Oedipus at Colonus by Sophocles

This is a play by Sophocles. It is in GB Volume 5. My newsletter post is here.

Characters

• Oedipus
• Antigone
• Ismene
• Stranger, a man of Colonus
• Theseus, King of Athens
• Creon, of Thebes
• Polyneices, the elder son of Oedipus
• A Messenger
• Chorus of Elders of Colonus

Notes

Page 1 ( Lines 1-71)

• The play begins with An elderly Oedipus and his daughter Antigone arriving at a sacred grove and Oedipus wondering where they are.
• Antigone looks around and says that they are near Athens. As she is describing the place, a stranger arrives and and tells them that they’re on sacred ground that shouldn’t be trodden upon.
• The place is dedicated to Eumenides, the daughters of Earth and Darkness. (From reading Aeschylus’ Eumenides, we know that they are the Furies, the goddesses of vengeance.) He also mentions that the area is sacred to Poseidon and Prometheus.
• The stranger says that the king of the place and surrounding is Theseus. Oedipus asks to see Theseus.

Page 2 (Lines 72 - 193)

• The stranger leaves, and Oedipus prays to the gods asking for their grace since he believes that he found the prophesied final resting place.

• A group of elders (chorus) enters and asks Oedipus to move away from the sacred place and sit in a corner. Then they ask him about his origins.

Page 3 (Lines 194 - 305)

• After Oedipus tells his story, they are alarmed and want this cursed person to leave their land as soon as possible.

• Antigone appeals to the Chorus for compassion, emphasizing that her father’s crimes were unintentional.

• Oedipus also says that his crimes were fated and not done by him, and he questions the value of Athens’ reputation for hospitality if they reject him.

Page 4 (Lines 305 - 409)

• Ismene (Oedipus’ second daughter) arrives and Oedipus and Antigone are overjoyed to see her.

• Ismene tells them about the conflict between Oedipus’ sons, Eteocles and Polyneices. She says Eteocles has seized the throne, expelling Polyneices.

• She says that an Oracle has told Creon that if Oedipus is in Thebes (regardless of alive or dead), they will have victory. The people of Thebes want Oedipus near their land but not within their borders since they think he is cursed.

Page 5 (Lines 410 - 512)

• Oedipus is upset and angry that people are going to be seeking him to get the throne and not because they care for him.

• Looks like after Oedipus had exiled himself after his mother/wife’s death and his blindness, he wanted to go back and at that time, the city exiled him and his sons did not help. Oedipus declares that he will never help Thebes or his sons.

• The Chorus suggests that Oedipus make atonement to Eumenides and give instructions on the ritual. Since he is blind, Isemene performs the ritual and leaves.

Page 6 (Lines 513 - 603)

• Oedipus goes into detail about his past as the chorus is eager to know more.

• Theseus, the king of Athens, arrives. He is sympathetic to Oedipus and offers him support and protection.

• Oedipus thanks him and says that the city will benefit even after he is dead. He says that his sons had refused him when he was willing to return and now will come to seek his help to get the throne.

Page 7 (Lines 604 - 722)

• Oedipus prophesies that Athens will benefit from him being buried there. Theseus accepts Oedipus as a citizen of Athens and offers him the option of staying where he is or come to his home.

• Oedipus decides to stay at the grove. Theseus leaves and the chorus sings praises of Colonus and Athens.

Page 8 (Lines 723 - 828)

• Creon arrives and appeals to Oedipus to return to Thebes, citing kinship and pity. Oedipus rejects him outright.

• They exchange sharp words. Creon says they have already taken Isemene and orders his guards to seize Antigone. Oedipus is shocked. The chorus demands Creon to leave.

Page 9 (Lines 829 - 919)

• As Antigone is dragged away, Creon threatens to take Oedipus also captive.

• Theseus arrives and immediately takes action, sending men to rescue the daughters. He criticizes Creon for disrespecting Athens and its laws.

Page 10 (Lines 920 - 1040)

• Creon says he didn’t think that Athens was providing refuge to Oedipus. He says Oedipus is cursed by the gods and no one would give him refuge.

• Oedipus says that everything in his life was fated by the gods and his crimes committed in ignorance. But Creon’s crimes are not so.

• Theseus stands by his word to protect Oedipus and orders Creon to return the maidens.

Page 11 (Lines 1040 - 1163)

• Theseus leaves with Creon and returns with Antigone and Ismene.

• Oedipus is overjoyed to see his daughters back and thanks Theseus and praises him.

• During this time, they are informed of a new suppliant at Poseidon’s altar.

Page 12 (Lines 1164 - 1281)

• The new suppliant is Polyneices, Oedipus’s son, who is reluctant to come to Oedipus, knowing that his father doesn’t want to see him.

• Antigone urges Oedipus to meet with Polyneices, emphasizing forgiveness and duty.

• Oedipus agrees and Polyneices comes in laments his family’s fate, says sorry for his past faults and asks for mercy.

Page 13 (Lines 1281 - 1409)

• Polyneices explains how he was exiled by his brother and how the plans to attack Thebes with the support of Argos and talks about the great warriors on his side. He says he can win the battle with Oedipus’s blessing.

• Oedipus curses Polyneices, saying he will never conquer Thebes. He prophesies that he will get killed by his brother and vice versa.

• The chorus asks Polyneices, and he starts to leave in sadness, lamenting his failure and thinking about the doom that awaits him.

Page 14 (Lines 1409 - 1515)

• As he leaves, Polyneices asks his sisters to give him a proper burial. Antigone begs him to abandon the plans to attack Thebes, but Polyneices says honor is above life and leaves.

• Everyone hears thunder and sees lightning, and Oedipus says that his time has come and asks to summon Theseus.

Page 15 (Lines 1516 - 1634)

• Oedipus tells Theseus that the location of his death has to be kept a secret.

• They all leave and a messenger comes back to tell the audience that Oedipus has died and gives details about his final moments. He says Oedipus prepared for his death by washing and dressing, then comforted his daughters. A god’s voice was heard - “Oedipus, Oedipus, why delay we to go? Thou tarriest too long.”

Page 16 (Lines 1634 - 1779)

• The messenger continues recounting the final moments. After Oedipus asks Theseus to swear to protect his daughters, he bids a tearful farewell to his daughters.

• The messenger says that Oedipus vanished mysteriously, and when they looked back, they saw only the king.

• The daughters mourn their father’s death. Antigone asks to see Oedipus’ tomb, but Theseus refuses. The sisters then ask to be sent back to Thebes, and Theseus agrees.