In Oedipus the King, the Chorus functions as the collective voice of the citizens of Thebes. The Odes, sung by the chorus, also exemplify one of Aristotle’s criteria for great tragic theatre: “language enhanced by varying beauties.” Select one passage (You do not have to discuss the entire ode) sung by the Chorus and write a 150-word post in which you analyze the meaning of the passage and give examples of some of the beautiful language employed. Include the line numbers for us.
Do not address a passage that has already been discussed by another student.
Please address comments to others by name so we can all follow along.
52 thoughts on “Week 2 Discussion”
In Oedipus the King, line 1370 “O generations of men, how I count you as equal with those who live not at all! What man, What man on earth wins more of happiness than a seeming and after that turning away? Oedipus, you are my pattern of this, Oedipus, you and your fate! Luckless Oedipus, whom of all men I envy not at all”
This is a tragical story, Oedipus realizes that the prophecy foretold about him had, come true. He gouges out his eyes at the end of the story. Did he blinded himself in order to see the truth? Chorus helps the audience to see the story from another angle, those lines sing an ode on the sorrow of life and the tragical fate of king Oedipus. As chorus describes “luckless” Oedipus who is a victim of fate. Although he tried to escape from his destiny and control his free will. Having the ability to choose his own live did not prevent him from killing his father and marrying his mother and fallen into his fate. The dramatic irony showing in the play is when king tries to change his fate, but the audience know that tragedy cannot be avoided. This makes me wonder if we are all giving choices in life or everything is predetermined?
Maggie, thank you so much for starting off the discussion with this dramatic and poignant lament from the Chorus. It truly does show the tragedy of this play and the questions it raises about the human condition and how much free will people actually have. You point out the terrible irony in the fact that Oedipus’s use of his free will does not change the outcome that has been decided by the gods. As I mention in the video lecture on tragedy, human beings can devote great amounts of energy and will towards a goal often with success, but there are some things over which we simply do not have control. While many read this play as a comment on the king’s flaw of excessive pride, I tend to read it more as a reflection on what it means to be human given that all human beings have flaws. Thank you for the thought-provoking insights.
I agree that Oedipus was overwhelmed with guilt because he enacted the prophecy to completion albeit unknowingly. His whole life became a blur and he wanted to escape his misery. Gouging his eyes means that he cannot see his physical life: he becomes blind to his reality. Besides seeking the truth, maybe he just wanted to see nothing. To answer your final question, whether, by choice or a predestined order, every person’s life somehow follows a certain path. Given a closer look, an uncanny predictive chain of events is at the bottom of every decision one makes in life.
Maggie, you’re right. This is a very tragical story. Hearing that the foretold fate of Oedipus was to kill his father and then marry his mother, Oedipus did everything to prevent this from happening. However, it was the actions taken to avoid this fate that led him to fulfill the prophecy which make me think more that even if we try to change what is predetermined for us, we only postpone it by our actions, but in the end, what was prescribed will happen anyway as it happened in this play.
Hey Maggie, I also agree that what his part was in the play was never up to him but the gods. As for as free will come to play I believe there is always two paths to choose from we decide which path to take. I believe there is two different ending and we have to choose one and hope it’s the right one. Other than that I don’t think we have any free will, everything else is just set for us to follow.
Hello Everyone
From the lines (57-77) Oedipus words.
In this quote Oedipus adressing to the Thebes children. He is trying to help suffering children in Thebes. Priest explains Oedipus all the suffering that were happening in Thebes, they were suffering from a curse. He starts planing how to help Thebes. After conversation with Creon, he expels the man from Thebes who pollutes it with plagues. Oedipus ready to do everything for Thebes because he takes the responsibility of the well-being of Thebes. He promises to find a man who were making problems to the people of Thebes. Especially the villain who plagued the city with the course of blights. As he promised Oedipus was able to save Thebes from the curse of the Sphinx. After that he was proud to call himself the king of Thebes. He always tries to see his good side and tries to make everything for Thebes.
Sabrina, please post again and include the quote you are referring to. Paste your previous comments under the quote. We don’t want others to have to go locate the quote in order to appreciate your comment.
Hello Professor
thank you for letting me know.
I already post it again.
