The Oedipus Project

Speak up, old man. Your years,

your dignity-you should speak for the others.

Why here and kneeling, what preys upon you so?

Some sudden fear? some strong desire?

You can trust me. I am ready to help. (9-13)

Analysis: 
Oedipus enters the play as a wise and intelligent leader of Thebes. He states, “Speak up, old man. Your years, / your dignity,” the tone expressed shows his pride and power as a king (9-10). Oedipus is a caring character because he offers his hand to help the priest up. The imagery of priest kneeling down at Oedipus shows people’s reliance and dependence on him. He appears to be superior and a godlike figure that shows his status in society. When Oedipus asks the priest what brings him here, is it “some sudden fear? some strong desire” reveals that he is needed by his people because his people pray for him when they need help (12). Thus, Oedipus is presented as a “savior” of Thebes. The use of telegraphic “you can trust me” demonstrates Oedipus’ confident about solving the problems in Thebes (13). He says this in order to obtain trust, faith and loyalty from his people. However, his intention is pure because he is willing to help his people at any moment to ensure their safety under his leadership. This also proves that Oedipus is a brave and fearless character due to his desire to help his people at no cost.

Reader Response:

Who are your parents? Do you know? All unknowing

you are the scourge of your own flesh and blood,

the dead below the earth and the living here above

and the double lash of you mother and father’s curse

will whip you from this land one day, their footfall

treading you down in terror, darkness shrouding

your eyes that now can see the light! (473-479)

Analysis: 
Tiresias accused Oedipus by saying that Oedipus does not even know who his parents are. Oedipus is unaware that he is the “scourge” of his family and the people of Thebes (474). The fact that he commits incest and patricide, the royal blood will be stain and ruin the family’s reputation in society. Also, Oedipus is refer as the plague who destroy the city and disgust by the “dead below the earth and the living here above,” meaning the gods, devils and human on earth (475). Once Oedipus knows the truth, the curse will punish him and exile him to the foreign land. The statement “their football/ trading you down in terror” reveals that his parents spirit will track him down and makes Oedipus live with fear and guilt (477-478). The use of words, “darkness shrouding your eyes” foreshadow Oedipus will be blind at the end of the play. This is ironic because Oedipus has insult Tiresias’ blindness who is capable to see the truth. On the other hand, Oedipus can see the “light” but is not helping him to see the truth (479).

Reader Response:

I feel bad and pity Oedipus because the more he force Tiresias to tell him the truth, the closer he is toward his own demise. I really want Oedipus to slow down and take a step back. He should talk to Tiresias privately instead in front of all people of Thebes. I feel like Tiresias and Oedipus should stop accusing each other. They should relax and calm down. I wonder if they talk privately, will Oedipus still end in misery. Will Oedipus continue to search for the truth himself after all the accuse? At first I like Tiresias who did not tell Oedipus the truth. But later on, the way he accuse Oedipus is intense. My reaction is like “Wow, Tiresias.”  and shocked by how forward Tiresias is. I think Oedipus will not believe what Tiresias is saying because they both has gone insane. Rather, Oedipus will think this as some kind of joke Tiresias is making. If I am in the same situation, I will not believe it too because the truth behind the insult just seems to be unmoral.

Wasn’t I born for torment? Look me in the eyes!

I am abomination-heart and soul!

I must be exiled, and even in exile

never see my parents, never set foot

on native ground again. Else I am doomed

to couple with my mother and cut my father down. (910-915)

Analysis: 
Oedipus believes he is “abomination-heart and soul” because he will sleep with his mother and kill his father in the future (911). This reveals that his birth is cursed and born for torment which gives an idea that he is hated by all gods. However, Oedipus has only arrived at only half of the truth because he did not know Polybus and Merope are not his parents. The fact that Oedipus decides to exile from Corinth shows he compassionate toward his family. He wants to leave in order to prevent harming his parents and fulfilling the prophecy. Oedipus’s action demonstrates that he believe the prophecy will come true. This is ironic because Oedipus did not avoid his fate and is exile from Thebes. He does not know that he has fulfilled his fate through persistent searching for the truth. It also ironic that he decides to “never see [his] parents” but still end up seeing his real parents and doomed to his fate (913). This reveals that the prophet is not wrong and  the prophecy will only lead one more closer to their fate. This shows that no one is able to escape way from their fate.

