Скачать или смотреть 3 important short question from introduction to drama

5. What reason/logic does Oedipus give for his self-blinding?

Oedipus blinds himself because he feels extreme guilt and shame after discovering the truth about his life. He learns that he unknowingly killed his father, King Laius, and married his mother, Queen Jocasta. This shocking truth makes him feel unworthy to see the world or face the people he has hurt. Oedipus believes that he cannot live with the pain of looking at his children, who are also his siblings, and the destruction he has caused to his family and kingdom.

By blinding himself, Oedipus punishes himself for his actions and symbolically rejects the light of truth. He feels that his eyes failed to see the reality of his life earlier, so they no longer deserve to see anything. His act of self-blinding is both a punishment and a way to escape from the unbearable truth. He chooses blindness over death because he wants to live in suffering and serve as an example of what happens when one tries to escape fate.

6. Provide a brief account of the encounter between Oedipus and Teiresias.

Oedipus calls Teiresias, the blind prophet, to reveal the murderer of King Laius. At first, Teiresias refuses to tell the truth, knowing it will cause great pain. Oedipus becomes angry and accuses Teiresias of being involved in the murder. Teiresias finally speaks and reveals that Oedipus himself is the murderer.

This revelation shocks and enrages Oedipus. He accuses Teiresias of lying and claims that Creon, his brother-in-law, is plotting to take the throne. Despite Teiresias’s warnings, Oedipus refuses to believe him and mocks his blindness. Teiresias, in turn, tells Oedipus that he may have physical sight but is blind to the truth about his own life.

This encounter highlights Oedipus’s pride and inability to accept the truth. It also foreshadows the tragic events that will unfold as Oedipus slowly uncovers his real identity and the prophecy’s fulfillment.

7. Write a short note on Delphic Oracle.

The Delphic Oracle was an important religious site in ancient Greece, dedicated to the god Apollo. People visited the oracle to seek guidance and answers about their future. The oracle’s messages were delivered by a priestess called the Pythia, who would go into a trance and speak Apollo’s words. These messages were often mysterious and open to interpretation.

In Oedipus Rex, the Delphic Oracle plays a central role in the story. It prophesied that Oedipus would kill his father and marry his mother. This prophecy caused Oedipus’s parents, King Laius and Queen Jocasta, to abandon him as a baby, hoping to prevent the prophecy from coming true. However, their actions unknowingly set the prophecy in motion.

The Delphic Oracle symbolizes the power of fate and the limits of human understanding. Despite their efforts to avoid it, both Oedipus and his parents fulfill the prophecy, showing that fate is unavoidable. The oracle’s role in the play highlights the tension between free will and destiny, a key theme in the tragedy.

8. How are both Oedipus and Jocasta guilty of pride?

Both Oedipus and Jocasta show pride, which leads to their downfall. Jocasta displays pride by dismissing the prophecies of the gods. She believes that humans can outsmart fate and often mocks the oracles. For example, she tells Oedipus that the prophecy about Laius’s death cannot be true because her son was abandoned and could not have survived. Her pride blinds her to the truth, even as the evidence becomes clear.

Oedipus also shows pride in his intelligence and ability to control his destiny. He tries to escape the prophecy by leaving Corinth, thinking this will prevent him from killing his father and marrying his mother. However, his pride leads him to act impulsively, such as killing a stranger (his father) at a crossroads. He refuses to believe Teiresias when the prophet reveals the truth, accusing him and Creon of conspiracy.

Their pride makes them ignore warnings and signs, ultimately causing their tragic downfall. Jocasta’s disbelief in the gods and Oedipus’s confidence in his own reasoning lead to the fulfillment of the prophecy they both tried to avoid. This shows how excessive pride, or hubris, can bring disaster.