“Who is the man proclaimed by Delphi’s prophetic rock as the bloody handed murderer,545 the doer of deeds that none dare name? Now is the time for him to run with a stronger foot than Pegasus, for the child of Zeus leaps in arms upon him 550 with fire and the lightning bolt, and terribly close on his heels are the Fates that never miss. “ To me this passage poses the question as to who the murderer is. Also, it warns that they should leave the kingdom as quickly as possible to avoid the inevitable outcome of them being brought to justice for their crime, “Now is the time to run with stronger foot than Pegasus” In Greek mythology the “Pegasus” was a winged horse capable of swift and speedy travel via flight. “For the child of Zeus leaps in arms upon him with fire and the Lightning bolt” Zeus was depicted as the King of the Greek Gods Upon the death of Laius his essence returned to the God he worshiped “Zeus” and because of his servitude the “Lightning Bolt” or Justice of the Gods will be done because the Fates(fate) deems it so and the Fates are never wrong, “Fates that never miss.”
Daily Archives: October 2, 2022
“…a war God ringed with the cries of men, savage God who burns us; grant that he turn in racing course backwards out of our country’s bounds to the great palace of Amphitrite or where the waves of the Thracian Sea 215 deny the stranger safe anchorage. Whatsoever escapes the night at last the light of day revisits; so smite the War God, Father Zeus, beneath you are thunderbolt, 220 for you are the Lord of the lightning, the lightning that carries fire.” This is after oedipus talks about the king he had killed and said he would not have the same fate. But you can’t escape Gods plan for you or want different. “Oedipus the king” is a Greek mythology. It’s about how Oedipus unknowingly killed his father and married his mother. The king of Thebes was warned by oracle about how his son was going to kill him. When Jocasta birth her son he was taken away, but the shepherd felt bad and gave him away to be adopted by King Polybus. When Oedipus entered adulthood, he visited Delphi and learned his faith to kill his father and marry his mother. He chooses to leave his home, Corinth, and never return. When he was traveling towards Thebes, he ran into Laius and killed him. He was rewarded in becoming king of Thebes and married Jocasta and birthed his kids. He couldn’t get away from his faith.
OEDIPUS: For what you ask me—if you hear my words and welcome them and fight the plague, you will find strength and lightening your load. Hark to me; what I say to you, I say 235 as a stranger to the story as a stranger to the deed, for I would not be far upon the track if I alone were tracing it without a clue. But now, since after all was finished, I became 240 a citizen among you, citizens— now I proclaim to all the men of Thebes: who so among you knows the murderer by whose hand Laius, son of Labdacus, died—I command him to tell everything 245 to me,– yes. However, he fears himself taking the blame. (4) This passage talks about how the King of Thebes tries to get rid of the evil of Thebes. “I Proclaim to all the men of Thebes who so among you knows the murderer by whose hand Laius, son of Labdacus, died” I believe in this passage, he is informing this person, Fighting with Oedipus will bring you great powers of strength and things will be easier to handle
“I am stretched on the rack of doubt, and terror and trembling hold my heart, O Delian Healer, and I worship full of fears for what doom you will bring to pass, new or renewed in the revolving years. Speak to me, immortal voice, child of golden Hope” (Grene, 3 182-188). This is passage is from the very beginning of the play. The chorus represents the citizens, the average onlookers, who aren’t playing a major role, just only able to watch. So right now, they are very anxious, stressed, and filled with overwhelming fear because their home is in ruins and there is nothing they can do about it but watch. In this passage, they show their fear through their creative language. The chorus describes how their fear “holds my heart”. This language allows the listener to see how these feelings are taking over their whole being. How they are all consumed in their fear. The chorus is also showing their faith in this verse. Even though they are scared, they still are praying. They refer to Apollo, by calling him the “Delian Healer” and the “child of Golden Hope”. Showing how he is their savior, their end to this suffering, much like the raising sun is to the night.
