Sophocles
Oedipus the King. After 429 B.C. City Dionysia.
Prologue, 1-150. (Priest, Oedipus, Creon)
The priests of Thebes appear before Oedipus as suppliants, entreating him to find some end to the plague. Oedipus has already sent Creon to Delphi, who arrives to report that the killer of Laius must be sought out and banished. Oedipus vows to find the killer and summons the people of the city.
Parodos , 151-215.
The Chorus of Theban citizens offer prayers to Zeus, Apollo,
Athena for release from the plague.
First Episode , 216-462.
Oedipus appeals for information and pronounces his curse on the murderer. Teiresias is summoned: at first he refuses to tell what he knows, but aroused by Oedipus' taunts he declares Oedipus the murderer.
Oedipus declares a conspiracy by Creon. Teiresias declares that the murderer is present, and will be found son and husband to his mother.
First Stasimon , 463-512.
The Chorus are fearful of the pronouncement of the seer, but declare their loyalty to their king.
Second Episode , 513-862. (Creon, Oedipus, Chorus; Jocasta)
Creon is indignant at Oedipus' accusations. They argue over the charge. Jocasta tries to intervene.
Kommos , 649-697. The Chorus advise restraint and Oedipus lets Creon go, though he declares him an enemy. Oedipus tells Jocasta the source of the dispute. Jocasta tells the story of Laius' death, and Oedipus recognizes many details: but he was a lone killer, whereas a band of killers was reported.
Oedipus worries about the oracle; Jocasta denounces its veracity, adducing the prophesy about her son.
Second Stasimon , 863-910. (Chorus)
Ode to the sanctity of divine law. The tyrant who ignores justice and reverence for the gods will fall. The oracles must be true.
Third Episode , 911-1085. (Jocasta, Messenger, Chorus; Oedipus)
A messenger arrives from Corinth announcing the death of Polybus and Oedipus' ascension. He allays Oedipus' fear of the oracle (that he will marry his mother) by telling him of his true birth. Over Jocasta's objections Oedipus vows to continue his search for the truth. Jocasta runs into the palace.
Third Stasimon , 1086-1109. (Chorus)
Ode to Mt. Cithaeron: we will soon know the parentage of Oedipus.
Fourth Episode , 1110-1185. (Oedipus, Shepherd, Chorus)
The shepherd arrives who exposed the infant of Laius and escaped when Laius was killed. Oedipus' parentage becomes clear. Oedipus rushes into the palace.
Fourth Stasimon , 1186-1222. (Chorus)
No man is blest: happiness is but an illusion, for even the great power and blessings of Oedipus have come to a fall.
Exodos , 1223-1530. (Messenger, Chorus; Oedipus, Creon)
A messenger announces the suicide of Jocasta and the self-inflicted blinding of Oedipus. Oedipus appears to lament his fate. Creon appears. Oedipus begs him to take care of his children; Antigone and Ismene (mute) arrive to comfort their father. Creon persuades Oedipus to return to the palace, and assumes the kingship.
ΟΙΔΙΠΟΥΣ ΤΥΡΑΝΝΟΣ . Oedipus Tyrannus or Oedipus Rex .
When Sophocles produced the Oedipus he was defeated for first prize by Philocles. (What a play that must have been!) The myth of Oedipus was at least as old as Homer: in the Odyssey , Odysseus sees the mother of Oedipus, named Epicaste, and briefly tells the story of Oedipus' murder of his father and marriage to his mother (Od.11.27). The story seems to have been a favorite, and early treatments (which included a play by Aeschylus) generated a wide range of various and sometimes conflicting detail from which to choose.
The play is commonly dated to 429 or later on the basis of Sophocles' description of the plague. But this is far from certain: one would do well to remember the story of Phrynicus, who in 494 was fined by the Athenians for producing a play on the capture of Miletus by the Persians and thus reminding them too vividly of the misfortunes of their friends (Herodotus, Histories 6.21).
