Category: Oedipus Rex

What news does the messenger from Corinth bring to Thebes?

Messenger brings the news of the death of the Corinth’s queen.

What is hamartia?

Hamartia is the error of judgement by the hero of the play.

Why does Jocasta commit suicide?

Jocasta judged the situation and found the reality and cannot endure the embarrassment so, she suicide.

What does Oedipus use to blind his eyes?

Oedipus used the brooches from the clothes of Jocasta to blind himself.

Who takes over as the ruler of Thebes after Oedipus?

Creon takes over as ruler of Thebes after Oedipus blinding himself.

What is Creon’s defense against the accusations against him?
Creon replied on Oedipus accusations that he was already sharing the authority and power without any responsibility on my shoulder then why I should want to grab the crown?

Who is Choragos?
In Oedipus the chorus consist of Theban;s elders and Choragos is leader of that chorus. He comments and rest of chorus repeat or chant.

Why did Oedipus and Laius confront?
There was a prophecy about Oedipus that “he would kill his father and marry his mother” so, they confronted and Oedipus killed the Laius.

Why did Oedipus kill Laius where the three roads meet?
Oedipus killed the Laius in self-defense where three roads meet. He conceive them as robber and attacking on him. Actually it is predestined.

What was the prophecy about Oedipus?
The prophecy about Oedipus that “he would kill his father and marry his mother”.

Questions and short answers of Oedipus Rex are presented here in three parts, It is the first part and the links of other parts are available at the end of these questions.

How does Oedipus save Thebes before becoming its king?

Sphinx placed a great plague on Thebes and if someone answered wrong it ate him alive. Oedipus answered the riddle of sphinx and sphinx suicide. This way Oedipus save Thebes.

What was the riddle posed by Sphinx to Oedipus?

Sphinx posed the riddle to Oedipus was “What goes on four feet in morning, on two feet in noon, and on three feet at evening?”.

Why do the Thebans come to Oedipus?

The Thebans comes to tell Oedipus that Thebes are hit by a horrible plague and peoples are dying.

What do Thebans think of Oedipus as their king?

Thebans think Oedipus an intelligent and caring as their king

Who is Creon?

Creon is brother of Jocasta. He was sent to Delphi to seek advice of Apollo to save the Thebes from plague. Oedipus accused him for uniting with Tiresias to grab the crown. He becomes king when Jocasta suicides and Oedipus blinds himself.