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Theater at Epidaurus
Sophocles, Oedipus at Colonus I
Between Two Cities
Sophocles in old age
For Next Time Oedipal-Sophoclean
justice• fate, freedom, justice: a
changing picture? A downer play?
• stasimon at 1387 ff. (“Not to be born is best”)
What does this play do for us?
Oedipus and Antigone
Performance, Character, Theme
pp. 292 ff.
4
What’s That all About? confused
• where they are• cluelessness• humiliation dramatized
messing with him• you’re pathetic• toying with him• as pathetic as possible
oedipus trying to con way in• trying to get away with
staying
goddesses• sacred land – not to be
trodden• symbolically
– positioning oed in relation to his crime
5
Agenda General Introduction
• Production, Myth, (Sub-)Genre What Value Drama?
• What Value Plato? Structural-Thematic Features
• Oedipal Polarities What Value Propaganda?
• Discussion …
General IntroductionProduction, Myth, (Sub-)Genre
7
Production, Historical Context
Composed ca. 406• war with Sparta: 431–404• oligarchical revolution: 411/10• Colonus cavalry skirmish, 410 (407?)
Story Order
Oedipus the King
Oedipus at Colonus
Antigone
Composition Order
Antigone (ca. 442)
Oedipus the King (ca. 429?)
Oedipus at Colonus (ca. 406)
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Myth: Athenian Resonances
Oedipal endings• typically Thebes• here, Athens
Meaning …• secret rites?• political strife?• cavalry skirmish?
9
Between Two Cities: 400s Athens, Thebes Athens
• democratic• maritime-imperial
Thebes• oligarchic• land-based
Historical background• 413 Sicilian debacle• 412 Restraints on democracy• 411 Oligarchic coup• 404 Defeat, oligarchy
Thebes and Athens
10
Dramatis personae (principal) Oedipus Antigone Ismene Theseus Creon Polynices Chorus (of elderly
citizens of Colonus)
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
Sub-Genre…
“Suppliant Drama”
13
Suppliant Dramas ...
Elements• outsider arrives
– in danger
– brings danger
• seeks protection
• city (polis) as “character”
Examples• Aeschylus
– Eumenides
– Suppliant Women
• Sophocles– Oedipus at Colonus
Suppliant: One who humbly seeks the help of another.Supplicate: “To beg, pray, or entreat humbly; to
present a humble petition” (OED).
14
Oedipal Reversals: OK
Reverse Rite of Passage1. Incorporation
2. Transition
3. Separation
sight-ignorance
blindness-knowledge
reversal, recognition
Compare Oedipus as pharmakos-“scapegoat” …
15
Oedipal Reversals: OC
Furies to Eumenides (“kindly ones”) “Nothing” to a “man” (anēr, p. 306) Pharmakos to hērōs Father to alastōr Human dilemma to divine
What Value Drama?What Value Plato?
17
Review
Plato: drama is …• REALITY > REFLECTION > imitation
• amoral gratification
Aristotle: drama is pleasure…• vicarious• cathartic• instructive
18
About OC, Plato Would Say...(and we’d say back…)
Applicable concepts representation of
something not real is bad
will help with the state• glorifies athens
would not like it• oedipal relationship• ant’s reaching out
Applicable concepts thought chorus was
gods• bad thing• generally, cognitive
clarity wouldn’t like the way
oed reacts to creon• would dislike his
disobeying the state oed’s impiety in
relation to the furies’ grove
Structural-Thematic Features
Oedipal Polarities
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
Spatial-Thematic PolaritiesFEMALE MALE
left (east of audience) right (west of audience)
earth goddesses patriarchal Olympians
Athena Poseidon
olive tree horse
nature city
wild Thebes civilized Athens
individual social
democracy oligarchy-aristocracy
Source: Wiles Tragedy in Athens
23
Political ThematicsPolitical background413 Sicilian debacle412 Restraints on
democracy411 Oligarchic coup404 Defeat, oligarchy
Thematic resonance? Oedipus: “Do you have a
king or a common voice” Citizen: “A king in the city
governs all these parts” Creon: “I bear the mandate
of my entire people” Polynices on Eteocles: “…
he bribed the people to his side”
What Value Propaganda?Discussion …
25
Reactions: Plato’s? Yours?
Plato’s [reaction]
Yours [reaction]
First Stasimon (pp. 326-7): “Here, stranger, here in a land where horses are a glory ….”
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