Pity the Man?

Sophocles’ Oedipus at Colonus 2

“O the misery,now it is ours, all ours, and not for the moment now

but all our lives, we wail the deaththe curse on the blood our blood

our doom born in us by our father . . . .”(Antigone, Sophocles Oedipus at Colonus p. 382)

―“But look,

he’s free, he’s ended his life with blessings—children, end your grief. No one alive

is free and clear of pain”(Chorus, p. 384)

Mourn or Rejoice?

Agenda

• Opening Discussion• Oedipus at Colonus as Tragedy: Plot and Theme

• Recap and Update• Genre, Context, Theme

• Closing Discussion• “Not to Be Born is Best”?

Opening Discussion

Oedipus at Colonus as Tragedy: Plot and Theme

OAC as Tragedy…

• Formula, etc.• Koros• Hubris• Atē• Dikē

• Aeschylean progression• Verbal visual• Ambiguous clear• Human divine

• Cycle of violence?• Knowledge through

suffering?• Aristotelian patterns

• Character-based motivation (ēthos)?

• Hamartia?• Complex plot?

• Recognition?• Reversal?

• Pity? Fear? Catharsis?

Oedipal ReversalsOedipus the King

• Reverse rite of passage1. incorporation2. transformation3. separation

Oedipus at Colonus

• Others. . .• Furies to Eumenides

• Oedipus• “Nothing” to “man”• Fool to sage• Father to alastōr• Pariah to hērōs (deified

dead)

Recap and Update

Genre, Context, Theme

Some Plot Variants

Sophocles Oedipus at Colonus Other…

Prior to action of play, Oedipus, after big reveal, seeks to be killed. When calms down, is allowed to live on at Thebes. Later, Thebes exiles him.

Oedipus remains in Thebes and is buried there (Soph. Antigone, Homer, Euripides)Oedipus goes into self-imposed exile at end of OTK.

Prior to action of play, Jocasta (Oedipus’ mother) has Antigone, Ismene, Eteocles, Polynices by Oedipus. Hangs self at end of OTK (OAC prequel).

Jocasta kills self when incest revealed. Oedipus then remarries and has a new family (Antigone etc.)Jocasta lives on with Oedipus at Thebes (Euripides Phoenician Women).

Fate, Responsibility … Tragedy?Oedipus the King• Apollo to Creon

• “Pay the killers back, whoever is responsible”(p. 164)

• Oedipus• “Apollo, friends, Apollo - he

ordained my agonies” (p. 241)

Oedipus at Colonus• Oedipus

• “I am innocent … blind, unknowing!” (317)

• “Thebes bound me fast to a bride who was my ruin (atē)” (315)

• Polynices• “I learn this all too late” (360)• “I must travel down that road,

doomed by fate and the curses of my father” (368)

• prologue (pp. 284 ff.)• Oed, Ant, Citizen• identity, positioning

• parodos (291)• amoibaion (chorus-character

dialogue)• Chorus, Oed, Ant• supplication

• 1st episode A (298)• leader, Oed, Ismene, Ant

amoibaion (314)• Chorus, Oed• Oed’s crimes (?)

1st episode B (318)• Leader, Theseus, Oed• supplication, negotiation

• 1st stasimon (326)• praise (Colonus, Athens)

• 2nd episode (328)• Ant, Oed, Leader, Creon, Theseus• tussle over Oed

• 2nd stasimon (348)• victory song

• 3rd episode (350)• Leader, Oed, Ant, Thes• leave-taking begins

• 3rd stasimon (358)• the human condition

• 4th episode A (359)• Ant, Oed, Poly• a father’s curse

amoebic kommos, dialogue (371)• Chorus, Oed, Ant• portents

4th episode B (373)• Thes, Oed

4th stasimon (377)• prayers for Oed

Exodos (378)• spoken dialogue, lyric kommos• messenger, leader, Ant, Ismene, Thes• Oed’s demise, lament, consolation

Analysis

Stage Set, “Colonus Hippius”

skene (stage building)

To UnderworldOlive grove

Equestrian statue

to Thebes Altar of Athena Hippia,Poseidon Hippios

East West

South

Source: Wiles Tragedy in Athens

to Athens

CHORUS p. 348:“… chariots racing down the wind - the

enemy will be crushed!…

They honor Athena, reigning queen of horsemen - honor the Sea-lord,

guardian of our earth…”

Closing Discussion

“Not to Be Born is Best”?

Not to Be Born Is Best?

“Not to be born is bestwhen all is reckoned in, but once a man

has seen the lightthe next best thing, by far, is to go backback where he came from, quickly as he

can.”(Chorus, Sophocles Oedipus at Colonus, p. 358)