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Theater at Epidaurus Sophocles, Oedipus at Colonus II Death and Transfiguration Sophocles in old age

Sophocles, Oedipus at Colonus II

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Sophocles, Oedipus at Colonus II. Death and Transfiguration. Sophocles in old age. Theater at Epidaurus. Agenda. Opening Discussion “Not to Be Born is Best”?? Recap and Update Issues and Themes All’s Well that Ends Well? Fate, Responsibility … Tragedy? Platonic Critique Counterplea?. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: Sophocles,  Oedipus at Colonus  II

Theater at Epidaurus

Sophocles, Oedipus at Colonus II

Death and Transfiguration

Sophocles in old age

Page 2: Sophocles,  Oedipus at Colonus  II

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AgendaOpening Discussion

• “Not to Be Born is Best”??Recap and Update

• Issues and ThemesAll’s Well that Ends Well?

• Fate, Responsibility … Tragedy?Platonic Critique

• Counterplea?

Page 3: Sophocles,  Oedipus at Colonus  II

Opening Discussion“Not to Be Born is Best”??

Page 4: Sophocles,  Oedipus at Colonus  II

Oedipus at Colonus – Analysis prologue (pp. 284 ff.)

• Oed, Ant, Citizen• identity, positioning

parodos (291)• amoibaion (chorus-character dialogue)• Chorus, Oed, Ant• supplication

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

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

1st episode cont’d (318)• Leader, Theseus, Oed• supplication, negotiation

1st stasimon (326)• praises (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 (359)• Ant, Oed, Poly• a father’s curse

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

4th episode cont’d (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

Page 5: Sophocles,  Oedipus at Colonus  II

CHORUS (lines 1388-1391):Not to be born is best,

when all is reckoned in, but once a man has seen the lightthe next best thing, by far, is to go back

back where he came from, quickly as he can.

lines 1771 ff.

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Meaning? Your Response? depressing

• pessimistic

• describe Oedipus

what’s the point of living• suicidal

• nihilistic

like medea• sees everything in a bleak

light

pessimistic towards old age• implies youth better

bring him to terms with death

dramatic effect• makes it sound worse

no more cheating fate• positive development?

Page 7: Sophocles,  Oedipus at Colonus  II

Recap and UpdateIssues and Themes

Page 8: Sophocles,  Oedipus at Colonus  II

Oedipus at Colonus – Analysis prologue (pp. 284 ff.)

• Oed, Ant, Citizen• identity, positioning

parodos (291)• amoibaion (chorus-character dialogue)• Chorus, Oed, Ant• supplication

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

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

1st episode cont’d (318)• Leader, Theseus, Oed• supplication, negotiation

1st stasimon (326)• praises (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 (359)• Ant, Oed, Poly• a father’s curse

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

4th episode cont’d (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

Page 9: Sophocles,  Oedipus at Colonus  II

Stage Set, “Colonus Hippius”

skene (stage building)

To UnderworldOlive grove

Equestrian statue

to Thebes to AthensAltar of Athena Hippia,

Poseidon Hippios

East West

South

Source: Wiles Tragedy in Athens

Page 10: Sophocles,  Oedipus at Colonus  II

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…”

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Oedipal Transformations… OK: (reverse) rite of passage OC: death and transfiguration

• Furies (Semnai theai) to Eumenides (“Kindly Ones”)– “As we call you Powers of Kindness (Eumenides), so from the

springs of kindness in your heart receive your suppliant now and save his life” (Leader to Oedipus, p. 312)

• father/friend to alastōr– OED to CREON: “… my curse, my fury of vengeance rooted

deep in your soil” (alastōr houmos, p. 331)

• pariah to hērōs– “no pleasure to break the silence of these mysteries” (707–8)– “Only … Theseus … must see this mystery”

Page 12: Sophocles,  Oedipus at Colonus  II

Oedipus at Colonus as mystery play?

Page 13: Sophocles,  Oedipus at Colonus  II

All’s Well that Ends Well?Fate, Responsibility … Tragedy?

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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

• “… my acts … were acts of suffering more than actions outright. … I struck in self-defense” (299)

Oedipus at Colonus (cont.) 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)

Page 15: Sophocles,  Oedipus at Colonus  II

Platonic CritiqueCounterplea?

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CommentsPlatonic Critique would have liked

• depiction of Theseus– good– just

not liked• pessimism

unrealistic concepts• alastor thing

wouldn’t like pessimism• wouldn’t like all oed’s suffering

showed how you have to pay• & respect to gods

social benefit - positive youthful soldiering

girls good• loyalty thing iffy• kids can relate

liked political ideas• philosopher kings

Counterplea moral ambiguity is interesting

• w/o, no thought hero cult as hubristic