Introduction: This study is done by Mustafa Kenj. I did it when I was a first year at Tishreen University. I thought it to my self, it would really helpful to share it with other students. This book is meant to be an aid for whoever has this subject as a course to study. It outlines the major actions with examples, and quotations from the play. It studies literary terms and how the actions go in the play.
Here below is a poem on the tragic play Oedipus the king.
It is composed by Mustafa Kenj after the too many readings of the play. I felt so much bad for this innocent man.
You Oedipus the victim of Gods in Greek culture
Had seen light for a while
A love was doomed to be with a mother
Horror darkness was the result of such try
He fled the ones he thought to be his parents
And adulterer killer came to one those whom by got birth
They were found to bring the destiny of downfall
In every century family nature never help
But keep an obstacle for human to tackle.
We are part of such cruel world
Where no one can find shelter but only in death.
Fun joy lasts for seconds
Tragedy pains always leave traces and scares
On our soul and deep heart beneath the universe.
Analysis and summary:
The following summary of Oedipus story is from my own understanding to the play.
The story of Oedipus starts from his birth. A priest revealed to Laius (Oedipus father), this son will kill him and marry his wife Jocasta. Jocasta and Laius felt anxious worried to death of this prophecy. They decided to get rid of their own child in the river. Unlike what they wished to happened, the shepherd who was responsible to take care of disposing this innocent child could not throw the child into the river. This shepherd rather took this child and left it in Cithaeron mount. Cithareon is a place where the herds used to gaze. Some fellow from Corinth found Oedipus, and found it good idea to give it to the queen and the king there: Polybus and Merope Dorian. Polybus and Dorian did not tell Oedipus the truth of their adoption; they are not his real parents. Some when at having banquet Oedipus with his friends, one of them was drunk and shouted and said you are not you Mom and dad son, "you are not your parents' son". Oedipus felt bad about it. He asked his mom and father about it, he did not get satisfied. He went to Apollo's temple in Delphi to make sure about what he heard last night. Apollo foretell what would happen in the future, he would kill his father, and make love with his mom. He feels horrified of this prophecy. He fears this prophecy. Thus he flees Corinth to protect the parents he thought them are the real ones, to discover later they are as what he was told, parents by adoption. Oedipus felt angry on the way a poke caused him extreme angry was made by an old man to find for the prophecy way to become true. This old man was Laius. Oedipus killed all his father escort except one was left and could survive "the shepherd". The Shepherd is same man who saved Oedipus when he was a child. Oedipus reaches Thebes, where Sphinx was threatening the lives of the people there by riddle; the riddle is there is some thing goes on four in the morning, two in the noon, on three in the evening. Oedipus the only one could solve it. As a result he became their hero. They ask him to be their king and to run their country. They called Oedipus to save their city from the plague. Every one felt puzzled about this plague. He accepts the people desire to be their king. He also promised to fight back the plague. He sent Creon to Delphi to know the reason of this plague. The reason as Creon delivered was the murderer of Laius. Oedipus felt worried to know there was previously killed by conspirators. He promised to get this person into the light to punish him. Oedipus gives birth to some children. The one he married was the queen. Oedipus kept on his search to find the truth, till he ended up with blinding himself, and getting his own mother committed suicide.