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Sophocles, Oedipus at Colonus II

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?.

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Sophocles, Oedipus at Colonus II

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

  2. 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?

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

  4. 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 1ststasimon (326) praises (Colonus, Athens) 2nd episode (328) Ant, Oed, Leader, Creon, Theseus tussle over Oed 2ndstasimon (348) victory song 3rd episode (350) Leader, Oed, Ant, Thes leave-taking begins 3rdstasimon (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 Oedipus at Colonus – Analysis

  5. lines 1771 ff. CHORUS (lines 1388-1391): Not to be born is best,when all is reckoned in, but once a man has seen the light the next best thing, by far, is to go backback where he came from, quickly as he can.

  6. 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? Meaning? Your Response?

  7. Recap and Update Issues and Themes

  8. 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 1ststasimon (326) praises (Colonus, Athens) 2nd episode (328) Ant, Oed, Leader, Creon, Theseus tussle over Oed 2ndstasimon (348) victory song 3rd episode (350) Leader, Oed, Ant, Thes leave-taking begins 3rdstasimon (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 Oedipus at Colonus – Analysis

  9. Stage Set, “Colonus Hippius” South East West skene (stage building) Equestrian statue Olive grove To Underworld Altar of Athena Hippia,Poseidon Hippios to Thebes to Athens Source: Wiles Tragedy in Athens

  10. 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…”

  11. 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”

  12. Oedipus at Colonus as mystery play?

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

  14. 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) Fate, Responsibility … Tragedy?

  15. Platonic Critique Counterplea?

  16. Platonic 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 Comments

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