Historical medical literature has suggested many infectious diseases over time, but few have lasted as the most probable. Photo courtesy Antonis A. Kousoulis. 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. Creon curses him and threatens to slay Antigone before his very eyes. Polynices, realizing he will never win his fathers support, turns to his sisters. The references to the decline of land and fields could be an example of poetic exaggeration or a suggestion that the fruits or ears may participate in the transmission route of the plague (a blight is on our harvest in the ear, line 25) (2,3). Unfortunately, the story comes out that Oedipus murdered Laius on the road from Corinth to Thebes, when Laius and his party would not move aside to let him pass. Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. 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. Just as the messenger finishes his story, Antigone and Ismene come onstage, chanting a dirge. Creon returns to report that the plague is the result of religious pollution, since the murderer of their former king, Laius, has never been caught. Oedipus' wife and mother hanged themselves when the truth of their relationship was known, although Oedipus continued to rule Thabs until his death. Oedipus has already sent his brother-in-law, Creon, to the Oracle of Delphi in order to ask Apollo why this is the case. He calls it a plague that disrupts the production of humans and crops. At the start of the play, the city of Thebes is suffering terribly. Q. Oedipus sends for Tiresias who reveals that Oedipus is the cause of the plague. He praises Oedipus' intellect in solving the riddle of the Sphinx. Oedipus swears he will never give his support to either of his sons, for they did nothing to prevent his exile years ago. Essays on oedipus the king. Oblivious to the truth, King Oedipus sets to find Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. Jocasta rejoices, convinced that Polybus's death from natural causes has disproved the prophecy that Oedipus . 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 . He tells Jocasta that, long ago, when he was the prince of Corinth, he overheard someone mention at a banquet that he was not really the son of the king and queen. Many people are falling ill, and Oedipus begins to believe that there is a divine cause for the plague. At this early stage in the play, Oedipus represents all that an Athenian audienceor indeed any audiencecould desire in a citizen or a leader. Ironically, Oedipus thought that by leaving Corinth he was beating the prophecy that he would murder his father and marry his mother. What is the main idea of Oedipus the King by Sophocles, and what is the play about. He returned with news that the plague was caused by the unpunished murderer who killed Laius. How does Oedipus Rex by Sophocles follow the unities? Antigone wails that they will cry for Oedipus for as long as they live. The priest begs Oedipus to help the city and rescue it from the clutches of famine, fire, and plague. Much of the fascination of the play comes from watching Oedipus, the remorseless detective, hunt down Oedipus, the unwitting criminal. Jocasta tells him that Laius was killed at a three-way crossroads, just before Oedipus arrived in Thebes. Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. WebOedipus is the king of Thebes when the action commences, and one facing the crisis of a plague. 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. Searching for the miasma, Oedipus summons the blind prophet Tiresias to reveal who is responsible for this evil (lines 300313) (2,3). In the city of Thebes, there is a plague of infertility that strikes. Hence, the citizens of Thebes were often called children of Cadmus or Cadmeians. A plague has stricken Thebes. After much prodding from Oedipus, Tiresias claims that Oedipus is the source of . Creon reports that the gods have caused this plague in response to the murder of Laius, the previous king of Thebes, and they demand that the murderer ("the pollution of this land") be killed or exiled. His play, Oedipus Rex, tells the sad tale of a king who discovers that he has murdered his father and married his mother. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. Oedipus doesn't believe him since he did not know who Laius was when he killed him and sends him away. Creon was told by Apollo that in order to be free of the plague, they must "Pay the killers back- whoever is responsible" (Sophocles 1430). At this early moment, we see Oedipuss dangerous pride, which explains his willful blindness and, to a certain extent, justifies his downfall. Contact us He sends Creon, his brother-in-law, to the oracle at Athens . 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 Rex, apart from the undeniable literary and historic value, also presents significant medical interest because the play mentions a plague, an epidemic, which was devastating Thebes, the town of Oedipus hegemony. The Thucydides syndrome. We adopted a critical approach to Oedipus Rex in analyzing the literary description of the disease, unraveling its Thebes has been struck by a plague, the citizens are dying, and no one knows how . He prays for the safety of his sisters and then leaves for Thebes. Figure 1. for a group? Oedipus asks the citizens to stop praying and focus on finding the cure (lines 142146) (2,3). A blight, the priest tells Oedipus, has destroyed their crops and livestock - and even rendered their women sterile, unable to have children. Sophocles describes the main characteristics of the epidemic through sporadic sentences. Creon returns to report that the plague is the result of religious pollution, since the murderer of their former king, Laius, has never been caught. Oedipus encountered the Sphinx and quickly realized that the answer was "man". A severe plague is described in Sophocles drama Oedipus Rex. As Eteocles' turn came first, Polyneices withdrew to . The plague that is described in Oedipus Rex could possibly be related to the plague that struck Athens in 430429 bc (11), the primary source for which is the papers of historian Thucydides (where he refers to an epidemic that has been named the plague of Athens) (5). Oedipus arrives in Thebes, solves the riddle of the Sphinx, and is made their king. Oedipus curses and insults the old man, going so far as to accuse him of the murder. With our Essay Lab, you can create a customized outline within seconds to get started on your essay right away. 