In the play’s first ode (181-210) the chorus is explaining how the Oracle has brought back an important message from the gods. The people were afraid of the answers of the Oracle, they asked in fear. The people of Thebes were starting to lose hope as there was a plague that was going on, women were not being able to conceive and there were no more growing children.
People were left to die, including children, whose bodies were contaminating diseases. One line in the text that shows beautiful language is “I worship full of fears for what doom you will bring to pass, new or renewed in the revolving years” (185-186). In reading this language, you can see the sadness of the people and how frightened they are to know an answer. The use of the word “doom” is especially tragic. The different ways the people call out to their gods also shows this.
Marowa, yes, this passage helps readers see how important the gods were to the people of ancient Greece. They worship them and yet fear their powers. I’m struck by the words “new or renewed in the revolving years,” which indicates that the same punishment can be repeated through the generations of mankind.
Thank you so much for your feedback!
Dear Marowa,
I find your reflection on the Greeks worshipping to emphasize how occurring events, fear, and faith connect to fate in “Oedipus the King”. Throughout his journey, Oedipus is blind to his fate, believing himself to be this dominant figure who saves Thebes from impending doom. When confronted with the realization of his prophecy, Oedipus feels helpless and falls into his punishments. From lines 1666-1772, he calls on thes gods, wanting all the damage and pain he deserves for his crime. Believing in the gods, and fearing his fate, Oedipus shows his recognition to these higher powers and highlights how faith plays a part in his prophecy.
(The line 211-230) In the passage the chorus are talking about the War god who is causing the plague. He is the one who is destroying the Thebes. Chorus are calling upon the Father Zeus, Lycean King, the God with the turban of gold, Bacchic God with the wind flushed face and Evian One to stop the war god. To run him out of their Thebes so they can see the light of the day again. They want the gods to fight the war god. The end the chorus also that that the war god is not liked by the other gods. One example of beautiful language is “so smite the War God, Father Zeus, beneath your thunderbolt, for you are the Lord of the lightning, the lightning that carries fire” (Line 217-220). The way the chorus ask Zeus to fight the war god show how much they admire the gods and how desperate they feel to get rid him.
Meherun, thank you for this interesting post. For me, it is always intriguing how the human the ancient gods are, despite their great powers. They form alliances and are prone to all the human emotions, such as loyalty, love, hatred, jealousy, and all the rest. I think the earlier lines you refer are even more emblematic of “language enhanced by varying beauties.” Be sure to use quotation marks for phrasing that is in the literature.
Hello Meherun, I agree with you that the quote here shows how much the chorus admires the gods. When they speak of them, they always include their strengths/feats and how they can use their power to help them. However, I think this also shows just how much the people are reliant on the gods. Rather than ask the gods for strength to complete some tasks themselves, they beg them to use their power. Its as if the gods feed on the worship and want humans to remain weak and helpless.
line 203 “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 God15 rings out but with it the wailing voices are blended”.
When tragic or happy events occur in our lives or others, most people come to the conclusion that it was meant to be or in other words fate. In Oedipus the King, was it the concept of fate or free will of man that decided the outcome of the play? Throughout this mythical story of patricide and incest Sophocles underscores the irony of a man who decided to track, expose and punish the murderer, which turns out to be himself.
The main focus of the work is centered around the actions and feelings of people. The choir in these lines addresses the gods, mourning the fate of the city and it was announced that the cause of misfortune of the city was that there was a murderer among the citizens who should be expelled. Oedipus acts as the protector of the city as once he had already saved him from the terrible sphinx, and now everyone hopes only that Oedipus will again save the city from death. Oedipus is trying with all his might to find the criminal, not knowing that he is himself. When the truth became known to Oedipus, he blinded himself, believing that this was a well-deserved punishment for the crime he had committed. Was it a fate or free will of Oedipus?
(Lines 471-475) Chorus – “We look at this man’s words and yours, my king, and we find both have spoken them in anger.
