Oedipus Rex questions answered

1. Who wrote the play?

The play was written by Sophocles.

2. Briefly define the Oedipal Complex.

It is a theory by Sigmund Freud that states a son will want to have his mother sexually as well as wanting to kill his father.

3. What is the setting of the story, specifically, the where?

In the city of Thebes in ancient Greece.

4. As the play opens, what horrible thing is going on?

Many citizens of the city of Thebes are dying from a terrible plague.

5. Whose death must be avenged in order for the horrible thing from number 4 to end?

Oedipus' predecessor King Laius.

6. Who is Oedipus’ wife?

His wife is Queen Jocasta, his unknown birth mother.

7. Who is Oedipus’ mother?

His birth mother is Queen Jocasta.  His adoptive mother is Queen Merope of Corinth.

8. Who is Oedipus’ father?

His birth father is King Laius.  His adoptive father is King Polybus of Corinth.

9. Who killed the King of Thebes (the answer for #5)?

Unknown to anyone at the time, even himself, Oedipus

10. What is Oedipus’ tragic flaw?

Oedipus's tragic flaw is his pride.

11. & 12. As you read through Oedipus, you'll note that sight/vision/seeing (including "second sight") is very important to the overall story--in the literal as well as the metaphorical/symbolical aspect.  You don't have to do this in complete sentences if you don't want---

Describe/discuss/explain/list how sight/vision/seeing/"second sight" is/are used in the play to advance the plot--to advance the story as a whole.  Include an explanation of why it's important as well as how it helps you (the real audience) understand (get) what others on the stage and in the play don't understand.

Sight is the driving force of this place.  Without the sight of the orginal prophecy that Oedipus would kill his father and marry his mother none of this play would have happened.  Oedipus would not have been sent off as a baby to only return to fufill this prophecy.   Oedipus goes on to mock the blind prophet who at the time is the only one who truly sees the truth.  Once Oedipus is fully aware of his actions he gorges out his own eyes inflicting self-blindless.  This actual blindness replaces the mental blindness that both Oedipus and Jocasta have had during the run of this play.

13. As a play, there's a lot that can and can not be done on the stage.  Explain why you think some things within this play in particular are done on stage while others are done off stage.

As with any play there are moments that need to be described rather than shown.  This was especially true for classic plays as this.  One scene in particular in which Oedipus unknowingly kills the King of Thebes and a band of men would be hard to stage and act.  By having the characters describe the story the audience can imagine the scene to their own horrid tastes.

Another scene that is easier told than acted is when Oedipus gauges out his own eyes when he sees his wife / mother hanging dead from her own noose.  This is obviously easier to portray in words than through actions on stage.  It might have even been a bit too gory for audiences then and now.

14. Do you believe in fate?  Explain fully your answer.

As a Christian my belief in fate is quite strong.  My idea of fate is the path that God has prepared for us.  While fate is a strong and given idea, it can be muddled by our freedom of choices.  Humans are very near-sighted people.  We are unable to see this big “fate picture.”  While there are many branches and side streets off the main road of our destiny I believe that God truly has each of us fated for our destinies.  Only by choosing the honorable and worthy decisions in life will we truly find the path fate, or God, has given to us.

15. Explain how fate plays a role in Oedipus.

Fate plays a huge role in this play!  It begins with Creon arriving back from the oracle at Delphi.  This is a clear showing of the fate idea.  Greeks believed that oracles new the plans of the gods and shared these plans through riddles and clues.  There is then the prophecy that started this whole mess to begin with; the idea that Laius and Jocasta’s son was fated to murder him and marry her.   Though fate is at first seen as something given and accepted, Jocasta and Oedipus both mock and deny it when they are finding themselves closer to the truth.

16. Have you ever thought how ironic this play is? It's weird how the events come together and make everything happen the way it does. If things were to happen just a little bit different the story would be completely changed.

Yes!  I plan on writing my journal essay on this exact thing.  Maybe I’m still stuck on the irony kick from Arsenic and Old Lace but it is quite heavy in this play as well.  It seems as if Sophocles read a book on irony right before he wrote this play.  Each event and moment in this place is so well balanced it seems as if any small step in an off direction would cause the entire thing to implode.  Though saying this it reminds me of how true this is in our own lives.  Missing a light or turning down the wrong street can easily change our entire stories.

Extra: Name either one of the other two plays in the Oedipus Trilogy—punctuation count.

The other two plays are Antigone and Oedipus at Colonus