My Own Questions About Oedipus the King by Sophocles

Since Oedipus was warned of his fate and tried to steer clear of it, that avoidance sent him straight to them.

If he would have never left Corinth would he have ever even encountered his mother and father?

I believe that our human nature is to fight for what we don’t think we want to happen. In that attempt to fight for what we think is the right way for us we just drive that fate right to our destiny.

So knowing that most believe in fate, if we just let life happen and stop trying to fight it would we ever really live out the fate put upon us?

If Oedipus would not have been lied to from the beginning would he have been able to avoid his fate?

I am a firm believer in listening to and following the “signs” in life. It is hard to recognize them especially with our busy hectic lives. Plus sometimes we get so caught up wanting one thing so bad we just ignore the signs. When things go bad you remember those signs then and say “I had a bad feeling or it was weird that this and this happened but I just thought it was nothing, I wish I would have listened.

I recently heeded these warning signs. I was getting ready to pursue my paramedic degree and a few weeks before my meeting it was so weird the things that were going on. I heard on the radio about a woman that was a paramedic that got 3 ribs broke and a concussion trying to help a drunk man, then the next week my son came home from school and told me about a paramedic woman that came to their class to talk about her job. He told me all the bad experiences she had like getting her nose and arm broke just trying to help people who fought her instead.

I knew these were my signs and I quickly withdrew my application (which was really hard to push myself to do) and since then have not heard one thing about paramedics.

I truly feel that if I would have ignored the warnings and went along since I really “wanted” to do this something tragic would have occurred.

Was there ever a time that you ignored the signs or tried to avoid your fate and ended up regretting it? Explain.

From what I know from my Microbiology class the plague that was probably upon this city was the bubonic plague, or Black Death. The characteristic are exactly the same and this has been the death of many people in history especially of these type living conditions. It spreads very rapidly and through close contact. Today it is only curable if antibiotics are given within 24 hours of the first symptom. Antibiotics were not created during this time though so people easily contracted it and died.

The Creon’s task was “drive out pollution sheltered in our land” (this could have meant the dead bodies they had piled up since even dead they could transmit the disease and also rid their city of rats which are where the organism originates from) “and do not shelter what is incurable” (this could have meant not to shelter the ones who are already sick because once they got it there was nothing they could do but transmit it even more). “We must banish or murder to free ourselves from a murder (the Plague) that blows storms through the city.” (The only way to get rid of the “murder,” the plague was to either banish the sick out or their city or murder all that were sick and get rid of the bodies) “What we pursue, that can be caught; but not what we neglect.” (If the pursue and do as they say they can catch the disease from spreading and stop it in its tracks, but if they neglect to do this they will not be able to stop it until everyone is dead)

So with this knowledge do you think Creon might have misinterpreted the task that the Lord Phoebus set for them?

OEDIPUS Questions

OEDIPUS Questions
Answer all of the following in one blog posting:

1. Who wrote the play?    

*Sophocles

2. Briefly define the Oedipal Complex.

            Oedipal Complex is a term created by the well know psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud who made many observations with children to help explain, behaviors, mental disorders and neuroses.  The term Oedipal Complex was formed when he observed children that had fallen in love with one parent and developed a hatred for the other. His beliefs were that this was present in all children but was stronger in children that had mental disorders and neuroses even if they were not yet diagnosed. This term was created from the Oedipus myth of Oedipus killing his father and marrying his mother. This Oedipus Complex is referred to on page 1305 line 986-88 when Jocasta says, “This marriage with your mother—don’t fear it. How many times have men in dreams, too, slept with their own mothers!”

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

* During the day in front of the royal palace in the city of Thebes

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

* A plague has swept over the Thesban suppliant’s city.  Thesbans have come to beg Oedipus for help.

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

* The Theban King Laius’ death must be avenged and the man who killed him (Oedipus) must also be banished or murdered.

