creon to Delphi to consult the oracle, or priestess, there, about the cause of the plague in Thebes. Latest answer posted November 11, 2019 at 3:50:28 AM. 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. As the protagonist approached his tragic catharsis, the moral order much desired by the ancient Greeks was restored with the end of the epidemic. Summary. Oedipus responds by sending his brother-in-law, Creon, to the oracle of Apollo to discover how to save Thebes. . Wed love to have you back! Want 100 or more? Purchasing The devastating plague that dominates Thebes is presented to the audience through the dialogue between Oedipus and the Priest (lines 167) (2,3). A plague followed and the stage was set for the action of Sophocles' Oedipus Rex. That baby was Oedipus. Oedipus asks the priests why they have come. 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). Antigone, in spite of Creons edict and without the help of her sister Ismene, resolves to give their brother a proper burial. Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. Much of the fascination of the play comes from watching Oedipus, the remorseless detective, hunt down Oedipus, the unwitting criminal. 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. Oedipus promised to save his city, so he ordered his brother-in-law Creon to consult the oracle at Delphi. It is not quite clear why Ares is being called responsible for this plague, since there is no other such reference in the play. PART I: Before Reading STATEMENT RESPONSE (3-5 sentences) It is important to know who we truly are, where we came . Renews March 10, 2023 C. The sphinx was terrorizing Thebes, so citizens couldn't investigate. Sophocles and The Oedipus Plays Background. Alternatively, the plague of Thebes could be a composite of >2 causative agents, as it has been suggested for the contemporary plague of Athens (6,7). In the post-Homeric tradition, most familiar from Sophocles' Oedipus Rex (or Oedipus the King) and . The Chorus enters, calling on the gods Apollo, Athena, and Artemis to save Thebes. Creon, covetous of royal power, is all too happy to oblige. 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. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. There was an unexpected error. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. A word with a meaning of something that brings death is used in the original Greek () to refer to the plague, which suggests that at the time of Sophocles his fellow Greeks were aware of the threat posed by infectious disease. Table of Contents Volume 18, Number 1January 2012. The priest responds that the city is dying and asks the king to save Thebes. PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. The Sphinx had the city under a spell. As the play opens, Oedipus, the king of Thebes, asks from a group of people that why they are gathered there. Oedipus sends the citizen to fetch Theseus, the king of Athens and its surroundings. Soon after, Polynices arrives, seeking his fathers favor in order to gain custody of his eventual burial site. Acting blindly, he curses himself. 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). even stating in one scene when the people of Thebes were requesting that he save them from the dreaded plague that had overcome their homeland, "You pray to the Gods, May I grant . At Jocastas summons, Oedipus comes outside, hears the news, and rejoices with her. Oedipus promises to solve the mystery of Laiuss death, vowing to curse and drive out the murderer. It is an unfair punishment over the sins of one man (Chapter 22 . The plague results from the shame of not punishing Thebe's former king's murderer. for a customized plan. No one responds, and Oedipus furiously curses Laiuss murderer and anyone who is protecting him. Oedipus the King. 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). 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. Latest answer posted September 14, 2020 at 1:34:55 PM. Theseus and the Chorus exit toward Athens; Antigone and Ismene head for Thebes. Had his king been murdered, nothing would have stopped him from finding the murderer, just as he is promising to let nothing stop him now. 2 Pallas: Pallas Athena. 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). Oedipus the King opens with a plague strangling the life out of Thebes. "What is the reason for the plague in Thebes in Sophocles' Oedipus Rex?" (Spoiler alert: It's his own bad leadership.) 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). There were two shrines to her in Thebes. The stage directions state that. You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. 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. 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. 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. . Free trial is available to new customers only. Sophocles is one of the most noted playwrights of the ancient world and, along with Aeschylus and Euripides, belongs to the trinity of the Attic tragedians who flourished during the golden century of Pericles in Athens (Figure 1). He thinks he knows what happenedthieves killed Laiusbut is actually blind to the truth. Wishing to be killed or exiled, he gave Thebes to Creon to rule as regent, and Creon promised to care for Oedipus' daughters. The citizens carry branches wrapped in wool, which they offer to the gods as gifts. The Plague of Thebes, a Historical Epidemic in Sophocles Oedipus Rex. A messenger enters to narrate the mysterious death of Oedipus: his death seemed a disappearance of sorts, the lightless depths of Earth bursting open in kindness to receive him (18861887). Jocasta rejoices, convinced that Polybuss death from natural causes has disproved the prophecy that Oedipus would murder his father. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. Struggling with distance learning? 