why is there a plague in thebes oedipus

A plague has stricken Thebes. 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. Literature usually reflects the echo of the past. The shepherd refuses to disclose anything, and Oedipus threatens him with torture. Much of the fascination of the play comes from watching Oedipus, the remorseless detective, hunt down Oedipus, the unwitting criminal. They give up their pleas but ask for safe passage back to Thebes, so that they may prevent a war between their brothers. Creons son then took a sword and thrust it at his father. Citizens are dying from plague, crops fail, women are dying in childbirth and their babies are stillborn. Photo courtesy Antonis A. Kousoulis. How does Oedipus Rex by Sophocles follow the unities? for a customized plan. The people of Thebes honored and worshipped the gods, surely there is an easier way to play detective. 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. 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. By the end of the play, Oedipus discovers that while attempting to avoid his destiny, he unknowingly killed his father at a place where three roads join as he was fleeing Corinth. As the protagonist approached his tragic catharsis, the moral order much desired by the ancient Greeks was restored with the end of the epidemic. -Graham S. Oedipus is a hero and a man of action. Bust of Sophocles in the Colonnade of the Muses in the Achilleion, Corfu, Greece, July 2011. 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. In the first scene of the play, Sophocles presents the basic social and historical axes around which he will unfold the plot. They went in and saw Antigone hanging from a noose, and Haemon raving. Wishing to be killed or exiled, he gave Thebes to Creon to rule as regent, and Creon promised to care for Oedipus' daughters. 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. Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! creating and saving your own notes as you read. The limp marks Oedipus's fate, even though he does not know it yet. | But Tiresias answers enigmatically. Theseus returns to the stage, asking the daughters to stop their weeping. 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. Oedipus promised to save his city, so he ordered his brother-in-law Creon to consult the oracle at Delphi. 216-275: Oedipus asks the Thebans to help him find and expel Laius' murderer. 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. Antigone embraces Polynices, saying that he is condemning himself to death, but he resolutely says that his life remains in the hands of the gods. On their way to consult an oracle, Laius and all but one of his fellow travelers were killed by thieves. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. Credit: Wikipedia/Public domain. 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 plague results from the shame of not punishing Thebe's former king's murderer. 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). Subscribe now. Searching for the miasma, Oedipus summons the blind prophet Tiresias to reveal who is responsible for this evil (lines 300313) (2,3). She bore two sons, Polynices and Eteocles, and two daughters, Antigone and Ismene. Oedipus frequently alludes to sight and blindness, creating many moments of dramatic irony, since the audience knows that it is Oedipuss metaphorical blindness to the relationship between his past and his present situation that brings about his ruin. After blinding himself in anguish over what he has done, Oedipus allows himself to be exiled, and the plague ends. Oedipus encountered the Sphinx and quickly realized that the answer was "man". 2023 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Significant Myths and Structure of the Text. 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. Bearing in mind the aforementioned observations and the fact no other epidemics were reported in the eastern Mediterranean during the 5th century bc, we posit that the plague described by Sophocles in the tragedy Oedipus Rex has an actual basis in the plague of Athens described by Thucydides in his histories. It is not quite clear why Ares is being called responsible for this plague, since there is no other such reference in the play. 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). Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! Oedipus is notable for his compassion, his sense of justice, his swiftness of thought and action, and his candor. Essays on oedipus the king. March 3, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 Oedipus, King of Thebes, sends his brother-in-law, Creon, to ask the advice of the oracle at Delphi, concerning a plague ravaging Thebes. The shepherd therefore passed the boy on to the shepherd in Corinth. Dont have an account? Thebes has been struck by a plague, the citizens are dying, and no one knows how to put an end to it. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. In addition, the Chorus provides us with a major social aspect, as they put the blame on god of war, Ares (Ares whose hot breath I feel, though without targe or steel he stalks, whose voice is as the battle shout, lines 190191) (2,3). What is the cause of the plague in Thebes quizlet? Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. A blight, the priest tells Oedipus, has destroyed their crops and livestock - and even rendered their women sterile, unable to have children. Oedipus the King: What is the significance of the plays title? The blind prophet Tiresias arrives, and Creon promises to take whatever advice he gives. The citizens carry branches wrapped in wool, which they offer to the gods as gifts. Hearing this, Oedipus fled his home, never to return. There is death in the land as the story begins. Scene from a National Theatre of Greece production of Oedipus Rex at the Odeon of Herodus Atticus, Athens, Greece January 1995. Jocasta has hanged herself, and Oedipus, finding her dead, has pulled the pins from her robe and stabbed out his own eyes. There is a plague in Thebes, and many people are dying. Subscribe now. 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. Oedipus replies that he sees and understands the terrible fate of Thebes, and that no one is more sorrowful than he. Oedipus replies that he is more eager than anyone to find out the cause of the pollution and remove it. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. That baby was Oedipus. Soon after, Polynices arrives, seeking his fathers favor in order to gain custody of his eventual burial site. to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. Creon condemns both Antigone and Ismene to death. The reference to the Sphinx reminds the audience that Oedipus is a genuine hero. In the city of Thebes, there is a plague of infertility that strikes. Missing, he turned the sword against himself and died embracing Antigones body. But his change of heart comes too late. PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. 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). The citizens carry branches wrapped in wool, which they offer to the gods as gifts. According to the World Health Organization, an epidemic is defined as a disease outbreak and, therefore, the occurrence of cases of disease in excess of what would normally be expected in a defined community, geographic area, or season (15). PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. Creon returns from the oracle to deliver what explanation he has been given, and WebOedipus met Jocasta and they were married, unknowingly completely fulfilling the prophecy. Theseus and the Chorus exit toward Athens; Antigone and Ismene head for Thebes. Dont have an account? Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. It bemoans the state of Thebes, and finally invokes Dionysus, whose mother was a Theban. The messenger remarks that Oedipus need not worry, because Polybus and his wife, Merope, are not Oedipuss biological parents. Thucydides and Sophocles use similar terms when describing attempts to deal with the epidemic. It is an unfair punishment over the sins of one man (Chapter 22 . It's actually a case of a pestilence that's wiping out the city's people, livestock and harvests . TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. Oedipus was perhaps doomed from birth, for many prophecies were told about Oedipus before and after his birth. In the post-Homeric tradition, most familiar from Sophocles' Oedipus Rex (or Oedipus the King) and . Data is collected weekly and does not include downloads and attachments. 2 Pallas: Pallas Athena. We adopted a critical approach to Oedipus Rex in analyzing the literary description of the disease, unraveling its clinical features, and defining a possible underlying cause. At the start of the play, the city of Thebes is suffering terribly. Oedipus sends Creon to Delphi to consult the oracle, or priestess, there, about the cause of the plague in Thebes. Creon says that he thinks some of the dissidents of the city bribed the sentry to perform the rites, and he vows to execute the sentry if no other suspect is found. C. The sphinx was terrorizing Thebes, so citizens couldn't investigate. Several sections, primarily in the first third of the play, refer to the aforementioned plague; the epidemic, however, is not the primary topic of the tragedy. The story of Oedipus is the subject of Sophocles' tragedy Oedipus . 2 oedipus rex study guide practice test questions final . The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. Oedipus, the king, who is married to Jocasta and has four children, sends Creon (Jocasta's brother) to the oracle for information. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website. His guards lead him back into the palace. Many people are falling ill, and Oedipus begins to believe that there is a divine cause for the plague. (one code per order). They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. The shepherd then enters. As mentioned above, in Sophocles drama, god of war Ares gets the blame for the plague (lines 190191). In addition, the realistic descriptions of the historian and the nightmarish lyrical rhymes of the poet, talk about a disease with a high mortality rate (2,10). Oedipus, stunned, tells his wife that he may be the one who murdered Laius. 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). 