6. Who is Oedipus’ wife?

            * Recently widowed Jocasta, the Queen of Thebes

7. Who is Oedipus’ mother?

* Jocasta, the Queen of Thebes is Oedipus’ real mother but his adopted mother was Queen Merope

8. Who is Oedipus’ father?

* The previous Theban King Laius is Oedipus’ real father but his adopted father was King Polbus

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

            * Oedipus

10. What is Oedipus’ tragic flaw?

* Oedipus’ tragic flaw was the powerlessness against the Gods to fight his fate.  During this time in history people were firm believers in Gods. Oedipus’ thought he could go not in favor of the Goddesses, Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos, who were the controllers of human destiny. His desire to not live out his predetermined fate caused him more tragedy when the God’s punished him for his disobedience and still made his fate occur.

* Oedipus’ pretentiousness is also one of his tragic flaws. He shows many times throughout this play how highly he thinks of himself. I think Karma is a part of fate and your destiny. When Oedipus does things like only wanting to kill King Laius’s murderer merely for his own benefit and not really to help others, Karma comes back to take its revenge on him. 

*Oedipus’ also prays to the God’s creating his own tragedy. He tells the people of the city to confess what they know. He states that if they are in his home he prays that the “curse pronounced to others come to” him.

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---

*In Oedipus it is very important to really look at the signs that we “see” whether through what is happening, little cues, things that are said but meant to have a different meaning, or based on what we know from previous knowledge. We must be able to see events that have not yet taken place to fully understand the irony of the play and fully grasp the characters personalities.

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.

* I saw “second sight” when Creon came back from Lord Phoebus. This really advanced the story because I believe that Creon misinterpreted Lord Phoebus’s task. If he would have seen it the way I saw it they would have killed or banished everyone with the plague and the plague would have ended. Oedipus’s turmoil and revelations would have ceased and the play would have been over. Yet since we were not able to see the actual meeting with Creon and Lord Phoebus we had to take that what Creon prophesied was 100% correct. His understanding is why the show went on! How often in real life does being 100% accurate really happen! You can tell anybody anything and the chance of it getting changed or misinterpreted is very high. (This English class is proof. Majority of us misinterpret a lot of things!)

* Another use of sight to advance the plot and to help describe the arrogance of Oedipus is when Creon came back to report. He asks Oedipus if they should go inside or should he tell him in front of everyone. Before Oedipus answered Creon already started moving up the steps toward the palace! This little visual effect shows the audience how Oedipus really feels about the suppliants and around his family he must disregard them or Creon would not have automatically assumed he would say that they should speak in private.

* Second sense is revealed on page 1286 line 169-70 when the chorus sings “If ever in the past, to stop blind ruin sent against the city.” It shows insight into the future of the plot that the dead at hand will only ruin the city even though everyone is blind to see. These few words added give us the power to envisage events that are about to take place.

* Page 1287 line 185-86 says “Her children lie unpitied on the ground, spreading death” this line shows how since the bodies are not being buried the death is being spread to everyone else. This helps the audience see the effects of the plague and how it is being spread.

* You are given sight into the plot on page 1289 line 169-70; “as if for my own father, I’ll fight for him.

*Page 1292 line 417-19. Oedipus uses Tiresias blindness against him yet he is the one who is truly blind. This second sight comes true on page 1312 line 1282-84 when Oedipus stabs out his eyes so he cannot see “the evils he had suffered.”

* Page 1295 lind 535. Choragos says that he has “no eyes to see what rulers do.” He does not understand why rulers do what they do.

* Choragos has second sight when he feels that Jocasta will do something bad after she storms away when Oedipus will not let the truth about his past stay hidden. This bad thought is proven to be true.

13. As a play, there's a lot that can and cannot 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.

* The events of this play depict a long period of time. This time is cut out of the play to make the whole story be able to be told. Doing things off stage helps the audience realize that there was a extensive time in between events and they did not happen consecutively. Not only does this help create different time frames it can also help construct a sense of different environment and surroundings of the individuals.

