Fourth+Episode+&+Ode

FOURTH EPISODE & ODE
 * Page 61 to 64** //(Beginning of Fourth Episode and ending with "Then perhaps you'll talk for pain")//

__Plot:__ The fourth episode starts with the entrance of the old shepherd and him being identified as the herdsman who gave Oedipus to the messenger many years before. The scene consists of Oedipus trying to figure out the truth by interrogating the shepherd and when he begs the messenger to hold his tongue, Oedipus threatens him with violent. This results in the shepherd admitting that the baby had belonged to the house of Laiu's.

__Purpose:__ The purpose of the beginning of fourth episode is to build the suspense up to the climax. This sort of fast paced conversation between Oedipus, the shepherd and the messenger reflects that soon enough, Oedipus is going to find out the truth and all this interrogating is going to result in his own destiny.

__Important quotes:__

//"Look, Elders,// //if I may play the prophet too" - Oedipus// (Page 61)

//"Then perhaps you'll talk for pain." - Oedipus// (Page 64) Oedipus resorting to violence to get to the bottom of the truth: illustrates just how desperate he is to find out who the murderer is and how he will do anything in his power to discover the truth.

//"Damn you man! Can you not hold your tongue?" - Shepherd// (Page 64) When the messenger tells the shepherd that Oedipus is the baby boy, the shepherd replies in a worried tone. He, along with the audience, already knows who the real murderer is.

The shepherd's tone and actions illustrate that he knows the truth. //[hedging]// (Page 62) The shepherd avoids making a definite statement, expressing that he is trying to dodge having to tell the truth because he knows that it is not something that the people want to hear.

//[The SHEPHERD desperately tried to avoid looking at the MESSENGER]// (Page 63) As before, the shepherd is trying to avoid having to answer any questions that may lead to the truth.

//[sullenly]// (Page 63) The shepherd was hoping that the messenger wouldn't remember the truth, but since he does, the only thing the shepherd can do is to admit to the truth.

GENERAL POINTS: -portrays Oedipus and shepherd dialogue only -a build-up to climax of oedipus’s revelation -obvious hints dropped by sheperd, show oedipus’s obliviousousness -short, one line dialogue adds to intensity of the scene, builds up
 * Page 64-67 **

STAGE DIRECTIONS: -show reality of physical intent behind oedipus's threats ex. “[Oedipus raises a threatening hand]” (64) -indicate oedipus's revelation, insight into truth, connection to motif of sight, vision ex. “[Oedipus stares in front of him, then staggers forward]” (67)

INTERROGATION STRUCTURE: -oedipus asks a question, demanding tone (65. 66) -sheperd answers with exclamation, denial (65, 66) -portrays the demanding manner of Oedipus -indicates sheperd’s stubborn, but futile effort to cover up the truth Ex. Oedipus: “Someone here in Thebes? Of what house?” Sheperd: “By all the gods, sir don’t ask me any more!” (65)

CYCLE, CIRCULAR: -dialogue only between sheperd and the king who he found as a baby, emphasizes cyclical nature of fate -sheperd trying to protect Oedipus once again by witholding the truth, as he did when the queen gave oedipus to him to kill Ex. Oedipus: “Someone here in Thebes? Of what house?” Sheperd: “By all the gods, sir don’t ask me any more!” (65) -oedipus giving death threats, when before the shepherd was ordered to execute the death sentence upon Oedipus

GODS: -“God help me sir!” (65) -“You are a doom-born man” (67) -frequent god/higher-power references of shepherd portray belief in power of gods, while Oedipus does not refer to them, not very respectful of their authority

Shepherd monologue (67) -sympathy, pity is what caused Oedipus to search for plague’s cause, and what led to shepherd to spare Oedipus as a baby, resulted in downfall -sheperd’s referring to Oedipus as a “doom-born” man suggests that Oedipus truly has no right to call his birth parents his own, only worthy of being doom’s child

Oedipus monologue (67) -“blazing clear. Light of my days, go dark. I want to gaze no more.” All refernces to sight, vision, light -rhyming of last three lines gives sense of finality, prophecy fulfillment

**__Choral Ode (Page 68)__**
Oedipus has exited and the chorus remains to reflect on his undoing, the shepherd has revealed Oedipus' birth, confirming that he is incidentally his father's murderer and his mother's husband. This passage summarizes what has just transpired and connects it with the rest of the play.


 * Strophe I:**
 * "Oh the generations of man!" -Highlights duality of Laius and Oedipus, both knowingly attempt to avoid an oracle's prophecy and in doing so fulfill their own fate.
 * Various forms of repetition further this point, conveying "Man's pattern of unblessedness" from generation to generation.
 * "vanity and nothingness" -Suggests that Oedipus' hubris is his tragic flaw; he will end up with nothing.


 * Antistrophe I:**
 * Imagery/Descriptions conveying height and power: "Topmost", "Zeus" (sky-god)**,** "tower", "soar"
 * Hunting metaphor: "You who aimed so high!\ Who hit life's topmost prize--" Indicates Oedipus' great success, his ascension to the throne in Thebes. Bow and arrow are associated with Apollo, god of prophecy, furthering the constant presence of fate.
 * "...high!", "...success!", Exclamations depict the peak of Oedipus' life, as well as the ode, and suggest its inevitable, fated downfall.


 * Strophe II:**
 * "Time" and "Justice" personify fate as unavoidable and as a judge.
 * Text filled with irony/contradiction:
 * "unwed wedding's done", "Begetter and begot", "Out of sight what sight might not have seen!", "quiver and be still"
 * Points at overwhelming irony of the fulfillment of ends through means to avoid them.
 * "O son of Laius!" -final reminder of generations, Oedipus' acts of murder and incest.