Third+Episode+&+Ode

__**Summary & Role of Section:**__ This passage takes place after Oedipus begins to suspect himself of being Laius's murderer, and summons the servant-turned-sheperd who was present at Laius's assassination to verify the details of the murder. In this passage, a messenger comes from Corinth, which Oedipus considers to be his home, and reveals that Polybus, who Oedipus believed to be his father, has died. This partially reassures Oedipus, seeing as he clearly was not responsible for Polybus's death. However, he also learns that Polybus was not his real father, and that Oedipus was found on the mountain Cithaeron as a baby. When this is revealed by the messenger, Jocasta is shocked, as she realizes that Oedipus is the son that she left to die so long ago. She begs Oedipus to stop looking into his past, however, Oedipus charges onward, stubborn, and curious. In the ode, the chorus sings with anticipation as they wait to find out where Oedipus is really from. This passage serves to deepen the understanding of the characters surrounding Oedipus as to who he really is, with special emphasis on his wife and mother Jocasta, who is horrified when she realizes where he is from, begging him not to dig any deeper into his past. It also builds up excitement within the chorus, as in the chorus they sing excitedly, waiting to learn of their king's origins. The mystery and tension surrounding Oedipus's background is built up so that his eventuall fall will be even more overwhelmingly tragic. This passage also characterizes Oedipus as confident, curious, afraid, stubborn, and especially as someone who won't give up until he finds what he is looking for: "Forget it all? I can't stop now. Not with all my birth clues in my hands." (59).

__**Further Characterization of Oedipus:**__
 * Determined and steadfast**: Illustrates how he brings about his own downfall. Despite Jocasta's begging that he not dig any deeper into his own past for his own sake, he refuses to quit now that he is so close to finding out his real identity. However, this also represents what can be considered his tragic flaw: his stubborness and overbearing curiosity. Therefore, the reader can anticipate his downfall and understand how he does have a role in bringing it onto himself.
 * Doubtful:** exposes a possible crack in his stoic and confident armour. For example, on page 52, he says that the prophecies of his youth are worth nothing and rest in Hades, but then almost immediately begins to worry about Merope, who he believes to be his mother. Then, later, the messenger tells him that the sheperd who gave baby Oedipus to the messenger long ago was "one of Lauis's men," (57), and Oedipus replies with: "You mean the king who reigned here long ago?" (57). It seems like he might be trying to find a way out of the prophecy that he realizes is coming true: clearly, he knows who Laius is. He might just be hoping against hope that it isn't the same Laius that he is thinking of, that he has no familial ties to the ancient royal Theban family; he is afraid of the truth. Oedipus's worry is also emphasized by things said by other characters, such as when Jocasta says that he "pins his soul to every word of fear," (48) which also shows Oedipus's doubt and worry.
 * Inquisitive:** Reveals both Oedipus's intelligence and curiosity as he asks many questions about facts that are revealed to him. However, Oedipus's questions also show how he is slow to catch on to the truth that seems painfully obvious. One example of Oedipus's quetions is when he asks: "He was my father, wasn't he?" (55)when the messenger tells him that he has nothing to fear from the prophecy, which Oedipus believed to be about Polybus and Merope.
 * Confident:** also reinforcesd in this passage: "Storm, then, let it burst! (...) I'm Fortune's pampered child. She will not let me down." (60). Finally, this episode also ironically characterizes Oedipus as one who loves his parents: "what's so sweet as looking into parents' eyes?" (53), making his coming realization of who he is seem all the more tragic.

__**Role of the Characters:**__ __Jocasta:__ Serves as a method to make details about Laius's death more clear, so as to advance the plot and Oedipus's comiong downfall. She also helps to characterize Oedipus, both from what he says to her and what she says to and about him. Finally, Jocasta serves as an extremely strong clue to Oedipus's background, when she abruptly becomes horrified upon learning that he was found on the mountain Cithaeron and begs Oedipus not to look further into his past. However, once again, Oedipus ignores this clue to his past, making the play more agonizing to watch as his downfall creeps slowly forward. Example: (Jocasta is trying to dissuade Oedipus from looking further into his past): JOCASTA: "Forget it all. It's not worth knowing." OEDIPUS: "Forget it all? I can't stop now. Not with all my birth clues in my hands." (59).

__The Chorus:__ Serves as an indicator as public, and in some cases audience, opinion. The chorus usually indicates the the general public of Thebes, and therefore is a concise but effective way of expressing the pervading sentiment of the people of Thebes. Example: (The Chorus is telling the messenger where Oedipus is, then introduces Jocasta) CHORUS: "This is his palace, sir, and he's within. This lady is his wife and mother... of his children." (49) In the ode, the chorus also sings joyously of what Oedipus's mysterious background could be, thinking that perhaps he is a demigod or other magical being. This serves to heighten the tension as Oedipus's downfall will be even more crushing: the bigger and higher he is built up to be, the harder he will fall. Hints the truth and foreshadows up coming events. When the chorus tells the messenger Jocasta's identity, it first says "wife and mother" and with a pause, it then adds "of his children." on page 58, the chorus identifies Jocasta as the one who should know the shepherd, hinting that she had interacted with him more than others which is true since she is the one that gave the baby to him. On page 60, the last sentence the chorus says is "A stillness before the storm" which foreshadows upcoming events, which is the discovery of the truth.

