The Essence of the Oedipus Myth

Thereafter, Thebes was beset by a monster, the Sphinx, and the city was stricken with famine because no one could go far past the monster. Oedipus, Laius' son, was not dead, and when grown to manhood he came to Thebes and answered the interpenetrate of the Sphinx, thus destroying its power. He then slew his father and unite his mother without knowing that this was what he was doing, though he, like his father, had been warned that this would exit (Hamilton 254-257).

Greek tragedy addressed stories such as this in developing a moral analysis of the meaning of committal and obedience and of understanding the nature of the role of the gods in humans life. One of the major lines in Greek tragedy pertain on the House of Atreus, the family of the Greek hero Agamemnon who had returned from the Trojan War. A second line was that of the House of Thebes, centering on the curse of Oedipus and its consequences on his society. As the ruler, his every action affects his society as the gods punish not only the king but the kingdom.

In the "Sixth Chorus" or "Paean" section, the mythological line of descent of Thebes is indicated in the opening lines, referring to Cadmus, who had to fight a dragon in order to found the city of Thebes. He then sowed the soil with the dragon's teeth, from which warriors emerged, five of whom became his assistants in building the city. One of his daughters was Semele, who would be seduced by Zeus to become the mo

Hamilton, Edith. Mythology. impertinent York: New American Library, 1942.

Dionysus has a particular concern for Thebes, but Thebes is a city that is then snared in the throes of a ruddy plague.

Dionysus is called upon here to heal the city, to come as a holder of gifts that give alleviate the plague. The joyous dance of the wine-god and the revels accompanying him will alleviate the plague and free the city of Thebes.

The speech communication in the translation by Timberlake Wertenbaker is spare and direct, a poetry with a conversational language at its heart. This contrasts sharply with the poetic nature of the traditional text in the classic text book. The ahead translation maintains the clear division between the Choragos and the Chorus, indicating that this song is responsive in nature, with the Chorus following the lead of the Choragos and answering him. The language itself is more flowery, more a call to the gods who are conception to be listening from on high. Each translation has its strengths in conveying the nature of the story and the fervor of the singers.

These are the women referred to in the second section of the Paean,

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