We need no angry words but only thought
how we may best hit the God’s meaning for us” (Oedipus the king By David Green)
Before this chorus began speaking the King Oedipus has called upon a prophet called Teiresias to solve the mysterious death of the previous King Laius. Unfortunately, Teiresias refuses to divulge the knowledge he poses because he believes it would cause further anguish for both. Enraged Oedipus demands Teiresias to speak what he knows but the King does not take kindly to Teiresias prophesy because he has accused him of murdering the previous King Laius. I really liked lines 471-475 because it’s telling the king that he is speaking out of anger and not reason. He must stop acting out of anger and investigate this prophecy without emotion, to best decipher this prophecy from the gods.
Patric, thanks for posting. I’m not sure this particular section is the most beautiful in terms of enhanced language, but we all have different ideas about what is beautiful, and maybe for you it is the content more than the choice of words. You are so right that the Chorus is beginning to see frightening signs in Oedipus. I think this is so timely as we look at some of our own leaders right now. It is dangerous when a leader who has so much influence is not in control of his own emotions. We can see the effects of a leader’s anger in the last week and how it can lead others to harmful and destructive actions.
This was precisely my observation professor, nowadays individuals tend to act on things straight out of anger/emotion and completely disregarding critical thinking. People forget that emotions can sometimes hinder you by applying a blindfold and covering the consequences of their actions.
@patricquezada, I like your interpretation of that passage, i like how the chorus guides the protagonist and the reader of how Oedipus’s behavior changes and tries to guide it with words of wisdom throughout the play. Another chorus message I enjoyed is “His words are wise, king, if one fears fall. Those who are quick of temper are not safe. For me, its food for thought, to remember that the consequences that will occur will be bad and he will not be safe because he has a bad temper, and when he finds out he is killed his father and wed his mother, he will suffer bad consequences.
Hey Patric, hoping that you are doing well!
Your explanation of the quote that you chose is exceptional since it can be applied in today’s politics. Nowadays, we perceive that politicians sometimes speak out of anger or act in anger, which ends up causing a misunderstanding of their words or actions most of the time, and therefore that’s why citizens are disappointed by their behavior because these representatives that are in charge of a nation don’t know how to control their own emotions which lead me to associate them with The king of Thebes because like him, they are behaving and speaking just with anger and do not use their rationality in such as important moments that need it, since they don’t have a clue of how to control their emotions.
Oedipus the King, line 305: “I know that what the Lord Teiresias sees, is most often what Lord Apollo sees. If you should inquire of this from him you might find out most clearly.”
The Chorus is giving Oedipus guidance on how to find the person that murdered his father, Laius. Oedipus is begging the citizens of Thebes to make known to him the killer of his father and he promises no consequences for this action. The king has stated his impatience and frustration on waiting for the god Phoebus to reveal the answer to him thus he requires all available alternative propositions. Those lines are still appealing to a higher power but with quicker results, because Lord Tiresias is a blind prophet and Lord Apollo is an Olympian deity. The Chorus state that both Lords share the same vision hence any one of them would give an accurate revelation of the king’s murderer. This ode also indicates that no one amongst the people could have killed Laius excluding Oedipus because the assumption is that he could not have killed his father but the contrary will come true later on. The Chorus seems to be pacifying him at the moment because perhaps they could be privy to the answer that he seeks but they dare not say it to him directly. Indeed there is a mystery to be solved.
Aman, does this quote demonstrate “language enhanced by varying beauties?” In this forum we are looking for instances of highly poetic language sung by the Chorus. This is just a snippet of dialogue between the Chorus and Oedipus. It is not part of an ode and is quite mundane and ordinary. The Chorus is simply suggesting to the king that he petition the seer.
Chorus (1230) Why has the queen gone, Oedipus, in wild grief rushing from us? I am afraid that trouble will break out of this silence.
This passage is a warning from the Chorus, of the trouble that is about to break out as Oedipus continues to dig and gather more information about his ancestry from the messenger he is interrogating. As he is informed by the messenger that he is the illegitimate child of the King Laius, Jocasta pleads with him to stop the inquiry. She warns him of the grief that will be set upon him by calling him “unhappy Oedipus!” (1226) and leaves him. Oedipus, full of pride thinks Jocasta left after hearing that he comes from a poor family, unlike her, he finds himself proud as he thinks of himself a child of good luck for being saved by the messenger. I think Jocasta new that he was her son as soon as the messenger informed the both of the on how he saved the baby Oedipus and tried to stop the inquiry so that Oedipus wouldn’t find out, hence the reason for her departure.
