1 Sophocles' Oedipus Tyrannus Introduced and Translated by ...

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Cast OEDIPUS, King of Thebes PRIEST of Apollo CREON, brother of Queen JOCASTA CHORUS of old men of Thebes TIRESIAS, a prophet JOCASTA, Queen of Thebes, Wife of OEDIPUS MESSENGER from Corinth SHEPHERD 2 ND MESSENGER Silent Characters: Suppliants OEDIPUS’ daughters 8
A crowd led by Zeus’ PRIEST gathers in front of OEDIPUS’ palace. They have come as suppliants (wreathed and carrying olive branches). They are weak and sick and can hardly walk. OEDIPUS comes out of the palace and speaks to them. OEDIPUS Citizens of this city that Cadmus founded, why have you come here What is it that you want from me I see you wear wreaths and carry sacred branches. I smell incense and hear hymns and prayers, and the cries of people weeping. Your suffering is obvious, so I, Oedipus, known to you all as your king, have come myself to find out what I can do. Old man, I see you are the leader of these people. Speak to me. If you have something to ask of me, do not be afraid to tell me what you want. 10 I’ll do what I can. I am not a man without pity. PRIEST You are our king. We stand before you, both young and old. I am a priest of Zeus, king of the gods. Some are here and others are in the temples praying; 20 the city is rocked by a fierce storm, and it is drowning in a murderous sea. We are being ravaged by a plague: the fruit and the grain fall to the ground; the cattle are sick; and women are giving birth to dead babies. Black Hades is rich now in tears and moaning. 1 30 We know you are not a god, but you are our leader, and most suited for dealing with the gods, particularly in times of crisis. You outwitted the Sphinx, that deadly she-monster who was destroying us, when we could not answer her riddles. 1 Hades “the unseen” is also called Pluton, “the wealthy,” that is why there is a pun on the term “rich.” He is called wealthy because he sends rich gifts to earth, like corn. Hades can refer to both the god and is a proper name, and to the location (the underworld). 9
Page 1 and 2: Sophocles’ Oedipus Tyrannus Intro
Page 3 and 4: Sophocles was born at Colonus near
Page 5 and 6: his own destruction. There is the s
Page 7: First Performance: 6 th at Penn The
Page 11 and 12: PRIEST The news must be good; other
Page 13 and 14: CREON All those with the king died,
Page 15 and 16: And protect me from all harm. Just
Page 17 and 18: I forbid any citizen of this land o
Page 19 and 20: A man who’s not afraid to commit
Page 21 and 22: OEDIPUS But shouldn’t you tell me
Page 23 and 24: OEDIPUS You live in perpetual night
Page 25 and 26: TIRESIAS Nonsense Your parents thou
Page 27 and 28: I have nothing to say, Either to ag
Page 29 and 30: OEDIPUS It’s not wise to think yo
Page 31 and 32: OEDIPUS I don’t deny it. CREON Yo
Page 33 and 34: OEDIPUS All the same, I have to rul
Page 35 and 36: Anger hurts the angry man most of a
Page 37 and 38: death at his son’s hands. So much
Page 39 and 40: OEDIPUS Is he here now In the palac
Page 41 and 42: and killing my father Polybus, who
Page 43 and 44: Or touches what must not be touched
Page 45 and 46: JOCASTA What are you saying Oedipus
Page 47 and 48: OEDIPUS That would all be fine, if
Page 49 and 50: Yes. That’s what frightens me. ME
Page 51 and 52: That’s how you got your name, Oed
Page 53 and 54: Please. Listen to me. I beg you. Do
Page 55 and 56: CHORUS Yes. I recognize the man. Al
Page 57 and 58: OEDIPUS Don’t hit him! He doesn
Page 59 and 60:
OEDIPUS And I, to hear it. But it m
Page 61 and 62:
Time, the all-seeing, Has found you
Page 63 and 64:
Terrible horror for both husband an
Page 65 and 66:
OEDIPUS What is left for me to see,
Page 67 and 68:
yes, you engendered the most shamef
Page 69 and 70:
from sickness or anything else: I w
Page 71 and 72:
CREON Tell me. I’ll listen. OEDIP
Page 73 and 74:
GLOSSARY Abae (A, as in add, -bee),
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1 Sophocles' Oedipus Tyrannus Introduced and Translated by ...

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