We have sayings as if your courage will not exist if you have any fear in thee. You have this guy Oedipus that may be nuts or be in mitts of dementia in his time. By them saying this that he whatever he tries to do or accomplish he will fail. Sounds familiar to the leaders of our country today. Any way we then have another so called man Kronos that is so callous and afraid that he will be controlled by his children that he has them killed and eats them. Then all hail the so-called gods taking revenge on him and killing all. From reading this you then have this guy Oedipus that is somehow painted as a murderer, and he is somehow responsible for stopping a mystical thing of some kind with some so-called riddles. This reading wants you realize that is hatred and disalliance within the story creating drams.
Daily Archives: March 6, 2022
In the ancient Greek tragedy, Oedipus the King the following line is sung by the Chorus: CHORUS: Here comes his prosecutor: led by your men the godly prophet comes 325 in whom alone of mankind truth is native. Although short, it is a beautifully written passage. It is meant to emphasize the relevance Teiresias, the prophet, holds in their society. According to the Chorus’ line “in whom alone of mankind truth is native”, he is the only one who knows the truth about anything in the world as he is omniscient. His word cannot be questionable the the weight it holds is akin to a law, therefore they refer to him as a “prosecutor”. The Chorus call him “godly”, showcasing how, in this ancient society, prophets were regarded as at least partly divine individuals.
That is no wonder, master. But I’ll make him remember what he does not know. For I know, that he well knows the country of 1290 Cithaeron, how he with two flocks, I with one kept company for three years—each year half a year—from spring till autumn time and then when winter came I drove my flocks to our fold home again and he to Laius’ steadings. Well—am I right or not in what I said we did? HERDSMAN: You’re right—although it’s a long time ago. MESSENGER: Do you remember giving me a child 1296 to bring up as my foster child? HERDSMAN: What’s this? Why do you ask the question? MESSENGER: Look old man, 1300 here he is—here’s the man who was that child! HERDSMAN: Death take you! Won’t you hold your tongue? OEDIPUS: No, no, do not find fault with him, old man. Your words are more at fault than his. HERDSMAN: O best of masters, 1306 how do I give offense? This part shows that people back then would get killed for talking out of place. I also remember watching a Sparta movie that reminded me about this.
In line 319 the chorus says, “Yet if he has a share of fear at all, his courage will not stand firm, hearing your curse”. I think this line means that if Oedipus is not completely sound of mind, he will fail in his endeavors. Word like these would have probably led to him having growing doubts about his own character. It also recognizes fear as a defining force in his life, with the trauma coming from the problems with his father. Usually in stories about Greek mythology, one’s own fear leads them down the path that faith has decided. One example of this was when Kronos ate his children because he foresaw them ruling over him. His actions fully lead to the gods rebelling against him and killing all the titans. One with courage within themselves and their family would be able to change fate and lead their own lives.
The lines from the chorus that I’ve chosen to analyze from the reading “Oedipus the King” refers to the blind prophet Tiresias, who had refused to obey the king of Thebes, Oedipus, by helping him to find who killed his father. After he refuses to cooperate, Oedipus accuses the prophet as being one of the murderers of the king. Further, in a headed argument, Oedipus and Tiresias exchange feverous curses to one another. On the lines 535-540, Tiresias says: “He shall be proved father and brother both to his own children in his own house; to her that gave him birth, a son and husband both; a fellow sower in his father’s bed with that same father that he murdered.” Hence, the prophet not only condemns the king as the murderer of his own father, as he also curses Oedipus to a life of shame and sin, by taking his father’s place in the family and being now the father of his brothers, and also laying down in the same bed as his own mom, while performing to be her husband. Further, the chorus performs on the lines 560-575: “He is sad and lonely, his feet that carry him far from the navel of earth; but its prophecies, ever living, flutter around his head. The augur has spread confusion, terrible confusion; I do not approve what was said nor can I deny it. I do not know what to say; I am in a flutter of foreboding; I never heard in the present nor past of a quarrel between the sons of Labdacus and Polybus, that I might bring as proof in attacking the popular fame of Oedipus, seeking to take vengeance for undiscovered death in the line of Labdacus.” Here, the chorus uses from a hyperbole “flutter around his head” […]
Antistrophe First I call on you, Athene, deathless daughter of Zeus, and Artemis, Earth Upholder, 190 who sits in the midst of the market place in the throne which men call Fame, and Phoebus, the Far Shooter, three averters of Fate, come to us now, if ever before, when ruin rushed upon the state, you drove destruction’s flame away out of our land. The scene sounds as if Oedipus is dead and has found relief in his death. The ability of the chorus to make people feel the emotions of the characters and create a magnificent and large-scale effect of tragedy is deeply noticeable from the first to the last line of the work. He’s purpose is to create an atmosphere of tension and emphasize the effects of tragedy so that the reader can understand the essence of the play. Oedipus is known for his compassion, sense of justice, quick thinking and acting, and honesty.
“If I am a prophet and wise of heart you shall not fail, Cithaeron, 1245 by the limitless sky, you shall not!— to know at tomorrow’s full moon that Oedipus honors you, as native to him and mother and nurse at once; and that you are honored in dancing by us, as finding But I account myself a child of Fortune, beneficent Fortune, and I shall not be dishonored. She’s the mother from whom I spring; the months, my brothers, marked me, now as small favor in sight of our king. 1250 Apollo, to whom we cry, Find these things pleasing!” While reading this line from the reading I noticed a lot of great language that was being used but the main idea of it all was that Oedipus is being told by the greats that he is very lucky and that if they remain next to his side for a good amount of time their will be no time for him to be a failure and that tomorrows moon will be a honor to him from them to show him the amount of respect they have for him and to express the type of great person he is idolizing himself infront of them to be, Oedipus’s reaction to this is of him being very grateful and respectful as he continues on to say that these actions are not just for him but the people who are around him.