Andrea, yes, this is one of those passages sung by the Chorus, which unnerves the audience and foreshadows terrible things to come. I think you are perceptive to sense that Jocasta has figured out the terrible truth, which is why she pleads with Oedipus to let it go. The Chorus expresses the inner thoughts running through the minds of viewers and readers. One of the many ironies in this play is that truth-seeking, which is usually admired, does not end well, especially when paired by the pride you mention.
Hi Andrea,
I agree with you. Jocasta came to realization before Oedipus that he is her son. She hangs herself, as she is unable to live with the guilt. Just like Oedipus, Jocasta is a tragic figure, who is a victim of fate. Jocasta could not commit to her flaws, the fact that she married her son, who killed her husband. She understands that whatever happens will happen by unforeseeable chance. Unlike King Oedipus, who acknowledges his action and is enlighten by free will. Jocasta on the other hand, she is despair over her incestuous actions.
In Oedipus the King lines (542-552) “Who is the man proclaimed by Delphi’s prophetic rock as the bloody handed murderer, 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 with fire and the lightning bolt, and terribly close on his heels are the Fates that never miss”
This quote comes directly after Teiresias told Oedipus of the man who is responsible for the death of Laius. Strophe, one side of the collective chorus, offers some insight into what might be going on in the mind of Oedipus. Who is this killer and why has no one brought him forward? The second line serves as a warning for the man because now someone seeks punishment for his actions. The language used suggests that the speed and swiftness of a Pegasus is the only way one might stand a chance in escaping the grasp of Zeus. The closing lines give off a sense of hopelessness for the killer. Try and run as you may but your destiny has already been determined. This also functions as a summary or conclusion for Oedipus’ fate. Despite Oedipus’ desire to catch the killer, he was the murderer all along and everything Teiresias said came to pass.
Eugene, this is a powerful passage, and your discussion of it is insightful and informed. As you point out, it contains references to gods and mythical creatures in its colorful and foreboding warning to whomever the murderer of Laius might be. It also reflects the dire belief that there is no escape from the wrath of the gods.
Eugene, These lines you have chosen to write about are some of the ones that make this piece of literature so captivating. These lines show some foreshadowing of what is to happen to the murderer of Laius. Oedipus is condemning the murderer of Laius with an inescapable curse. But little does he know he is cursing himself as he later learned about the prophecy from Teiresias. Oedipus realizes that deceiving the gods was what caused his demise.
Line 203 “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 God15 rings out but with it the wailing voices are blended.
From these our sufferings grant us, O golden Daughter of Zeus,16
210 glad-faced deliverance”.
I found this passage extremely emotional. In this passage chorus are talking about suffering of people of Thebes. The word “death” is emphasizing the fact that people in the city are sick and it helps us to imagine the Thebes with very ill people, suffering and dying slowly on the streets. These lines focus on the “gray mothers” and “children”, which also show that the people of Thebes are a family and that they all go through it together. For me, one example of beautiful language is “those children that are born lie dead on the naked earth unpitied, spreading contagion of death”. It evokes pity in the audience, as does the plaintive plea of the chorus for the help of the gods.
In Oedipus the King, lines 185 to 210 is a very in depth section of the play where theres a description of love, power, strength and development of healing combined. Here is where (at first), there is a healing moment of fear and love. Where hope and faith carries a major roles through this whole conception from the character Oedipus. Later on, ironically death occurs for no other than Zues’s daughter which changes the scenery of this portion of the play. The thought and reality of no growing children are being raised by women and in homes. Deaths upon deaths continuously reoccur allowing this play just to become more TRAGIC. Later on, they want the gods to fight a war as it states, “ there is no clash brazen shields but, our fight is with the war god”.
Hello Nandanie
yes, at the beginning there was happiness and love, power and death was combined. later Children in Thebes suffered a lot. Because of that Oedipus blinds himself. He calls his daughter not his son because his daughter won’t be treated well in life because he is their father and brother, and they’ll likely suffer more than their brothers because of the curse and the disgrace Oedipus brought to his family.
Sabrina, I do not understand how your response addresses Nandanie’s post. You are giving plot details that are not relevant to the passage.
