Harvard University Oedipus the King Story Discussion just read the chapters answer the question, 300-500 wordsedipus the King is a *tragic* drama–a story

Harvard University Oedipus the King Story Discussion just read the chapters answer the question, 300-500 wordsedipus the King is a *tragic* drama–a story of tragedy. Your task is to describe the tragedy that unfolds in the play: what happens? who’s involved? what makes the situation tragic? In class this week we will discuss four contending theories of tragedy and consider their implications for politics. If you have space remaining in your answer, you may wish to reflect on how the two most common theories of tragedy–1. tragedy is predestined by fate; 2. tragedy is the result of human arrogance or hubris–lead us to think about political action. Note: this second part of the prompt is optional; you are not required to include it in order to receive full credit OEDIPUS
THE
OrL
forD
still
my
KING
uncan
cf oice
fth
and
is
rant
master
age
spirit
THE
CHA
OEDIPUS,
King
A PRIEST
of
CREON,
of Thebes
Zeus
brother
CHORUS
of Jocasta
of Theban
TIRESIAS,
a blind
JOCASTA,
wife
A MESSENGER
An
RACTERS
elders
prophet
of Oedipus
from
Corinth
old SHEPHERD
A PALACE
Palace
OFFICIAL
Attendants
Citizens
Antigone,
and
Servants
and
a Boy
of Thebes
Ismene,
TIME
Some
fifteen
man,
was
years
told
to murder
by the
brought
never
up
to the
of
a
city
carriage
the king,
Thebes,
he
never
returned,
taken
up
her
position
strangling
the
inhabitants
to
her
riddle.
throws
OEDIPUS
widowed
pus’s
real
road
WaS
parents
of his
ceeded_
a sham
by
Thebes
for
not
it and
citizens,
marries
old
man
do
him
and
and
the
able
Sphinx
JOCASTA,
their
is OEDI
killed
know
on
that
as a baby
thought
is
in gratitude,
he
they
and
has
being
that JOCASTA
Nor
oracle),
is struck
priests
OEDIPUS,
them
by plague.
and
elders,
now
once:
the
these
(because
they
had
suc
he
flock
in the
can
The
around
prime
save
people
of the city
the
great
of life and
them
agan.
and
power.
Here
the
begins
It is midmorning
Thebes
and
one
tried to murder
dreadful
their
saved
play
Sphinx
he
the
uproar.
There follow fifteen years of apparent
prosperity
The gods
are dis
Prosperity
cloaking
corruption
successful
He
that
an
kills
monster,
knows
his father.
had
gusted.Thebes
led
and
mother
man
old
journey
The
and
and
city in
outside
his
eventually
an
the
was
are
a fht of temper
answers
rock.
one
he thinks
him
he
he
a mysterious
by
OEDIPUS
No
LAIUS,
of another
one
her
mother
the
a rock
their king
queen
finds
a female
herself from
make
in
on
on
where
bring
and
destined
Shocked,
his real father
he brawls
with
of way
gone
and
who
a young
was
mother
queen,
the way
has
his
to Corinth,
where
at
then
that he
wanderings
right
LAIUS,
answer
marry
His
on
at Delphi
and
over
Arrived
OEDIPUS,
back
Thebes,
However,
him.
and
by the king
mother.
in
Oracle
to go
father and
SETTING
previously
his father
determines
reugn.
AND
in the
lamentation;
of children,
outside
background.
the
youths,
the palace
There
air is full
and
elders,
of OEDIPUS,
is the sourd
of incense.
all holding
A
with
of prayer
procession
olive branches
wreathed
in
the palace
Zeus.
silence
white
wool,
steps and
OEDIPUS
comes
are marshaled
group
themselves
out of
by
a
around
He
the palace.
priest onto
the altar of
signals for
IV. TRAGEDY AND/AT THE
LIMITS OF ACTION
May 26, 2020
Sophocles, Oedipus the King
KEY TAKEAWAYS
1. Tragedy = when things fall apart
2. What is tragedy? Four major theories
3. Every theory of tragedy has major implications for political
action
4. Oedipus the King not really about incest; it’s a story about
disorientation—about what happens when categories get
scrambled
5. Strong emphasis on need to assign blame for tragedy often stifles
(constructive) political action
2
SOPHOCLES
3
•
ca. 497 – 406
BCE
•
Athens
•
tragedian – 120
plays, only 7
survive today
HISTORICAL-POLITICAL
CONTEXT
Athens ravaged by plague
Major defeat in war
4
Oedipus the King set in Thebes, performed in Athens
5
“Some fifteen years previously, Oedipus, then a young man,
was told by the Oracle at Delphi that he was destined to
murder his father and marry his mother.”
6
RELIGIOUS/SPIRITUAL
CONTEXT
3 contending “voices” —
Sophocles alert to all 3 when writing Oedipus
plays
what role(s) does human agency play in the events and evils that befall a culture?
7
1. GODS AS ACTUAL BEINGS
Gods contend with one another
One sect: if you are pious, your piety will be rewarded by the gods
Another sect: the gods are indifferent to us (best to be pious anyway)
8
2. NOT GODS, BUT GOD
No: not multiple gods, one God
Plato and Aristotle promote this view
Oligarchy embraces it, too
9
3. MULTIPLE, INTERACTING GOD-FORCES
Much more naturalistic — gods akin to natural forces
Gods (like humans) struggle against, ally with, deceive, help, and wage war upon one
another
More fluid relations between humans and divinities (exceptional humans sometimes
elevated to status of gods)
This view popular with young people — everyone else barely tolerates it
Democritus takes this view and connects it to democracy
Prodicus: not gods, but forces
10
POLITICS & THE TRAGIC
TRAGEDY
1. Oedipus as carrier of “hubris”
2. Oedipus as victim of gods in their cruelty
3. Indifferent gods accidentally bring tragedy upon a
people
4. Nonhuman forces intersect with human forces —
sometimes come together in volatile, horrible ways
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POLITICS & THE TRAGIC
“SOVEREIGNTY”
“Supremacy in respect of power, domination, or rank; supreme
dominion, authority, or rule.”
Source: Oxford English Dictionary
this week: are human beings sovereign (ie responsible for
everything that happens)? or are there (shifting) limits to
human action? *note: 4th theory of tragedy most
accepting—and respectful—of limits*
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SOVEREIGNTY
“King Oedipus, the sovereign of our land, […]
“We know you are no god, omnipotent with gods.
That is not why we throw ourselves before you here,
these little suppliants and I.
It is because on life’s unequal stage
we see you as first of men and consummate
atoner to the powers above.” (5, 6)
15
FAULT OF MALICIOUS GODS?
CHORUS:
“Oh the generations of man!
His life is vanity and nothingness.
Is there one, one
Who more than tastes of, thinks of, happiness,
Which in the thinking vanishes?
Yours the text, yours the spell,
I see it in you Oedipus:
Man’s pattern of unblessedness.” (68)
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FAULT OF DISINTERESTED GODS
(“CHANCE,” “FATE”)?
JOCASTA:
“How can a man have scruples
when it’s only Chance that’s king?
There’s nothing certain, nothing preordained.
We should live as carefree as we may.” (52)
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READING QUESTIONS
1. The received view of Oedipus the King is that it is a play about incest. But Sophocles writes this play in
the immediate aftermath of not one but two major calamities: Athens is rocked by the plague, only to
then suffer a humiliating military defeat. How does situating the play in its historical context encourage us
to rethink the received view? Considering the notion of dramatization may be helpful to you here. (I
encourage you to read up a bit on this period of Athenian history if you can find the time to do so.)
2. Explain the concept of fate in your own words. How important would you say that fate is to the
central narrative of the play?
3. As we will discuss during class, Sophocles weaves three distinct philosophical “voices” into this play,
which speak as and through the play’s characters. The voices have differing views on such key political
topics as human responsibility, the relationship of humanity to 1) the gods and 2) nature, the character of
time, and the powers and limitations of reason. Listen for the voices when you read the text–what do
they sound like? Out of whose characters’ mouths do they speak?
4. What do you make of the chorus? What sort of “character” is a chorus in a drama such as this?
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