Outline Story of Oedipus Rex
Appeal to the King
A group of Theban citizens, led by the priest of Zeus, have come to place u request before Oedipus, who comes out of the palace to hear them. The priest explains that the people with him have come to pray to the king for help to deliver then from their wretched condition, and that there are thousands of citizens who are praying elsewhere in the city, for the fate that has befallen them is intolerable. The city of Thebes is in the grips of a great disaster. Not only have human beings fallen a prey to some deadly epidemic, but women have been rendered barren and crops have withered. Even flocks of sheep are perishing. Though only a human being, and not a god, Oedipus can help them through his intelligence, which has come to the rescue of the city once before, when they were being devastated by the cruel Sphinx.
The King’s Reply
Having listened to the priest very patiently, Oedipus observes that he is not unaware of the great misfortune that has befallen his beloved people. He himself is suffering more than anybody else, for he is grieved by the predicament of every single citizen, as well as that of the city. Although the calamity seems too great for the wit of man, he has yet not been sitting idle. He has already sent Creon, his kinsman, to Delphi, in order to know from Apollo’s priest as to what is the cause of the sufferings of the city, as well as the remedy which can cure them of it. Since Creon left for Delphi quite a few days back, Oedipus expects him back very soon.
The Oracle’s Directions
As Oedipus is speaking to the priest, Creon is seen to be approaching in their direction. In reply to a question of Oedipus, Creon says that his message is happy as well as unhappy. AtOedipus’s insistence he clarifies that what he means is that although what he has to say is unhappy on the face of it, good may yet come of it if the instructions of the god are followed. The oracle has that the sufferings of the people of Thebes have arisen from the fact that there is present among them a polluted person, one who he been responsible for the murder of Laius, the late king of Thebe. Oedipus s is then told how Laius met his death. Laius had left the city on a pilgrimage along with a few attendants. All but one of his party were killed along with Laius himself. The lone survivor claimed that they had been set upon by a party of robbers. Oedipus cannot believe that robbers would dare attack the king unless someone had bribed them to do so. Creon admits that this though had occurred to them but the city was then so much preoccupied with the problem of the Sphinx that no one gave thought to investigations into the murder of Laius. When they learnt of the murder of Laius, they offered the kingdom as well as the widowed queen to Oedipus, their deliverer from the clutches of the Sphinx.
Oedipus’s Reaction
Oedipus is surprised that the Thebans have left the murder of their king unavenged and uninvestigated. Ile declares that he must get to the rout of the matter and award due punishment to the offender. He must do so not only on behalf of the people of Thebes but also because the oracle has said that this is the wish of Apollo. In fact, he would be taking action on his own behalf also, for no king can be safe in a country where the murder of another king goes unheeded. The priest of Zeus approves of the attitude of Oedipus and leads the people back from the palace. Creon also goes away. The Chorus break into a song. In this song they appeal to the various deities to extend their protection to the Thebans. They paint a graphic picture of the unbearable sufferings which the helpless Thebans are undergoing. They then renew their prayers to the gods to defeat the death-god.
Oedipus’s Proclamation
Oedipus declares that with the cooperation of the people the sufferings of the city can be brought to an end. He proclaims that the murderer of Laius should himself come forward and that nothing worse than banishment would be meted out to him. Anyone giving information about the identity of the murderer would not only earn a reward but also the personal gratitude of the king. On the other hand, anyone who harbours the murderer, or aids him in any way, would have to reckon with the wrath of the king. He pronounces a curse upon the murderer of Laius as one who would find no peace of safety in Thebes. He also curses those who would provide shelter to the culprit, and declares that he himself is not immune from the curse if he knowingly harbours the wrong-doer. He pronounces a. terrible curse on those who would disobey his proclamation.
