The plot of the tragedy of Sophocles Oedipus Rex. The device of the play

The topic of this article is the analysis of one of the ancient works and its summary. "Oedipus Rex" is a tragedy by the Athenian author Sophocles, which is one of the few of his plays that have survived to this day. Today, twenty centuries after the death of the author, his creation has not lost popularity. Based on it, plays are staged in the theater, filmed art films. The thing is that the fate of a person has never been depicted so penetratingly as in this tragedy.

wicked rock

Sophocles' contemporaries, and the wise Aristotle also belongs to them, believed that this play was the pinnacle of its author's skill. If only a summary is conveyed, "Oedipus Rex" will become nothing more than a mythological plot. In full presentation, the creation of Sophocles is a deep philosophical work.

All the life of the main character is haunted by misfortunes. He tries to get away from evil fate, but in the end, something that is predetermined by the gods still happens to him. One of the greatest philosophical works in world culture wrote Sophocles. "Oedipus Rex", a summary of the chapters of which is presented in the article, is a classic of world drama. Thanks to the image of the main character, Sophocles entered the history of world literature. So let's get straight to the text.

Myth: summary

Oedipus Rex is the hero of one of the Theban myths. From tales and legends to ancient times the authors, as a rule, drew inspiration.

The myth of Oedipus tells of a bizarre interweaving of destinies. It begins with a story about a certain king Lai. He and his wife Jocasta were childless for a long time. According to Athenian traditions, for any reason, one should turn to the so-called Delphic oracle for help. The king did just that. However, the esteemed soothsayer did not at all please the failed father, informing him that although he would have a son, but when he grew up, he would certainly kill him, and then, even worse, marry his own mother, that is, the wife of Lai.

This is a story about how futile the attempts of mere mortals to change what is predetermined from above. The philosophical and religious basis can be felt even after reading the summary. Oedipus Rex - the protagonist legend, in which the plot is the prediction of the oracle. After divination, the father orders to leave the baby who was born in the wild mountains. But the servant takes pity on the child and hands him over to an unfamiliar shepherd. He, in turn, to another king - Polybus, whom Oedipus will consider his own father for a long time.

Many years later, Oedipus hears terrible prediction from the same oracle. It completely coincides with what Lai was immensely afraid of: the young man will kill his father and become the husband of the widow of the murdered, that is, his own mother. Not knowing the name of his real parent, the future criminal leaves the house of the man who raised him. For several years, like a robber, our hero wanders. And ultimately, accidentally kills Lai. Then everything happens exactly as the oracle foretold.

Episode one

So, the main character of the play is the king. His name is Oedipus. Once at royal palace a procession appears, the participants of which ask the ruler for help. A terrible epidemic is raging in Thebes. The pestilence has already claimed many lives, and since the inhabitants perceive their king only as a savior (he had already rescued them, after which he took the throne), they turn to him with a plea to avert a terrible misfortune.

The “Savior”, as it turned out, had already taken appropriate measures: he sent messengers to the all-powerful oracle. After all, he has the power, which lies in the ability to learn from the god Apollo himself about the cause of such a terrible misfortune.

The answer comes very soon: the plague was sent as a punishment for the fact that a regicide lives with impunity in Thebes. And Oedipus, unaware that he is the same criminal, vows to find and punish the culprit.

Play and story

When creating the play, the sequence of events of the mythical plot was significantly changed by Sophocles.

What is the tragedy "Oedipus Rex"? The summary of this play is a story about a certain ruler who, in search of an intruder, learns the truth about his origin and about his own crimes.

What is the difference between the work of Sophocles and the legend? In legend we are talking about a young man who commits a crime, and then by the will of fate becomes a king. However, retribution comes at the end. In the Athenian folk tale, everything is very clear. In tragedy, the truth is revealed only at the climax.

Athenian viewers this mythical story had known each other since childhood. They knew the killer's name well. The production of Sophocles' play, however, was a huge success. The reason is social and ethical problem tragic work. The first viewers of the immortal play were fascinated by the worthy and resolute behavior of the ruler, in whose hands is the fate of the entire people. The king cannot do otherwise. He will certainly find the killer of his predecessor and punish him. The author of the play translated the folk myth into theatrical language. The work touched upon topics that are interesting not only for ancient viewers.

The founder of the tragedy was Sophocles. "Oedipus Rex", a summary of which is set out in this article, is a work about the misadventures of a man whose fate was controlled by omnipotent gods.

On the stage of the ancient Greek theater, the production included a beginning, a denouement, and an emotionally powerful climax. This scheme was created by Sophocles, for which he is called the father of tragedy. Another feature that he introduced into theatrical art, was the appearance at the climax of a new character.

