Oedipus Rex Part 3 Flashcards
Identify a) the Corinthian messenger, and b) the shepherd.
a) The messenger is from Corinth who wants the truth to come out. He is the one who got Oedipus from the shepherd.
b) The shepherd gave Oedipus to the messenger as a baby. He does not want the truth to come out.
Explain how the Corinthian messenger and the shepherd are connected.
The shepherd is the one who have baby Oedipus to the messenger (who took him to Polybus.)
Why does the shepherd insist that his memory is failing him?
He does not want the truth to come out, he is afraid of Oedipus.
Read lines 52-70 and explain how Oedipus treats the old shepherd.
- Why does he treat the shepherd this way?
Oedipus threatens and proceeds to torture the shepherd until he speaks. He is very aggressive with the sheperd.
What info does the shepherd finally give Oedipus in lines 72-74?
- What do we call this moment in the play?
The shepherd says the baby given to him was the son of Laius. He also says Jocosta will know more.
- the climax
Why does the shepherd insist on bringing Jocasta into the conversation?
She’s the one who gave Oedipus to him, and he know’s she’s his mother and that she has all of the answers.
How has the shepherd tried to “cheat” fate?
He did no let Oedipus die as a baby as he was intended to. Instead he gave him to someone else out of pity.
Explain the following lines from the chorus:
a) “I count no man blest. You outraged all men” (107)
b) “Time, all seeing Time has dragged you into the light” (128)
a) They believe in him so much that if he is considered “not blessed”, then they believe that no man should be considered blessed.
b) Time is given credit for Oedipus’s fall. Truth is revealed through time passing.
Quote an epigram in the palace messenger’s speech, lines 138-148.
“The pains we inflict on ourselves hurt most of all.” (147-148)
According to the palace messenger, how did Jocasta first react to the realization that she had married and had children with her son?
She runs to her chambers while pulling her hair out and screaming. She eventually hung herself in her room.
According to the palace messenger, how did Oedipus first react to the realization that he had married and had children with his mother?
Oedipus breaks into her chamber screaming and asking for a sword (wanting to kill her or himself.) He does not see her so he breaks into her room and sees her dead. He embraces her.
Describe the last image that Oedipus sees.
The last image he sees is dead Jocasta swinging back and forth.
a) How does Oedipus bling himself?
b) How is this action a symbolic act?
c) Explain how this act is “poetic justice.”
a) He takes Jocasta’s broaches from her robe and digs them in his eyes and across his face to blind himself.
b) He refused to see the truth throughout the play, and now that he is blind he sees the truth.
c) The punishment seems to fit the crime to him. He blinds himself instead of killing himself because it’s more painful to be blind with that being the last image in his head than to be dead. He thinks that killing himself would be the easy way out.
Why does Oedipus come outside and face the chorus after he blinds himself?
He comes out to show them what he has done; to show them he brought justice onto himself and that he is accepting responsibility.
What does Oedipus indicate in these lines: “Dear friend, sill here?/ Standing by me, still with a care for me,/… loyal to the last” (246-249)
Oedipus indicates that he still believes they are his loyal subjects even after all of this and his blindness.
What is Oedipus indication with these lines: “But the hand that struck my eyes was mine, mine alone- no one else- I did it all myself!” (256-258).
Oedipus indicates that he brought justice to himself. He is trying to emphasize that he is fair, and that they shouldn’t pity him.
a) Whom does Oedipus curse after he is blind?
b) What is the curse, and why does Oedipus say this?
a) He curses the shepherd.
b) He says this because he wishes he had died and he curses the shepherd for saving him.
Explain how the words “I am Oedipus” have a different meaning at the beginning of the play than they do at the end of the play.
At the beginning these words showed confidence and at the end his claim to fame is that he’s hated by the gods.
What is Oedipus’s last act as King of Thebes?
He exiles himself from Thebes.
Why does Oedipus feel the need to list all of his crimes in lines 317-330?
He wants to confess everything to everyone, so he has nothing to hide.
“Put your requests to Creon. Here he is,/Just when we need him. He’ll have a plan, he’ll act./ How that ht’s the sole defense of the country” (337-340).
Why are these lines, spoken by the Leader of the chorus, so important? What do the lines show?
These lines show transfer of power. The chorus used to support Oedipus, but now they support Creon. They are putting their trust in him.
a) What is Creon’s reaction to Oedipus’s public display in lines 344-353?
b) Quote an epigram from that speech.
a) He is disgusted by Oedipus and makes him go inside.
b) “Kindred alone should see a kinsman’s shame. This is obscene” (352-353).
What is important about Creon’s insistence that “First I wanted the god to clarify my duties… in such a crisis/ it’s better to ask precisely what to do.”
It shows he’s reestablishing the people’s faith in the gods and bringing religion back after Oedipus and Jocasta threw it away. He’s restoring order.
In lines 370-395, Oedipus first commands and then begs Creon for several things. Why does he change his tone from commanding to pleading?
He realizes that he is no longer in charge; Creon is in charge now so he has to beg.
