Oedipus quotes Flashcards
The first episode: Adresses the people of Thebes to calm/reassure them and encourage the killer to come forward to stop the plague. Appears a kind and thoughtful king.
“Oh my children”
To priest - “You can trust me. I am ready to help”
The first episode: His promise to find Laius’ killer is ironic as it was him who killed his father.
“I will fight for him as if he were my father.”
“Let that man [killer] drag out his life in agony.”
Places a curse of agony on murderer (live in exile with no food/drink/help)
The first episode: Oedipus’ character is caring and smart but impulsive and arrogant. But he is not smart when he let Creon speak infront of the people.
“But as sick as you are, not one is sick as I”
“I acted at once. I sent Creon… to Delphi” - Prepared and smart
“My children, I pity you.” - Patronising?
Not smart - “Speak out, speak to us all.”
The first episode: Oedipus begins to say harsh words to the blind prophet Tiresias.
“You scum of the earth”
“I’d say you did the killing single-handed!” - Blaming him
“You’ve lost your power, stone-blind, stone-deaf-senses, eyes blind as stone!” - Oedipus blind too.
“If you weren’t so senile the lash would teach you what your scheming means!”
The second episode: Oedipus accuses Creon of murder as he enters.
“The marauding thief himself scheming to steal my crown and power!”
The second episode: Oedipus’ backstory
Someone once drunkedly said “I [Oedipus] am not my father’s son”
Goes to an oracle who told him he’d marry his mother and kill his father so runs away to Delphi.
Comes across Laius and “killed them all - every mother’s son!”
The second episode: The shepherd
“He is my last hope-“
The second episode: After hearing Jocasta’s opinion on the prophet’s answer that Oedipus killed Laius (“A prophet? Well free yourself of every charge!” and mentioned Laius at three crossroads, Oedipus clocks onto something.
“Strange, hearing you just now… my mind wandered”
Second episode: Oedipus starts to realise.
“My god - what have you planned to do to me?”
“I have a terrible fear that the blind seer can see.”
“Ai- I can see it all clear as day.”
“Oh no no, I think I’ve just called down a dreadful curse upon myself”
Third episode: After Jocasta leaves after figuring out the truth.
“I must know my birth, no matter how common I may be - I must see my origins face-to-face.”
Very persistent and still blind to see the truth
Third episode: Jocasta begs Oedipus to stop asking questions.
“I must know it all, must see the truth at last.” Metaphorical and literal
Episode three: Just as the shepherd reveals.
“And I’m at the edge of hearing horrors, yes, but I must hear!”
Episode four: Oedipus threatens shepherd when he gets agitated and doesn’t tell the king the child he supposedly found.
“So you won’t talk willingly - then you’ll talk with pain.”
Modern audience = cruel
Ancient audience = torture normal for slaves
Episode four: Oedipus is finally told by the shepherd that he was left because of a prophecy.
“All come true, all burst to light!”
“Cursed in my birth, cursed in marriage, cursed in the lives I cut down with these hands!”
Fourth episode: His death is described by a messenger.
“He digs them [Jocasta’s brooches] down the socket of his eyes”
“Blind from this hour on! Blind in the darkness - blind!”