* Creon’s visit to Lord Phoebus was done off the stage and this visit was not acted out since he could come back and tell the task effectively without the audience needing to witness it.

* Characters can also not get ready for another scene while still on stage. This must be done off stage. In Oedipus this is done by having the chorus sing or chant their prayers to the Gods, while the next Episode is prepared for. Having the chorus also helps the audience understand the time that has elapsed in between episodes. Time cannot be perceived in plays like it can be in movies where the sun comes up and goes down and people age and physical characteristics change with the blink of an eye. 

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

* Fate is a supposed force, principle, or power that predetermines events; inevitable events predestined by this force.

* I do believe fate to be true. No matter how hard you try to fight something or take a way that you think will take you somewhere else you will always hit a dead end if you are not going the way fate has predetermined you to be. I always hear people around me whining “Why does this always happen to me?” My reply is because they are fighting the inevitable and until they suffice to it they will repeat the same thing over and over with much more turmoil. I think people should always listen to the signs around them and really take them to heart.

15. Explain how fate plays a role in Oedipus.

            * Oedipus learned from and oracle that he was going to kill his father and marry his mother. Thinking that King Polybus and Queen Merope was the mother and father the oracle was talking about he left Corinth to avoid this fate. Yet even though he tried to fight this fate and go against what was meant to be he traveled a harder road and the inevitable events still occurred.

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.

* I see the irony in this play. I thought it was really ironic that he was trying to avoid the prophecy of his fate that was bestowed upon him yet he went straight to it. No one had ever been able to solve the Sphinx cryptic question yet he so easily solved it not even being prepared to encounter this Sphinx.

* If Oedipus would have never left Corinth would he have ever even encountered his father or mother?  His desperate attempts to avoid the inevitable sent him on the exact path to encounter his destiny.

*It is ironic that Oedipus is trying to get the people to confess to who killed the King Laius and in his attempts he speaks that he prays for the plague of the city to be put upon him if someone in his household is to blame. He is to blame for the death and at this time speaks the truth without knowing.

* It is also ironic when Oedipus says that he has proved the oracle wrong when he hears of King Polybus' death. He thinks that this is his real father and since he did not die by his hand than he escaped the prophecy yet this turns out to be true since King Polybu's is not his real father.

* It is also ironic that Oedipus name means "Swollen foot" since his feet were pierced and tied togehter and yet he never knew the true meaning of this name until his true identiy was revealed.

Extra: Name either one of the other two plays in the Oedipus Trilogy—punctuation count.

            * Oedipus at Colonus and Antigone

Movie Questions

Arsenic & Old Lace

There are different types of irony.

Verbal irony is when what someone says in not really what they mean. This can be in sarcasm, which means that you mean the opposite of what you say. For instance we probably all said a little sarcastic irony when we saw that we had to do a major research project at the beginning of this class. “Oh Yeah, we get to do a paper!”

Equivocation irony is when someone says the truth but in a way that makes the other person not believe what they are saying. This is a way for someone to really be truthful but not actually be held accountable since the listener believes it to be untrue. Like if you ate someone’s piece of cake out of the lounge refrigerator and when they asked you about it, you said, “Yeah, I am really the one who ate your cake; can’t you tell by how skinny I am that I don’t miss an opportunity for a snack?” You tell the truth but in a way that sounds like you’re just being sarcastic or trying to be funny.

Dramatic irony is where you as a reader or the audience know information that the characters do not know. The reader/audience is able to see or hear things that are relevant to a characters situation and would change their actions if they knew too. Just like in our play that we are reading Oedipus. If you read the actual/play background information you know that Oedipus killed his father and married his mother even though he doesn’t know that when he kills his father or marries his mother. This irony is demonstrated when he fusses and degrades Choragos and blames him for the murder of the prior king.

Situational irony is where something that is wanted to happen ends up going the wrong way. This can be the characters wants or the reader/audiences’ wants. For example, you could want your favorite movie star to win the girl and everything looks like he will until the end when she ends up taking the jock instead.

