Historical Context: Plague

Question 1

What is the context of the plague ?

Answer 1

430BC a plague wiped out 25% of the Athenian population at the start of the Peloponnesian war

Question 2

How does the plague relate to Oedipus the king creating an emotional bond

Answer 2

This occurred before the writing and first production Oedipus however the memory was close to mind for many audiance members
- strikes an emotional cord with a contemporary Greek audiance
- strong resonance with a contemporary audiance

Question 3

Where is the reference to the plague seen most ?

Answer 3

In the priests speech specially the second stanza in the prologue

Question 4

How is this reflected in the play ?

Answer 4

The prologue
The citizens appealing to their leader and the priest appealing to Oedipus as the best of citizens
Echos Pericles