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. The messenger, a shepherd by profession, knows firsthand that Oedipus came to Corinth as an orphan. The sentry soon exonerates himself by catching Antigone in the act of attempting to rebury her brother, the sentries having disinterred him. SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. 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. King Oedipus vows to find King Laius's murderer and immediately remove him from Thebes to lift the curse. Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. Hellenic holocaust: a historical clinico-pathologic conference. Oedipus also learns that Laius is his father and that Jocasta, his wife, is his mother. Guilt and Shame in Oedipus the King - Confluence Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? Tiresias predicts that the gods will bring down curses upon the city. In other words, he became a hero by figuring out the truth. plague; the plague in Thebes has three features which are closely associated with supernatural forces and appear in re-ligious contexts. Pedagogical Institute, Hellenic Ministry of Education. Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. Plagues follow bad leadership in ancient Greek tales A lethal plague is described in this drama. Oedipus the King opens with a plague strangling the life out of Thebes. 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. These taunts provoke Tiresias into revealing that Oedipus himself is the murderer. Antigone freely confesses her act to Creon and says that he himself defies the will of the gods by refusing Polynices burial. What is the cause of the plague in Thebes in 'Oedipus Rex'? 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. 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). . on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% Oedipus the King. Another example of Oedipus's strong leadership. 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. What is the cause of Thebes troubles? - TeachersCollegesj There is death in the land as the story begins. . The reference to the Sphinx reminds the audience that Oedipus is a genuine hero. Scene from a National Theatre of Greece production of Oedipus Rex at the Odeon of Herodus Atticus, Athens, Greece January 1995. Oedipus says that his time of death has come. Conflict In Oedipus The King - 816 Words | Bartleby A central door and two lateral doors open onto a platform which runs the length of the facade. CDC twenty four seven. The aforementioned aspects strongly support the notion that the disease was incurable at this time. Sophocles - Oedipus Rex, Prologue | Genius Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. Thus, according to the tragedys rhymes and with respect to literary talk, this plague should be treated as an epidemic. 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. Comment submitted successfully, thank you for your feedback. Cookies used to make website functionality more relevant to you. Oedipus the King opens with a priest describing the terrible plague that has come upon Thebes and begging Oedipus for help. His guards lead him back into the palace. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. Oedipus sends the citizen to fetch Theseus, the king of Athens and its surroundings. Answer: Oedipus married his mother. After years of wandering in exile from Thebes, Oedipus arrives in a grove outside Athens. In despair Jocasta hanged herself, while Oedipus blinded himself in an agony of remorse. He lived his entire life in Athens and introduced many innovations in the dramatic arts (1). In the historical case (Athens) and the dramatic case (Thebes), the populace turned to the temples looking for a divine solution to the disaster. Subscribe now. Log in here. The story of Oedipus begins in Thebes, the Greek city founded by Cadmus, at a time when Laius had been restored to the throne.Laius would wed Jocasta, sister to Creon, and descendant of one of the Spartoi, but almost immediately a prophecy was made that said that the son of Laius . 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). He inadvertently killed his father, solved the riddle of the Sphinx, and became king of Thebes. (Spoiler alert: It's his own bad leadership.) Oedipus steps out of the royal palace of Thebes and is greeted by a procession of priests, who are in turn surrounded by the impoverished and sorrowful citizens of Thebes. 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). They went in and saw Antigone hanging from a noose, and Haemon raving. This meant that they must find the killer of their dead king, Laius. In the most familiar version, first attested in Sophocles' tragedy Oedipus Tyrannus, Oedipus' downfall all began with a plague. The Tragic Story of Oedipus Rex Told Through 13 Artworks CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. At the beginning of the play, Thebes is struck with a terrible plague that ravishes the city, forcing citizens to petition King Oedipus to deliver them from the horrible epidemic. Creon goes on to tell the story of Laiuss murder. Although the above points are of great relevance, they lack the possibility of historical verification and are mainly based on the comparative and critical assessment of Sophocles and Thucydides work. Skip to document. Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? Oedipus, king of Thebes, is determined to find out the cause of the plague ravishing the city, little suspecting the cause is him. 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. 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. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. Oedipus, stunned, tells his wife that he may be the one who murdered Laius. The audience is not surprised, therefore, but is watching Oedipus intently for the dawning realization that he himself is the source of the pollution and the plague. 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. He had four children by Jocasta. 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). They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. The way the content is organized, LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in, The play begins in the royal house of Thebes. What is the conflict or problem the people of Thebes face as the play opens? Oedipus, Bad Leadership, and the Plague. - Medium B. Creon wanted to become king, so he never cared enough to investigate. Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. When Laius' herald ordered Oedipus to stand aside and make way for the King to pass, Oedipus grew angry and killed both the herald and Laius. The Plague In Sophocles Oedipus The King - 991 Words - StudyMode Oedipus Rex Flashcards | Quizlet 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. 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). Sophocles, a preeminent ancient Greek tragedian, authored plays that have enthralled audiences for over two thousand years. . Figure 2. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. Oedipus asks Theseus to drive Polynices away, but Antigone convinces her father to listen to his son. At Jocastas summons, Oedipus comes outside, hears the news, and rejoices with her. Sophocles and The Oedipus Plays Background. Oedipus, in Greek mythology, the king of Thebes who unwittingly killed his father and married his mother. he mortality rate for untreated brucellosis is difficult to determine from the literature of the preantibiotic era (6); nevertheless, an 80% rate has been reported in situations of comorbidity with endocarditis (7). Oedipus Rex or Oedipus the King, is the first play in this trilogy of Athenian Tragedies . You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. Latest answer posted December 09, 2017 at 3:30:49 PM. PDF Oedipus Rex Multiple Choice Questions ; [PDF] . Despite the warning, Theseus agrees to help Oedipus. Classical Literature Quiz: Oedipus Rex By Sophocles A new hypothesis for the cause of the plague of Athens. Sophocles and The Oedipus Plays Background. 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. Haemon seems at first to side with his father, but gradually admits his opposition to Creons stubbornness and petty vindictiveness. Creons wife, Eurydice, hears this terrible news and rushes away into the palace. As when he faced the Sphinx, Oedipus is presented with a puzzle to solve: the identity of Laius's murderer. 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. Cookies used to track the effectiveness of CDC public health campaigns through clickthrough data. Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website. Oedipus questions Creon about the murder of Laius, who was killed by thieves on his way to consult an oracle. 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. 3. Haemon, Creons son and Antigones betrothed, enters the stage. Oedipus asks who the other shepherd was, and the messenger answers that he was a servant of Laius. He marries Jocasta, Laius' widow. To know the cause of the plague, Oedipus sent Creon, Jocasta's brother, consult the oracle at Delphi , and learned that the plague would only cease after the murderer of Laius had been punished. 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. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. In the end, it turns out that Oedipus has also murdered his father. A Summary and Analysis of the Oedipus Myth - Interesting Literature why is there a plague in thebes oedipus - Londonminingclub.org Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. Oedipus eagerly attempts to uncover the truth, acting decisively and scrupulously refusing to shield himself from the truth. Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! Creon reports that the gods have caused this plague in response to the murder of Laius, the previous king of . Oedipus the King is one of the most ironic plays ever written. Copy. Oedipus a Tragedy. In Greek mythology, King Oedipus of Thebes who unwittingly killed his father and married his mother. He thinks he knows what happenedthieves killed Laiusbut is actually blind to the truth. Kousoulis AA, Economopoulos KP, Poulakou-Rebelakou E, et al. There were two shrines to her in Thebes. "The Murder of Laius by Oedipus," 1867, by Joseph Blanc. The Oedipus Trilogy Timeline | Preceden On the surface, the problem afflicting Thebes is a plague. DNA examination of ancient dental pulp incriminates typhoid fever as a probable cause of the Plague of Athens. At the beginning of Sophocles'Oedipus Rex,there issterility and a plague at Thebes. 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 ( ). answer choices . Refine any search. 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. Creon enters, carrying Haemons body and wailing against his own tyranny, which he knows has caused his sons death. Only one of his fellow travelers escaped alive. 2017 4 30 1493574331 | Free Essay Examples | EssaySauce.com Can you give me more details about the plague? | Oedipus Rex or Oedipus A lethal plague is described in this drama. The blind prophet Tiresias arrives, and Creon promises to take whatever advice he gives. Antigone, in spite of Creons edict and without the help of her sister Ismene, resolves to give their brother a proper burial. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. This is a supernatural phenomenon caused by harboring a cursed person. Greek & Roman Mythology - Greek Tragedy - University of Pennsylvania That baby was Oedipus. He ends up blinding himself before being exiled from the city. Purchasing SparkNotes PLUS It bemoans the state of Thebes, and finally invokes Dionysus, whose mother was a Theban. . Oedipus the King Dramatis Personae - Saint Louis Public Schools / Homepage 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. 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.