A Blind Guy, a Messenger, and a Shepherd all Walk into a Bar…
Title/Subject: Meditation 5
The opening scene and the first choral ode set the eerie, foreboding mood of the entire play. Establishing this situation of a city in ruins is absolutely essential to get the play going. Oedipus is moved to action by the plight of his people. He is determined to “bring what is dark to light” (pg. 53, line 142-143). Though Sophocles’ chorus does not really interact with the principle characters, it does comment on and reemphasize what happened in the previous scene. The chorus is not necessary to the plot but rather helps clarify the finer points in some tricky scenes. It also seems to take the side of Oedipus throughout the play. It sympathizes more and more with him as the play progresses.
In Oedipus Rex, revelations follow after encounters with three characters: Teiresias, the Messenger from Corinth, and the Shepherd. Teiresias essentially tells Oedipus everything he needs to know. The king’s disbelief leads him to suspect Creon of trying to usurp his throne. This twist allows for tension to grow between Oedipus and Iocaste. This makes for an interesting dynamic between characters with close relationships. It puts Oedipus in a place where he can trust no one, not even himself. The outsiders appear as dispassionate voices of truth. Oedipus has no choice but to hear them out. The Messenger brings information that calls for confirmation by the Shepherd. The Shepherds reluctance makes for an interesting interrogation. As his layers are pulled away, the full horror of the truth is revealed to Oedipus. The Second Messenger serves as a witness to the destruction of the family. The rest of the loose ends are tied up in Creon’s promise to take care of his poor daughters.
posted by Averie @ 1:25 PM
4 Comments:
I think that Teiresias, the Messenger and the Shepherd are the most important characters in Oedipus Rex. It is with these three that we have the story at all, without Teiresias there never would have been a question brought up about the dead King Laios, and well from that point the other characters would have been useless. But in the story they complete the puzzle, they provide the information to allow Oedipus to realize that it is he who killed the King, his father, and has now fulfilled the prophecy that he was given from birth. These characters are crucial to the plot advancement and with each one comes information that drives another nail into the coffin of Iocaste and creates that much more pain for Oedipus. You did a good job addressing how the plot is revealed and what ties each of the characters into the progression of the story. I think you brought up a good, unique point that these characters are integral to the plot progression and the revelations that occur because of them.
Ann
I think that Teiresias, the Messenger and the Shepherd are the most important characters in Oedipus Rex. It is with these three that we have the story at all, without Teiresias there never would have been a question brought up about the dead King Laios, and well from that point the other characters would have been useless. But in the story they complete the puzzle, they provide the information to allow Oedipus to realize that it is he who killed the King, his father, and has now fulfilled the prophecy that he was given from birth. These characters are crucial to the plot advancement and with each one comes information that drives another nail into the coffin of Iocaste and creates that much more pain for Oedipus. You did a good job addressing how the plot is revealed and what ties each of the characters into the progression of the story. I think you brought up a good, unique point that these characters are integral to the plot progression and the revelations that occur because of them.
Ann
the character that come to reveal the secrets of Oedipus's life and the prophecy, I think, make a closer representation of Oedipus's own drive for knowledge. each time when he makes his search, people like Tiresies and Jocasta warn him. no no dont search any further, but he keepss pressing them and each time something more and more is revealed until the end.
I agree with Ann, that those three characters are the some of the most crucial characters to the plot and the story as a whole. Without those supporting characters, Oedipus would have not been able to go on his journey through life, encountering people and "avoiding his fate".
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