Detailed Study Guide: Sophocles' Oedipus Rex (Chapters 1-6)

Debate on Faith, Morality, and Government

• Religious Oracles and Public Faith:

  • The chorus (Siddi) observes that while citizens desire their city to be saved from tyranny and sacred institutions to remain intact, they notice that when people turn away from the gods, the gods shoot arrows at them.
  • However, because certain oracles did not come true, people begin to doubt and question whether they can retain faith in them.

• Classroom Discussion on Religion in Government:

  • Charles's View: Religion should not be essential in government.
  • Albert's View: Speaking from an international perspective, religion and faith should not have a role in government.

• Reframing the Question: Morality vs. Religion:

  • The question shifts from whether religion is essential to whether a sense of right and wrong (morality) is necessary for a government to prosper.
  • Taylor's Perspective: Taylor initially advocates separating government and religion, but acknowledges that reframing the issue around "right and wrong" alters the conclusion.
  • Charles's Perspective: Having good morals is appropriate and sets an example. Charles notes that while abortion is legal in certain situations, legality does not automatically equal morality; things can be legally permitted yet still not be right.
  • Societal Impact in the Drama: Citizens experience an internal struggle when the leaders they look up to lose faith in religion, claim it is ineffective, and abandon it.

Jocasta's Private Worship and the Maritime Metaphor

• Jocasta's Contradictory Actions:

  • Publicly, Jocasta (Jakosta) dismisses oracle predictions as unimportant, asserting that whatever Apollo predicts will not come to pass.
  • Privately, in a moment of crisis, Jocasta enters the square carrying a garland (flowers and celebratory greenery) and incense (symbolic of prayer) to worship at the altar of Apollo.
  • She prays privately for Apollo to find a way to cleanse the corruption affecting Thebes.

• The Maritime Metaphor:

  • The condition of the Theban citizens is compared to mariners at sea on a vessel whose helmsman (captain) is terrified, spreading panic throughout the crew that the ship will sink.

• Arrival of the Corinthian Messenger:

  • An old messenger arrives from Corinth while Jocasta is at the altar.

Oedipus's Backstory: Corinth, the Oracle, and the Riddle

• Upbringing in Corinth:

  • Corinth is the domain of Polybus (Polypas) and Merope (Morope/Baragpi), the adopted parents of Oedipus.
  • Polybus and Merope never disclosed to Oedipus that he was adopted or rescued, instead lavishing love upon him.
  • In the absence of modern DNA testing (such as a "$\text{B+}23$" test), Oedipus felt insecure about his origins.
  • A drunkard at a party originally told Oedipus that Polybus was not his true father.

• Consulting the Oracle at Delphi:

  • Oedipus asked Apollo directly if Polybus was his true father.
  • Apollo did not directly answer the question, but instead issued a prophecy stating that Oedipus would kill his father, marry and sleep with his mother, and produce children with her.
  • To prevent this, Oedipus fled Corinth to put as much distance between himself and his perceived parents as possible.

• The Incident at the Intersection of Three Roads:

  • At a location where three roads intersect, the driver of a wagon hit Oedipus with a stick and knocked him into a ditch.
  • Oedipus experienced intense anger ("road rage"), went ballistic, and killed everyone in the wagon (unaware that King Laius/Leaus was among them).

• The Sphinx and the Kingship of Thebes:

  • Oedipus arrived at Thebes, which was terrorized by a Sphinx that devoured inhabitants unless they solved her riddle.
  • Oedipus solved the riddle, causing the Sphinx to commit suicide.
  • Because King Laius had recently been killed, the grateful citizens made Oedipus king and gave him Queen Jocasta as his wife.
  • Oedipus has ruled Thebes as king for $15$ to $16$ years.

The Corinthian Messenger and the False Proof

• News of Polybus's Death:

  • The messenger from Corinth arrives seeking Oedipus and meets Jocasta.
  • He announces that the people of Corinth plan to crown Oedipus king of Corinth because King Polybus has died of illness and old age and is buried in his grave.

• Jocasta and Oedipus's False Sense of Security:

  • Jocasta is thrilled, interpreting Polybus's natural death as absolute proof that Apollo's oracles are worthless ("not worth a durn"), since Oedipus did not kill his father.
  • At line $1126$, neither Jocasta nor Oedipus sees the complete truth: Jocasta still believes Polybus is Oedipus's biological father and remains unaware that Oedipus is her biological son.
  • Oedipus declares that Polybus has carried the oracles down to Hades (used here to signify the land of the dead, as in Odysseus's journey, rather than hell), proving them valueless and harmless.

