First+Episode+&+Ode

This episode opens up with a speech from Oedipus clarifying his intentions to find Laius' murderer. He forbids the people of Thebes to help shelter or support the murderer in any way. He then curses the murderer and his family and also pledges to avenge Laius' death, as if it were his own fathers. The "elders" then suggest Oedipus to summon Tiresias.
 * __Plot (Summary):__**

The blind prophet Tiresias is soon led in by a servant. After presenting his talents, Oedipus asks him to reveal the murderer of Laius. After Tiresias refuses to do so Oedipus becomes agitated and begins to insult and him and accuses Tiresias himself of being involved in the murder. Tiresias still refuses to say anything and continues to stay silent and Oedipus becomes increasingly hostile until Tiresias finally says that the murderer is Oedipus himself.

Oedipus, of course, does not believe him and accuses both Creon and Tiresias of the murder. He continues to taunt Tiresias claiming that not even he could solve the riddle of the sphinx, whereas he had accomplished this task. Tiresias growing more furious predicts Oedipus' future downfall, saying "No man alive shall see his life so ground away." This scene ends with an enraged Oedipus throwing Tiresias out of his palace.

“Take up your load and I’ll take mine. Believe me, it is better so.” This quote shows how Tiresias warns Oedipus not to dig in to his past. But due to Oedipus’ ignorance he refuses to take this advice, and leads to his tragic downfall.
 * __Important Lines:__** (Quotes)

__**Characterization:**__

Oedipus: the King of Thebes
**Episode begins with Oedipus’ long monologue** Silent pauses: his audience is fearful of him, unwilling to divulge any known information Oedipus formulates ‘a plan to stop the plague’, claims he has plans, but all he does is get help from others (such as Tiresias) **Shift in attitude/tone of voice:** (Monologue) Begins with reassurance, shifts to rewards, then as the empty silence continues, proclaims the harsh punishment that awaits the murder of Lauis (Tiresias’ arrival) Easily frustrated and agitated Begins with concern “what makes you come so full of gloom?’ Change in tone of voice “You miserable old man!” (Praise vs. Denouncement) ‘Come, great mystic, Tiresias – intuitive, didactic master of the finite and the infinite-‘ ‘You’re nothing but a nuisance here, one I can do without’ (26) **Oedipus’ constant questioning** (when Tiresias comes to see him): seems to reflect his quick thinking, but his questions are often rhetorical and used to attack **Oedipus puts the blame** on Tiresias and Creon: Jumps to conclusions, quick to judge (his swift thinking is also a flaw) Eager for someone to take the blame for the city’s terrible plight **Proud:** ‘for a kingship with the State put in my hands, all given, never asked’ (23) – attempt to make it sound like the was willingly given his position as King, he never sought for power ‘And yet her riddle called for insight trained…which you plainly showed you did not have … But I, the Oedipus who stumbled here without a hint, could snuff her out by human wit’ (23) – declares his intellectual superiority, no one else could solve the riddle but him **Willingly ignores the truth** Not as intelligent as Oedipus as he is made out to be ‘I say the murderer of the man whose murder you pursue is you’ (21) ‘I saw you see and still are blind – appallingly…You’d never guess what hate is dormant in your home or buried with your dear ones dear or how a mother’s and a father’s curse’ … (24) Tiresias reveals the truth, as well as a lot of ‘personal’ information about Oedipus, yet Oedipus doesn’t pick up on the clues, remains ‘blind’, selects what he wants to ‘see’

Tiresias: a blind prophet, also known as Apollos’ priest
**Concerned about his own welfare, as well as Oedipus’:** Initially reluctant to reveal his knowledge - ‘I’d rather keep you and me from harm’ Begins to move away (20): wants to avoid being caught up in this unfortunate predicament Only when he is provoked by Oedipus, then he reveals the truth **Unafraid of Oedipus** ‘Perhaps you are a king, but I reign too – in words. I’ll have my equal say. I’m not your servant. No, I serve Apollo.’ (23)

**Role of Chorus**
Ist Episode (17) Converses with Oedipus (23) Interjection - reminds Oedipus to restrain his anger The chorus invokes Apollo to guide them to the murderer, but at the same time highlight their faith in Oedipus' innocence. Second Choral Ode Provides a lot of imagery

__**Elements:**__

Dramatic Irony (TJ)

> · Irony used to build suspense and to foreshadow > · From looking at Oedipus’ personality the play also depicts how angry Oedipus is at the murderer. > · When Oedipus curses the murderer “Shall sever from all fellowship of speech and shelter, sacrifice and sacrament.” – oblivious to the fact that he is actually cursing himself. This creates suspense in the readers minds as they are wondering what Oedipus will do when he finds out he murdered Laius. > · “Then on myself I call down every curse I’ve just invoked” (Page 15) > · VEERRYYY IRONIC! “Such ties swear me to his side, as if he were my father” > · The entrance of Tiresias adds to the dramatic irony, as Tiresias is blind yet is the only one that knows the truth. > · “I say you see and still are blind” (Page 23) This foreshadows what is going to come and reveal lots of dramatic irony as it will only be when Oedipus is blind that he will be able to see. > · Although he solved the riddle of the sphinx Tiresias comments on Oedipus’ lack of knowledge: “Yes, ask yourself where you are from?” > · This leads on to a new aspect of the play; Oedipus’ origins. > Eyesight (avril) ...ignore bad formatting.
 * Irony used as an essential tool to help develop the play by building suspense and foreshadowing the outcome:**
 * · Significant for Sophocles’ use of irony (first episode)

· Oedipus was blind to the truth about his own life. § Oedipus had no idea that his real parents were Laius and Jocasta. He was so blind that he got mad at anyone who suggested such an idea. § Thought he had gotten away with the prophecy when he ran away from home and became King of Thebes, Thebes fell onto bad times, and a prophet put the blame on a polluter of the lands. · Teiresias played the role of the typical prophet in the Greek tragedy. § He was physically blind, but he had vision into the future. · Teiresias prophesized that Oedipus would leave Thebes blind, poor, and shamed. § This statement irritated Oedipus even more When he presented the truth to Oedipus, Oedipus attacked his blindness. He told Teiresias that the only reason he was not blaming him for the whole situation was that Teiresias could not see. · As more and more of the story started to fall into place, Oedipus was forced to open his eyes to the truth. Oedipus did kill his father and marry his mother. Oedipus was the person causing the bad times in Thebes. As soon as Oedipus knew and accepted the truth, he blinded himself. · Just as Teiresias was blind and open to the truth, so was Oedipus. As Oedipus searched further and further, he discovered that he was the polluter and that the prophecy had come true. · Because of the truth, Oedipus blinds himself. · Oedipus now goes from being only figuratively blind, to literally. Oedipus' physical blindness=role of the Greek tragedy. The blindness completed the tragedy for Oedipus. § Every Greek tragedy was supposed to end with the main characters experiencing their own, personal tragedy. § For Oedipus, this tragedy was discovering the truth and becoming blind. · Oedipus' physical blindness forced him to think about his life and what had happened. § He had the blackness and the physical pain he had inflicted on himself as reminders and as punishment. · Oedipus' physical blindness was just as painful as his blindness to the truth. · When Oedipus learned the truth, his way of dealing with his figurative blindness was to blind himself
 * Oedipus Figurative blindness vs. literal blindness: **


 * __Literary Features__**: