Oedipus Tyrannus: Analysis of Setting
"Oedipus Tyrannus," a classic Greek tragedy by Sophocles, is set predominantly in Thebes, an ancient city that serves as the political and civil center of the story. Thebes symbolizes the royal authority of King Oedipus, yet this power is ultimately subservient to the divine influence of Apollo, whose temple is located nearby. The setting also includes significant geographical locations such as Mount Cithaeron, where Oedipus was abandoned as an infant, symbolizing his mysterious origins and the recurring theme of fate. Another critical location is the crossroads at Trivia, where Oedipus unknowingly kills his father, highlighting the interplay of fate and choice in his life. Delphi, the site of the Oracle of Apollo, represents the pursuit of truth, as Oedipus seeks answers about his identity and destiny. Lastly, Corinth serves as a contrasting backdrop, representing the false security Oedipus feels regarding his parentage until his tragic discoveries unfold. Together, these settings enrich the narrative by intertwining personal and political themes with the larger question of fate versus free will.
Oedipus Tyrannus: Analysis of Setting
First produced:Oidipous Tyrannos, c. 429 b.c.e. (English translation, 1729)
Type of work: Drama
Type of plot: Tragedy
Time of work: Antiquity
Asterisk denotes entries on real places.
Places Discussed
*Thebes
*Thebes (theebz). Ancient city in east-central Greece, northwest of Athens, where all the action in Sophocles’ play takes place. As the seat of power of King Oedipus, Thebes represents civil power, though as Oedipus comes to realize, his royal power must be subservient to the divine power of Apollo, whose temple is nearby.
*Mount Cithaeron
*Mount Cithaeron (si-THE-ron). Mountain in southern Greece on which Oedipus was chained and abandoned as an infant. The image of the mountain as the mysterious “parent” of the king whose parentage is clouded continually recurs throughout the choral odes.
*Trivia
*Trivia. Crossroad where the roads from Daulia, Delphi, and Thebes meet. At this auspicious location Oedipus kills, in self-defense, a man who he later learns was his father. The converging of the roads echoes the intertwining threads of Oedipus’s fate.
*Delphi
*Delphi. Oracle at the Temple of Apollo that is the source of all divine wisdom for the ancient Greeks. To Oedipus, it represents the place where he learns the truth about his past.
*Corinth
*Corinth. Distant Greek city from which a messenger arrives at the end of the play to announce the death of King Polybus, who Oedipus mistakenly believes is his father. Corinth represents the untroubled home of the only parents Oedipus ever knew.
Bibliography
Kirkwood, Gordon MacDonald. A Study of Sophoclean Drama. 1958. Reprint. New York: Johnson Reprint, 1967. Examines and analyzes the structures Sophocles uses and his methods of dramatic composition. Compares his plays in considering the characters, irony, illustrative forms, and the use of diction and oracles in each. Excellent coverage of Oedipus Tyrannus.
Scodel, Ruth. Sophocles. Boston: Twayne, 1984. Provides synopses of the seven Sophoclean plays. Considers works that may have influenced Sophocles. Considers the works’ structure and the use of mythological gods and oracles. Includes a chronology of Sophocles, a bibliography, and an index.
Segal, Charles. Oedipus Tyrannus: Tragic Heroism and the Limits of Knowledge. New York: Twayne, 1993. Provides an extensive chronology of the life of Sophocles and gives historical and cultural background, as well as a discussion of the design and structure, for Oedipus Tyrannus. Refers to influences on the play and its author and discusses interpretation of the Oedipus myth.
Segal, Charles. Tragedy and Civilization: An Interpretation of Sophocles. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1981. Discusses the seven plays of Sophocles, including Oedipus Tyrannus. Extensive interpretation on the identity of Oedipus, including the implications inherent in his name. Breaks down the plot and discusses it with regard to Greek language and English translation.
Woodard, Thomas, ed. Sophocles: A Collection of Critical Essays. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1966. A fine collection of essays, including writings by Friedrich Nietzsche, Sigmund Freud, and Virginia Woolf. Contains a thought-provoking section on the character of Oedipus.