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Theater at Epidaurus
Sophocles, Oedipus at Colonus II
Death and Transfiguration
Sophocles in old age
2
AgendaOpening Discussion
• “Not to Be Born is Best”??Recap and Update
• Issues and ThemesAll’s Well that Ends Well?
• Fate, Responsibility … Tragedy?Platonic Critique
• Counterplea?
Oedipus at Colonus – Analysis prologue (pp. 284 ff.)
• Oed, Ant, Citizen• identity, positioning
parodos (291)• amoibaion (chorus-character dialogue)• Chorus, Oed, Ant• supplication
1st episode (298)• leader, Oed, Ismene, Ant
amoibaion (314)• Chorus, Oed• Oed’s crimes (?)
1st episode cont’d (318)• Leader, Theseus, Oed• supplication, negotiation
1st stasimon (326)• praises (Colonus, Athens)
2nd episode (328)• Ant, Oed, Leader, Creon, Theseus• tussle over Oed
2nd stasimon (348)• victory song
3rd episode (350)• Leader, Oed, Ant, Thes• leave-taking begins
3rd stasimon (358)• the human condition
4th episode (359)• Ant, Oed, Poly• a father’s curse
amoebic kommos, dialogue (371)• Chorus, Oed, Ant• portents
4th episode cont’d (373)• Thes, Oed
4th stasimon (377)• prayers for Oed
exodos (378)• spoken dialogue, lyric kommos• messenger, leader, Ant, Ismene, Thes• Oed’s demise, lament, consolation
CHORUS (lines 1388-1391):Not to be born is best,
when all is reckoned in, but once a man has seen the lightthe next best thing, by far, is to go back
back where he came from, quickly as he can.
lines 1771 ff.
7
Meaning? Your Response? depressing
• pessimistic
• describe Oedipus
what’s the point of living• suicidal
• nihilistic
like medea• sees everything in a bleak
light
pessimistic towards old age• implies youth better
bring him to terms with death
dramatic effect• makes it sound worse
no more cheating fate• positive development?
Oedipus at Colonus – Analysis prologue (pp. 284 ff.)
• Oed, Ant, Citizen• identity, positioning
parodos (291)• amoibaion (chorus-character dialogue)• Chorus, Oed, Ant• supplication
1st episode (298)• leader, Oed, Ismene, Ant
amoibaion (314)• Chorus, Oed• Oed’s crimes (?)
1st episode cont’d (318)• Leader, Theseus, Oed• supplication, negotiation
1st stasimon (326)• praises (Colonus, Athens)
2nd episode (328)• Ant, Oed, Leader, Creon, Theseus• tussle over Oed
2nd stasimon (348)• victory song
3rd episode (350)• Leader, Oed, Ant, Thes• leave-taking begins
3rd stasimon (358)• the human condition
4th episode (359)• Ant, Oed, Poly• a father’s curse
amoebic kommos, dialogue (371)• Chorus, Oed, Ant• portents
4th episode cont’d (373)• Thes, Oed
4th stasimon (377)• prayers for Oed
exodos (378)• spoken dialogue, lyric kommos• messenger, leader, Ant, Ismene, Thes• Oed’s demise, lament, consolation
Stage Set, “Colonus Hippius”
skene (stage building)
To UnderworldOlive grove
Equestrian statue
to Thebes to AthensAltar of Athena Hippia,
Poseidon Hippios
East West
South
Source: Wiles Tragedy in Athens
CHORUS p. 348:“… chariots racing down the wind - the
enemy will be crushed!…
They honor Athena, reigning queen of horsemen - honor the Sea-lord, guardian of
our earth…”
12
Oedipal Transformations… OK: (reverse) rite of passage OC: death and transfiguration
• Furies (Semnai theai) to Eumenides (“Kindly Ones”)– “As we call you Powers of Kindness (Eumenides), so from the
springs of kindness in your heart receive your suppliant now and save his life” (Leader to Oedipus, p. 312)
• father/friend to alastōr– OED to CREON: “… my curse, my fury of vengeance rooted
deep in your soil” (alastōr houmos, p. 331)
• pariah to hērōs– “no pleasure to break the silence of these mysteries” (707–8)– “Only … Theseus … must see this mystery”
15
Fate, Responsibility … Tragedy?Oedipus the King Apollo to Creon
• “Pay the killers back, whoever is responsible”(p. 164)
Oedipus• “Apollo, friends, Apollo -
he ordained my agonies” (p. 241)
Oedipus at Colonus Oedipus
• “… my acts … were acts of suffering more than actions outright. … I struck in self-defense” (299)
Oedipus at Colonus (cont.) Oedipus
• “I am innocent … blind, unknowing!” (317)
• “Thebes bound me fast to a bride who was my ruin (atē)” (315)
Polynices• “I learn this all too late”
(360)• “I must travel down that
road, doomed by fate and the curses of my father” (368)
17
CommentsPlatonic Critique would have liked
• depiction of Theseus– good– just
not liked• pessimism
unrealistic concepts• alastor thing
wouldn’t like pessimism• wouldn’t like all oed’s suffering
showed how you have to pay• & respect to gods
social benefit - positive youthful soldiering
girls good• loyalty thing iffy• kids can relate
liked political ideas• philosopher kings
Counterplea moral ambiguity is interesting
• w/o, no thought hero cult as hubristic