Summary Of Oedipus Rex Essays - Operas, Oedipus The King, Oedipus

Summary Of Oedipus Rex Summary for Oedipus Rex The storytelling method that is employed in most classical writing, i.e. the Iliad and the Odyssey as well as Greek tragedy, allows for the development of two stories. One is the story of the now. The now is told through the actions and events of the play or story. The other story that is told is the past. The past is composed of stories that are told by characters and gives needed background information about the main characters and events. In Oedipus Rex, the realization of Oedipus's tyrannous rise to power is the now story. The story of Oedipus's birth and placement in the world is the past story. Both of these stories are woven into the play and each holds a place in the overall telling of the story. The now story in Oedipus begins with the scene in front of the palace of Oedipus at Thebes. In this scene, we find out that Thebes is experiencing hard times. The citizens of Thebes have come to Oedipus to find a solution. He sorrowfully tells them that he can think of no solution to the problem, however, he has sent Creon to ask the god Apollo for help. Creon returns and has good news. Apollo has given him the knowledge to remove the pestilence that is in Thebes. Oedipus, along with the other citizens of Thebes, is very interested in this information. Creon tells that the only solution to the pestilence is to expel the murderer of Laius, the former king of Thebes. Once again there is an unanswered question. How to find the murderer of Laius? Oedipus and Creon's pondering of the situation results in only one lead. One of the men that accompanied Laius when he was murdered lived through the ordeal. He knows only that it was a group of robbers that murdered Laius, not a single man. Seeming to be stuck on this problem, Oedipus takes the advice of Creon and sends for the seer Teiresias. Teiresias arrives. He does not bring the same news that Creon brought. Creon brought hope but Teiresias brings mystery and fear. He refuses to divulge the answer to the question because he worries that the knowledge could bring more harm then good. Oedipus, at first, pleads with Teiresias to realize the information and then begins to threaten him. Eventually, Teiresias explains that Oedipus is guilty of the crime, and that Oedipus is the answer to the question. Oedipus, now outraged, accuses Teiresias of plotting against Oedipus at the same time; he places this same charge on Creon. Creon returns and an argument commence between these two men. Creon is confused because he has always been a supporter of Oedipus and has never had aspirations to overthrow Oedipus. Oedipus is blind to rational thinking and proceeds to make unfounded accusations. Jocasta enters and breaks up the argument. She comforts Oedipus by suggesting that Teiresias is wrong and that humans have no place in prophecy. As they are talking, a messenger comes to tell Oedipus that his father is dead. This messenger also tells how Oedipus is not a son of Polybus by blood. The herdsman that had been sent for to be questioned about the death of Laius enters. Through the discussion of these men, it becomes apparent that Oedipus was most likely the son of Jocasta and Laius and that he is indeed the poison that has been plaguing the land. All leave except the Chorus. A messenger arrives to tell the Chorus about Jocasta and Oedipus's reaction. Jocasta had returned to her home and cursed the bed upon which she had slept with both Oedipus and Laius. She then hung herself. Oedipus returned. Finding Jocasta hung, he cut her down and removed the broaches from her dress and thrust them into his eyes. The play ends with Oedipus asking that Creon take care of his daughters and Thebes. Oedipus feels great shame. He has blinded himself because he does not want to see his father and mother in the after world. With this shame he leaves Thebes to wander the world. The past story is places into the now story to give depth and understanding to the events. Mystery plays a large