“For whoso slew that king might have a mind To strike me too with his assassin hand. Therefore in righting him I serve myself This passage reflects Oedipus’ sense of duty as a king to seek justice and to protect his people, but it also reflects his personal motivation to protect himself. Oedipus is aware that if the murderer of King Laius is not found, he himself may be the next target. In this way, Oedipus’ search for the murderer serves a dual purpose: to protect his own life and to uphold justice for the sake of his people. The passage also suggests a deeper message about the interconnectedness of humanity. Oedipus recognizes that the murder of King Laius not only affected the royal family but also had repercussions for the entire city of Thebes. In seeking justice for the king’s death, Oedipus is serving not only his own interests but also the interests of his people. Overall, this passage conveys a message about the importance of acting with a sense of duty and responsibility towards others. It reminds us that our actions have consequences and that we are all interconnected in ways that we may not always realize.
Daily Archives: March 5, 2023
CHORUS: His skill apart there is besides only an old faint story. OEDIPUS: What is it? 315I look at every story. CHORUS: It was said that he was killed by certain wayfarers. OEDIPUS: I heard that, too, but no one saw the killer. CHORUS: Yet if he has a share of fear at all, 320 his courage will not stand firm, hearing your curse. OEDIPUS: The man who in the doing did not shrink will fear no word. CHORUS: Here comes his prosecutor: led by your men the godly prophet comes 325 in whom alone of mankind truth is native. This story symbolizes a lot because it touches base on what he says. I chose this line in the story because it shows how words are being spread on things different people have believed. And other fairy tales. Stories that are being told can cause people to have different thoughts . the power one’s words hold can bring in a major difference in the way someone acts. But sticking to what you believe and what you know is right is the key. A closed minded individual usually often disregards the words others may have to say to them.
After reading “Oedipus the King” translated by David Grene. the quote that stood out to me from the story that exemplifies one of Aristotle’s criteria for great tragic theater comes from line 195 to line 200 it says, “our sorrows defy number all of ship’s timbers are rotten taking of thought is no spear for the driving away of the plague 0 You may see them one with another, like birds swift on the wing.” I picked this passage because it gave until a look inside to what seems to be hell on earth. Every day they wake up and go through the same thing over and over bit by bit their hope is being teared away as they realize this is their life and that’s it. They chorus contributes as the deeper you get into the story, they praise Zues and the War God Ares calling him the “Lord of Lighting” begging for help. It pierces through that they still have a slither of hope left.
The theme of The Plague by the Chorus is one of resilience and hope in the face of adversity. The Chorus speaks of the plague as a force of nature that cannot be controlled, but that can be endured. They emphasize the importance of maintaining hope and courage in the face of the plague, and of finding strength in the community. The Chorus also speaks of the need to look beyond the immediate suffering and to focus on the future. They emphasize the importance of looking for the silver lining in the midst of the darkness, and of finding joy in the small moments of life. Ultimately, the Chorus encourages the audience to remain strong and to find hope in the midst of the plague.
In the unnumbered death of its people the city dies; those children that are born lie dead on the naked earth unpitied, spreading contagion of death; and gray-haired mothers and wives everywhere stand at the altar’s edge, suppliant, moaning; the hymn to the healing God rings out but with it the wailing voices are blended. From these our sufferings grant us, O golden Daughter of Zeus, glad-faced deliverance. 203-210 The reason I picked this passage here is, it represents the hurtful tragedy’s these new born babies have to grow up into with the repetition of the word death. The chorus letting us know how people are pleading out to Golden Daughter of Zeus for the help and trying to understand why nothing is being done. I could only image how all these people feel on how that, the person they look upon, can’t grant them a promise to something better that they need.
“In the unnumbered death of its people the city dies; those children that are born lie dead on the naked earth unpitied, spreading contagion of death; and gray-haired mothers and wives everywhere stand at the altar’s edge, suppliant, moaning; the hymn to the healing God rings out but with it the wailing voices are blended. From these our sufferings grant us, O golden Daughter of Zeus, glad-faced deliverance” (Oedipus, 204-210). I chose this passage because the language used is rich and evocative, with the repetition of “death” emphasizing the gravity of the city’s tragedy. The depiction of dead children lying on the naked earth, as well as mothers and wives standing at the altar, pleading for divine intervention, is particularly moving. The use of the word “unpitied” by the Chorus emphasizes the sense of isolation and abandonment felt by the people of Thebes in their suffering. The passage’s final lines 209-210 introduce the hope of salvation, with the Chorus appealing to the goddess Artemis for deliverance. The epithet “golden Daughter of Zeus” and the phrase “glad-faced deliverance” add to the language’s beauty and power, conveying a sense of reverence and supplication. Ultimately, I find this passage beautiful because it’s a perfect example of the Chorus’s ability to portray their complex feelings and connection to the Theban people using exquisite language and imagery.
” Our sorrows defy number; all the ship’s timbers are rotten; taking of thought is no spear for the driving away of the plague There are no growing children in this famous land; there are no women bearing the pangs of childbirth. 200 You may see them one with another, like birds swift on the wing, quicker than fire unmastered, speeding away to the coast of the Western God” (Oedipus 195-203) I chose this quote because I could feel the desperation for there to be a cure or a miracle to stop the Black Plague that is taking over the city. In this quote, the citizen is basically saying there are more people dying than being born. When he says, “you may see them one with another… speeding away to the coast of the Western God” (Oedipus 200-203) he was pretty much saying that everyone collectively is dropping like flies. This was beautiful to me because there is a sense of unity even during this time of illness in the city. It has a dark yet comforting feel because it demonstrates that death does not play favorites. In Greek mythology, it’s believed that your fate is unique to you depending on how you were as a person. For example, evil rulers in Greek mythology always ended up cursed for their crimes. In this case, death is taking anyone through illness which adds more reasoning behind the citizen’s desperation for Oedipus to save the city.