The Reluctant Prophet
Oedipus seeks the help of the Chorus in apprehending the culprit. The leader of the Chorus says that Apollo alone could tell them as to who was Laius’s murderer. Oedipus replies that no one could make an oracle of the god speak against his will. The Chorus then suggest that Teiresias, who is believed to be the nearest to the mind of Apollo because of his powers of prophecy, should be consulted. Oedipus tells them that, at Creon’s suggestion, he has already sent for Teiresias. In fact, he has sent three messages for the prophet and is surprised that he has not arrived so far. Teiresias arrives soon after this, and the leader of the Chorus points this out prophecy. Oedipus addresses Teiresias with due reverence and appeals to him to help the state and the people by identifying the murderer of the former king. Teiresias’s response, however, is quite unexpected. He seems very much uncomfortable and instead of giving some helpful suggestion mutters to himself that it was wrong of him to have come. In fact, he even tries to dissuade the king from proceeding with the investigation, warning him that where knowledge is of no use, to know means to suffer. Quite naturally, Oedipus resents this attitude but still tries to coax the seer into opening his lips to help the people at this dire crisis.
The Clash
A clash, however, is inevitable, between the two equally hot- tempered men. Oedipus appeals to Teiresias’ sense of loyalty and points out his duty to the state as well as to his fellow-citizens. Teiresias requests that the king should permit him to go home, because it would be easier for both of them, in this way, to shoulder their respective burdens. Oedipus asks him to specify whether he means that he knows the truth and is yet unwilling to disclose it. Teiresias admits this but implies that his unwillingness arises from the fact that the disclosure would only add to the king’s troubles. Oedipus then flies into a rage and accuses Teiresias of being a false prophet whose eyes are open only for his own gain and are quite blind so far as the secrets of divination are concerned. He accuses the prophet of being in league with Creon, recalling that it was Creon who had advised him to send for Teiresias. The seer also becomes angry and retorts that he is the servant of Apollo and not of Oedipus. Moved to anger by the insulting comments of the king, Teiresias has dis-led that the person for whom the king is looking is he himself. Oedipus is astounded to hear this and asks Teiresias to repeat what he has said, in order that there should be no doubt left. Teiresias does so at greater length. He declares that Oedipus is the slayer of Laius and must therefore visit upon himself the punishment of death or banishment which he has proclaimed for the offender. He adds that before long it will be discovered that Oedipus is living in sinful union with his mother. It will be known that he is not a stranger but a native of Thebes. Provoked by the king’s mockery of his blindness he also declares that Oedipus who came to Thebes as a man with perfect. eyesight, will go out of it a blind man. The Chorus are stunned by the angry exchanges between their beloved king and the venerable prophet. The king is so much angry with the seer that he says that but for his advanced years and his blindness, he would have awarded him an exemplary punishment. However, Oedipus wavers when Teiresias says that his parents would not have doubted him. He wants to know who his parents were, but the prophet does not tell him.
The Reaction of the Chorus
The Chorus is now alone on the stage, for Teiresias has gone back and Oedipus has retired into the palace. The Chorus warn whoever might be the murderer of Laius to flee the city of Thebes, for he has been condemned by the king and denounced by the oracle of Apollo. The avenging goddesses, the Furies, would pursue him relentlessly and punish his crime. It is the duty of every citizen, they say, to help their king in searching out the criminal, so that the calamity that has descended on Thebes may he ended. The members of the Chorus are greatly perturbed by the charges and counter- charges between the king and the prophet. They cannot believe that Oedipus has murdered Laius, for why should a Corinthian kill the Theban king, when there has never been any enmity between the two cities? They prefer to believe that their former king was killed by an unknown assailant. They have full faith in Oedipus and will not believe anything evil against him until there is the strongest proof in support of it.
The Second Confrontation
There is now another confrontation, this time between Oedipus and Creon. Creon speaks to the Chorus, saying that he has heard that the king has accused him of conspiring against him. The Chorus affirm that this is true hut they believe that Oedipus spoke in baste and in the heat of anger. At this Oedipus enters the stage. He is furious to see Creon and asks him how he has dared to come in his presence. He accuses him of having conspired against his life and crown: Creon persistently denies having done any such thing. However, Oedipus goes on asserting that the cas against Creon has been proved beyond doubt. Creon then attempts a rational defense of himself. As the brother of the queen, he enjoys considerable power. He has never wished to have the throne, for he knows of the fear and uncertainty that always haunt the mind of a king. He went to. Delphi on the instructions of the king and faithfully reported to him the message of the oracle. He is a loyal supporter of the king, and not his enemy. Creon’s arguments, however, have not the least effect on Oedipus.
