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| Character | Oedipus | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | Male | |
| Age Range(s) | Young Adult (20-35), Adult (36-50) | |
| Type of monologue / Character is | Angry, Scolding, Descriptive, Reminiscing life story/Telling a story | |
| Type | Dramatic | |
| Period | Ancient Greek | |
| Genre | Tragedy, Drama | |
| Description | Oedipus scolds Creon | |
| Location | 3/4 of play | |
Summary
Oedipus at Colonus is the sequel of Oedipus Tyrannus. In the background story of Oedipus the King, King Laius, Oedipus' father, learns from an oracle that he will die by the hand of his son. As a consequence, Laius orders his wife Jocasta to kill their infant son. A servant saves the baby and abandons him in the fields where he is found by shepherds who later bring him to Corinth where he is adopted by King Polybus and raised as his own child. One day Oedipus learns from an oracle that he will be responsible for his father's death and that he will marry his own mother. Thinking that his father is King Polybus, he leaves Corinth and heads towards Thebes, the city where he was actually born. By chance he meets his real father and in a quarrel, he kills him. Later he also solves the riddle of the Sphinx, liberating the city of Thebes of her curse. As a reward he becomes king and is offered the hand of Jocasta, his real mother. The prophecy has been fulfilled.
In "Oedipus Tyrannus", Oedipus gradually realizes that the man that he has killed was Laius, his real father, and that Jocasta is his mother. In shame and desperation, Oedipus blinds himself and leaves Thebes.
In "Oedipus at Colonus" the blind Oedipus seeks refuge at Colonus where he meets King Theseus who welcomes in his city. Oedipus is led by his two daughters, Antigone and Ismene. In parallel, we learn that Oedipus' two sons, Eteocles and Polynices, are quarrelling over who will inherit the throne of Thebes. Polynices is seeking the help of the city of Argos to defeat his brother. We also learn that an oracle has decreed that the outcome of the war will depend on where Oedipus' body will be buried.
In this scene, the deceiving Creon, Oedipus' brother, comes to Colonus to try to persuade Oedipus to go back to Thebes. Obviously he only wants him there so that, by burying him in the city, Thebes may win the war.
In this monologue Oedipus scolds his brother. He recounts all the harms that he has inflicted on him and scolds him for being deceiving.
In "Oedipus Tyrannus", Oedipus gradually realizes that the man that he has killed was Laius, his real father, and that Jocasta is his mother. In shame and desperation, Oedipus blinds himself and leaves Thebes.
In "Oedipus at Colonus" the blind Oedipus seeks refuge at Colonus where he meets King Theseus who welcomes in his city. Oedipus is led by his two daughters, Antigone and Ismene. In parallel, we learn that Oedipus' two sons, Eteocles and Polynices, are quarrelling over who will inherit the throne of Thebes. Polynices is seeking the help of the city of Argos to defeat his brother. We also learn that an oracle has decreed that the outcome of the war will depend on where Oedipus' body will be buried.
In this scene, the deceiving Creon, Oedipus' brother, comes to Colonus to try to persuade Oedipus to go back to Thebes. Obviously he only wants him there so that, by burying him in the city, Thebes may win the war.
In this monologue Oedipus scolds his brother. He recounts all the harms that he has inflicted on him and scolds him for being deceiving.
Written by Administrator
| Excerpt |
|---|
| OEDIPUS O front of brass, thy subtle tongue would twist To thy advantage every plea of right Why try thy arts on me, why spread again Toils where 'twould gall me sorest to be snared? In old days when by self-wrought woes distraught, I yearned for exile as a glad release, Thy will refused the favor then I craved. But when my frenzied grief had spent its force, And I was fain to taste the sweets of home, Then thou wouldst thrust me from my country, then These ties of kindred were by thee ignored; And now again when thou behold'st this State And all its kindly people welcome me, Thou seek'st to part us, wrapping in soft words Hard thoughts. And yet what pleasure canst thou find In forcing friendship on unwilling foes? Suppose a man refused to grant some boon When you importuned him, and afterwards When you had got your heart's desire, consented, Granting a grace from which all grace had fled, Would not such favor seem an empty boon? Yet such the boon thou profferest now to me, Fair in appearance, but when tested false. Yea, I will proved thee false, that these may hear; Thou art come to take me, not to take me home, But plant me on thy borders, that thy State May so escape annoyance from this land. That thou shalt never gain, but this instead-- My ghost to haunt thy country without end; And for my sons, this heritage--no more-- Just room to die in. Have not I more skill Than thou to draw the horoscope of Thebes? Are not my teachers surer guides than thine-- Great Phoebus and the sire of Phoebus, Zeus? Thou art a messenger suborned, thy tongue Is sharper than a sword's edge, yet thy speech Will bring thee more defeats than victories. Howbeit, I know I waste my words--begone, And leave me here; whate'er may be my lot, He lives not ill who lives withal content. |
