Oedipus the King by Sophocles, Evangelinus Apostolides Sophocles Page A
Authors: Sophocles, Evangelinus Apostolides Sophocles
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go That Oedipus yields, however grudgingly, shows that his stubbornness and self-confidence are not immune to persuasion or insensitive to the wishes of those close to him.
829 He says I murdered Laius Kreon did not say this, of course. Oedipus so passionately believes in the truth of his inference that Kreon is responsible for Tiresias' charges that he does not present it at first as an inference.
838 I don't say that Apollo . . . sent it This qualification both absolves Apollo from false prophecy and expresses skepticism concerning oracles, skepticism that must have been shared widely in a world where oracles were constantly put to dubious political use. The Chorus has the strongest commitment to the divine authority of oracles. Oedipus' belief is conditioned by experience and changes with events.
841 his killer . . . be a son In Jocasta's version, the oracle to Laius was unqualified and not a punishment. Gould notes that by omitting the aspect of punishment present in earlier versions of the myth, Sophocles establishes the pure and unexplained malice of Apollo's destruction of Oedipus.
843 three roads meet It is this detail that disturbs Oedipus, and the one he reverts to as soon as Jocasta ends her speech. Some gesture of recognition must have been made by the actor to account for Jocasta's line 857. Oedipus' reaction to Jocasta's mention of the crossroads may have been intended by Sophocles to explain why Oedipus was distracted from hearing another fact with direct bearing on his identity: the fact that Jocasta's child's feet had been "yoked together," as Oedipus' own had been, and which produced the swollen scars that gave him his name. However, the weight to be given Oedipus' crippled feet may not be as conclusive as some commentators think. If exposure of children was common, Oedipus might not be expected to connect himself instantly and absolutely with Laius' son, even had he heard Jocasta's words.
852 54 god wants . . . with ease Lit. "Of what things the god hunts the use, he reveals easily himself." The image of the hunt appears also
page_80
Page 80
at ll. 271, 431, and 681. Here the image is of the god seizing his prey, and then displaying it.
857 What . . . thought turned you Jocasta could refer either to a movement by Oedipus at ll. 85556 or earlier, at 843.
862 63 Phokis . . . Daulis Towns near Delphi.
865 before you came to power For the sequence of events leading to Oedipus' assumption of power in Thebes, see the introduction.
869 Was he a young man Oedipus poses as the first alternative the one he must hope is true: that Laius was not an older man of an age to be his father. In her response Jocasta not only dashes this hope but suggests a physical resemblance between Laius and Oedipus.
872 that savage curse The interdiction Oedipus declared against Laius' murderer at ll. 290307.
880 a herald It is possible that the presence of a herald should have indicated to Oedipus that the party contained a prince or ruler.
887 begged me A touch on the arm was a formal supplication (like clasping a person's knees) which appealed to piety in the hope of achieving a favorable response.
894 95 I've said far / too much What Oedipus means here is uncertain. Most likely, as Gould suggests, is his regret for the curse pronounced against himselfthe curse to which he has already referred in l. 872.
901 know the risks Lit. ''while I cross through this chance ( tyche )."
902 3 Polybos . . . Merope Are we to understand that Oedipus has never before named his parents or his origins to Jocasta? Although this is possible, it is much more likely that Sophocles uses here an epic convention whereby a hero begins a piece of consequential autobiography by formally naming his homeland and immediate ancestors.
905 chance happening An excellent instance of Sophocles' practice of having Oedipus label as chance or luck an event that, seen in retrospect, becomes part of the pattern of his ruin created by Apollo.
915 16 pounding in my mind .
829 He says I murdered Laius Kreon did not say this, of course. Oedipus so passionately believes in the truth of his inference that Kreon is responsible for Tiresias' charges that he does not present it at first as an inference.
838 I don't say that Apollo . . . sent it This qualification both absolves Apollo from false prophecy and expresses skepticism concerning oracles, skepticism that must have been shared widely in a world where oracles were constantly put to dubious political use. The Chorus has the strongest commitment to the divine authority of oracles. Oedipus' belief is conditioned by experience and changes with events.
841 his killer . . . be a son In Jocasta's version, the oracle to Laius was unqualified and not a punishment. Gould notes that by omitting the aspect of punishment present in earlier versions of the myth, Sophocles establishes the pure and unexplained malice of Apollo's destruction of Oedipus.
843 three roads meet It is this detail that disturbs Oedipus, and the one he reverts to as soon as Jocasta ends her speech. Some gesture of recognition must have been made by the actor to account for Jocasta's line 857. Oedipus' reaction to Jocasta's mention of the crossroads may have been intended by Sophocles to explain why Oedipus was distracted from hearing another fact with direct bearing on his identity: the fact that Jocasta's child's feet had been "yoked together," as Oedipus' own had been, and which produced the swollen scars that gave him his name. However, the weight to be given Oedipus' crippled feet may not be as conclusive as some commentators think. If exposure of children was common, Oedipus might not be expected to connect himself instantly and absolutely with Laius' son, even had he heard Jocasta's words.
852 54 god wants . . . with ease Lit. "Of what things the god hunts the use, he reveals easily himself." The image of the hunt appears also
page_80
Page 80
at ll. 271, 431, and 681. Here the image is of the god seizing his prey, and then displaying it.
857 What . . . thought turned you Jocasta could refer either to a movement by Oedipus at ll. 85556 or earlier, at 843.
862 63 Phokis . . . Daulis Towns near Delphi.
865 before you came to power For the sequence of events leading to Oedipus' assumption of power in Thebes, see the introduction.
869 Was he a young man Oedipus poses as the first alternative the one he must hope is true: that Laius was not an older man of an age to be his father. In her response Jocasta not only dashes this hope but suggests a physical resemblance between Laius and Oedipus.
872 that savage curse The interdiction Oedipus declared against Laius' murderer at ll. 290307.
880 a herald It is possible that the presence of a herald should have indicated to Oedipus that the party contained a prince or ruler.
887 begged me A touch on the arm was a formal supplication (like clasping a person's knees) which appealed to piety in the hope of achieving a favorable response.
894 95 I've said far / too much What Oedipus means here is uncertain. Most likely, as Gould suggests, is his regret for the curse pronounced against himselfthe curse to which he has already referred in l. 872.
901 know the risks Lit. ''while I cross through this chance ( tyche )."
902 3 Polybos . . . Merope Are we to understand that Oedipus has never before named his parents or his origins to Jocasta? Although this is possible, it is much more likely that Sophocles uses here an epic convention whereby a hero begins a piece of consequential autobiography by formally naming his homeland and immediate ancestors.
905 chance happening An excellent instance of Sophocles' practice of having Oedipus label as chance or luck an event that, seen in retrospect, becomes part of the pattern of his ruin created by Apollo.
915 16 pounding in my mind .
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