Intervention
Creon casually remarks if the king would banish him on mere suspicion. Oedipus says that banishment would be too good for him-he wants to have him put to death. The leader of the Chorus intervenes more than once on Creon’s behalf, but Oedipus says that pardoning Creon would mean endangering his own life. Jocasta then enters the stage. Creon appeals to her. She ascertains all the facts from the Chorus and hears the versions of both Oedipus and Creon. It is pleaded on behalf of Creon that he has bound himself to the king by an oath of loyalty and this should satisfy the king and he should pardon Creon. Oedipus agrees to pardon Creon. but he makes it clear that he is doing so against his better judgment.
Belief in Oracles
Jocasta wants to know from her husband as to the reason which has agitated his mind so much. He replies that he has felt greatly enraged by the plot of Creon with Teiresias, through whom he has accused Oedipus of the murder of Laius. Jocasta tries to console him by saying that prophesies do not matter because, according to her, no one is gifted with the power of truthful foresight. She knows this from personal experience. An oracle had prophesied that Laius would be killed by a son that he would beget from Jocasta. They did have a son but, when he was three years old, his feet were tied together and he was abandoned on a mountain where he met his death. Laius, on the other hand, was killed, not by his son but by strangers. This happened at a place where three roads meet.
Oedipus’ Fears
The words ‘where three roads meet‘ arrest Oedipus’s attention and he requests her to tell him all that is known about the circumstances in which Laius met his death. He also asks her to give the physical description of Laius. She tells him that Laius was a tall man with some patches of greying hair and that he was somewhat like Oedipus in appearance and build. Laius had left on a pilgrimage along with four attendants. All but one attendant were killed and it was the survivor who gave them an account of the king’s murder. His version was that the king’s party was set upon by robbers. This survivor begged permission to be allowed to serve as a shepherd in the countryside, and Jocasta granted his request. This account greatly disturbs Oedipus, for all but one ofthe facts are exactly similar to a quarrel in which Oedipus was forced to kill an elderly traveler and his three attendants. The only difference is that the survivor’s story speaks of the king being attacked by more than one man. It is essential that this man should be contacted again. If he sticks to account, then Oedipus mind can be at peace, but should he now say that Laius’ group was attacked by one man, then Oedipus would become liable to the punishment which he himself has proclaimed for the murderer of Laius. That would also prove that the blind prophet Teiresias, had inner sight and could see into the past. Jocasta tells him that she will send for the shepherd.
Oedipus’ Past
In the meanwhile, Oedipus tells the story of his past to Jocasta He tells her that he is the son of Merope and Polybus, the king and queen of Corinth. Once at a certain party a man who had drunk excessively said that Oedipus was not the son of his father. The young man later approached his parents and told them about this incident. The parents told him not to pay attention to such lies, but their answer did not satisfy Oedipus. He resolved to go to Delphi and ask the oracle as to who were his parents. However, the oracle gave no direct answer to his questions but rather increased his worries by prophesying that he would kill his father and marry his mother and have children by her. In view of this terrible prophecy, Oedipus decided that he should never return to Corinth. In the course of his wanderings, he happened to pass by a place where three roads meet. A rich elderly man was travelling there with four attendants. One of the attendants spoke rudely to Oedipus and the elderly man struck a blow at him as he passed him. Oedipus thereupon killed the old man and three of his attendants; the fourth escaped with his life. If it should now turn out that the party was that of Laius, Oedipus would be liable to punish himself as the murderer. He would have to leave Thebes, but he would still be unable to return to Corinth because of the dreadful prophecy concerning his relations with his parents. Everything now depends upon whether the lone survivor says that the party of Laius was attacked by one man or more than one man. Jocasta tells him that the shepherd had definitely and insistently spoken of there being several attackers. Even if he were now to speak of only one man. it should not bother Oedipus. Even if it was he who killed Laius, it should give him assurance in the sense that the oracle’s prophecy that Laius would be killed by his own son has proved untrue and so he need not feel concerned about prophecies regarding parricide and incest. Oedipus agrees with her views but insists on meeting the shepherd and interrogating him.
