Oedipus Rex Study Questions

World Literature

Name: Julienne Faye B. Madroñal

1. Who is the biggest victim in this play? Oedipus? Jocasta? Their children? The people of
Thebes? (You may choose another character). Explain your choice.

In my opinion, Jocasta it is the biggest victim in this play because she committed blasphemy and
gave up his son (Oedipus) whom she gave up after his birth and killed herself after she discovered
her actions.

2. Why all the references to darkness, sight, and blindness? What is the playwright’s
purpose in using these motifs?
Playwright’s purpose in using these motifs is to tell the readers that Oedipus is being blinded in
knowing the truth.

3. Analyze the dramatic irony in Oedipus’s claim that “the cause of Laius therefore is my
own”.

Dramatic irony has occurred when the audience knows more than the characters on the stage. When
Oedipus makes this comment, the audience know that Oedipus killed his father, Laius. Oedipus'
statement is ironic because "the cause of Laius" really is his own! Oedipus is the murderer that he's
searching for. Also, Laius's own blood, wife, kingdom, and bed have become Oedipus' own.

4. The chorus advises Oedipus to seek out the blind prophet Tiresias, who is “our source of
light”. Analyze Sophocles’ use of symbolism here.

Light represents truth, understanding, and reality. Thus, Tiresias is the source of truth and
knowledge. When Oedipus blinds himself, he plunges into darkness. It's as if the truth (light) has
become too much for him.

5. Oedipus compels Tiresias to “save yourself, the city, and save me” by sharing his
prophesies. Can the truth “save” Oedipus? Or will it serve to seal his fate?

The truth does not save Oedipus. The truth banishes him from Thebes, blinds him, slays Jocasta, and
orphans his children, tainting their fates. However, the truth does save the city, for now the virus
(Oedipus) has been removed. Oedipus is also no longer living in sin; the cycle of incest has ended!
Hopefully, Oedipus has learned to trust the Gods and their prophecies.

6. Tiresias accuses Oedipus of being “your own worst enemy”. Is this an accurate
statement? What would you consider to be Oedipus’s tragic flaw?

Oedipus is his own worst enemy because his tragic downfall is a result of his own choices and
actions. Oedipus' hamartia could be his arrogance. His arrogance keeps him from seeing the truth.
An example of this is when Oedipus ignores Tiresias's warnings because he's too prideful to hear
them. Oedipus' hamartia could be his ignorance. He chooses to ignore all the signs given to him.
Oedipus' hamartia could be his pride. Oedipus arrogantly assumes he can outsmart the gods and
their prophecies.
7. Oedipus freely chose to leave Corinth and pursue a journey that led to the three
crossroads. Was the murder he committed there an act of free will or fate?

Oedipus wants to return to this cursed spot where he was supposed to die.

8. What is symbolic about the way Oedipus chooses to mutilate himself?

Oedipus is figuratively blind to the truth. Once he learns the truth from the shepherd, he stabs his
eyes so that he can't literally see. His physical blindness represents his ignorance, caused by his
pride and arrogance. In the book, Oedipus is blind to the truth. He didn't know his fate, even though
it's right in front of his face. By gouging out his eyes, now he's literally blind, and not just figuratively.

9. What might motivate a person to commit such an act?

He might be humiliated or embarrassed of himself and he doesn’t want other people to see him and
judge him because of his controversies.

10. Are there any contemporary examples of this controversial practice?

Yes. I’ve heard and read many cases that are similar to this sonnet. Example is when a couple were
having their relationship for almost three years and the girl knew that her boyfriend had another girl
and that the girl was pregnant. She became depressed and decided to commit suicide by hanging
herself in a tree.