A World of Disbelief

What conditions in Thebes does the chorus describe (170-182)?

In the Chorus’s speech (170), there is despair and depression in the language and voice of the people of Thebes. When this horrible sickness is affecting the city and not leaving, they are once again in a horrible position. Like when the Sphinx was controlling their lives, a new controlling factor is now upon them. The plague that they speak of is killing many people and leaving the rest of the city on edge. They look to Oedipus for help because not too long ago he helped them escape the Sphinx and defeat it. Thinking that Oedipus has a divine connection or pull, the town people (Chorus) are depending on him. The conditions in Thebes are horrible as of this point. They talk of the extreme death rates and are bewildered as to why this is happening. They question to the gods if they demand sacrifice or other acts of devotion and pray to several gods such as Athena, Zeus, and Apollo. This city, full of people that have already seen acts of hostility and experienced disparity, cannot take much more of this pain and suffering and more so than ever, need Oedipus. This will prove to be ironic because the one person that they are counting on again in this situation will prove to be the reason for all the tragedy and sickness.


What is the Chorus’s view of Teiresias’s accusations against Oedipus (283-495; 504-511)?

Often when a group of people relies so heavily on one person and loves them it is hard to admit to their faults. However, in this case the situation is escalated. Teiresias, who originally did not even want to tell Oedipus, accused the King of not only being an orphan child, but also for being the murder of his father. This is difficult for Oedipus to take in also, he responds with harsh insults and denial to Teiresias’s claims. The Chorus follows Oedipus with denial and tells the king of their devotion and love for him. This may be because in this desperate situation, the people of the city are trying to make themselves feel better by thinking that Oedipus will handle all of their problems like he did the Sphinx. Oedipus, in denial and disbelief, immediately acts on his call from the gods to solve the murder of Laius not knowing that by doing this, he was bringing upon his own future downfall. The Chorus, also unknowing of the shock and betrayal that they will soon feel, is confident in their King and supportive of his defense.


How does Jocasta try to assure Oedipus that he is not guilty of Laius’s death (707-722)?

Jocasta attempts to make Oedipus feel better about the given situation when she defends his innocence by telling him the story of how she and Laius’s child was killed. In her mind, this explanation would free Oedipus of his worries about killing his father and marrying his mother. However, it did the opposite because every answer and explanation Jocasta gave led Oedipus to further believe that he was behind the town issues. The stories of Laius’s death and his own youth told Oedipus that there must be a connection and he immediately started questioning his past and his acts. Little does Jocasta know, as she was trying to help Oedipus and the city, she planted the seed for a dramatic flaw that will appear in Oedipus (576).