Choral Ode
The Chorus sing a song in which, without referring to Oedipus and Jocasta, they express sorrow at the fact that the prophecies of the gods are being disregarded, for in this way all the institutions will fall into oblivion. The song also refers to the pride of tyrants, which makes them violate the decrees of the gods. The insolence of pride will meet its sure doom. They pronounce a curse on those who are proud, who do not fear injustice and are lacking in reverence to the holy shrines of the gods and their oracles. They appeal passionately to Apollo and Zeus to vindicate their oracles.
Jocasta’s Prayer
Jocasta now conducts worship of Apollo because Oedipus is excessively perturbed. She offers incense at the shrine of the god and lays a wreath of flowers. She prays to the god to calm the mind of Oedipus and to send peace to the Theban people. Just then a stranger arrives there and asks to be directed to the palace of Oedipus. He identifies himself as a messenger from Corinth. He is taken to the presence of Oedipus. The king of Corinth, Polybus, has died and the people desire that Oedipus should be their ruler. In answer to a question of Jocasta he mentions that Polybus died a natural death. Jocasta tells Oedipus that this was another proof of the falsity of oracles, for Oedipus did not kill his father, Polybus. This relieves Oedipus to some extent, but he points out that he still cannot return to Corinth, for fear that the second half of the prophecy-that relating to Oedipus’ marrying his mother-should come true. Jocasta once again says that oracles need not be credited, for it is merely chance that rules people’s lives. One must therefore live from day to day as best as one can. At this stage the Corinthian messenger intervenes to say that if all that stands in the way of Oedipus’ return to Corinth is the fear that he might marry his mother, then he should banish it from his mind. for Merope was not his mother, nor was Polybus his real father. At Oedipus’ request he relates what he knows about his origin Oedipus was a foundling who was given to Polybus by the messenger himself. He had received the infant boy from another shepherd who grazed the sheep of king Laius. That shepherd, Oedipus says, must be sent for at once. It is suggested to him that he might turn out to be the same person who has been sent for already.
Jocasta’s Dismay
Oedipus wants Jocasta to confirm whether the shepherd sent for already could be the same as the one who handed over an infant child, whose feet had been bound together at the ankles, to the Corinthian shepherd many years go. Jocasta has already put two and two together and arrived at a horrible conclusion. She wants to spare Oedipus the shame and mortification of making the same discovery. She entreats him not to proceed with the enquiry and not to interrogate the shepherd. Oedipus misunderstands her. Ile thinks that she is afraid that the interrogation might establish that her husband was low-born. Realizing that she is powerless to make Oedipus swerve from his resolve, she leaves him, expressing anguish at his wretched condition. Oedipus once again asserts that he is determined to get at the whole truth-whatever it might be. The Chorus indulge in a fantasy that Oedipus might be of divine origin.
The Interrogation
Oedipus proceeds with the interrogation of the Theban shepherd but he proves to be a very reluctant witness. He even a first declines to say that he recognizes the Corinthian shepherd. On the other hand, the Corinthian shepherd is over-enthusiastic. It is clear to Oedipus that the Theban shepherd is uncommunicative because there is something that he wants to hide. When the Corinthian shepherd reminds him that he gave him certain infant years ago, and that the same is now standing before him in the person of Oedipus, the Theban shepherd is horrified and tries to cut him short. At this Oedipus threatens him with violence. Finding that there is no alternative, the Theban shepherd relates bis part of the story. It was Jocasta herself who gave him a baby-boy belonging to the royal household with orders that it should be destroyed by being exposed on Mount Cithaeron. This was done because the oracle had prophesied that the child would kill his father when he grew up. It is thus clear even to Oedipus that the shepherd’s kindness had only condemned him to the horrible fate of parricide and incest.
The End
A part of what follows is related to the audience by a messenger. Oedipus went into the palace, sword in hand, shouting for Jocasta, his partner in sin. He found her hanging in her room. He took down her body and removed a brooch from her dress. With it he blinded his eyes. Oedipus later tells the Chorus that he did so because he was horrified at the prospect of seeing his parents, against whom he had sinned, in the lower world. Moreover, the reality before him was so ugly that he wished not to see it. At Oedipus’ request Creon calls the king’s two daughters, and Oedipus bids them a tearful farewell. He then requests Creon to banish him from Thebes as desired by the oracle and announced by Oedipus himself. Creon replies that Oedipus should stop being self-willed, Creon will do nothing without ascertaining the will of the gods.