Tragic irony is when the character does something that causes tragedy and his contrary to their original intentions. If a character tries to play a prank on someone just to scare them a little and ends up disabling that person for the rest of their life this is a form of tragic irony.

Irony in the movie: Arsenic and Old Lace

This movie is packed with irony and for anyone who has Netflix this movie is a ready to play movie. It is the only one out of the movies that we had to choose from that is. The following is the parts of this movie that prove to have irony:

1.      As the movie begins you see reporters that are at the court house looking for famous people who are getting married when they see Mortimer Brewster, a very famous writer who is the symbol of bachelorhood, wanting to wed. They think that it is ironic that someone so famous for his books on how to stay a bachelor is actually getting married himself.

2.      Two police officers are walking to the Brewster’s house when Sergeant Brophy tells Officer O’Hara, “not to crack jokes about the Brewster sisters because they are the dearest, sweetest, kindest old ladies that ever walked the earth. They are out of this world.” (yet as the audience we find this to not be so true)

3.      When Officer O’Hara asks Sergeant Brophy why the well off ladies needs to rent a room, Brophy tells him, “It’s a way they can dig up people to do good too.” This is actually why the women think that they rent the room but their idea of good is totally different than what the officers’ idea of good is.

4.      The officers get to the door of the Brewster’s’ and Sergeant Brophy tells O’Hara “to watch his language” and O’Hara says that he is not a swearing man. This is proven to be wrong when Teddy blows his bugle and scares O’Hara. He states that he starts to swear!

5.      The sisters are talk about Abby doing something while Martha was out. She said she just couldn’t wait because the Reverend was on his way over. Martha wants to go downstairs to see what Abby had accomplished but she is informed by Abby that it was not there and it was in the window seat. As they go to the window seat Elaine interrupts them so you are unable to see the big surprise.

6.      Mortimer comes by and he sees Teddy run down to the basement with a shovel.

7.      Abby and Mortimer look for his manuscript when Abby finds a picture of Mortimer’s brother Jonathan. They talk about how scary he was. Mortimer says that he saw a play that reminded him of him and that as soon as the curtain went up the next thing you saw was dead bodies. As he says this he opens the window seat and sees a real dead body!

8.      Abby, Martha, and Mortimer talk about killing the gentleman. Martha randomly tells Abby about stopping by a friend’s house that wants them to take Jr. to the movie again. This time though she wants to pick the movie because she doesn’t like scary movies that Jr. picks. Then Abby says they should not allow those types of movies to be made. (They are living these types of movies)

9.      Then the three of them talk about the number of men they have already killed. Mortimer is completely distressed. The phone rings and he answers his hand then goes to answer the real phone. When he walks out Abby ask Martha what the matter was with Mortimer like she really doesn’t know. Martha wants to know from Abby what she thinks could have happened to him. (They really act like they have no clue why he is so upset)

10.  The tragic irony is that both women think they are helping lonely men find peace yet they are actually just murders and not helping anyone.

11.  When Martha talks about how she makes her poison Mortimer says, “It should have quit a kick.” (It really does have that kick!)

12.  Abby tells him how one man was able to tell them how delicious it was before he past and Mortimer says “Well wasn’t that nice of him?” (This is said sarcastically)

13.  Mortimer tells Elaine over and over that his is not throwing her out of the house while he is carrying her out of the house and tells her to get out of there.

14.  Another man comes to rent a room and Abby puts him in the chair that the other men died in. They ask him questions and find out that he has no family and friends. They decide to fix him wine to solve his problems. Mortimer stops the man and scares him off.

15.  The ladies get their Elderberries from the bushes in the cemetery.

16.   Jonathan comes back to the house right after they had talked about him.

17.  They are frightened by Jonathan because his plastic surgeon gave him the face of the last scary movie that they had to watch with Jr.

18.  Jonathan and his surgeon have a dead body just like the Brewster sisters and neither one of them know that they both have one.