Tiresias

In tragedy, all attention is focused on the main character. In each chapter, he is present and is the most important participant in the action. Almost all theatrical works that Sophocles created are built in this way. "Oedipus Rex", a summary of which boils down to the character's dialogues with other characters, and mainly with oracles, in the next episody contains a conversation between the king and Tiresias. This person
k - a soothsayer who knows the truth, but out of pity does not immediately decide to reveal it to his interlocutor. And yet, with the help of screams and threats, the king seeks recognition from him. Tiresias names the killer. This name is Oedipus.

Creon

"Oedipus Rex", a summary of which gives an idea of the mysteries and intrigues present in the tragedy, is a classic of the theatrical genre. The motives of revenge, death and the struggle for power were borrowed from this work by Shakespeare himself.

After the terrible words, Tiresias comes to the fore royal family. Creon is the brother of Jocasta. And it was he who, according to ancient traditions, was supposed to take the throne after the death of the king. But suddenly a stranger appeared, saved the Theban inhabitants from a bloodthirsty monster and, as a token of popular gratitude, received what was rightfully due to a relative. The hitherto unknown Oedipus became king. Perhaps the brother of Jocasta harbored a grudge against the newly-made ruler, arranged everything and persuaded Tiresias to give incorrect information? Such thoughts tormented Oedipus until the unfortunate participant in the incestuous relationship appeared - the queen herself.

Jocasta

King Oedipus married his own mother. The summary of the myth only says that this woman, against her will, committed the sin of incest. The great playwright has this image characteristic features. Jocasta is a strong and strong-willed woman. Upon learning of the reason for the men's quarrel, she ridicules them. In an effort to prove how stupid it is to believe the predictions, she talks about her youth. Oedipus rex listens to her stories.

A summary of the episodies is the actions and thoughts of the protagonist. In its entirety, this work is a poetic dialogue, where the chorus serves as the background. Not a single ancient drama could do without it. And here, when Jocasta begins to tell her young husband a painfully familiar story, the choral singing becomes more and more disturbing and sad.

The Queen's Tale

Jocasta tells how she lost her firstborn, and her husband was killed by robbers. The death of Laius reminds Oedipus of the events that took place during his wanderings. And the oracle predictions, on the basis of which the king ordered to get rid of the baby, are extremely similar to those due to which new husband Jocasta once left native home. A woman indulges in memories solely in order to convince the disputants that they are mistaken.

Oracle predictions have no basis. They can only push a person to commit irreparable mistakes. So says Jocasta. The tragic hero, meanwhile, is gripped by terrible suspicions.

climax

A story about a life wrapped in terrible secrets, which by the end of the play should be unraveled - this is the summary. Oedipus Rex believes that only one person can help him find out the truth. The old servant who once took the newborn to the mountains will answer the only, but the most important question. But this man is no longer in Thebes. The order was given to find the slave. Meanwhile, a new face appears on the scene.

From native land a messenger arrives and announces the death of Polybus. Oedipus must take the place of the deceased king. But after all, the predictions of the oracle say that after that he will marry his mother ... A man who arrived from afar, wanting to calm Oedipus, reveals the whole truth. It is now known that Polybus is not his own father. And in order to achieve the whole truth, Oedipus turns to Jocasta. After a brief argument and comparison of facts, he realizes that all the predictions given to him and Lai have come true.

The Queen commits suicide. Oedipus blinds himself, thereby fulfilling his promise to punish the criminal.

The tragedy of Sophocles "Oedipus Rex", a summary of which is set out in our article, is an immortal work of world drama. Although the hero of the ancient author is in the power of the gods, he strives with all his might to become the arbiter of his own destiny. However, the only thing he succeeds in is punishment. But still Sophocles' Oedipus is one of the greatest literary heroes.

Sophocles, Oedipus Rex.
This is a tragedy about fate and freedom: not the freedom of a person to do what he wants, but to take responsibility even for what he did not want.
In the city of Thebes, King Laius and Queen Jocasta ruled. King Laius received a terrible prediction from the Delphic oracle: "If you give birth to a son, you will die by his hand." Therefore, when a son was born to him, he took him away from his mother, gave him to a shepherd and ordered him to take him to the mountain pastures of Cithaeron, and then throw him to be eaten by predatory animals. The shepherd felt sorry for the baby. On Cithaeron, he met a shepherd with a flock from the neighboring kingdom of Corinth and gave the baby to him without saying who he was. He took the baby to his king. The Corinthian king had no children; he adopted the baby and raised him as his heir. They named the boy - Oedipus.
Oedipus grew up strong and smart. He considered himself the son of the Corinthian king, but rumors began to reach him that he was adopted. He went to the Delphic oracle to ask: whose son is he? The oracle replied: "Whoever you are, you are destined to kill your own father and marry your own mother." Oedipus was horrified. He decided not to return to Corinth and went wherever his eyes looked. At a crossroads, he met a chariot, an old man with a proud posture rode on it, around - several servants. Oedipus stepped aside at the wrong time, the old man hit him with a goad from above, Oedipus hit him with a staff in response, the old man fell dead, a fight broke out, the servants were killed, only one ran away. Such road accidents were not uncommon; Oedipus went on.
He reached the city of Thebes. There was confusion: on the rock in front of the city, the monster Sphinx settled, a woman with a lion's body, she asked riddles to passers-by, and who could not guess, she tore them to pieces. King Laius went to seek help from the oracle, but on the way he was killed by someone. The Sphinx asked Oedipus a riddle: "Who walks on four in the morning, two in the afternoon, and three in the evening?" Oedipus replied: "This is a man: a baby on all fours, an adult on his feet and an old man with a staff." Defeated by the right answer, the Sphinx threw herself off the cliff into the abyss; Thebes were freed. The people, rejoicing, declared the wise Oedipus king and gave him the wife of Laiev, the widow of Jocasta, and as assistants - the brother of Jocasta, Creon.
Many years passed, and suddenly Thebes fell God's punishment: people died from pestilence, cattle fell, bread dried. The people turn to Oedipus: "You are wise, you saved us once, save us now." This prayer begins the action of the tragedy of Sophocles: the people stand in front of the palace, Oedipus comes out to them. "I have already sent Creon to ask the oracle's advice; and now he is already hurrying back with the news." The oracle said: "This is God's punishment for the murder of Laius; find and punish the murderer!" - "Why haven't they searched for him until now?" - "Everyone was thinking about the Sphinx, not about him." "Okay, now I'll think about it." The choir of the people sings a prayer to the gods: turn your wrath away from Thebes, spare the perishing!
Oedipus announces his royal decree: find the murderer of Laius, excommunicate him from fire and water, from prayers and sacrifices, expel him to a foreign land, and may the curse of the gods fall on him! He does not know that by this he curses himself, but now they will tell him about it. In Thebes lives a blind old man, the soothsayer Tiresias: will he not indicate who the murderer is? "Don't make me talk," Tiresias asks, "it won't be good!" Oedipus is angry: "Aren't you yourself involved in this murder?" Tiresias flares up: "No, if so: you are the murderer, and execute yourself!" - "Is not Creon eager for power, is it he who persuaded you?" - "I do not serve Creon and not you, but the prophetic god; I am blind, you are sighted, but you do not see what sin you live in and who your father and mother are." - "What does it mean?" - "Guess for yourself: you are the master of it." And Tiresias leaves. The choir sings a frightened song: who is the villain? who is the killer? Is it Oedipus? No, you can't believe it!
An excited Creon enters: does Oedipus really suspect him of treason? "Yes," says Oedipus. "Why do I need your kingdom? The king is a slave of his own power; it is better to be a royal assistant, like me." They shower each other with cruel reproaches. At their voices, Queen Jocasta, the sister of Creon, the wife of Oedipus, comes out of the palace. "He wants to expel me with false prophecies," Oedipus tells her. "Do not believe," Jocasta answers, "all the prophecies are false: Laia was predicted to die from her son, but our son died as a baby on Cithaeron, and Laia was killed at a crossroads by an unknown traveler." - "At the crossroads? where? when? what was Lay in appearance?" - "On the way to Delphi, shortly before your arrival to us, and he looked gray-haired, straight and, perhaps, like you." - "Oh horror! And I had such a meeting; was it not me that traveler? Was there a witness?" - "Yes, one escaped; this is an old shepherd, he has already been sent for." Oedipus in agitation; the choir sings an alarmed song: "Human greatness is unreliable;
gods save us from pride!"
And this is where the action takes a turn. An unexpected person appears on the scene: a messenger from neighboring Corinth. The Corinthian king has died, and the Corinthians call Oedipus to take over the kingdom. Oedipus is overshadowed: "Yes, all prophecies are false! It was predicted to me to kill my father, but now - he died a natural death. But I was also predicted to marry my mother; and as long as the queen mother is alive, there is no way for me to Corinth." “If only this holds you back,” says the messenger, “calm down: you are not their own son, but an adopted one, I myself brought you to them as a baby from Cithaeron, and some shepherd gave you there.” “Wife!” Oedipus turns to Jocasta, “isn’t this the shepherd who was with Laius? Hurry! Whose son I really am, I want to know!” Jocasta already understood everything. "Do not inquire," she pleads, "it will be worse for you!" Oedipus does not hear her, she goes to the palace, we will not see her anymore. The choir sings a song: maybe Oedipus is the son of some god or nymph, born on Cithaeron and thrown to people? so it happened!
But no. They bring in an old shepherd. "Here is the one whom you gave me in infancy," the Corinthian messenger tells him. "Here is the one who killed Laius before my eyes," the shepherd thinks. He resists, he does not want to speak, but Oedipus is implacable. "Whose child was it?" he asks. “King Laius,” the shepherd answers. “And if it’s really you, then you were born on the mountain and we saved you on the mountain!” Now Oedipus finally understood everything. "Cursed is my birth, cursed is my sin, cursed is my marriage!" he exclaims and rushes to the palace. The chorus sings again: "Human greatness is unreliable! There are no happy people in the world! Oedipus was wise; Oedipus was king; and who is he now? A parricide and an incestuous one!"
A messenger runs out of the palace. For involuntary sin - voluntary execution: Queen Jocasta, mother and wife of Oedipus, hanged herself in a noose, and Oedipus, in despair, embracing her corpse, tore off her gold clasp and stuck a needle into his eyes so that they would not see his monstrous deeds. The palace swings open, the chorus sees Oedipus with a bloodied face. "How did you decide? .." - "Fate decided!" - "Who inspired you?.." - "I am my own judge!" For the murderer of Laius - exile, for the defiler of the mother - blindness; "O Cithaeron, o mortal crossroads, o double-marriage bed!" Faithful Creon, forgetting the offense, asks Oedipus to stay in the palace: "Only the neighbor has the right to see the torment of his neighbors." Oedipus prays to let him go into exile and says goodbye to the children: "I don't see you, but I cry for you" The choir sings last words tragedy: "O fellow citizens of Thebans! Look: here is Oedipus! He, the solver of riddles, he, the mighty king, He, at whose lot, it happened, everyone looked with envy! .. So, everyone should remember our last day, And name a happy person can only be one who, until the very end, has not experienced troubles in life.

In this article, we will discuss one of the most popular plays by the ancient Greek writer Sophocles, in particular, we will consider in detail its summary. "Oedipus Rex" is a magnificent example of Athenian dramaturgy. Aristotle called it the ideal of a tragic work.

A little about the play

The Theban myth was taken as the basis for the plot of the tragedy, which the author somewhat reworked, bringing the figure of Oedipus to the fore. Often the work is called the most analytical of all that Sophocles wrote. "Oedipus Rex" (a summary of the chapters will demonstrate this) is a play built on a continuous analysis of the events that occurred in the past of the hero and influenced his present and future. Such a concept is fully justified by the theme of tragedy - the struggle of man with fate, fate. The work says that the future is predetermined, but how to prove it if you do not remember the actions from the past that led to the events of the present?

Sophocles, "Oedipus Rex": a summary. tie

The action of the tragedy begins in the city of Thebes, where King Laius rules with his wife Jocasta. Once the ruler went to the Delphic oracle, who predicted a terrible future for him - he would die at the hands of his son. The king was horrified by such a prophecy.

When Jocasta gave birth to a baby, Laius took him from his mother and gave him to a shepherd, ordering him to take the child to the pastures of Cithaeron and leave it to be torn to pieces by predators. This moment is the beginning of the plot of the tragedy “Oedipus Rex. The summary of the work, set forth below, will show us that it was this act that served as the impetus for the fulfillment of the prediction.

But the peasant took pity on the child and gave it to another shepherd who lived in the neighboring kingdom of Corinth. However, he kept silent about the origin of the baby. The shepherd took the unexpected gift to his king, who had no children of his own. The ruler decided to adopt the child and named him Oedipus.

Escape and fatal meeting

We continue to consider the plot of the tragedy, or rather, its summary ("Oedipus Rex"). The adopted boy grew up smart and strong. Oedipus did not know that he was adopted, and considered himself the rightful heir to the Corinthian king. However, rumors about his true origin soon began to circulate.

Then Oedipus went to the Delphic oracle to find out the truth. But the Pythia replied that, whoever his father was, he was destined to kill him and marry his own mother. The young man was horrified by this news and decided to leave Corinth so as not to harm his family.

On the road he met a chariot on which sat an old man surrounded by servants. Oedipus did not have time to give way, and the driver hit him with a stick. The young man got angry and pulled out his staff. With one blow, he killed the old man and killed almost all of his servants, only one managed to escape.

Oedipus did not catch up with him and continued on his way.

Sphinx

The tragedy "Oedipus Rex" tells about the omnipotence of fate (the summary perfectly illustrates this idea). So, our hero comes to Thebes, where incredible turmoil reigned: at the entrance to the city the Sphinx settled (a lion with woman's face), who killed everyone who could not guess his riddle. It also becomes known that King Laius went for help to the Delphic oracle, but on the way he was attacked and killed.

Oedipus meets with the Sphinx, who asks him: "Who walks in the morning on four, in the afternoon on two, and in the evening on three?" The hero said that this is a person who crawls on all fours as a child, having matured, walks on two legs, and in old age leans on a cane. The answer turned out to be correct, and the losing Sphinx rushed into the abyss from the cliff.

Oedipus became the savior of Thebes, and the grateful people chose him as their king. The widow Jocasta became his wife, and her brother Creon was appointed as an adviser.

New trouble

Shows how easily fate controls the destinies of people, Sophocles ("Oedipus Rex"). The summary allows us to understand that for several years our hero has been quietly ruling in Thebes. But now a new misfortune came to the city - a pestilence that struck people and animals. Then the people gathered and went to the ruler's palace to ask the king for salvation.

Oedipus replied that he had already sent Creon to the oracle for an answer. And now the adviser is back. The soothsayers replied that the disease would recede when the murderer of Laius was punished. Oedipus promises to find the culprit and issues a decree: to find the killer, excommunicate him from prayers, sacrifices, water and fire, expel him from the city and curse him.

At that time, he did not yet know that he himself had killed Laius on the road. Oedipus decides to ask Theban soothsayer Theresias who the murderer is. At first, the seer does not want to speak, but the hero insists and even begins to demand. Then Teresius replies: "You are a murderer, and execute yourself." Oedipus decides that the soothsayer was persuaded by Creon, wanting to take the place of the king. Teresius denies this and says that he is only voicing the will of the gods, and leaves.

A terrible accusation

Even the summary (“Oedipus Rex”) conveys the horror of the hero who heard the truth from Theresia. It is quite understandable why he did not immediately believe the seer.

So, Creon comes to Oedipus, having heard that the king suspects him of treason. But the adviser replies that he does not need power, since it makes a person not free. The king does not believe, they begin to argue, swear. The noise of their skirmish draws the attention of Jocasta.

Preparations begin for the climactic part in the play Oedipus Rex. The summary cannot convey the whole atmosphere of what is happening, the tragedy must be read in full, and if such an opportunity suddenly presents itself, then also watch the performance. However, we digress. So, the hero complains to his wife that her brother wants to reign in Thebes and Teresia persuaded him to do this. Jocasta says that Oedipus should not believe the words of the seer, since all predictions are false. Once an oracle told Laius that his own son would kill him, but the child died long ago, and her husband died at the hands of an unknown vagabond at a crossroads on the road to Delphi. Oedipus asks about the details of this event. Among other things, Jocasta describes the appearance of Laius.

Here the hero begins to suspect that Teresius could be right. Oedipus asks if there are any witnesses to the murder. Yes, one of the servants managed to escape. The hero demands to bring him to the palace.

News from Corinth

You can only get acquainted with the plot by reading the summary. "Oedipus Rex" is also beautiful in its form, as well as in the peculiarities of the syllable, so it is better to read the play in full version. But back to Thebes.

A Corinthian messenger comes to the palace and informs that the king has died, and the inhabitants hope that Oedipus will take his place. The hero agrees that all the prophecies are false, as he was predicted to kill his father and marry his mother. But now his father left the world away from him, and his wife Jocasta was born in another state. And yet he does not dare to return to his native Corinth while his queen mother is alive, in order to completely protect himself.

Then the messenger replies that if only this keeps Oedipus from returning, then he need not worry. He once brought little hero from the field of Cithaeron to the house of the Corinthian king, and he decided to adopt him. Therefore, there is nothing to be afraid of.

Oedipus, horrified, asks his wife how her son died. However, everything has already become clear to Jocasta, she begs him not to ask anything more. But the husband does not listen to her, then the queen runs away to her chambers.

denouement

The play “Oedipus Rex” is coming to an end (a summary of the chapters will help you remember the events, but will not convey the whole tragedy of the work, so we strongly recommend reading it again full version). Finally, they bring the one who saw the killer of Laius. It was this shepherd who once handed over the royal baby to Corinth. He doesn't want to say anything about this or the murder. But Oedipus goes berserk and forces him. The truth is revealed: the father of the hero was Laius.

Oedipus realizes everything that has happened, he curses both his birth and his marriage to his mother. From a wise king, he turned into an "incestuous and parricide." But the troubles don't end there either. A messenger comes running from the queen's chambers and reports that Jocasta, unable to bear the grief and shame, hanged herself. The king runs to the rooms of his mother and wife. He embraces her dead body, and then rips off the gold fastener from Jocasta's clothes. Oedipus thrusts it into his eyes so that he will never again see the monstrous deeds that he has committed.

Here the choir enters, which in the song tells that fate has come true. Creon arrives. He has already forgotten past grievances and begs Oedipus not to leave the palace. But the hero is adamant, for his actions he must be expelled and cursed by the gods.

Such is the sad fate of the protagonist of the play Oedipus Rex. A very brief content will be able to convey the main theme of the work (the omnipotence of fate and fate), but will not allow the reader to fully experience the tragedy of the situation.

This is a tragedy about fate and freedom: not the freedom of a person to do what he wants, but to take responsibility even for what he did not want. In the city of Thebes, King Laius and Queen Jocasta ruled. From the Delphic oracle, King Laius received a terrible prediction: "If you give birth to a son, you will die by his hand." Therefore, when a son was born to him, he took him away from his mother, gave him to a shepherd and ordered him to take him to the mountain pastures of Cithaeron, and then throw him to be eaten by predatory animals. The shepherd felt sorry for the baby. On Cithaeron, he met a shepherd with a flock from the neighboring kingdom of Corinth and gave the baby to him without saying who he was. He took the baby to his king. The Corinthian king had no children; he adopted the baby and raised him as his heir. They named the boy Oedipus.

Oedipus grew up strong and smart. He considered himself the son of the Corinthian king, but rumors began to reach him that he was adopted. He went to the Delphic oracle to ask whose son he was; The oracle replied: "Whoever you are, you are destined to kill your own father and marry your own mother." Oedipus was horrified. He decided not to return to Corinth and went aimlessly. At a crossroads, he met a chariot, an old man with a proud posture rode on it, around - several servants. Oedipus stepped aside at the wrong time, the old man hit him with a goad from above, Oedipus hit him with a staff in response, the old man fell dead, a fight broke out, the servants were killed, only one ran away. Such road accidents were not uncommon; Oedipus went on.

He reached the city of Thebes. There was confusion: on the rock in front of the city, the monster Sphinx settled, a woman with a lion's body, she asked riddles to passers-by, and who could not guess, she tore them to pieces. King Laius went to seek help from the oracle, but on the way he was killed by someone. The Sphinx asked Oedipus a riddle: “Who walks on four in the morning, two in the afternoon, and three in the evening?” Oedipus replied: "It's a man: a baby on all fours, an adult on his feet and an old man with a staff." Defeated by the right answer, the Sphinx threw herself off the cliff into the abyss; Thebes were freed. The people, rejoicing, declared the wise Oedipus king and gave Laiev's widow Jocasta as his wife, and Jocasta's brother, Creon, as assistants.

Many years passed, and suddenly God's punishment fell on Thebes: people died from pestilence, cattle fell, bread dried. The people turn to Oedipus: "You are wise, you saved us once, save us now." This prayer begins the action of the tragedy of Sophocles: the people stand in front of the palace, Oedipus comes out to them. “I have already sent Creon to ask the oracle for advice, and now he is already hurrying back with the news.” The oracle said: “This is God's punishment - for the murder of Laius; find and punish the killer!” - "Why haven't they searched for him yet?" - "Everyone was thinking about the Sphinx, not about him." "Okay, now I'll think about it." The choir sings a prayer to the gods: turn your wrath away from Thebes, spare the perishing!

Oedipus announces his royal decree: find the murderer of Laius, excommunicate him from fire and water, from prayers and sacrifices, expel him to a foreign land, and may the curse of the gods fall on him! He does not know that he is cursing himself, but now he will be told about it. A blind old man lives in Thebes, the soothsayer Tiresias: will he not indicate who the murderer is? “Don’t make me talk,” Tiresias asks, “it will not be good!” Oedipus is angry: “Are you yourself involved in this murder?” Tiresias flares up: “No, if so: the killer is you, and execute yourself!” - "Is not Creon rushing to power, is it he who persuaded you?" - “I do not serve Creon and not you, but the prophetic god; I am blind, you are sighted, but you do not see what sin you live in and who your father and mother are. - "What does it mean?" - "Guess it yourself: you are the master of it." And Tiresias leaves. The choir sings a frightened song: who is the villain? Who is the killer? Is it Oedipus? No, you can't believe it!

An excited Creon enters: does Oedipus really suspect him of treason? "Yes," says Oedipus. “Why do I need your kingdom? The king is a slave of his own power; it is better to be a royal assistant, like me. They shower each other with cruel reproaches. At their voices, Queen Jocasta, the sister of Creon, the wife of Oedipus, comes out of the palace. "He wants to expel me with false prophecies," Oedipus tells her. “Do not believe,” Jocasta answers, “all the prophecies are false: Laia was predicted to die from her son, but our son died as a baby on Cithaeron, and Laia was killed at a crossroads by an unknown traveler.” - “At the crossroads? Where? When? What was Lay in appearance? - "On the way to Delphi, shortly before your arrival to us, and in appearance he is gray-haired, straight and, perhaps, looks like you." - "Oh God! And I had such a meeting; Was I not that traveller? Is there a witness left? - “Yes, one escaped; this is an old shepherd, he has already been sent for.” Oedipus in agitation; the choir sings an alarmed song: “Human greatness is unreliable; gods, save us from pride!”

