The 2nd Stasimon: In Depth Analysis Flashcards
What is the context to this ode ?
Jocasta comforting Oedipus telling him of the oracle told to her in the past that hasn’t come true
What do the chorus establish in the first stanza?
A set of values
- the importance of piety
- the awe inspiring nature of the gods
- importance of sticking to the laws of the gods
What is the second stanza ?
Talks on hubris and arrogance
- they pray the gods will continue to look kindly on the city
- criticise the tyrant
- hope that the gods punish the wicked wrong door who respects neither man nor god
What happens in the end of the third stanza ?
- reveal the corollary of these beliefs are
- if the gods fail to uphold their standards and don’t punish sinners then the chorus question why they worship them
‘Why join the sacred dance’
What does the final stanza do ?
Expands on the end of the third stanza
- imagines the complete collapse of religious worship and the gods power on earth
How does the ode connect with the rest of the play ?
Made explicit at the end of the stanza
- when they refer to Lauis’ prophecy fading away and Apollos power failing to manifest
- it’s a religious crisis
What is the overall message of the second half of the stasimon ?
If the gods are not reliable about enforcing the rules and oracles then why bother to obey them
What draws a poignant highlight to the chorus’ message ?
‘Why join the sacred dance’
- draws attention to the role as a chorus rather than their role in character
- As Theban old men they wouldn’t be dancing so the question is purely rhetorical
- by questions the purpose the dance they don’t just encourage the audience to perceive the message as applying to myth but their own reality
- creates an ironic effect: we know the gods will punish the transgressor
What is their a contrast between perspectives ?
The chorus’ perspective and what the situation in Thebes actually is
- apparent to the audience
What do the Chorus’ description of a tyrant in short mean ?
Someone who doesn’t respect the gods acts with intentional malice and chooses to disregard morale laws to both gods and mortals should be punished
- they question if this individual got away without punishment it would undermine the morale system
- as audience we know Oedious is not this and it’s far more complicated
What is a traditional Greek idea shown by the chorus ?
Arrogance and excess lead to downfall
- crashes down the abyss’
- rise follows by fall is what happens to Oedipus rising to the height of mortal fortune then sinking to the lowest point of mystery
What is the chorus reference to wrestling alluding to ?
What does this therefore contrast ?
Oedipus defeat of the sphinx and saving Thebes
- symbolises the debt the chorus and Thebans feel to Oedipus
Contrast the naive beliefs of the chorus and the morale complexities which the play presents