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. The shepherd refuses to disclose anything, and Oedipus threatens him with torture. 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. Oedipus vows to find the murderer and curses him for . Not knowing where to go now, Antigone says they will have to wander forever alone. This is a supernatural phenomenon caused by harboring a cursed person. You'll be billed after your free trial ends. Creon threatens to kill anyone who tries to bury Polynices and stations sentries over his body. Hellenic holocaust: a historical clinico-pathologic conference. Before the palace of Oedipus, King of Thebes. The score is derived from an automated algorithm, and represents a weighted count of the amount of attention Altmetric picked up for a research output. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. In the first scene of the play, Sophocles presents the basic social and historical axes around which he will unfold the plot. The priest begs Oedipus to save Thebes, just as Oedipus . . The reference to the Sphinx reminds the audience that Oedipus is a genuine hero. 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 interrogates him, asking who gave him the baby. On the surface, the problem afflicting Thebes is a plague. 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. He lived his entire life in Athens and introduced many innovations in the dramatic arts (1). My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class., Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account. In this way Theseus and his heirs may always rule over a safe city. Sophocles and The Oedipus Plays Background. Creon appears in order to abduct Oedipus, but, proving unsuccessful, he kidnaps Antigone and Ismene instead. The first writing of Oedipus Rex most probably took place during the time of the plague of Athens. The sentry soon exonerates himself by catching Antigone in the act of attempting to rebury her brother, the sentries having disinterred him. The guilt for the murder of Laius preexists Oedipus's shame. Discount, Discount Code Oedipus, the king of Thebes, has sent his brother-in-law, Creon, to the house of Apollo to ask the oracle how to end the plague. Scene from a National Theatre of Greece production of Oedipus Rex at the Odeon of Herodus Atticus, Athens, Greece January 1995. In a moving speech, a priest tells Oedipus the city's woes: the crops are ruined, cattle are sick, women die in labor and children are stillborn, and people are perishing from the plague. One such instance of this irony is when Oedipus proclaims proudlybut, for the audience, painfullythat he possesses the bed of the former king, and that marriage might have even created blood-bonds between him and Laius had Laius not been murdered (294300). Oedipus the King opens with a priest describing the terrible plague that has come upon Thebes and begging Oedipus for help. Consequently, a solution for the situation is requested from the oracle at Delphi (lines 6872), while the Chorus plead for Athena, Zeus, Artemis, and Apollo to save the town from the disaster (lines 160165) (2,3). Tiresias tragically reveals to Oedipus that the king himself is the cause (since he had killed King Laius). What is the cause of the plague in Thebes quizlet? So the tragic truth is that Oedipus, who unwittingly killed his father, the previous king, is the cause of the Theban plague. Oedipus the King (429-420 BCE), also known as Oedipus Rex or Oedipus Tyrannos ('Tyrannos' signifies that the throne was not gained through an inheritance) is the most famous surviving play written by the 5th-century BCE poet and dramatist Sophocles.The play is part of a trilogy along with Antigone and Oedipus at Colonus.. Sophocles seizes every opportunity to exploit this dramatic irony. Oedipus brags that he alone was able to solve the puzzle. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. A plague has stricken Thebes. If you are present, being an active listener, and taking part in class discussions, you will be able to complete all of this in class. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. Shame was believed to have real-world consequences. Wed love to have you back! 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. 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 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). Oedipus angrily declares that justice will be done to this murderer. The Plague of Thebes, a Historical Epidemic in Sophocles Oedipus Rex. Just as the plants do not grow so is women not able to bear children. Continue to start your free trial. The plague is an infestation of disease-carrying insects that spread rapidly through the population, killing many. 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). The Priest of the land describes the death of young children, even those in the womb, as well as adults. creating and saving your own notes as you read. He insists upon allowing all his people to hear what the oracle has said, despite Creons suggestion that Oedipus hear the news in private. The _____ is that Tiresias is blind but can see the truth, and Oedipus has sight but refuses to see the truth. In the historical case (Athens) and the dramatic case (Thebes), the populace turned to the temples looking for a divine solution to the disaster. Outside the palace, a messenger approaches Jocasta and tells her that he has come from Corinth to inform Oedipus that his father, Polybus, is dead, and that Corinth has asked Oedipus to come and rule there in his place. (one code per order). The play shows that one cannot avert one's fate. On the platform Oedipus became king of Thebes and married Jocasta. Dr Kousoulis is a research assistant in the History of Medicine Department of the University of Athens and the general secretary of the Society of Junior Doctors. Haemon, Creons son and Antigones betrothed, enters the stage. Oedipus is notable for his compassion, his sense of justice, his swiftness of thought and action, and his candor. He therefore traveled to the oracle of Delphi, who did not answer him but did tell him he would murder his father and sleep with his mother. Please wait while we process your payment. This skirmish occurred at the very crossroads where Laius was killed. Despite his anger and harshness, Oedipus is a noble figure because he really does feel the grief of his people and is utterly single-minded in tracking down the source of their distress. 