__The Messenger:__ Serves both as a messenger of new facts that develop the plot, and an outlet for Oedipus' thoughts. The messenger not only reveals more about Oedipus's past but also does not know certain details, prompting Oedipus to fill him in and reveal his otherwise unknown thoughts on his past. The Messenger contributes to the plot, where he adds a twist to the development of events by first bring the message that Polybus is dead, then revealing that he is in fact not Oedipus' birth father. Example: (the messenger has told Oedipus of the death of Polybus, who he believed to be his father). OEDIPUS: " ...now I fear a living woman." MESSENGER: "A woman, sir? Who ever could it be?" OEDIPUS: " Merope, old man, who lives with Polybus." MESSENGER: " But what's in her that she can make you fear?" (...) OEDIPUS: "Apollo once declared that I would come to couple with my mother and with tese very hands of mine spill out the life-blood of my father. All of which has put me far and long from Corinth in sweet prosperity maybe But what's so sweet as looking into parents' eyes?" In this way, the messenger not only reveals the death of Oedipus's believed father, but also serves as a plausible and realistic method for Oedipus's thoughts to be revealed: he feared the curse, but regretted not being able to spend time with his much-loved "parents," Polybus and Merope.

__**Motifs:**__ Feet (Oedipus' name, the binding of his feet when he was a baby.) symbolizes a person's root/origin and traveling. Where Oedipus travelled back to his hometown Thebes unintentionally to meet his fate. He carries the name meaning swollen foot, symbolizes that he can never escape the curse, since his name will always be with him. Also, his feet was wounded at Thebes, and Oedipus calls it an "ancient hurt" this indicates that his hometown is cursed.

Freewill Both Jocasta and Oedipus challenge the gods multiple times, where they say the oracle is worth "nothing" and it is "dwindle"

__**Important Lines:**__ -CHORUS: "This is his [Oedipus'] place, sir, and he's within. This lady is his wife and mother... of his children." (49) This example of foreshadowing is almost too obvious to be realistic. This puts a huge amount of emphasis on the fact that Oedipus is originally from Thebes and that Jocasta is his mother. It is placed here because soon after Jocasta realizes who Oedipus really is, so it basically introduces what is about to occur. This line also shows the Chorus's growing understanding of who Oedipus is as well, although their king's real background hasn't officially been revealed to them yet.

- JOCASTA: "What? Is Oedipus's father dead?" (50) This is a great example of dramatic irony, as Jocasta is amazed that "Oedipus's father," Polybus, has perished, when she has known that Laius was dead for years, not realizing that he was Oedipus's true father.

- JOCASTA : "How can a man have scruples when it's only Chance that's king?" (52) This reflects basically the whole plot of this play, as well as ancient Greek tragedies as a whole, in which characters were often subject completely to the will of the Gods and destiny. Oedipus, despite doing all he could short of killing himself to avoid having his prophecy come true, was the victim of his fate, showing that despite man's best efforts he was still powerless to avoid divine will.

- OEDIPUS: "Apollo once declared that I would come to couple with my mother and with tese very hands of mine spill out the life-blood of my father. All of which has put me far and long from Corinth in sweet prosperity maybe But what's so sweet as looking into parents' eyes?" (53) This is another perfect example of dramatic irony, when all along he has been looking into his mother's eyes while married to her, and he ruined his own wish of looking into his father's eyes by killing Laius.

__**Entrances and Exits**__ - Jocasta //hurries// in, almost as if she knows that something is amiss (at this point, Oedipus hasn’t figured out that she’s his mother). Jocasta’s action represents the urgency she feels and lends to her characterization as someone who’s concerned and doesn’t want to create turmoil when Oedipus finds out what the truth is. - Jocasta rushes into the palace after she realizes that Oedipus is not willing to concede and stop looking into his past. This helps raise tensions between the characters as readers are better able to understand the dramatic implications of Oedipus finding out who is actual family is.

__**Irony**__ - While praying, Jocasta, referring to Oedipus, says “[h]e is so far from sense.” In actuality, Oedipus is moving closer and closer to the truth. - Jacosta says, “At least your father’s death has lightened up the scene,” in reference to how they no longer can believe that Oedipus will kill his father. This is an example of irony as a son is rejoicing at the death of a person whom he believed to be his true father but had no reason to hate. The irony may be a symbol of the strength of the oracle—it can break bonds between families who wish to defy its inevitable fate. - Oedipus says “and let my wife with all a woman’s pride bridle at my paltry origin. I do not blush to own I’m Fortune’s pampered child. She will not let me down. She is my mother.” Oedipus fails to realize that when he initially refers to Jacosta as his wife, he is also referring to her as his mother. - The Chorus begins speculating and planning for what they believe will be a wondrous revealing of Oedipus’s true past and identity. They fail to realize the actual nature of his past.

__**Allusions to Gods/Events**__ - Jocasta appeals to Apollo for help with Oedipus as she feels the city will fall into ruin because of Oedipus’s fear. This indicates the traditional Greek reliance on Apollo to solve problems involving guilt and actions related to predicting the future etc.  - Interestingly, later, Jocasta says “[h]ow dwindled are the grand predictions of Apollo,” when she thinks that Oedipus’s father died a natural death. This sudden change in terms of her respect for God represents her character, which also traditionally changes in terms of respect to the oracle—she originally believed it, but then later decided it wasn’t true. - The Chorus mistakenly believes that Oedipus is descended from a God- this represents their tremendous respect for him even in the most trying situations.