Episode 3

Question 1

Jocasta comes to the Altar

Answer 1

Jocasta exits the palace with a suppliants branch wound in wool, comes to the Altar (presumably) comes praying to Apollo saying that Oedipus wont admit the latest prophecies are as hollow as the old (paradoxical as she is praying to Apollo, giver of oracles)

Question 2

Messenger arrives happy

Answer 2

Messenger arrives asking for Oedipus. “Blessings on you always” “queen of Oedipus crowned with all your family” to Jocasta

Question 3

what kind of news has Messenger brought

Answer 3

Messenger says he’s brought wonderful news, but double edged

Question 4

The news

Answer 4

the people of Corinth want to make Oedipus king there as Polybus is dead (Jocasta’s prayer answered as there is here the chance of exile)

Question 5

Jocasta’s reaction to the news

Answer 5

Jocasta is happy because Polybus hasn’t been killed by his son (but he was never meant to be)
“You prophecies of the gods, where are you now?”

Question 6

Interesting Greek line about Oedipus’ father’s death, when Jocasta tells Oedipus

Answer 6

The Greek is: “your father is not Polybus anymore….dead” dead is only heard at the very end.

Question 7

Jocasta says he need not fear his mother’s bed

Answer 7

Jocasta says we must not fear for “chance rules our lives” it’s better to live at random.

Question 8

Messenger asks Oedipus what he’s afraid of

Answer 8

Oedipus says his fate is to kill his father and make love to his mother… this is what kept me out of Corinth, hes still afraid of his mother’s bed

Question 9

Oedipus no longer believes in Prophecies (move up)

Answer 9

“they’re nothing, worthless”

Question 10

Jocasta tells him he should be happy (move up)

Answer 10

your father’s death, is a great blessing, joy to the eyes!

Question 11

What does the messenger want

Answer 11

he wants a rich reward and to bring Oedipus home

Question 12

Messenger thinks he’s doing somehting good

Answer 12

“why don’t I rid you of that old worry now?”

“you’ve nothing to fear”

stichomythia builds the tension, Oedipus’s gets annoyed and the messenger slowly releasing information, hypothesizing about Oedipus’ motives.

Question 13

MEssenger reveals Oedipus’ past

Answer 13

-Polybus was not your father, he was a gift, I gave you to him, found you on mount Cithaeron, your ankles were pinned together. Another shepherd passed you on to me. A servant of Laius.

Question 14

OEdipus questions about who this servant of Laius/ shepherd is

Answer 14

Leader says he’s the very shepherd Oedipus wanted to see.

Question 15

Jocasta tries to get him to desist

Answer 15

Jocasta says it’s empty nonsense, don’t give it another thought.

Question 16

Oedipus refuses to give up

Answer 16

Give up now, with a clue like this? Fail to solve the mystery of my birth? (But it’s already solved for Jocasta)

When she flees: Oedipus says to a servant, “leave her to glory in her royal birth” (he too is royal, he thinks that she is simply being classist)

Question 17

Jocasta knows the truth

Answer 17

Jocasta: my suffering is enough, call of this search

Jocasta begs him to stop

Jocasta says she wants the best for him

Question 18

Oedipus thinks Jocasta thinks he’s not nobly born

Jocasta’s response

Answer 18

If my mother was a slave, you would not seem common.

Question 19

Oedipus must know the truth

Answer 19

Oedipus replies: “I must know it all. Must see the truth at last”

Question 20

The Leader is afraid when she Jocasta rushes out

Answer 20

I’m afraid that from this silence something monstrous may come bursting forth. (Hippolytus)

Question 21

Oedipus is so self involved,

conjectures about his birth

Answer 21

Oedipus thinks it’s all about himself
I must know my birth no matter how common it may be
I count myself the son of Chance (goddess) assumes a heroic descent
I will never fail to search and learn my birth