19.  Mortimer warns the Judge to not drink wine especially when he goes to the Brewster’s sister.

20.  Dr. Einstein and Jonathan think that Teddy’s hole will fit their dead body perfectly. Like they had purposely made it just for them. They did not know that he was making it for the Brewster sister’s dead body.

21.  As Jonathan looks for his dead body that Dr. Einstein hides when Elaine comes into the house he tells her that Dr. Einstein is a bit of a magician sarcastically since he hid the body so well that Jonathan cannot even find it. Elaine has no clue that this is why he is saying it.

22.  When Mortimer comes back he asks Jonathan where he got his face, Hollywood. He doesn’t know that everyone else thinks he looks like the guy from the scary movie too.

23.  Jonathan tells Mortimer that he will take care of him in a little bit when he goes upstairs. Mortimer doesn’t realize that Jonathan means he is going to kill him.

24.  Mortimer opens the window seat and sees a different body. He fusses at Abby for killing someone else. She says it is not her man. Abby says that the man is an imposter and if he thinks he can come and be buried in their cellar he is mistaken. She will not have services for a stranger. She thinks the man came by himself.

25.  Mortimer fusses with Jonathan and he calls him handsome. (That is far from what he really thinks of him)

26.  Mortimer leaves and as he leaves he tells Jonathan that when he comes back he expects them to be gone, but then he tells them to wait for him.

27.  Jonathan has killed just as many men as the women but he doesn’t like that they are tied up with him. So he needs to kill another one (Mortimer) to beat them.

28.  Mortimer tells Elaine that he can’t marry her because his family is insane. She says that his aunts are the sweetest people she knows and doesn’t realize that they really are insane.

29.  The Brewster sister want to go to the police because they are burying a foreign with their Methodist man and do not realize that they have murdered too.

30.  You see Dr. Einstein downstairs in the cellar and he has on the shoes that was seen on the floor earlier and when the Brewster aunt picks it up and looks at it. It’s their dead man’s shoes.

31.  Dr. Einstein tries to warn Mortimer that Jonathan wants to kill him but he will not listen. Dr. Einstein say that the people in plays are smarter than him but Mortimer says they are not and tells him about a play where a man knows he is in the house with murders and he should know that he is in danger and is even warned to get out but he doesn’t go. He does this to show him how people in plays do not have more sense than him. He starts describing how the man gets killed and Jonathan starts doing the same things behind Mortimer’s back. He gets tied up and gagged by Jonathan as he explains the play the same way.

32.  Dr. Einstein wants a drink and finds the Aunt’s wine before they kill Mortimer. They are about to drink it and die and save Mortimer when Teddy comes out and blows his bugle and makes them drop their glass of wine.

33.  Officer O’Hara comes in and sees Mortimer tied up and believes Dr. Einstein and says that he is acting out a play. So he tells Mortimer that someone stole his act and explains it to him and as he talks about a guy coming to kill his character with a long blade, Jonathan is coming behind him with a knife to kill him.

34.  When Jonathan wakes up from being knocked out, Sergeant Brophy is on the phone talking about having Teddy and going to bring him in for blowing his bugle but he thinks that they are talking about him. He tells on himself and tells about his reward.

35.  As everyone fights Mortimer sits on the steps and talks about having a “fine day”. He tells the officers that hitting Jonathan over the head won’t hurt because he had stabbed him with a fork earlier and it didn’t faze him.

36.  His description was as a wanted criminal described him as the same person that everyone keeps saying he looks like.

37.  None of the cops believe there are bodies in the cellar.

38.  The aunt’s wanted to go to Happy Dale with Teddy. Mr. Witherspoon says that sane people can’t go. Dr. Witherspoon doesn’t realize that they are insane too. They start telling about their bodies and when the police believe them Mortimer starts trying to make them believe they are insane by talking like that.

39.  When they get the description of Jonathan’s accomplice from the station, Dr. Einstein is standing right in front of them but they do not realize that he is right there.

