why is there a plague in thebes oedipus why is there a plague in thebes oedipus

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. Creon reports that the gods have caused this plague in response to the murder of Laius, the previous king of . Purchasing Latest answer posted September 14, 2020 at 1:34:55 PM. Creon kneels and prays that he, too, might die. Theseus and the Chorus exit toward Athens; Antigone and Ismene head for Thebes. on 50-99 accounts. Oedipus castigates the citizens of Thebes for letting the murderer go unknown so long. Joel Christensen is an associate professor of classical studies at Brandeis. Ace your assignments with our guide to The Oedipus Plays! 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. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. That baby was Oedipus. Contact us 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. The characteristics of pathogens that might be responsible for the plague on the basis of Sophocles descriptions in Oedipus Rex are summarized in the Technical Appendix. The gods serve punishment for Oedipus's guilt by inflicting a plague on Thebes. Creon now rules the city, and he has ordered that Polynices, who brought a foreign army against Thebes, not be allowed proper burial rites. These taunts provoke Tiresias into revealing that Oedipus himself is the murderer. Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! Section 6: Oedipus the King, lines 338-706, Section 8: Oedipus the King, lines 1008-1310, Section 9: Oedipus the King, lines 1311-1684, Section 10: Oedipus at Colonus, lines 1-576, Section 11: Oedipus at Colonus, lines 577-1192, Section 12: Oedipus at Colonus, lines 1193-1645, Section 13: Oedipus at Colonus, lines 1646-2001. The sentry soon exonerates himself by catching Antigone in the act of attempting to rebury her brother, the sentries having disinterred him. Want 100 or more? 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. . Economopoulos, E. Poulakou-Rebelakou, G. Androutsos, S. Tsiodras), Society of Junior Doctors, Athens (A.A. Kousoulis, K.P. The Sphinx, in her anger, threw herself off a cliff. Oedipus must find the killer of former King Laius to save the city. Creon enters, carrying Haemons body and wailing against his own tyranny, which he knows has caused his sons death. It's actually a case of a pestilence that's wiping out the city's people, livestock and harvests . 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. We take your privacy seriously. Oedipus, King of Thebes, sends his brother-in-law, Creon, to ask the advice of the oracle at Delphi, concerning a plague ravaging Thebes. oedipus s position in thebes ii his certainty of his own innocence iii. A., Economopoulos, K. P., Poulakou-Rebelakou, E., Androutsos, G., & Tsiodras, S. (2012). katlynn havens humanities 201 week summary and response the tragedy of. LitCharts Teacher Editions. creating and saving your own notes as you read. 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. 2012;18(1):153-157. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid1801.ad1801. Oedipus asks Theseus to drive Polynices away, but Antigone convinces her father to listen to his son. On the surface, the problem afflicting Thebes is a plague. Oedipus sends for Tiresias, the blind prophet, and asks him what he knows about the murder. In doing so, he unwittingly fulfilled the first half of the prophecy: he has killed his own father. The messenger remarks that Oedipus need not worry, because Polybus and his wife, Merope, are not Oedipuss biological parents. !Sophocles - Oedipus the King! TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. 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. Creon asks him his opinion on the issue. He avidly begins an all-out manhunt. Skip to document. Soon, a nervous sentry arrives at the palace to tell Creon that, while the sentries slept, someone gave Polynices burial rites. The story of Oedipus is the subject of Sophocles' tragedy Oedipus . His guards lead him back into the palace. 3. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. B. Creon wanted to become king, so he never cared enough to investigate. to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. You'll also receive an email with the link. Oedipus doesn't believe him since he did not know who Laius was when he killed him and sends him away. Antigone and Ismene, the daughters of Oedipus, discuss the disaster that has just befallen them. for a group? Sophocles, a preeminent ancient Greek tragedian, authored plays that have enthralled audiences for over two thousand years. 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. Tiresias advises that Creon allow Polynices to be buried, but Creon refuses. Oedipus eagerly attempts to uncover the truth, acting decisively and scrupulously refusing to shield himself from the truth. 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). 