Oedipus at Colonus by Sophocles

Introduction

Oedipus at Colonus is one of the three Theban plays of the Athenian tragedian Sophocles. It was written shortly before Sophocles' death in 406 BC and produced by his grandson (also called Sophocles) at the Festival of Dionysus in 401 BC.

In the timeline of the plays, the events of Oedipus at Colonus happen after Oedipus the King and before Antigone; although, it was chronologically the last of Sophocles' three Theban performances to be written. The play recounts the end of Oedipus' tragic life. Legends disagree as to the location of Oedipus' death; Sophocles set the location at Colonus, a town beside Athens and furthermore Sophocles' own birthplace, where the blinded Oedipus has arrive with his daughters Antigone and Ismene as suppliants of the Erinyes and of Theseus, the monarch of Athens. (Sophocles, pp. 388-390)

Led by Antigone, Oedipus goes into the town of Colonus and is seated down on a stone. They are advanced by a villager, who claims that they depart, because that ground is sacred to the Furies, or Erinyes. Oedipus recognizes this as a signal, for when he obtained the prophecy that he would murder his dad and wed his mother, Apollo furthermore disclosed to him that at the end of his life he would pass away at a location sacred to the Furies, and be a good thing for the land in which he is buried.

The chorus of vintage men from the village goes into, and convinces Oedipus to depart the holy ground. They then inquiry him about his persona, and are horrified to discover that he is the child of Laius. Although they promised not to damage Oedipus, they desire to expel him from their town, fearing that he will curse it. Oedipus responses by interpreting that he is not ethically to blame for his crimes, since he slain his dad in self-defense. Furthermore, he inquires to glimpse their monarch, Theseus, saying, "I arrive as somebody sacred, somebody topped up with piety and power, bearing a large gift for all your people." The chorus is astonished, and concludes to book their judgment of Oedipus until Theseus, monarch of Athens, arrives.

Ismene reaches on equine, rejoicing to glimpse her dad and sister. She adds the report that Eteocles has grabbed the throne of Thebes from his elder male sibling, Polyneices, while Polyneices is accumulating support from the Argives to strike the city. Both children have learned from an oracle that the conclusion of the confrontation will count on where their dad is buried. Ismene notifies her dad that it is Creon's plan to arrive for him and bury him at the boundary of Thebes, without correct burial rites, in order that the power which the oracle states his serious will have will not be conceded to any other land. Hearing this, Oedipus curses both of his children for not healing him well, contrasting them with his dedicated daughters. He promises allegiance with neither of his feuding children, but with the persons of Colonus, who therefore ...