Faith, Chance, and Haphazard Living

• Deterioration of Faith:

  • At line $1157$, Oedipus admits he was "misguided by my fears," illustrating the erosion of his belief in the power of the gods over his life.
  • This reflects a common struggle among adults who long for the simple, uncomplicated religious faith of their childhood.

• Fear of Maternal Incest and Sexual Agency:

  • Although Oedipus no longer fears patricide, he remains terrified of the prophecy regarding maternal incest.
  • Class discussion addresses whether sexual activity is a personal choice: except in non-consensual circumstances (rape or being drugged), sexual involvement requires personal decision-making, leading Oedipus to believe he can actively avoid sleeping with Merope.

• Jocasta's Philosophy on Chance:

  • Jocasta asks why a person whose life is governed by chance or luck should live in fear.
  • She advises that it is best to live life "haphazardly" as best one can.
  • Definition: Since "hazard" implies danger, living "haphazardly" means living flippantly and carelessly as if no danger exists.
  • Classroom contrast: Living carefully (e.g., walking cautiously on uncarpeted wet floors to avoid falling) versus living carelessly.

Revelation of the Pierced Feet and Anagnorisis

• The Corinthian Messenger's Disclosure:

  • The messenger asks why Oedipus fears Merope (Baragpi).
  • Upon hearing about the prophecy, the messenger informs Oedipus that his fears are groundless because he is not biologically related to Polybus or Merope.
  • The messenger explains that he himself gave baby Oedipus to Polybus, who was childless.
  • The messenger found the abandoned baby in the valley of Cithaeron's Forest (Satherin's Forest).
  • The infant's ankles/feet had been pierced through with a pin or spear; this injury inspired his name, Oedipus, which translates to "swollen feet."

• Jocasta's Anagnorisis (Tragic Recognition):

  • Jocasta experiences immediate anagnorisis (tragic revelation and recognition), realizing that Oedipus is her abandoned son.
  • Jocasta desperately implores Oedipus to stop all further questioning, warning him that continuing the investigation will cause unspeakable suffering.
  • Oedipus refuses to stop, insisting that he must uncover his origins and leave no questions unanswered.
  • Jocasta's final words to Oedipus: "Oh, you unhappy man. May you never find out who you really are."
  • Jocasta vows never to speak another word and rushes into the house.

Oedipus as the "Child of Fortune"

• Oedipus's Misinterpretation:

  • Oedipus misinterprets Jocasta's distress, assuming she is angry or embarrassed that he might turn out to be of low or humble birth after $15$ to $16$ years of marriage.
  • The chorus (CD/Siddi) warns that Jocasta's silence portends a disastrous storm.

• Identity and Class Discussion on Luck vs. Skill:

  • Oedipus declares that even if he was born to poor villagers or shepherds who abandoned him in the woods, he will never feel dishonored.
  • He proclaims: "I am a child of good luck. I am a child of fortune," asserting he must remain true to his nature and seek the facts of his birth.
  • Classroom discussion compares life ruled by chance/luck versus skill, citing sports examples like tennis or soccer (where factors like skill, surface, or sun play a role).

• Choral Interlude:

  • The chorus sings in praise of Cithaeron (referred to as Siberian), expressing hope that Apollo is pleased with their song.

The Shepherd's Testimony and the Climax of Truth

• Interrogation of the Old Shepherd:

  • The old shepherd/servant—the same man who previously asked Jocasta to send him away to the countryside after King Laius was killed—is brought forward.
  • The Corinthian messenger recognizes him as the shepherd who handed over the baby.
  • The old shepherd resists speaking and tries to dodge the questions.
  • Oedipus behaves aggressively (acting like a bully, similar to his interaction with Tiresias / Tyreseus), threatening to tie up and beat the old shepherd.

• The Confession:

  • The shepherd admits he gave the baby to the Corinthian messenger and wishes he had dropped dead that day, stating he has lived in sickness ever since.
  • He reveals that the baby came directly from the house of King Laius (Leaus).
  • He discloses that Jocasta herself gave him the baby to be killed/exposed because she was terrified of the prophecies.
  • Classroom parallel: A modern comparison is drawn to cases where a mother surrenders or harms her child (such as the Lindsay Clancy case).
  • The shepherd expresses deep pity for Oedipus: "If you were that man, I am so sorry because I know that your birth carried an awful, awful fate with it."

• Oedipus's Final Anagnorisis:

  • Oedipus experiences complete revelation: "It so clear now, oh, light."
  • Contrast: Earlier in the play, Oedipus arrogantly boasted that he would "shed light on darkness"; now he bids a final farewell to the light.
  • Oedipus realizes he is cursed in three ways: cursed by birth, cursed by his marriage/family, and cursed by the murder he committed.
  • Oedipus exits into the palace.