Nandanie, you seem to have a misunderstanding of what this passage is expressing. Here the people are praying to the various gods for deliverance from the plague. Zeus’s daughter Athene, who is among those invoked, does not die. In fact, she is referred to as “deathless.” I hope you will revisit this passage for a clearer understanding of what it is actually about. In the meantime, it’s always best to choose a passage for discussion that you understand fully.
Hello Everyone
lines 1722-1725
You that live in my
ancestral Thebes, behold this Oedipus, —
Him who knew the famous riddles and was a man most
masterful;
1725 not a citizen who did not look with envy on his
lot—
see him now and see the breakers of misfortune
swallow him!
Look upon that last day always. Count no mortal happy
till
he has passed the final limit of his life secure from
pain.
This quote from conclusion is trying to explain that Chorus seems to suggest a causal link between Oedipus’s Rises and falls. Oedipus inspired others to ”envy”. He is trying to say that Oedipus did everything but the causal relationship is never actually established. He is trying to say that always look to the end of that specific day and do not count as a happy to those who are already dead, until he has not come to the end. Chorus says that Oedipus was the famous and great king of Thebes and do not look at him with jealousy because unhappiness swallows him.
Chorus used the words ”masterful” and ” famous riddles” to describe Oedipus.
Hello Sabrina I initially was going to do this passage myself and I wanted to comment that I agree with your observation that the Chorus was telling the people of Thebes to no longer look upon Oedipus with envy. It serves as a positive lesson to refrain from looking at what others have because you never know how they are obtained.
Sabrina, stay off the Internet. Just think for yourself.
In Oedipus the King lines (772-775) “May the Sun God, king of Gods, forbid!, may I die without God’s blessing, without friends’ help, if I had any such thought. But my spirit is broken by my unhappiness for my wasting country; and this would but add troubles amongst ourselves to the other troubles.”
This quote has a powerful meaning for me, which is remarkable and appreciable to interpret. It reflects that no one can flee from their destiny. Even if someone tried to change it, that would not be possible because fate is something that is already predetermined from the moment that a human is born, or at least that was what Greek people believed back then. Here we can perceive that the chorus has great loyalty to Oedipus, they said those words to The King of Thebes to calm him down and try to make him feel compassion for his brother-in-law, Creon, to not banishment or, in the worst-case scenario, kill him; since he started to believe that the oracle and Creon were conspiring against him to take over the kingdom; because Oedipus couldn’t conceive that the prediction of the oracle was veritable since couldn’t imagine that he killed his father, married his mother and had children with her. And that’s why the chorus said “this would but add troubles amongst ourselves to the other troubles.” because if Oedipus kept believing that they were trying to take over the kingdom, without proofs; the Thebans would continue having the plagues and the problem would not be solved.
Hello Adriana, I really like your point of view in this situation specifically the quote. I also agree with you that fate is something that is already written for you. I personally believe fate is written when a person is born. In Opedius the King, the quote speaks fear, the fear of truth. This quote is very powerful and relatable in today’s society. For example the pandemic that has taken 2020 by a storm, people may think it’s just a plague but there has been many plagues in the past. These were already prewritten in the holy books. Going back to the story, the fate of Opedius was that he’d murder his father, marry his mother and his own mother’s children and it happened to be true in the story.
Marowa, how does the passage you are responding to relate to ideas about fate and predestination? As I noted to the author, this passage is a plea by the Chorus for Oedipus to curb his temper and not turn on Creon.
Hi Adriana
I like how you explained your thoughts and Yes I agree with, it is written from the beginning that moment when human is born what is going to happen in his/her life. Chorus know about it and used this words to make the king Oedipus calm. Everything in life is pre-written in the same way and no matter what we going to do, we can not change what is written in our fate. Everything that is happening it does not matter good/bad thing it should happen in order to make someone much stronger in life.
Adriana, your remarks about the Chorus’s concern for Creon and concern about Oedipus’s rash judgement are well taken, but where do you see the ideas about fate and predestination in this particular passage?
Lines 1488-1496
This is a terrible sight for men to see!
I never found a worse!
1490 Poor wretch, what madness came upon you!
What evil spirit leaped upon your life
to your ill-luck—a leap beyond man’s strength!
Indeed I pity you, but I cannot
look at you, though there’s much I want to ask
1495 and much to learn and much to see.