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. At first he refuses to tell Oedipus what he knows. You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. Eventually the city was infected by a plague. He did not know that his parents in Corinth were not his real parents. Thus, according to the tragedys rhymes and with respect to literary talk, this plague should be treated as an epidemic. Antigone freely confesses her act to Creon and says that he himself defies the will of the gods by refusing Polynices burial. Oedipus the King opens with a priest describing the terrible plague that has come upon Thebes and begging Oedipus for help. Although the Choruss first ode (168244) piously calls to the gods to save Thebes from the plague, the answer they get to their prayer arrives in human form. But the shepherd pitied the child, and decided that the prophecy could be avoided just as well if the child were to grow up in a foreign city, far from his true parents. Oedipus sends for the man who survived the attack, a shepherd, in the hope that he will not be identified as the murderer. The play has been labeled an analytical tragedy, meaning that the crucial events which dominate the play have happened in the past (2,3). Oedipus answers that he will lead the king to the place where he will die, and that Theseus must never reveal that spot, but pass it on to his son at his own death, who in turn must pass it on to his own son. A critical reading of Oedipus Rex and a comparison with Thucydides history, as well as a systematic review of historical data, strongly suggests that this epidemic was an actual event, possibly caused by Brucella abortus. Historical medical literature has suggested many infectious diseases over time, but few have lasted as the most probable. 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. 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. At this mention of his parents, Oedipus, who grew up in the distant city of Corinth, asks how Tiresias knew his parents. She runs back into the palace. The devastating plague that dominates Thebes is presented to the audience through the dialogue between Oedipus and the Priest (lines 167) (2,3). SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. Sophocles describes the main characteristics of the epidemic through sporadic sentences. Tiresias advises that Creon allow Polynices to be buried, but Creon refuses. Oedipus and the Sphinx, by Gustave Moreau, 1864, The Met. In this case scenario, we could assume that cattle in Thebes may have been having brucellosis, leptospirosis, or listeriosis, while humans could have been affected by a different pathogen such as Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (8,9). Oedipus, king of Thebes, is determined to find out the cause of the plague ravishing the city, little suspecting the cause is him. Cookies used to make website functionality more relevant to you. Therefore, although the first part of the play is rife with references to the plague and its consequences, in the second part there are only sporadic referrals to the epidemic. The shepherd and the messenger slowly exit the stage. 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. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! The unsolved murder of Theban King Laius is the cause of the plague in Thebes. We take your privacy seriously. The blight Discount, Discount Code Renews March 10, 2023 The Theban Plays Oedipus the King (or Oedipus Rex) is one of three surviving plays by Sophocles centering on the Greek myth of Oedipus (EHD ih puhs), king of Thebes; the other two are Oedipus at . Wed love to have you back! You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. Creon asks him his opinion on the issue. March 3, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 Any proposed pathogen should be a highly contagious, zoonotic disease of cattle that causes stillbirth, miscarriages, and infertility, is characterized by high mortality rates, and has the potential to have caused an epidemic in the 5th century bc. Renews March 10, 2023 Soon, a nervous sentry arrives at the palace to tell Creon that, while the sentries slept, someone gave Polynices burial rites. Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. Regarding the plays approach to treatment of the disease, reading through the drama we once again come across with the theocratic perceptions of ancient Greece. 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. You'll be billed after your free trial ends. He tells Jocasta that, long ago, when he was the . His primary research interests include history of medicine, medical sociology, and epidemiology. He asks if anyone knows who killed Laius, promising that the informant will be rewarded and the murderer will receive no harsher punishment than exile. On the platform As the play opens, Oedipus, the king of Thebes, asks from a group of people that why they are gathered there. Oedipus angrily declares that justice will be done to this murderer. In other words, he became a hero by figuring out the truth. The main conflict is when Tiresias tells Oedipus that he is responsible for the plague, and Oedipus refuses to believe Tiresias. The guilt for the murder of Laius preexists Oedipus's shame. Tiresias defends his skills as a prophet, noting that Oedipuss parents found him trustworthy. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. Jocasta rejoices, convinced that Polybus's death from natural causes has disproved the prophecy that Oedipus . In this way Theseus and his heirs may always rule over a safe 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. (Spoiler alert: It's his own bad leadership.) Best Answer. The Sphinx had the city under a spell. 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 ( ). 