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. Oedipus arrives in Thebes, solves the riddle of the Sphinx, and is made their king. 2 oedipus rex study guide practice test questions final . 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 ( ). !Sophocles - Oedipus the King! Oedipus also learns that Laius is his father and that Jocasta, his wife, is his mother. 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. But, when Oedipus sends Creon to discover the source of the plague, he learns it springs from a moral problem: the murderer of Laius, the . D. The sphinx was indulging in sexually and other pleasure and wasn't paying much attention to state affairs. Oedipus then strides off with a sudden strength, taking his daughters and Theseus to his grave. Oedipus, king of Thebes, is determined to find out the cause of the plague ravishing the city, little suspecting the cause is him. Oedipus asks that this shepherd be brought forth to testify, but Jocasta, beginning to suspect the truth, begs her husband not to seek more information. 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). Oedipus was perhaps doomed from birth, for many prophecies were told about Oedipus before and after his birth. 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! Youve successfully purchased a group discount. Creon informs King Oedipus that until the killer of King Laius is identified, the plague cannot be ended. Despite the warning, Theseus agrees to help Oedipus. Through the character of the priest, Sophocles makes the audience/reader aware of the sacred and secular state of Thebes. A plague has stricken Thebes. After Tiresias leaves, Oedipus threatens Creon with death or exile for conspiring with the prophet. Their brothers Polynices and Eteocles have killed one another in a battle for control over Thebes. The citizens gather outside the palace of their king, Oedipus, asking him to take action. The Sphinx, in her anger, threw herself off a cliff. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! 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. Refine any search. B. Creon wanted to become king, so he never cared enough to investigate. Another example of Oedipus's strong leadership. . Credit: Wikipedia/Public domain. Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? The Sphinx had been terrorizing Thebes for an undisclosed amount of time before Oedipus was able to defeat it. Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs Laius' murderer) must be killed orexpelled from Theban territory. The plague of Athens: epidemiology and paleopathology. By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. (including. Accessed 4 Mar. The play has been labeled an analytical tragedy, meaning that the crucial events which dominate the play have happened in the past (2,3). Tiresias defends his skills as a prophet, noting that Oedipuss parents found him trustworthy. 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. It is difficult to compare a historical record to a poetic drama, but, keeping that in mind, both Sophocles and Thucydides refer to animal illness and death (2,8). Oedipus, the king, who is married to Jocasta and has four children, sends Creon (Jocasta's brother) to the oracle for information. These taunts provoke Tiresias into revealing that Oedipus himself is the murderer. Message not sent. 276-379: The blind priest Tiresias has information about the plague, which he refuses to divulge. Kousoulis, A. In Oedipus Rex, why does Oedipus blind himself? Enjoy eNotes ad-free and cancel anytime. "The Murder of Laius by Oedipus," 1867, by Joseph Blanc. The messenger tells Creon that he has another reason to grieve: Eurydice has stabbed herself, and, as she died, she called down curses on her husband for the misery his pride had caused. Oedipus, stunned, tells his wife that he may be the one who murdered Laius. Let us know your assignment type and we'll make sure to get you exactly the kind of answer you need. Now "a black sea of terror" has overwhelmed him because he was all too successful in solving this latest riddle of the pestilence upon Thebes. Teachers and parents! King Oedipus vows to find King Laius's murderer and immediately remove him from Thebes to lift the curse. (VladoubidoOo/CC BY-SA 3.0) From there, Oedipus goes on to Thebes, and on the way answers the Sphinx's riddle. creating and saving your own notes as you read. 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). Seven Against Thebes, in Greek mythology, the seven champions who were killed fighting against Thebes after the fall of Oedipus, the king of that city. 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. Subscribe now. Creon asks him his opinion on the issue. Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! Theseus does in fact return with Oedipuss daughters shortly. In the first scene of the play, Sophocles presents the basic social and historical axes around which he will unfold the plot. She bore two sons, Polynices and Eteocles, and two daughters, Antigone and Ismene. The first event that elicits emotions of fear and pity is found in the prologue where the people of Thebes suffer from a plague.