Reader Response:

Dear Oedipus:

I believe you are born for torment because you will live in terror until the day you die. I really hope that you can stop searching for your origin that leads to your demise. I know people tend to search for their origin to unite with their family. I understand your fear when you learn about the prophecy. No matter who you are, you are a nice son who exile from your homeland to avoid such misery fate and to protect your family from destruction. Your intention is pure and you leave in order to maintain your family reputation. Sometimes, I really want you to slow down and connect all the puzzles together. For example, Laius twists his son’s ankle. Why can’t you connect this to your swollen foot? I feel like you just need time to think about all the clues that is being reveal to you. Anyway, I just want to tell you that. Even through, you committed incest and patricide. In my heart, you are still a good king who feels compassionate about the safety of your people. I hope you will stay strong even when you find out the truth of your birth.

Sincerely,

                    Qiao Lin

Don’t let them go begging, abandoned,

women without men. Your own flesh and blood!

Never bring them down to the level of my pains.

Pity them. Look at them, so young, so vulnerable

shorn of everything-you’re their only hope. (1649-1653)

Analysis: 
Oedipus asks Creon to promise him to take care of his daughters. Oedipus shows love and compassionate toward his daughters because he knows Antigone and Ismene will be excluded from the society. Oedipus states, “women without men” that reveals that no men will want to marry his daughters because they are the offspring of an incestuous marriage (1650). No men are willing to risk their reputation to marry a damage woman despite the fact they are innocent. The fact that Oedipus does not want his daughters to suffer as much as him, he tries to convince Creon by saying that “Look at them, so young, so vulnerable” (1652). This shows that Oedipus only hope is to beg Creon to take care of his daughters who can offers them a better life. At this point, Oedipus is powerless and helpless because he has lost his reputation and power as a king. The society rejects incest which impacts his power to help his daughters to be continue treated like a princess. But at the same time, his words “Pity them”, “Look at them”, “Don’t let them” emphasis he is still demanding Creon what to do even though he is not the king anymore. Although he lost his status, he still acts like a king because of his pride.

Reader Response:

Synthesis:

Throughout the play, Oedipus goes from one of admiration to disappointment and finally to pitiful. At the beginning of the play, I saw before me a wise, intelligent and brave leader of Thebes. Oedipus repeats, “You can trust me” and “I am ready to help” to illustrate his sincerity in helping his people at all cost and to gain their trust (13). As the play continues, Oedipus starts to criticize Creon and Tiresias of treason due to their effort to overthrow him. Moreover, he seems to care less about solving the plague but focuses on finding his origin to prove his innocence. As the play comes to the end, Oedipus blinds himself because he does not want to live through the pain seeing everything unravel before him. Then, I see Oedipus as a good father who begs Creon to “don’t let them go begging, abandoned” in society (1646). Oedipus is truly pitiful king who couldn't even give his daughters a happy life, something all fathers want their daughter to have.

The responsibility a leader has to carry around leads one to make unjust decision. For instance, Oedipus’s role as the king of Thebes puts a huge leadership role on him which also gives him a sense of pride that prevents him from seeing the truth. Oedipus’ strong persistence to find out the truth of his birth not only leads to his demise but as well as his two daughters. Since the society rejects incest, Oedipus’s daughters are greatly impacted and doom to have a misery fate. It shows that once a person committed incest, the society will ultimately discriminate against the person’s family regardless of their status in society. Not only will incest break the family apart but it also destroys one’s self image and lead the rest of the family to ruins as well. No one in society will take the burden to marry a woman whose relative committed incest because people believe incest is unbelievable crime which is disgusting and a violation of human moral. This shows that how powerful a taboo can influence one’s mind.

Citation:

Sophocles. Oedipus the King. The Three Theban Plays. Trans. Robert Fagles. New York: Penguin Classics, 1984. Print.