Contents
What does the plague symbolize in Oedipus?
The plague is the symbol of the crisis that Thebes is facing due to the sin unknowingly committed by Oedipus. It is self-punishment for Oedipus’s severe crime against his father, mother and the citizens. One who cannot see his deeds and their results even having eyes must make himself blind.
What is the cause of the plague in Thebes in Oedipus Rex?
Thus, the most probable cause of the plague in Thebes is B. abortus. Brucellosis is a highly contagious zoonosis caused by ingestion of unsterilized milk or meat from infected cows or close contact with their secretions. abortus as the causative agent of the plague of Thebes.
What type of plague is destroying the land of Thebes in Oedipus?
blight
As the play opens, Oedipus, king of Thebes, receives a group of citizens led by an old priest. The priest describes the plague that is destroying the city — a blight on the land causing famine and sickness.
Who caused the plague in Oedipus the King?
He hoped to discover the cause of the plague that afflicted the city and sent his brother, Creon, to consult the Oracle at Delphi. The cause was religious pollution: Laius, the previous king and husband of Jocasta, had been murdered while travelling and the culprit had never been caught.
What caused Jocasta to realize that Oedipus was her child?
Laios is jealous and sickened by the pleasure Jocasta derives from the baby, so he drives a spike through Oedipus’ feet and leaves him to die. Jocasta says that she knows from the moment she sees him as a man that Oedipus is her son.
What made Oedipus kill himself?
When Oedipus is exposed to the truth, he is overcome with shame, grief, and remorse. Once Oedipus realizes that he was not able to avoid the prophecy and is responsible for the plague, he is disgusted with himself and stabs his own eyes using Jocasta’s golden brooches.
Why was the plague of Pluto in Oedipus Rex?
At the opening of Oedipus Rex, the Kingdom of Thebes is in a drought. The people of Thebes are likely suffering famine as a result of the drought, their farm animals are dying, and they’re also suffering from a plague: Of Pluto is full fed with groans and tears.
Who is the king of Thebes in Oedipus Rex?
When the play opens, Thebes is suffering a plague which leaves its fields and women barren. Oedipus, the king of Thebes, has sent his brother-in-law, Creon, to the house of Apollo to ask the oracle how to end the plague.
What kind of diseases did Oedipus Rex have?
These diseases mainly include typhoid fever, epidemic typhus, smallpox, plague, measles, and influenza, all of which could be initial candidates for the plague in Oedipus Rex and have been taken into account in this study (Technical Appendix) (9,10).
Where does the killer of Laius live in Oedipus Rex?
According to the oracle, the killer lives in Thebes. He must be caught and punished in order to stop the plague. As when he faced the Sphinx, Oedipus is presented with a puzzle to solve: the identity of Laius’s murderer. Shame was believed to have real-world consequences.