Sophocles

[Leamas]

hi,

i'm planning a uni essay on Sophocles' Oedipus the King.

i'm considering an approach along the lines of arguing that the work is chiefly about the 'culture of blame' within authoritative circles of societies, and that it is this (the idea of relentlessly pursuing the person 'responsible' for causing a problem - ie the plague) that traps Oedipus into discovering his background.

the play is like passing a 'hot potato' around, because in societies, and especially in political life and the public sphere, the finger always has to be pointed at someone.

i'd be interested in your views.

[eflo]

hi,

i'm planning a uni essay on Sophocles' Oedipus the King.

i'm considering an approach along the lines of arguing that the work is chiefly about the 'culture of blame' within authoritative circles of societies, and that it is this (the idea of relentlessly pursuing the person 'responsible' for causing a problem - ie the plague) that traps Oedipus into discovering his background.

the play is like passing a 'hot potato' around, because in societies, and especially in political life and the public sphere, the finger always has to be pointed at someone.

i'd be interested in your views.

I'm a little confused about what you're saying here. It seems like you're saying that because Oedipus solved the riddle of the Sphinx, that traps him into finding out who he is. But wasn't the riddle of the Sphinx exactly that? It was just a riddle that existed for man to solve. So long as the riddle wasn't solved, the plague continued. I don't know why the plague existed in the first place though.

Your comparison of the play to a game of hot potato is interesting. It makes me wonder whether you can blame someone for something they don't have control over. If something was meant to be, can you blame Oedipus? What about his parents? If they were trying to avoid the tellings of the oracle, shouldn't they carry some blame too, because they were well, careless in the way they had their son killed. They didn't even witness it for themselves. How could they have been so assured? Good luck with you essay!

[nycteris]

[The riddle of the Sphinx] was just a riddle that existed for man to solve. So long as the riddle wasn't solved, the plague continued. I don't know why the plague existed in the first place though.


I guess i could be wrong, and maybe it's not a particuarly pertinent detail, but wasn't the sphinx herself the plague --she'd continue to eat the Thebans until someone could answer the riddle?

[creme_ala_creme78]

we're supposed to erad this in theatre class this year, but we're doing reader's theatre first

[Zeke Steiner]

Who is the best translator of the Greeks?

[Unregistered]

Who is the best translator of the Greeks?

Robert Fagles.

[Dorian Gray]

I'm sure you wrote this assignment a long time ago now however I just wanted to post and say I really like your idea about 'blame culture' in the play. I suppose Oedipus is directed by Apollo down this route, but still, interesting modern parallel.