Trachiniae - Treebanking Version (ed. Mambrini)
(editing)
In this scene of Sophocles%27 Oedipus the King%2C there is a plague haunting Thebes and its king%2C Oedipus%2C seeks advice from the blind prophet Tiresias.%0D%0A%0D%0AThe plague was brought about by the one who killed Laius%2C the former king of Thebes and will only be rid of once the killer is brought to justice. Unknown to Oedipus%2C Tiresias knows the king%27s tragic fate and urges him to listen to his warnings but all attempts fail horribly due to Oedipus%27 temper.%0D%0AHe tells Oedipus that his uncontrollable anger is his own undoing and accuses him of being the %22accursed defiler of this land.%22 %28line 350%29 This title refers to Oedipus unknowingly killing his father and marrying his mother who later bears his children. It also refers to the belief that any unpunished crime%2C especially murder%2C taints the land associated with it and all its inhabitants. He also reveals that Oedipus is %22living in unguessed shame with your closest kin%22%28line 367%29. This is later revealed to mean that Oedipus will eventually live in shame with his own children who will be revealed to be his brothers and sisters. Angered%2C Oedipus calls Tiresias a false prophet and taunts his %22maimed eyes.%22 This shows Oedipus to be a hypocrite for when he later learns of his cruel fate%2C he gouges out his own eyes. Tiresias then fortells that Oedipus will be forever ridiculed by those who once praised him and that his children will also bear the horrible consequences of his actions.%0D%0A%0D%0AThe purpose of Sophocles%27 play was to preach %22the fatal flaw of pride%22 %28mini paragraph 2 of Jordon%27s Compare%2FContrast of Oedipus%29 and therefore presented Oedipus as a very haughty and self-centered ruler. When one tries to hide the truth from him in order to protect him%2C Oedipus accuses them of being a traitor and lets his anger cloud his judgement. In contrast%2C Lucius Annaeus Seneca%2C another writer of the Oedipus myth%2C attempts to make Oedipus a much more relatable character by making him fearful and ultimately an endurer of intense pain.%0D%0A%0D%0ASeneca%2C as a philosopher%2C believed in stoicism or the belief that %22mans emotions will only lead to his downfall%22 %28mini paragraph 2 of Jordon%27s Compare%2FContrast of Oedipus%29 and therefore makes Oedipus a much more tragic figure. Instead of denying what is told to him like Sophocles%27 version%2C Oedipus contemplates what is told to him and his over-thinking causes his fear to lessen the intensity of his pride%3A %22Worries and fears are spinning in my head. Through no one%27s deed but mine is Laius dead%2C or so the gods of heaven and hell proclaim. And yet my mind feels guiltless all the same. Better than the gods know me%2C I know myself...%22 %28Sen Oed. 783-788%29%0D%0AAny ounce of remaining pride completely vanishes once Oedipus discovers the error of his ways and fully admits his guilt%3A %22All is well%2C the deed is done at last. I%27ve paid the penalty for my murderous past. How sweet the shadows are%21...I finally have a truthful face.%22 %28Sen Oed. 1040-1049%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%28link to Sophocles%27 Oedipus the King- http%3A%2F%2Fwww.perseus.tufts.edu%2Fhopper%2Ftext%3Fdoc%3DPerseus%253Atext%253A1999.01.0192%253Acard%253D300%29%0D%0A%28link to Ashley Jordon%27s Compare%2FContrast of Oedipus- http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tulane.edu%2F%7Espaeth%2Fmyth98%2Fjordan1.html%29
December 04, 2013 19:50
Dialogi Marini
(editing)
In this particular portion of Sophocles%27 Antigone%2Cthe scene begins with the telling of Polyneices%27 %28Antigone%27s brother%29 body being cleansed and buried. Before preparing the body%2C those present pray to the %22goddess of the roads%22 %28line 1200%29%2C presumably Hecate%2C and Pluto %28Hades%29. After the burial%2C they go to Antigone%27s %22stoney-bedded bridal chamber%22%28line 1205%29 where Creon has locked her away. It is hinted in lines 1205-6 that this prison is the home of %22Hades%27 bride%22. At first this appears to be a reference to Hades%27 %28literal%29 bride Persephone but upon further analysis%2C it actually refers to young brides who die before their wedding night.%0D%0A%0D%0AIt it later revealed that Antigone has just hung herself using the linens in her prison cell. Haemon%2C both her cousin and fiancee%2C utterly distraught at what he sees%2C embraces Antigone%27s corpse and weeps. When his father%2C Creon approaches to see what%27s wrong%2C Haemon glares at him and draws his sword and procedes to kill himself. Both corpses are entwined and enter the world of Hades.%0D%0A%0D%0AIn Sir Richard Jebb%27s commentary%2C he describes Antigone%27s cell as a %22sepulchral chamber%2C%E2%80%94one of the rock-tombs in the low hills that fringe the plain of Thebes%22 %28IV. Third episode%3A 631-780.%29. He also describes Antigone having %22confidence in the love which awaits her beyond the grave.%22%28V. Fourth episode%3A 806-943.%29 This %22love%22 may refer to her death scene where after committing suicide%2C her fiancee does the same and the two are reunited in the Underworld.%0D%0A%0D%0AHe then summarizes Polyneices%27 burial and Antigone%27s death. After performing the proper burial rights%2C Creon and his followers make their way to Antigone%27s prison cell where they find her embraced by Haemon who mourns her death. Instead of linens%2C Antigone used her wedding veil to kill herself%2C a much more alarming but profoundly meaningful tool than Sophocles%27. A young bride%27s wedding is meant to symbolize starting a new life as a wife and %28hopefully%29 a mother. Here%2C Antigone uses her veil as a tool to end her life.%0D%0A%0D%0A %0D%0A%28link to Antigone text- http%3A%2F%2Fwww.perseus.tufts.edu%2Fhopper%2Ftext%3Fdoc%3DPerseus%253Atext%253A1999.01.0186%253Acard%253D1183%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%28link to Richard Jebb%27s Commentary- http%3A%2F%2Fwww.perseus.tufts.edu%2Fhopper%2Ftext%3Fdoc%3DPerseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0023%29
December 05, 2013 21:06
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