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eNotes Editorial, 3 Jan. 2020, https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-reason-plague-thebes-sophocles-oedipus-rex-662761. 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. Oedipus limps because Laius and Jocasta (who he doesn't know are his parents) pinned his ankles together when he was an infant to thwart the prophecy that he would kill Laius (they failed). It is difficult to compare a historical record to a poetic drama, but, keeping that in mind, both Sophocles and Thucydides refer to animal illness and death (2,8). Message not sent. Table of Contents Volume 18, Number 1January 2012. . Oedipus promises to solve the mystery of Laiuss death, vowing to curse and drive out the murderer. Oedipus, stunned, tells his wife that he may be the one who murdered Laius. Oedipus sends the citizen to fetch Theseus, the king of Athens and its surroundings. Photo courtesy Antonis A. Kousoulis. PROLOGUE / THE SCENE. The messenger took the baby to the royal family of Corinth, and they raised him as their own. Copy. Ancient typhoid epidemic reveals possible ancestral strain of. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. 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. (Spoiler alert: It's his own bad leadership.) Theseus does in fact return with Oedipuss daughters shortly. 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. Having just escaped the Sphinx, searching out Laius's murderer seemed impossible to Creon. Dont have an account? PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. Oedipus tells Antigone that, earlier in his life, when Apollo prophesied his doom, the god promised Oedipus that he would come to rest on this ground. 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. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. 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.. PART I: Before Reading STATEMENT RESPONSE (3-5 sentences) It is important to know who we truly are, where we came . Given the potential medical interest of Oedipus Rex, we decided to adopt a critical perspective by analyzing the literary descriptions of the plague, unraveling its clinical features, defining the underlying cause, and discussing possible therapeutic options. Oedipus himself is the accursed person who brings the plague to Thebes. At the beginning of Sophocles'Oedipus Rex,there issterility and a plague at Thebes. Almost as soon as he has said this, Creon returns and tells the story which is to lead Oedipus to the truth, and to the conclusion that it would have been better for him never to have been born. Oedipus asks why the Thebans made no attempt to find the murderers, and Creon reminds him that Thebes was then more concerned with the curse of the Sphinx. Later in the play (300),Oedipus summons the blind prophet Tiresias so that he may discover the murderer. The main conflict is when Tiresias tells Oedipus that he is responsible for the plague, and Oedipus refuses to believe Tiresias. Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! There is a plague in Thebes, and many people are dying. One such instance of this irony is when Oedipus proclaims proudlybut, for the audience, painfullythat he possesses the bed of the former king, and that marriage might have even created blood-bonds between him and Laius had Laius not been murdered (294300). 3. The shepherd and the messenger slowly exit the stage. This hypothesis regarding the source of the disease seems the most reasonable in medical terms, contrary to the philological approach, which declares that the epidemic derived from the gods. $24.99 At first he refuses to tell Oedipus what he knows. In a moving speech, a priest tells Oedipus the city's woes: the crops are ruined, cattle are sick, women die in labor and children are stillborn, and people are perishing from the plague. for a group? Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! Creon threatens to kill anyone who tries to bury Polynices and stations sentries over his body. Kousoulis AA, Economopoulos KP, Poulakou-Rebelakou E, et al. 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. Oedipus questions Creon about the murder of Laius, who was killed by thieves on his way to consult an oracle. Oedipus, King of Thebes, sends his brother-in-law, Creon, to ask the advice of the oracle at Delphi, concerning a plague ravaging Thebes. Wishing to be killed or exiled, he gave Thebes to Creon to rule as regent, and Creon promised to care for Oedipus' daughters. Jocasta tells him that Laius was killed at a three-way crossroads, just before Oedipus arrived in Thebes. Oedipus asks a priest why the citizens have gathered around the palace. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. Oedipus is notable for his compassion, his sense of justice, his swiftness of thought and action, and his candor. The Sphinx had been terrorizing Thebes for an undisclosed amount of time before Oedipus was able to defeat it. The citizens carry branches wrapped in wool, which they offer to the gods as gifts. 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. They plead to see their fathers tomb, but Theseus insists that Oedipus has forbidden it. The epidemic, in fact, is mostly a matter that serves the theatrical economy by forming a background for the evolution of the plot. March 3, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 Haemon, Creons son and Antigones betrothed, enters the stage. 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. Among the diseases caused by these pathogens that can affect humans are the following: 1) tularemia, which is a disease mainly transmitted through rabbits; 2) smallpox, which is not a cattle zoonosis; 3) leishmaniasis, which is not a highly contagious disease; and 4) leptospirosis, which has been associated with epidemics after rainfall and flooding in relation to rodent infestation. The plague is an infestation of disease-carrying insects that spread rapidly through the population, killing many. !Sophocles - Oedipus the King! Thebes has been struck by a plague, the citizens are dying, and no one knows how to put an end to it. A. Both Polynices and Creon are currently en route to try to take Oedipus into custody and thus claim the right to bury him in their kingdoms. Creon condemns both Antigone and Ismene to death. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. Oedipus replies that he is more eager than anyone to find out the cause of the pollution and remove it. creating and saving your own notes as you read. King Theseus arrives and says that he pities Oedipus for the fate that has befallen him, and he asks how he can help Oedipus. In line 28 the word plague () appears for the first time, with the Greek word for disease () being used in lines 150, 217, and 303 (2,3). 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. 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.. Sophocles, the author, is a famous philosopher of the ancient times The Play is about Oedipus, the king of Thebes, who kills his father and marries his mother. 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. 2023 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Significant Myths and Structure of the Text. These cookies may also be used for advertising purposes by these third parties. 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). Oedipus saved Thebes from the Sphinx by answering the Sphinx's riddle. 2012;18(1):153-157. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid1801.ad1801. Oedipus quickly hatches plans to deal with both his peoples suffering and Laiuss unsolved murder, and he has even anticipated the Choruss suggestions that he send someone to the oracle and call forth Tiresias. Tiresias predicts that the gods will bring down curses upon the city. If you need to go back and make any changes, you can always do so by going to our Privacy Policy page. You can view our. Creons son then took a sword and thrust it at his father. 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. Oedipus sends Creon to Delphi to consult the oracle, or priestess, there, about the cause of the plague in Thebes. During the time the play is set, Laius is deceased, but he is a critical . Creon curses him and threatens to slay Antigone before his very eyes. He insists upon allowing all his people to hear what the oracle has said, despite Creons suggestion that Oedipus hear the news in private. He asks that they provide him with a proper burial should he die in battle. Skip to document. Antigone wails that they will cry for Oedipus for as long as they live. These cookies perform functions like remembering presentation options or choices and, in some cases, delivery of web content that based on self-identified area of interests. Just as the messenger finishes his story, Antigone and Ismene come onstage, chanting a dirge. Oedipus replies that he is more eager than anyone to find out the cause of the pollution and remove it. Laius' murderer) must be killed orexpelled from Theban territory. to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. Refine any search. Subscribe now. Lines 179181 turn out to be of high interest: wasted thus by death on death all our city perishes; corpses spread infection round (2,3). Through the character of the priest, Sophocles makes the audience/reader aware of the sacred and secular state of Thebes. Soon after, Polynices arrives, seeking his fathers favor in order to gain custody of his eventual burial site. Oedipus asks the priests why they have come. It should be noted that exploring the diseases of history requires examining the social, economic, and demographic aspects of each era because this is the only way to better understand how diseases work over centuries (10). The _____ is that Tiresias is blind but can see the truth, and Oedipus has sight but refuses to see the truth. Accessed 4 Mar. Oedipus became king of Thebes and married Jocasta. He's one step ahead of the suggestions his subjects make to him and has already sent for Tiresias. He did not know that his parents in Corinth were not his real parents. In the first scene of the play, Sophocles presents the basic social and historical axes around which he will unfold the plot. Oedipus the King opens with a priest describing the terrible plague that has come upon Thebes and begging Oedipus for help. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. 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. Oedipus the King opens with a plague strangling the life out of Thebes. At the start of the play, the city of Thebes is suffering terribly. Theseus grants them this, and the Chorus tells the girls to stop their weeping, for all rests in the hands of the gods. Polynices tells Oedipus that he never condoned his exile, and that Eteocles is the bad son, having bribed the men of Thebes to turn against Polynices. Soon, a nervous sentry arrives at the palace to tell Creon that, while the sentries slept, someone gave Polynices burial rites. 