Oedipus

1. Who wrote the play?

-The play was written by Sophocles

2. Briefly define the Oedipal Complex.

-The Oedipal Complex is when a child seems to fall in love with one parent and hate the other.

3. What is the setting of the story, specifically, the where?

-The setting of the play takes place in front of the royal palace

4. As the play opens, what horrible thing is going on?

-As the play opens the towns people have come to see Oedipus because their city has been plagued by sickness, death, unfertile fields and infertile women.

5. Whose death must be avenged in order for the horrible thing from number 4 to end?

-King Laius' death must be avenged in order to end the plauge.

6. Who is Oedipus’ wife?

Odeipus' wife is Jocasta, who is the sister to Creon and actually his own mother.

7. Who is Oedipus’ mother?

His wife is Jocasta the wife of his father and his mother.

8. Who is Oedipus’ father?

His father is Laius, the king of Thebes.

9. Who killed the King of Thebes (the answer for #5)?

Oedipus, his own son.

10. What is Oedipus’ tragic flaw?

His tragic flaw is that he was destined to kill his father and marry his mother. Although once he had learned that was what he was destined to do, he left the man, who he had thought to be his father to protect him from that fate but unknowingly he fulfilled the prophecy anyway.

11. As you read through Oedipus, you'll note that sight/vision/seeing (including "second sight") is very important to the overall story--in the literal as well as the metaphorical/symbolical aspect.  You don't have to do this in complete sentences if you don't want---
12. Describe/discuss/explain/list how sight/vision/seeing/"second sight" is/are used in the play to advance the plot--to advance the story as a whole.  Include an explanation of why it's important as well as how it helps you (the real audience) understand (get) what others on the stage and in the play don't understand.

Through out the play the use of sight/vision/seeing plays a vital role because it helps us to see or understand what is happening to the characters. It helps us to see what the gods have planned for them and the bad things that are happening even off stage.

13. As a play, there's a lot that can and can not be done on the stage.  Explain why you think some things within this play in particular are done on stage while others are done off stage.

I think that the things that are done on stage are done so because it is important for us to see those things happening in order for the play to continue and for us to be able to understand what is happening to that particular character.

14. Do you believe in fate?  Explain fully your answer.

I believe in fate in some ways but I think that we still have the ability to change it if we so choose. Although there somethings that we can not control, it does not mean that we can't control how our lives turn out.

15. Explain how fate plays a role in Oedipus.

Fate plays a role in the fact that although Oedipus has tried to save himself , his father and his mother from the fate the gods have planned, in the end he still ended up doing what he tried so hard to avoid.

16. Have you ever thought how ironic this play is? It's weird how the events come together and make everything happen the way it does. If things were to happen just a little bit different the story would be completely changed.

This play is sadly ironic due to the fact that despite all of Oedipus' efforts to be a good man by trying to avoid killing his father, he did so anyways. Another irony is that he saved the city from the evil sphinx, only to cause a plague to be brought upon it because him unknowingly killing his father, the king of Thebes.