Oedipus Rex by Sophocles tells the story of King Oedipus of Thebes who seeks to uncover the murderer of the former king. The play explores themes of fate versus free will and man's inability to control his destiny. It follows Oedipus as he discovers through a series of revelations that he unwittingly fulfilled a prophecy that he would kill his father and marry his mother. The play examines Oedipus' downfall from a position of power and authority to that of a blind beggar after his tragic discovery of the truth.

2. OEDIPUS REX
• Introduction To Theatre
• Playscript Notes

3. General Information:
• Sophocles
• 5th century B.C. (425 B.C.)
• Time: Deep in ancient mythology

4. Organization:
• Sophocles was mostly interested in the
development of his THEME.
• The audience would have known the
storyline, thus PLOT was relatively minor
in his development.
• The CHARACTER of Oedipus Rex is
transparent through his tragic flaw, thus
more clearly establishing Sophocles’ theme.

5. Central Conflict:
• Oedipus has done what he considers
necessary to avoid the terrible fate predicted
by the oracle, but he cannot foresee what is
in store for him.
• The contrast, then, between man seeking to
control his destiny and external forces
shaping destiny is clearly depicted.

6. Themes:
• The fall of Oedipus from the place of
highest honor to that of an outcast
demonstrates the uncertainty of human
destiny.
• Humanity’s limitation in controlling its fate.

7. Themes:
• It is significant that no attempt is made to
explain why destruction comes to Oedipus.
It is implied that man must submit to fate
and that in struggling to avoid it, he only
becomes more entangled.

8. Themes:
• It is possible to interpret this play as
suggesting that the gods, rather than having
decreed the characters’ fates have merely
foreseen and told what they will do.

9. Themes:
• Another theme, which may have been a
conscious one with Sophocles, is that of
Oedipus as a scapegoat.
• Another motif--blindness versus sight--is
emphasized in poetic images and in various
comparisons.

10. Action:
• Point of Attack:
– Creon’s return from Delphi and retelling
the oracle followed immediately by
Oedipus’ proclamation.

11. Action:
• Basic Conflict:
– Oedipus’ refusal (or blindness) to accept
the truth. He has issued the sentence
before the verdict has come in. (First the
execution, then the trial!)

12. Action:
• Crisis/climax:
– When the sheperd tells Oedipus that he
was the baby he had saved. Creon issues
edict to Oedipus.

13. Action:
• Denouement:
– Oedipus has put out his eyes
– Jocasta has hung herself
– Creon has taken control of Thebes and
banishes Oedipus
– Oedipus says farewell to his children

14. Central Dramatic Action:
• Oedipus issues his proclamation, then
proceeds to search out the murderer, only to
find it is he, himself.
• The action is mostly through narrative, with
violent scenes shown only in tableau.
• The conflict lies within Oedipus and his
relationship to the other characters, rather
than what he does.

15. Symbols Used:
• light and darkness
• blind and seeing
• falling from grace
• arrogant pride
• swollen feet
• brooches
• shepherd (leading?)

16. Character (Dialogue):
• The Greeks placed great emphasis on
effective oral presentation.
• The actors’ voices, therefore, must have
been well trained.
• The language was poetic and musical, with
the choral odes probably set to music.

17. Character (Appearance):
• Sophocles pays little attention to the
physiological level of characterization.
• The principle characters are mature persons
but Sophocles says almost nothing about
their age or appearance.

18. Character (Appearance):
• The priest is spoken of as being old. The
chorus is made up of Theban elders.
Tiresias is old and blind. The Herdsman is
an old man.
• In almost every case, age is associated with
wisdom and experience.

19. Character (Appearance):
• There are a number of young characters,
none of whom speaks:
– the band of suppliants in the prologue are
children
– Antigone and Ismene are very young.

20. Objectives of the Main
Characters:
• Oedipus: to find out the truth regardless of
the consequences.

21. Objectives of the Main
Characters:
• Jocasta: to prevent Oedipus from his
objective; to convince him everything is
right

22. Objectives of the Main
Characters:
• Creon: to keep Athens stable and help the
people. To serve Oedipus, until he is
shown as the problem and then to step in
and take control.

23. Spectacle:
• The Greek theatre had no proscenium arch
or curtain. The play begins, therefore, with
the procession of the chorus through the
paradoi.

24. Spectacle:
• The scenery is simple. The skene
(scenehouse) represents a palace; no
changes are made and no machinery is
used. The thymele (altar) was in the middle
of the orchestra.

25. Spectacle:
• Since the play was performed outdoors, no
artificial illumination was necesary. Three
plays by the same author were presented
each day.

26. Spectacle:
• Costumes were stylized and denoted the
character differences.
• The chorus wore chitons, shorter gowns.
• The characters wore himations, longer
gowns.

27. Spectacle:
• The actors wore cothurnus, the tragic boot--
18” stilts!
• Color would make visual distinctions.
• The actors wore masks indicative of age
and character.
• Instrumental music, singing and the speech
of actors was important aurally.

28. Specific Scenes to Note:
• The opening scene in which the exposition
is given, and Oedipus issues his
proclamation (the point of attack).
• The scene in which Jocasta tries to dispel
Oedipus’ doubts followed by her scene in
which she makes offerings to the gods.

29. Specific Scenes to Note:
• The denouement in which Creon asserts
himself and Oedipus stands himself behind
his own decree.
• Creon asserts his right to banish Oedipus
and restore the honor of Thebes. Oedipus
has begun his journey toward righteousness.