To be an older movie, I really enjoyed this movie. It was funny and very entertaining. It does show lots of examples of irony!

"A Letter Sent to Summer" by Jane Shore (p. 713)

I like this poem because it is a plea to hurry summer up. Anyone who loves summer would like this poem.

This poem is a letter for summer to make it hurry up. I wish this letter would work because I would send it myself over and over and over. I love summer and everything about it. Summer does feel like an “old friend” (line 3). It always visits you and makes you feel better when it arrives.

This poem adds a little bit of comedy about summer by saying if it was a “biblical angel” knocking on her door (line 6) she would buy all it had to offer. I bet if Jehovah’s witness gave off that summer feeling they wouldn’t have so many people regret seeing them coming.

I have the winter blues and if I knew where to send this letter to make summer come faster I would send it right away.

This poem gives me hope that summer is on its way.

Please summer hurry up!

"Daffodils (I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud)" by William Wordsworth (p. 678)

I like this poem becasue brings back memories of my childhood. Daffodils have always been my favorite flower since I was a little girl. This poem reminded me of the daffodils at my grandmother’s house. She had a pond that had lots and lots of daffodils at it. I would love going to her house and playing with them. I made so many make-believe things from those flowers.

They do bring a joy over my body still and are a true sign of spring. They are the first flowers to pop up and give hope that warmer weather is on the way. They remind me of Easter and all the fun I had searching for Easter eggs at my grandmother’s house in those daffodils.

This poem brought back a little bit of childhood that I cherish. It is funny how one simple little thing can cause so much emotion and joys of better days.

"Rush Hour" by Elaine Terranova (p. 644)

I am yet again drawn to another poem about children. This one is not as upbeat and sunshiny as I would like but it does show an important side that needs to be talked about. The more that child abuse is hidden and acted like we cannot talk about it the more it will happen.

This poem depicts a mother and her two small children. They look like they have been physically abused by the other passengers on the train. The mother wears dark glasses, the little boy’s face is hurt, and the little girl has a cast on her arm. I hope that the mother is escaping and not going back.

I felt sadness for the children and having a friend that was once the victim of domestic violence, I could relate to this poem. She always made excuses to everyone for her bumps and bruises yet I always knew different. My house was where she always escaped to. It is sad because the ones not in that situation always try to judge and give commands for what should be done. They do not understand what that person could possibly be feeling and going through. The ease is not there and the fear of what will happen if they leave is worse than the pain they endure. All that the outsider can do is be supportive, listen, and be there by their side to ice the pain. Calling the cops for them only makes it worse and it doesn’t make a hero, only a villain.

I felt for the woman in this poem and understand her pain. I feel this poem is the true side of an ugly fact. I think people need to make this sad fact something they talk about and not just whisper about behind backs and closed doors. Sometimes just offer a shoulder to lean on!

"Where Children Live" by Naomi Shihab Nye (p. 642)

                I really like this poem about children. I guess no matter how much I try to get away from thinking about children almost 24/7; they always draw me back in. Children are where my passion truly lies and that is what was intriguing in this writer’s view of them. The poem dictates that to be a child we would have to get rid of so much that we have become as adults. We forget the joys of being a child, exploring the world around us, and being amazed at all it has to offer. Children are always looking forward to tomorrow and have big hopes and dreams.

My favorite part of the poem is when it talks about the “ants having more hope.” (15) That is so true. When the children in my care see an ant they don’t just automatically stomp on it like we do as adults. They watch it amazed, play with it and become its friend until it runs away. Unless they are taught to be mean to God’s living creatures they will cherish them and try their best to take care of them.

                I wish I could get back the mind of a child where days are long and worries are few. You play until you cannot play anymore. What I really want to do is be bored! Might sound crazy but now my days are rushed and full of tedious task instead of pointless joys.  You are always told as a child to cherish the moments and not to rush life. If only as a child we would have listened.