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). Creon asks Oedipus if he wants to hear the news in private, but Oedipus insists that all the citizens hear. DNA examination of ancient dental pulp incriminates typhoid fever as a probable cause of the Plague of Athens. He thinks he knows what happenedthieves killed Laiusbut is actually blind to the truth. Theseus does in fact return with Oedipuss daughters shortly. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. Creon is more pragmatic and less inclined to take action. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. 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. Oedipus (UK: / i d p s /, also US: / d -/; Greek: "swollen foot") was a mythical Greek king of Thebes.A tragic hero in Greek mythology, Oedipus accidentally fulfilled a prophecy that he would end up killing his father and marrying his mother, thereby bringing disaster to his city and family.. In Oedipus Rex, why does Oedipus blind himself? Message not sent. As the play Oedipus Rex, by Sophocles, opens, the people of Thebes are dealing with a kind of plaguein this case, a famine. SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. Creon curses him and threatens to slay Antigone before his very eyes. However, taking into account that in modern times brucellosis in humans is a severe granulomatous disease characterized by extremely rare direct transmission from person-to-person, insidious onset in sporadic cases (mainly among veterinarians), and low mortality rates, it may be difficult for 21st century physicians and veterinarians to accept B. abortus as the causative agent of the plague of Thebes. This is presented to the audience through the dialogue between Oedipus, the king, and the Priest (167). After an interlude in which Oedipus tells the Chorus who he is, Oedipuss second daughter, Ismene, enters, having gone to learn news from Apollos oracle at Delphi. 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.. The first event that elicits emotions of fear and pity is found in the prologue where the people of Thebes suffer from a plague. So the tragic truth is that Oedipus, who unwittingly killed his father, the previous king, is the cause of the Theban plague. Ace your assignments with our guide to The Oedipus Plays! 20% . Arriving at Thebes, Oedipus was confronted by the Sphinx: a monster that was half woman and half lion. Oedipus questions Creon about the murder of Laius, who was killed by thieves on his way to consult an oracle. Oedipus acts quickly to find the killer. Only one of his fellow travelers escaped alive. The story would have been a familiar one to Sophocles's audience. Antigone, in spite of Creons edict and without the help of her sister Ismene, resolves to give their brother a proper burial. A plague has stricken Thebes. Oedipus asks who the other shepherd was, and the messenger answers that he was a servant of Laius. These cookies may also be used for advertising purposes by these third parties. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. $24.99 Oedipus has a chance to cure the plague in Thebes, and its presented by the legitimate seer, Tiresias. Haemon seems at first to side with his father, but gradually admits his opposition to Creons stubbornness and petty vindictiveness. Oedipus zealously takes up the case, and questions the blind prophet Tiresias, only to hear that he, Oedipus, is the canker in the . He sends Creon, his brother-in-law, to the oracle at Athens . Just then, Creon arrives, and Oedipus asks what the oracle has said. Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs 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). Oedipus asks a priest why the citizens have gathered around the palace. The play shows that one cannot avert one's fate. Homer related that Oedipus's wife and mother hanged herself when the truth of their relationship became known, though Oedipus apparently continued to rule at Thebes until his death. . 20% 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. Greek playwright Sophocles first introduced us to this character in his trilogy series known as the "Theban Plays," which explore themes of fate, truth, and guilt. Sophocles lived between 496 and 406 bc; although he seems to have written 123 plays, only 7 have survived in a complete form (1). Creon enters, carrying Haemons body and wailing against his own tyranny, which he knows has caused his sons death. Many heroes attempted to answer the riddle, but each one was eaten alive after answering incorrectly. A lethal plague is described in this drama. He asks Creon to send him away from Thebes and to look after his daughters, Antigone and Ismene. Finally, Oedipus is vehement in his promises of dire punishment for Laiuss murderer, even if the murderer turns out to be someone close to Oedipus himself. to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. Epidemics, stillbirths, and miscarriages caused by B. abortus have been reported since the time of Hippocrates, which is when this disease was initially described. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. Guilt sits with regard to actionin the case of Oedipus, the action of killing his father and marrying his mother. The citizens gather outside the palace of their king, Oedipus, asking him to take action. 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. Jocasta tells him that Laius was killed at a three-way crossroads, just before Oedipus arrived in Thebes. Creon kneels and prays that he, too, might die. $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25%