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.

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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

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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

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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?

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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

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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”

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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).

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Oedipal Reversals: OK

Reverse Rite of Passage1. Incorporation

2. Transition

3. Separation

sight-ignorance

blindness-knowledge

reversal, recognition

Compare Oedipus as pharmakos-“scapegoat” …

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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?

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Review

Plato: drama is …• REALITY > REFLECTION > imitation

• amoral gratification

Aristotle: drama is pleasure…• vicarious• cathartic• instructive

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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

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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 …

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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 ….”