Œdipus Tyrranus 2

OT Plot Summary (cont.)

– V. Dialogue with Creon (513-633)• A. Creon enters and proclaims his innocence (513-

530)• B. Œdipus enters and accuses Creon of the murder

and of plotting against him (531-543)• C. They argue; mostly stichomythia surrounding a

speech by Creon (544-633)– 1. Œdipus’ argument: Teiresias was in Thebes when Laius

was murdered, but never mentioned me until he spoke to you.

OT Plot Summary (cont.)– 2. Creon’s argument: I have royal power already. What

would I gain by seizing your throne and living in fear? Send to Delphi and see what the god says.

– VI. Dialogue with Iocasta (634-862)• A. Iocasta and the chorus plead for Creon; Œdipus

doesn’t forgive him but grudgingly allows him to leave (634-678)

• B. Œdipus recounts the argument to Iocasta (679-706)

OT Plot Summary (cont.)

• C. Iocasta claims human prophecy is empty; tells the “false” prophecy given Laius before his death (707-725)

• D. Œdipus recognizes details of the murder, becomes frightened; summons the lone survivor of the murder. n.b. 738 and 745 (726-768)

• E. Œdipus tells of his embassy to Apollo (771-833)– 1. Drunk at a party accused him of being a bastard (780-

781)– 2. He went to Apollo to ask about his parentage (787-788)

OT Plot Summary (cont.)– 3. Apollo didn’t answer that question, but made a horrible

prophecy (789-793)– 4. Œdipus fled Corinth and, in his wanderings, killed a man in

a situation very much like Laius’ murder (794-813)– 5. He fears he is guilty and mourns his fate (814-833)– 6. His one point of hope: Laius was supposedly murdered by

a group of men (834-861)

– VII. Stasimon 2 on Justice (863-910)– VIII. Messenger Speech (911-1086)

• A. Iocasta supplicates Apollo, asking for release from the plague (911-923)

OT Plot Summary (cont.)• B. Messenger arrives from Corinth bringing news of

Polybus’ death (925-948)• C. Œdipus is overjoyed that the oracle has turned out

false (964-972)• D. He still fears his mother (984-986)• E. The messenger asks why, is told of the prophecy, and

tries to please Œdipus by revealing his adoption (989-1020)

• F. The messenger (then shepherd) received the infant Œdipus from Laius’ shepherd; his ankles had been pierced (1021-1040)

OT Plot Summary (cont.)• G. Œdipus summons Laius’ shepherd; Iocasta, terrified

by what she has heard tries to prevent him, fails, and runs away (1041-1073)

• H. Œdipus misunderstands, is determined to find out the truth (1076-1085)

– IX. Stasimon 3, blissfully pondering Œdipus’ origin (1087-1109)

– X. Herdsman Episode (1110-1185)• A. Œdipus interrogates herdsman, who claims not to

remember (1110-1131)

OT Plot Summary (cont.)

• B. Messenger and Œdipus force the herdsman to reveal the child’s origin (n.b. 1146, 1165, 1169): he received it from Iocasta, but could not bring himself to expose it (1132-1182)

• C. Œdipus admits the truth and runs off (1183-1185)– XI. Stasimon 4 on Œdipus downfall (1186-

1212)– XII. Messenger Speech 2 (1213-1297)

• A. Iocasta went to her room raving (1213-1252)

OT Plot Summary (cont.)

• B. Œdipus burst in to kill her, found her hanging dead (1253-1265)

• C. He cut her down and stabbed his eyes out with her brooches (1266-1286)

• D. He plans to exile himself (1287-1297)– XIII. Closing Episode (1298-1530)

• A. Œdipus enters, blind, and mourns his fate; n.b. 1329-1330 (1298-1415)

• B. Creon, who now rules, enters. He orders Œdipus inside (1416-1432)

OT Plot Summary (cont.)

• C. Œdipus asks to be exiled; Creon agrees, but wishes to consult Delphi first (1433-1459)

• D. Œdipus’ daughters enter; he mourns their future and asks Creon to look after them (1470-1523)

• E. Choral epilogue (1524-1530)