Medea Journal 1

The chorus in Medea and the chorus in Oedipus differ for a number of reasons. For one, the chorus in Medea is specified as being all women. This provides a recurring mention of women being important members of society, a possible theme for the play. In both plays, the main characters address the chorus like they are good friends. In Medea, however, the chorus actually suggests things to her, offering her advice. "If your husband has gone to adore/A new bride in his bed, why, this/Has often happened before./Do not harrow your soul. For Zeus/Will succor your cause. What use/To lessen your life with grief/For a lost lord?"(38) The chorus in Oedupus, for the most part, seems to take a less prominent, not interacting with the characters as much but instead giving observations of the situation. The chorus in Medea has a fairly interactive role, while the chorus in Oedipus is more of a foil to Oedipus and his plight.

Oedipus Journal 5

Sophocles evokes fear in the audience by the sheer absurdity of the situation. The plot, in which Oedipus marries his mother, is somewhat horrifying to all who read this book. This act evokes fear in its readers because, according to some psychologists, all people have an unconscious desire as a child to have sex with their mothers(if boys) or their fathers(if girls). In Oedipus, this unconscious desire is brought to the surface, portrayed through the life story of someone else. This open discussion of a subject that is completely unacceptable in real life, but which all people supposedly have the unconscious desire for, is difficult for people to understand. As a result, they become fearful. This fear is used to evoke empathy for Oedipus. This empathy leads to pity for Oedipus' situation.
The other main way that Sophocles evokes fear and pity in his audience is through Oedipus' guilt for causing his family so much pain. Oedipus could not have known about the prophecy, and upon fulfilling it did so without any intentions of doing anything harmful to anyone. However, having found out that he has fulfilled it, Oedipus cannot bear the agony of the truth, and blames himself completely for bringing this trouble upon his family. Sophocles uses Oedipus' terrible situation and his reaction to his agony(gouging his eyes out) as a way to evoke fear. He uses Oedipus' extreme guilt for something that wasn't really his fault as a way to evoke pity from the audience. Sophocles' evocation of fear and pity from the audience speaks to the audience in a way that simply telling the story cannot-he forces the audience to delve into their own minds, and draws out empathy by creating situations which the audience imagine themselves in.

Oedipus Journal 4

One of Sophocles' main images is one of eyes, sight, and lack of sight (or blindness).
"How terrible-to see the truth when the truth is only pain to him who sees!" Sophocles' use of the image here is pretty obvious-sight is the revealer of truth. However, it sets up a key image as well as a key theme: the pain of revealed truth.
"You, you'll see no more the pain I suffered, all the pain I caused!" Here, the Messenger describes what Oedipus said as he gouged his eyes out. This deliberate destruction of his eyesight symbolizes Oedipus' agony over learning the truth about his life, and his decision to live without his sight-because he feels that being able to see the truth has caused all his pain and problems, so he would rather live blind. This again builds on the theme that truth is sometimes more a cause of pain that a cause of relief.

Oedipus Journal 3

Jocasta acts as the voice of reason to Oedipus. She tries to convince him that everything that he is worried about is ridiculous, and provides him with explanations to convince him that he is overreacting. She presents a sensible point of view to Oedipus. However, when the truth about Oedipus' birth is revealed, Jocasta becomes frantic. She tries to cover it up before Oedipus realizes, but once he does, she goes completely mad. She cannot bear the agony of living in this state, married to her son.
Oedipus and Creon, on the other hand, seem more rash and likely to act on their emotions before acting rationally. Oedipus especially tends to act on his initial feelings. Once he finds out the truth, however, he is upset, but he is more prepared to accept it than Jocasta is. Ultimately, Sophocles portrays women as sensible, yet unable to stand shock, and men as rash and easily angered, but also more resistant to shock and extreme stress. Another role of Jocasta's character is to describe how Oedipus sees his wife not simply as an object, but as an equal.

Oedipus Journal 2

Oedipus' desire to grant the prayers of his subjects and get rid of the plague, as well as his feeling of responsibility in trying to avenge the murder of Laius, show that he truly cares about his people, and make him a proficient leader. However, Oedipus' leadership skills begin to deteriorate when he goes into a fury over the truth that Tiresias reveals to him about his past. Oedipus goes from being a strong, responsible leader with a single-minded goal, to being a raving man in denial over what Tiresias has told him. He becomes obsessed with blaming someone else for wrongdoing in an effort to squash his own fears that what Tiresias tells him is true.
Creon is a practical person. He hears what Oedipus accuses him of , and resents it, but first tries to get Oedipus to hear him out before getting angry and hurling accusations back at Oedipus. He does not wish to take power from Oedipus, and so he is able to think more clearly about what Tiresias says than Oedipus, who lets his emotions get in the way. However, he makes it clear that the city is partly his too, and he feels that Oedipus' power has gone to his head.
Tiresias, though all-knowing, does not want to use his knowledge to cause trouble. He prefers to hide the truth from Oedipus than tell him, knowing that it will cause Oedipus' downfall. However, he is not so noble-minded that he will stay quiet if he is insulted. When Oedipus accuses him of plotting against Thebes, Tiresias, in anger, tells Oedipus the truth. Overall, Tiresias wants his wisdom to be acknowledged, and though he does not intentionally cause trouble, he puts his own reputation before Oedipus' condition.

Oedipus Journal 1

Summary:Oedipus greets his people and assures them he is there to help them. The priest tells Oedipus that all the people come to tell him that the city is in grave trouble. He says that they have witnessed Oedipus' greatness, and that now they need him to show his power again to save them. Oedipus assures them that he is trying to do something about their plight by sending his brother-in-law, Creon to the oracle at Delphi to find out what they should do. Creon reports that Apollo of the oracle at Delphi has told him to cleanse the city of the murderer of Laius-the former king- and that this will help the city. Creon and Oedipus discuss who the murderer could be. Creon tells Oedipus how Laius was killed and why they couldn't catch the killer. Oedipus decides to go and find the killer to avenge the murder of Laius. The chorus comes in and chants, asking the news from the oracle. They sing of the events that have occured, wreaking havoc in Thebes. They chant for each God to do something different to rid their city of its troubles.

Literary Techniques:
metaphor: "[...]new blood of ancient Thebes"(159): Oedipus uses this metaphor to refer to the young men of Thebes, emphasizing both the youth and vigor of the men and the age of Thebes.
metaphor: "Boys too weak to fly from the nest"(160): The priest compares the boys' youth to baby birds in the same sentence that he describes old men to describe the range of people who have come looking for Oedipus' help.
imagery:"red waves of death"(160): gives an image of how great the problems of the city are-and how grand they seem to the people-red could also represent blood or death.
personification:"Black death"(160): gives death a feeling of being soulless and cruel, heartless
characterization: "Speak out, speak to us all. I grieve for these, my people, far more than I fear for my own life"(163): this line characterizes Oedipus as an altruistic man who wants to help his people, and who wants them to think him a very good king.
metaphor:"[...]root it out!"(164): Creon relates what he learned at the oracle-this metaphor indicates that the evil in the city is something deep-rooted, and something not on the surface or obvious.
metaphor:"hurled the flame of pain"(168):the chorus sings this to emphasize the power Apollo is supposed to have and how they are asking him to use it to help them.
hyperbole:"numberless deaths upon deaths"(169): The chorus uses this hyperbole simply the emphasize the sheer numbers with which people have died.
similie and characterization:"radiant as the kindness in your eyes!"(169)" The chorus uses this both to describe the help they need and a characteristic of the "golden daughter of the gods", kindness.
metaphor: "thunder death to nothing"(17O): The chorus pleads Zeus to use his ability to prevent death.