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). Another example of Oedipus's strong leadership. . He did not know that his parents in Corinth were not his real parents. Saving Lives, Protecting People, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece (A.A. Kousoulis, K.P. Just then, Creon arrives, and Oedipus asks what the oracle has said. PART I: Before Reading STATEMENT RESPONSE (3-5 sentences) It is important to know who we truly are, where we came . All the people were led by an old priest having garlands and flowers. The citizens carry branches wrapped in wool, which they offer to the gods as gifts. We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. Tiresias predicts that the gods will bring down curses upon the city. Oedipus Rex, apart from the undeniable literary and historic value, also presents significant medical interest because the play mentions a plague, an epidemic, which was devastating Thebes, the town of Oedipus hegemony. plague; the plague in Thebes has three features which are closely associated with supernatural forces and appear in re-ligious contexts. Youve successfully purchased a group discount. Renews March 10, 2023 "What is the reason for the plague in Thebes in Sophocles' Oedipus Rex?" The priest begs Oedipus to help the city and rescue it from the clutches of famine, fire, and plague. 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. 2 (CC) BY-NC-SA, Ian Johnston 2004 1 Cadmus: legendary founder of Thebes. Finally, although many of the features of the plot and passages have been interpreted as historical allusions, the plague seems to be recognized as the most critical element that reflects a historical event, with enough strength and clarity to be used even for the dating of the tragedy (12). The play shows that one cannot avert one's fate. Oedipus and the Sphinx, by Gustave Moreau, 1864, The Met. Oedipus asks the citizens to stop praying and focus on finding the cure (lines 142146) (2,3). Dont have an account? From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. Continue to start your free trial. Oedipus is so competent in the affairs of men that he comes close to dismissing the gods, although he does not actually blaspheme, as Creon does in Antigone. This fact has been used to suggest that there is no connection between the plague in Thebes and the plague in Athens. (including. Essays on oedipus the king. The plague is an infestation of disease-carrying insects that spread rapidly through the population, killing many. 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. At this early moment, we see Oedipuss dangerous pride, which explains his willful blindness and, to a certain extent, justifies his downfall. It was then, on the journey that would take him to Thebes, that Oedipus was confronted and harassed by a group of travelers, whom he killed in self-defense. 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. You can review and change the way we collect information below. The devastating plague that dominates Thebes is presented to the audience through the dialogue between Oedipus and the Priest (lines 167) (2,3). Oedipus, stunned, tells his wife that he may be the one who murdered Laius. Oedipus the King opens with a priest describing the terrible plague that has come upon Thebes and begging Oedipus for help. According to the Oracle, Apollo regards religious or moral pollution (miasma) resulting from the murder of the former king, Laius,to be the cause of the plague and that the cause of it (i.e. Already a member? Wed love to have you back! 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. Want 100 or more? Oedipus has already sent his brother-in-law, Creon, to the Oracle of Delphi in order to ask Apollo why this is the case. After consulting an oracle, Oedipus discovered that Thebes was under blood-guilt for the murder of the old king Laius: the plague would end only after the killer had been exiled from the city. She runs back into the palace. C. The sphinx was terrorizing Thebes, so citizens couldn't investigate. Oedipus replies that he is more eager than anyone to find out the cause of the pollution and remove it. Oedipus questions Creon about the murder of Laius, who was killed by thieves on his way to consult an oracle. She bore two sons, Polynices and Eteocles, and two daughters, Antigone and Ismene. Much of the fascination of the play comes from watching Oedipus, the remorseless detective, hunt down Oedipus, the unwitting criminal. 2 oedipus rex study guide practice test questions final . It would not be irrational to trust the historical credibility of a literary text. SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. The messenger, a shepherd by profession, knows firsthand that Oedipus came to Corinth as an orphan. Discount, Discount Code At the beginning of the play Oedipus Rex, Thebes is being devastated by a city-wide plague. A severe plague is described in Sophocles drama Oedipus Rex. Sometimes it can end up there. on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% 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. 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).