I shudder at the sight of you.
This part of the Choral Ode comes just after Oedipus with freshly blinded eyes walks in. The chorus had the reaction that many in both modern day society and even then would wince at the sight of, understandably so. As the chorus even opens by saying “This is a terrible sight for men to see! I never found a worse.” Remembering that the chorus represents the people of Thebes it indicates the treatment and scorn that Oedipus would have been experiencing. The chorus then goes on to ask Oedipus why he would do such a thing to himself still expressing their scorn and adding pity. “Poor wretch, what madness came upon you! What evil spirit leaped upon your life.” While they do feel for his situation the next line comes in the same way we as humans think. “Indeed I pity you, but I cannot look at you, though there’s much I want to ask ” One thought cancelling the next because while the people of Thebes feel bad for Oedipus his situation still remains a taboo and somewhat a marvel. The wonder that is Oedipus both his physical appearance and his social dilemma is summed up throughout these lines but is then solidified with the chorus’ final statement. “Much to learn and much to see” Referring to learning his story and looking upon the face of the man that blinded himself. “I shudder at the sight of you” because not only has he managed to use his own strength to blind himself he has also laid with his own mother and killed his own father.
In Oedipus the King, line 1155 “A gift he took you from these hands of mine.” In this moment the Odes takes a significant 180 degrees turn because after this line Oedipus began to learn the truth about his supposed parents.
Oedipus distant himself from his father because he was afraid of the prophecy about him killing his father was going to become true, but the Messenger arrives telling him that he should rule Corinth because his father has passed. Oedipus carry on explaining that the prophecy was all false, and then suddenly the Messenger reveal those should be his lest worries because Polybus was not his biological father.
In this quote we can see that it was the Messenger who found Oedipus in Cithaeron slopes and he was given to Polybus. Later on, tons of questions were raised since the discovering, but there was a question that always remained. Who is the actual father? this raised attention that it was even consider the Oedipus was child of one of them Gods, which god? we are not sure, but might be true.
Cesar, we are looking for language “enhanced by varying beauties,” one of Aristotle’s criteria for great tragic theatre. Does this passage really demonstrate the dramatically poetic language of Sophocles in this play?
Oedipus the King, line 185: “What is the sweet spoken word of God from the shrine of Pytho rich in gold that has come to glorious Thebes? 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.”
Oedipus is pushing for answers as to who murdered his father. The Chorus are pleading with their gods, particularly, Apollo who they refer to as the “Delian Healer”. Considering Oedipus’ previous remarks that he that killed his father should also come and kill him, they are beseeching Apollo to furnish them with answers to save their king. Laius’ murder was overlooked when it was given little attention. Oedipus is not pleased with this revelation from his brother-in-law. Apollo’s answer however is one to be feared because it could either bring good tidings or spell doom for the people. The Chorus anticipate the worst as history shows nothing but impending doom which darken future expectations. As a disclaimer, the Chorus use words like “rack of doubt” and “terror” to express their hesitance to revisit the king’s father murder because no good news will come of it. Those lines can be summarized as an ode expressing both eagerness and fear for the unknown. Oedipus seems relentless in his quest but the Chorus wonder if the path he undertakes will offer any relief. Perhaps these lines could be an indirect warning to Oedipus that the answer he seeks will be his undoing.
Following Oedipus on his journey in “Oedipus the King” by Sophocles, from lines 1666-1772 Oeidpus cries to his higher powers,
“…act quickly – hide me somewhere outside the land of Thebes, or slaughter me…where you will never gaze on me again. Come, allow yourself to touch a wretched man…and do not be afraid – for this disease infects no one but me.”
Feeling nothing but remorse over the blood on his hands and his tainted bloodline, Oedipus banishes himself from Thebes knowing that his destiny was inescapable, yet his resentment burned him. Shocked by the revelation of his fate and Queens death, in a panic, Oedipus gouges out his own eyes. Finally able to realize the truth, Oedipus would have his loss as an only visual. One must wonder if Oedipus’s guilt and disgust drove him to literal blindness or was he haunted by the words of the blind prophet he previously ignored.
Stephanie, you were asked to select a passage by the Chorus. This passage is spoken by Oedipus.