Oedipus Trilogy

Oedipus

Tragic king of Thebes and unwillingly killed his father Laius. Married to Jocasta.

Jocasta

Wife (and mother) to Oedipus. Queen of Thebes.

Creon

Jocasta’s brother.

Tiresias

Blind prophet. He reveals that Oedipus had murdered his father and married his mother.

Laius

Oedipus’s father. King of Thebes who was killed by his son Oedipus.

Polybus and Merope

King and queen of Corinth. Oedipus’s adopted parents.

Theseus

King of Athens. Defends Oedipus against Creon.

Antigone

Oedipus’s daughter

Haemon

Son of Creon. The king and the fiancé of Antigone.

Eurydice

Queen of Thebes. Wife of Creon.

Eteocles

Son of Oedipus and either Jocasta or Euryganeia. King of Thebes.

Polyneices

Eldest son of Oedipus. Brother of Antigone.

Prophecy

Prophecies are delivered by the oracle of Delphi.

Main conflict

There is a plague going around killing crops, animals, unborn babies, and people in the kingdom. Oedipus vows he will find this person and have them exiled forever.

Where did the killing happen?

Crossroads of three roads.

How many men were with him?

5 men and 1 escaped.

What did this guy look like?

Older, white hair with the body structure same as Oedipus

Backstory of Oedipus

Oedipus was told by a guy that his parents were not his real parents and so he went to the Oracle of Delphi which told him a prophecy, in result he ran away from home. While running, he was forced off the road by a carvan so he killed all of the carvan except for one person.

What’s the first ode?

People claim that the killer will be dealt with by the gods. The truth is only known by them. They think Oedipus is not the murderer and that Tiresias was only angry.

When does Oedipus at Colonus take place?

Years after he was exiled from Thebes in Oedipus the King.

What happens in the beginning?

Oedipus is blind and frail and walks with the help of his daughter Antigone. They wander into holy ground on the outskirts of Athens.

What god is in charge of the forbidden grounds Oedipus and Antigone wandered into?

Eumenides, the goddesses of fate.

What was the fate of this ground?

He sends for Theseus, the King of Athens, for it is where Oedipus was supposed to die. Meanwhile, Oedipus is interrogated by the chorus about his identity. When they discover who he is, they want him to go, but he convinces them to let him stay. Ismene, Oedipus' second daughter, is the next person to visit him.

What news does Ismene bring Oedipus?

That Eteocles, Oedipus' younger son, overthrew Polynices, his elder son.

Why does Creon try to find Oedipus?

Because according to the prophecy, the city where Oedipus's grave is located will benefit from good fortune.

What is Oedipus' response to the news of his sons?

That he will not go with either of them to make good fortune since neither did anything to help out Oedipus' exile.

Does Theseus agree to bury Oedipus?

Indeed. Theseus claimed to have heard of Oedipus' life and to wish for good fortune. Theseus swears that he will never turn on Oedipus and will defend him from the Thebans.

What does Creon do when Oedipus refuses to go with him back to Thebes?

He captures Antigone and Ismene. Theseus sends his soldiers after them to get them back. He does get them back to Oedipus.

Polynices was praying to what god?

Poseidon desires a conversation with Oedipus. Oedipus is persuaded to listen to Polynices by Antigone and Ismene if Theseus will continue to defend him, and Theseus accepts.

What was the curse Oedipus put on Polynices and Eteocles?

They would die in each other’s hands.

What does Polynices ask of his sisters (Antigone and Ismene)?

A proper burial.

Oedipus leads Theseus (and Oedipus' daughters)

to the spot where he will die, and that only the king will be aware of his final resting place. He told the king will only tell his son, and that son will only tell that son for a prosperous city.

What do the daughters ask of Theseus

That they could go to Thebes to try and prevent the war between their brothers, Polynices and Eteocles. Theseus grants them their wish. This is how the play ends.

Example of Verbal Irony in Oedipus Rex?

Oedipus says he will search for the killer as if he were Laios’s son.

Theseus

The king of Athens

Who overthrows who in Colonus?

Eteocles (younger) overthrows Polynices (older).

Who encourages this war?

Creon encourages and manipulates Eteocles.

What does Oedipus ask Theseus to do?

Oedipus asks for a proper burial in Colonus.

Does Creon want Oedipus to come back?

He only wants him to come back because the prophecy said that wherever Oedipus burial place is will bring good fortune to the city it is located in.

What decree was given by Creon regarding Antigone’s brothers?

Eteocles was given a proper burial while Polyneices was left to rot. No one is allowed to burry him.

What does Creon say is the worst of evils?

Anarchy

What does Creon see when he goes to the cave?

He sees Antigone has hung herself.

How does Haimon die?

He sees Antigone has hung herself and tries to kill Creon. He misses and kills himself.

What does Eurydice do in the end?

She goes to the palace and kills herself. He curses Creon.