And this is where the action takes a turn. An unexpected person appears on the scene: a messenger from neighboring Corinth. The Corinthian king has died, and the Corinthians call Oedipus to take over the kingdom. Oedipus is overshadowed: “Yes, all prophecies are false! It was predicted to me to kill my father, but now - he died a natural death. But I was also prophesied to marry my mother; and as long as the queen mother lives, there is no way for me to Corinth. “If only this keeps you,” the messenger says, “calm down: you are not their own son, but an adopted one, I myself brought you to them as a baby from Cithaeron, and some shepherd gave you there.” "Wife! Oedipus turns to Jocasta. - Isn't this the shepherd who was with Laia? Quicker! Whose son I really am, I want to know!” Jocasta already understood everything. “Do not inquire,” she pleads, “it will be worse for you!” Oedipus does not hear her, she goes to the palace, we no longer see her. The choir sings a song: maybe Oedipus is the son of some god or nymph, born on Cithaeron and thrown to people? So it happened!

But no. They bring in an old shepherd. “Here is the one whom you gave me in infancy,” the Corinthian messenger tells him. “This is the one who killed Laius in front of my eyes,” the shepherd thinks. He resists, he does not want to speak, but Oedipus is implacable. "Who was the child?" he asks. “King Laius,” the shepherd replies. “And if it’s really you, then you were born on the mountain and we saved you on the mountain!” Now Oedipus finally understood everything. "Cursed be my birth, damn my sin, damn my marriage!" he exclaims and rushes to the palace. The choir sings again: “Human greatness is unreliable! There are no happy people in the world! Oedipus was wise; was Oedipus the king; and who is he now? Parricide and incest!"

A messenger runs out of the palace. For an involuntary sin - a voluntary execution: Queen Jocasta, mother and wife of Oedipus, hanged herself, and Oedipus, in despair, clasping her corpse, tore off her gold clasp and stuck a needle into his eye so that they would not see his monstrous deeds. The palace swings open, the chorus sees Oedipus with a bloodied face. “How did you decide? ..” - “Fate decided!” - "Who inspired you? .." - "I am my own judge!" For the murderer of Laius - exile, for the defiler of the mother - blindness; “O Cithaeron, o mortal crossroads, o double-marriage bed!” Faithful Creon, forgetting the offense, asks Oedipus to stay in the palace: "Only the neighbor has the right to see the torment of his neighbors." Oedipus prays to let him go into exile and says goodbye to the children: “I don’t see you, but I cry for you ...” The choir sings the last words of the tragedy: “O fellow Thebans! Look, here is Oedipus! He, the solver of mysteries, he is a mighty king, The one whose destiny, it happened, everyone looked with envy! a life of misfortune."

This is a tragedy about fate and freedom: not the freedom of a person to do what he wants, but to take responsibility even for what he did not want.

In the city of Thebes, King Laius and Queen Jocasta ruled. From the Delphic oracle, King Laius received a terrible prediction: "If you give birth to a son, you will die by his hand." Therefore, when a son was born to him, he took him away from his mother, gave him to a shepherd and ordered him to take him to the mountain pastures of Cithaeron, and then throw him to be eaten by predatory animals. The shepherd felt sorry for the baby. On Cithaeron, he met a shepherd with a flock from the neighboring kingdom of Corinth and gave the baby to him without saying who he was. He took the baby to his king. The Corinthian king had no children; he adopted the baby and raised him as his heir. They named the boy - Oedipus.

Oedipus grew up strong and smart. He considered himself the son of the Corinthian king, but rumors began to reach him that he was adopted. He went to the Delphic oracle to ask: whose son is he? The oracle replied: "Whoever you are, you are destined to kill your own father and marry your own mother." Oedipus was horrified. He decided not to return to Corinth and went wherever his eyes looked. At a crossroads, he met a chariot, an old man with a proud posture rode on it, around - several servants. Oedipus stepped aside at the wrong time, the old man hit him with a goad from above, Oedipus hit him with a staff in response, the old man fell dead, a fight broke out, the servants were killed, only one ran away. Such road accidents were not uncommon; Oedipus went on.

He reached the city of Thebes. There was confusion: on the rock in front of the city, the monster Sphinx settled, a woman with a lion's body, she asked riddles to passers-by, and who could not guess, she tore them to pieces. King Laius went to seek help from the oracle, but on the way he was killed by someone. The Sphinx asked Oedipus a riddle: “Who walks on four in the morning, two in the afternoon, and three in the evening?” Oedipus replied: "It's a man: a baby on all fours, an adult on his feet and an old man with a staff." Defeated by the right answer, the Sphinx threw herself off the cliff into the abyss; Thebes were freed. The people, rejoicing, declared the wise Oedipus king and gave him the wife of Laiev, the widow of Jocasta, and as assistants - the brother of Jocasta, Creon.