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. Contact us A central door and two lateral doors open onto a platform which runs the length of the facade. You'll be billed after your free trial ends. A messenger enters to narrate the mysterious death of Oedipus: his death seemed a disappearance of sorts, the lightless depths of Earth bursting open in kindness to receive him (18861887). When Creon returns from the oracle, he informs Oedipus that the person responsible for murdering the former King Laius must be banished from Thebes in order to put an end to the devastating plague. Searching for the miasma, Oedipus summons the blind prophet Tiresias to reveal who is responsible for this evil (lines 300313) (2,3). Oedipus eagerly attempts to uncover the truth, acting decisively and scrupulously refusing to shield himself from the truth. Ismenus: A temple to Apollo Ismenios where burnt offerings were the basis for the priest's . For a moment, Oedipus takes upon himself the role of a goda role the Chorus has been both reluctant and eager to allow him (see 3943). By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. In fact, it is noteworthy that there is no other historic or poetic reference that links Ares to the spreading of a disease (4). CDC twenty four seven. Epidemics, stillbirths, and miscarriages caused by B. abortus have been reported since the time of Hippocrates, which is when this disease was initially described. He lived his entire life in Athens and introduced many innovations in the dramatic arts (1). The priest describes that there is much disease and death in Thebes. He has the answers Oedipus is looking for, and can help cure the plague, but, rather than . Haemon seems at first to side with his father, but gradually admits his opposition to Creons stubbornness and petty vindictiveness. Troy, Mycenae, and the otologic demise of Herr Heinrich Schliemann. For example, when the old priest tells Oedipus that the people of Thebes are dying of the plague, Oedipus says that he could not fail to see this (6872). The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. Eventually the city was infected by a plague. 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. plague; the plague in Thebes has three features which are closely associated with supernatural forces and appear in re-ligious contexts. You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. In the fifth century B.C., the playwright Sophocles begins "Oedipus Tyrannos" with the title character struggling to identify the cause of a plague striking his city, Thebes. Cookies used to enable you to share pages and content that you find interesting on CDC.gov through third party social networking and other websites. Oedipus has a chance to cure the plague in Thebes, and its presented by the legitimate seer, Tiresias. Surely it suggests exactly the opposite. Oedipus sends for Tiresias, the blind prophet, and asks him what he knows about the murder. on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% Oedipus explains to Jocasta that the prophet has charged him with Laiuss murder, and Jocasta replies that all prophecies are false. Oedipus, King of Thebes, sends his brother-in-law, Creon, to ask the advice of the oracle at Delphi, concerning a plague ravaging Thebes. In Oedipus Rex, why does Oedipus blind himself? Hearing this, Oedipus resolves to solve the mystery of Laiuss murder. Years passed while Oedipus was king of Thebes. He now feels much more inclined to agree with the queen in deeming prophecies worthless and viewing chance as the principle governing the world. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. So the tragic truth is that Oedipus, who unwittingly killed his father, the previous king, is the cause of the Theban plague. In the most familiar version, first attested in Sophocles' tragedy Oedipus Tyrannus, Oedipus' downfall all began with a plague. The pathogen of the plague described in Oedipus Rex reflects the complexity of every historically emerging zoonosis. Oedipus, stunned, tells his wife that he may be the one who murdered Laius. There is death in the land as the story begins. Oedipus and the Sphinx, by Gustave Moreau, 1864, The Met. He prays for the safety of his sisters and then leaves for Thebes. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. The citizens of Thebes hated Laius, so they didn't care. . At this early moment, we see Oedipuss dangerous pride, which explains his willful blindness and, to a certain extent, justifies his downfall. on 50-99 accounts. The story of Oedipus is perhaps the most tragic story of ancient Greece.The mythological character was the king of Thebes and lived under the shadow of a curse that could not be avoided to the end of his days. Name: Ariel De Lucas `Oedipus Rex Guided Reading Notes DIRECTIONS: As we read the tragic play Oedipus Rex together, complete the following notes. (one code per order). The Altmetric Attention Score for a research output provides an indicator of the amount of attention that it has received. The words of Tiresias strike fear into the hearts of Creon and the people of Thebes, and Creon reluctantly goes to free Antigone from the tomb where she has been imprisoned. Oedipus, king of Thebes, is determined to find out the cause of the plague ravishing the city, little suspecting the cause is him. Oedipus Rex or Oedipus the King, is the first play in this trilogy of Athenian Tragedies . At this early stage in the play, Oedipus represents all that an Athenian audienceor indeed any audiencecould desire in a citizen or a leader. Creon informs the court on his return that the plague will lift once the person who murdered the late King Laius is banished from Thebes. It would not be irrational to trust the historical credibility of a literary text. In the end, it turns out that Oedipus has also murdered his father. Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! On the surface, the problem afflicting Thebes is a plague. He has already sent Creon to ask the Delphic Oracle's advice. Purchasing $24.99 SparkNotes PLUS 276-379: The blind priest Tiresias has information about the plague, which he refuses to divulge. 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. Why was there a terrible plague in Thebes? Please use the form below to submit correspondence to the authors or contact them at the following address: Antonis A. Kousoulis, History of Medicine Department, School of Medicine, University of Athens, 131 Lambrou Katsoni Str., Athens, 18344 Greece. 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. Tiresias responds cryptically, lamenting his ability to see the truth when the truth brings nothing but pain. This is presented to the audience through the dialogue between Oedipus, the king, and the Priest (167). Continue to start your free trial. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. Photo courtesy Effie Poulakou-Rebelakou. The priest begs Oedipus to help the city and rescue it from the clutches of famine, fire, and plague. He has sent Creon, his brother-in-law and fellow ruler, to the Delphic oracle to find out how to stop the plague. He calls it a plague that disrupts the production of humans and crops. The limp marks Oedipus's fate, even though he does not know it yet. In this way Theseus and his heirs may always rule over a safe city. Had his king been murdered, nothing would have stopped him from finding the murderer, just as he is promising to let nothing stop him now. from Oxford University Ph.D. from St. Andrews University. He ends up blinding himself before being exiled from the city. Oedipus says that his time of death has come. Oedipus the King is one of the most ironic plays ever written. At Jocastas summons, Oedipus comes outside, hears the news, and rejoices with her. Tiresias advises that Creon allow Polynices to be buried, but Creon refuses. 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. Credit: Wikipedia/Public domain. 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. Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. Oedipus castigates the citizens of Thebes for letting the murderer go unknown so long. 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. Already a member? A group of priests comes to the royal palace to ask for help from Oedipus, their king who once saved them from the tyranny of the terrible Sphinx. After a close inspection of the characteristics, the pathogens that include most (5 of 7) of the features described by Sophocles in Oedipus Rex are Leishmania spp., Leptospira spp., Brucella abortus, Orthopoxviridae, and Francisella tularensis. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. The chorus, which represents the elders of Thebes, appeals to the gods as the agents of fate and rulers of the world to save the city. A blight, the priest tells Oedipus, has destroyed their crops and livestock - and even rendered their women sterile, unable to have children. The first event that elicits emotions of fear and pity is found in the prologue where the people of Thebes suffer from a plague. Greek audiences would have known the Oedipus story, and so in this scene Oedipus would seem to be describing his own fate, or even bringing this fate upon himself. Oedipus is a vigorous and active leader. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In Oedipus Rex the plague is a miasma that destroys everything, rather than just a disease. Hence, the citizens of Thebes were often called children of Cadmus or Cadmeians. 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 . Theseus and the Chorus exit toward Athens; Antigone and Ismene head for Thebes. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. Creon reports that the gods have caused this plague in response to the murder of Laius, the previous king of . Oedipus responds by sending his brother-in-law, Creon, to the oracle of Apollo to discover how to save Thebes. The citizens gather outside the palace of their king, Oedipus, asking him to take action. 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). The sentry soon exonerates himself by catching Antigone in the act of attempting to rebury her brother, the sentries having disinterred him. Antigone, in spite of Creons edict and without the help of her sister Ismene, resolves to give their brother a proper burial. 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). 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. In the first scene of the play, Sophocles presents the basic social and historical axes around which he will unfold the plot. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. Thus, according to the tragedys rhymes and with respect to literary talk, this plague should be treated as an epidemic. Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. Latest answer posted December 09, 2017 at 3:30:49 PM. The particularity of this reference (4), it seems that Sophocles correlates the epidemic that strikes Thebes with the plague of Athens, which, according to Thucydides, came about as a result of the Peloponnesian War (5). Creons wife, Eurydice, hears this terrible news and rushes away into the palace. After much prodding from Oedipus, Tiresias claims that Oedipus is the source of . The unsolved murder of Theban King Laius is the cause of the plague in Thebes. Missing, he turned the sword against himself and died embracing Antigones body.