"STRANGER Inviolable, untrod; goddesses, Dread brood of Earth and Darkness, here abide. OEDIPUS Tell me the awful name I should invoke?
STRANGER The Gracious Ones, All-seeing, so our folk Call them, but elsewhere other names are rife."
We would know The Gracious Ones as the Furies- spirits of vengeance, who hunt down the wicked at destroy them. The immediate presence of the gods shows that Sophocles is certainly not going to veer from his favorite conflict of man versus divine, but the Furies bring a different spin to this. Previously, the gods have simply given laws or decrees and the conflict has come from mortals trying to ignore or subvert them. The Furies are not a decree to be followed- they are punishment for breaking one. So then, Oedipus has stumbled upon an interesting place. He has apparently also committed a grievous error in treading there, according to the Chorus. Once again, he goes against the divine. However, he immediately moves to try and mitigate the damage. Has Oedipus learned to fully submit to the gods in his old age? Do the Furies symbolize Oedipus' punishment, or something else?
I believe Oedipus has learned to not attempt and overule the gods and that is why he immediately appologizes and steps off the holy ground. I believe the lesson he learned before he was exiled has stayed with him. The furies symbolize the punishment that Oedipus would have endured if he did not learn his lesson and continued to go against the gods. The chorus tells Oedipus to leave their land because they believe he will bring curses: “Arise, begone and take thee hence straightway, Lest on our land a heavier curse thou lay.” The chorus in Greek plays always is a representation or symbol of someones view. Who do the chorus speak for in this context? Ismene also enters the scene and reunites with her father and sister. Is Oedipus being blessed by the gods by being in the company of his two daughters and will the gods continue to help Oedipus if that is the case?
ReplyDeleteThe Chorus represents the people of Colonus and Athens. The stranger ran and got them because Oedipus was on holy ground and someone needed to explain to him what was up. I believe the gods are definitely on Oedipus' side this time, as once Ismene shows up she tells Oedipus of what the Oracles have to say about him. Well, mostly on his side. The prophecies say that Oedipus' greatest worth will come after he dies. Not really something I would want to hear. Oedipus takes it well, and continues to respect the gods.
DeleteCHORUS First make atonement to the deities,
Whose grove by trespass thou didst first profane.
OEDIPUS After what manner, stranger? Teach me, pray.
He goes on through the entire ritual, listening intently. He has definitely changed from the hothead in Oedipus Rex.
Do you think Oedipus changed his heart because he realized the gods were worthy of his respect? Or did he change his ways because he was terrified of suffering another round of their fury? Also, Ismene in this scene is far more collected than the Ismene in the play Antigone. Is this Sophocles trying to make her look good, or a sign of bad things to come?
I believe Oedipus changed his ways because he was terrified to face another round of punishment. He faced such hardship and despair that I don't believe he can ever come to respect the gods. He does want to avoid their wrath and fury. I believe she is more collected because there is no conflict. When conflict arises Ismene always crumbles which is evident in Antigone and I believe that will hold true once she encounters trouble in this play. Theseus the king of Athens appears and immediately proves that he is a man of honor and forgiveness. "Who could reject the proffered amity of such a friend?" What is theseus reasoning for inviting Oedipus to come and take sanctuary? Does he actually feel bad for Oedipus or does he have selfish intentions and hope that by keeping Oedipus in Athens he can receive a blessing over the city?
ReplyDeleteTheseus plans to follow his code of honor. He feels obligated to help Oedipus, first of all, and then he also acknowledges Oedipus' relation with the gods. From Theseus' perspective, this is a win-win and I can't rightly call him selfish for following his honor when that also allows him to receive a blessing for the city. He's earned it.
DeleteCreon shows up in this bit, and Sophocles makes sure to show us just how much of a terrible person Creon is.
CREON Fear nothing and refrain from angry words.
I come with no ill purpose; I am old,
is the most important part of Creon's greeting. It boils down to how nice he is being by bringing Oedipus home and how Creon is such a good and harmless guy. When Oedipus sees through that, Creon doesn't even hesitate before
CREON Though untaken thou shalt smart.
OEDIPUS What power hast thou to execute this threat?
CREON One of thy daughters is already seized,
The other I will carry off anon.
Honestly. I've said it before and I'll say it again. Sophocles hates Creon and wants to use him as a morally justified target for the gods to smash. Then Sophocles can parade the Chorus in and say "Well, if he just did what was right (what Sophocles believes is right) then he would have been alright." But I digress. This scene is a setup for Sophocles to be able to share his morals later, and to have a hero in Theseus to beat down a clearly evil guy. I preferred Oedipus Rex when Creon was less distinctly on one side of good or evil.
Sophocles clearly has a viewpoint when it comes to Creon. It is not surprising that this play was written after Antigone. Sophocles uses this book in my opinion to prove how Creon is power hungry and willing to do whatever necessary to accomplish his goals. Polynices shows up and is greeted rather harshly by Oedipus. "O villain when thou hadst the sovereignty that now thy brother holdeth." Oedipus seems to believe that polynices left him and abandoned him. Is this accurate? Does polynices deserve the curse he receives and is polynices reasoning for fighting his brother viable?
DeletePolynices did abandon Oedipus. Oedipus isn't wrong when he says that they never lifted a finger to help him- if they did, he wouldn't be out in the middle of nowhere being a beggar. The curse on Polynices is a little harsh, but I don't have too much pity for the guy who crawls back to someone he cast out now that he needs a favor.
DeleteSophocles is getting on my nerves with how he uses this story to justify and set up Antigone the play. He justifies the future burial of Polynices by having him expressly ask for it, even!
Then, once the proper exposition has been done, Oedipus is ready to die. That is more interesting to talk about, in my opinion.
OEDIPUS Daughters, upon me the predestined end
Has come; no turning from it any more.
In Oedipus Rex, the conflict was Oedipus fighting against his fate. This line, and the surrounding events, are the best evidence for a more mature and humble Oedipus. He has been redeemed to the best he can be, and Sophocles is ready to wrap things up. I think this was the most important development in the play. Oedipus' character development is really the only meaningful thing that happens in this play. Aside from that, it is entirely setup for Antigone. I suspect these are the reasons for Oedipus at Colonus not being nearly as popular. What do you think about Oedipus development? Now that Oedipus has doomed his sons to die, and is soon to pass away himself, how will Antigone and Ismene react?
Oedipus develops in an interesting way. It is hard to tell whether his fear of the gods leads to his ultimate obedience or whether he has finally come to respect the gods. I have to agree that this play was clearly written as a set up to Antigone and it is irritating how Sophocles takes a clear side. It is interesting how Oedipus goes from being cursed and banished to becoming the blessing that everyone wants. The burial of his body in a certain city was the key to that city being blessed and this shows me that the gods believed that Oedipus had learned to accept them and they answered by turning his life into something better than a tragedy. “His end was blessed; therefore, children, stay your sorrow. Man is born to fate a prey.” The chorus wrap up Sophocles's introduction to Antigone by stating how in the end Oedipus was truly blessed. This goes along with the critical greek tragedy theme that the gods decide everything and if you turn against your fate you will be cursed but if you respect the gods you will be blessed.
DeleteExcellent focus both on the thematic connections among the three plays and on the possibilities of whether Oedipus's apparent development is legitimate, etc. Sophocles's goal may be clear, but as you are pursuing, the goal of an AP student is to elucidate exactly how--via what tools--he seeks to accomplish his goal. Thanks. Grade on Pp. (Please remember entries should be about 300 words.)
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