Many years passed, and suddenly God's punishment fell on Thebes: people died from pestilence, cattle fell, bread dried. The people turn to Oedipus: "You are wise, you saved us once, save us now." This prayer begins the action of the tragedy of Sophocles: the people stand in front of the palace, Oedipus comes out to them. “I have already sent Creon to ask the oracle for advice; and now he is already hurrying back with the news. The oracle said: “This divine punishment is for the murder of Laius; find and punish the killer!” - "Why haven't they searched for him yet?" - "Everyone was thinking about the Sphinx, not about him." "Okay, now I'll think about it." The choir of the people sings a prayer to the gods: turn your wrath away from Thebes, spare the perishing!

Oedipus announces his royal decree: find the murderer of Laius, excommunicate him from fire and water, from prayers and sacrifices, expel him to a foreign land, and may the curse of the gods fall on him! He does not know that by this he curses himself, but now they will tell him about it. In Thebes lives a blind old man, the soothsayer Tiresias: will he not indicate who the murderer is? “Don’t make me talk,” Tiresias asks, “it won’t be good!” Oedipus is angry: “Are you yourself involved in this murder?” Tiresias flares up: “No, if so: the killer is you, and execute yourself!” - “Is it Creon who is striving for power, is it he who persuaded you?” - “I do not serve Creon and not you, but the prophetic god; I am blind, you are sighted, but you do not see what sin you live in and who your father and mother are. - "What does it mean?" - "Guess it yourself: you are the master of it." And Tiresias leaves. The choir sings a frightened song: who is the villain? who is the killer? Is it Oedipus? No, you can't believe it!

An excited Creon enters: does Oedipus really suspect him of treason? "Yes," says Oedipus. “Why do I need your kingdom? The king is a slave of his own power; it is better to be a royal assistant, like me. They shower each other with cruel reproaches. At their voices, Queen Jocasta, the sister of Creon, the wife of Oedipus, comes out of the palace. "He wants to expel me with false prophecies," Oedipus tells her. “Do not believe,” Jocasta answers, “all the prophecies are false: Laia was predicted to die from her son, but our son died as a baby on Cithaeron, and Laia was killed at a crossroads by an unknown traveler.” - "At the crossroads? where? when? what was Lay in appearance? - "On the way to Delphi, shortly before your arrival to us, and he looked gray-haired, straight and, perhaps, similar to you." - "Oh God! And I had such a meeting; Was I not that traveller? Is there a witness left? - “Yes, one escaped; this is an old shepherd, he has already been sent for.” Oedipus in agitation; the choir sings an alarmed song: “Human greatness is unreliable;

gods save us from pride!

And this is where the action takes a turn. An unexpected person appears on the scene: a messenger from neighboring Corinth. The Corinthian king has died, and the Corinthians call Oedipus to take over the kingdom. Oedipus is overshadowed: “Yes, all prophecies are false! It was predicted to me to kill my father, but now - he died a natural death. But I was also prophesied to marry my mother; and as long as the queen mother lives, there is no way for me to Corinth. “If only this holds you back,” says the messenger, “calm down: you are not their own son, but an adopted one, I myself brought you to them as a baby from Cithaeron, and some shepherd gave you there.” "Wife! - Oedipus turns to Jocasta, - is this not the shepherd who was with Laius? Quicker! Whose son I really am, I want to know!” Jocasta already understood everything. “Do not inquire,” she pleads, “it will be worse for you!” Oedipus does not hear her, she goes to the palace, we will not see her anymore. The choir sings a song: maybe Oedipus is the son of some god or nymph, born on Cithaeron and thrown to people? so it happened!

A messenger runs out of the palace. For involuntary sin - voluntary execution: Queen Jocasta, mother and wife of Oedipus, hanged herself in a noose, and Oedipus, in despair, embracing her corpse, tore off her gold clasp and stuck a needle into his eyes so that they would not see his monstrous deeds. The palace swings open, the chorus sees Oedipus with a bloodied face. “How did you decide? ..” - “Fate decided!” - "Who inspired you? .." - "I am my own judge!" For the murderer of Laius - exile, for the defiler of the mother - blindness; “O Cithaeron, o mortal crossroads, o double-marriage bed!” Faithful Creon, forgetting the offense, asks Oedipus to stay in the palace: "Only the neighbor has the right to see the torment of his neighbors." Oedipus prays to let him go into exile and says goodbye to the children: “I don’t see you, but I cry for you ...” The choir sings the last words of the tragedy: “O fellow Thebans! Look, here is Oedipus! / He, the solver of mysteries, he, the mighty king, / The one whose destiny, it happened, everyone looked with envy! .. / So, everyone should remember our last day, / And only one can be called happy until his death, he did not experience troubles in his life.