GED117-Week 4

Summary

In this lecture, Professor Wilnabantai from the Department of Arts and Letters explores the tragedy of 'Oedipus Rex' by Sophocles. The story, rooted in Greek literature, tells of Oedipus, a man destined to kill his father and marry his mother. Despite efforts to avoid his fate, Oedipus unwittingly fulfills the prophecy. The lecture delves into themes of truth, pride, and the human intellect's limitations, highlighting Oedipus's journey from stubbornness to self-discovery and wisdom. Sophocles masterfully intertwines past and present, creating a powerful narrative that emphasizes the grandeur of the human spirit.

Takeaways

• 📚 The lecture is given by Professor Wilnabantai from the Department of Arts and Letters, focusing on the poetics of Aristotle and the play 'Oedipus Rex'.
• 🎭 'Oedipus Rex' is a Greek tragedy that has evolved through various adaptations and is notably interpreted by the dramatist Sophocles.
• 👑 The story of Oedipus begins with a prophecy that he would kill his father and marry his mother, leading to his abandonment as a child.
• 🦶 The name 'Oedipus', meaning 'swollen foot', is derived from the way his parents exposed him on a mountainside with his feet pinned together.
• 🏰 Oedipus is raised in Corinth, unaware of his true heritage, and later unknowingly fulfills the prophecy by killing his father and solving the riddle of the Sphinx, which leads to him becoming the king of Thebes.
• 🔍 The play 'Oedipus Rex' revolves around the protagonist's relentless pursuit of truth, despite the warnings of the potential tragic consequences.
• 🧠 Oedipus's tragic flaw is his overconfidence in human intellect and his belief that cleverness equates to wisdom, which ultimately leads to his downfall.
• 👁️ The themes of sight and blindness are central to the play, with Oedipus physically blinding himself after discovering his true identity, symbolizing a deeper understanding of truth.
• 💔 Jocasta, Oedipus's mother and wife, represents a character who cannot face the truth and chooses suicide, contrasting with Oedipus's strength to endure and learn from his suffering.
• 🌟 Sophocles' portrayal of Oedipus emphasizes the grandeur of the human spirit, which, despite its flaws, possesses an inherent nobility independent of the gods.
• 📖 The lecture concludes by highlighting the importance of engaging with the material and completing the requirements for the module, with a promise of further exploration in module two.

Q & A

Who is the lecturer in the video script?

The lecturer is Professor Wilnabantai from the Department of Arts and Letters.

What was the main topic discussed in the previous lecture?

The main topic discussed in the previous lecture was the poetics of Aristotle, including concepts such as catharsis, the tragic hero, and poetry as imitation.

What is the central theme of the lecture script?

The central theme of the lecture script is an overview of 'Oedipus Rex,' focusing on the story of Oedipus and its development through Greek literature.

What is the meaning behind the name 'Oedipus'?

The name 'Oedipus' means 'swollen foot,' given to him because his feet were pinned together when he was exposed on the mountain side as an infant.

Why did Oedipus's parents, Laius and Jocasta, expose him as a child?

Laius and Jocasta exposed Oedipus due to a prophecy that their son would murder his father and marry his mother, and they wanted to avert this disaster.

How did Oedipus come to rule Thebes?

Oedipus came to rule Thebes after he solved the riddle of the Sphinx, which was terrorizing the city, and was rewarded with the hand of the widowed Jocasta and the Theban throne.

What event triggered the action of 'Oedipus the King'?

The action of 'Oedipus the King' was triggered by the arrival of a plague in Thebes, which could only be removed by discovering the murderer of Laius.

What is the tragic flaw of Oedipus according to the script?

Oedipus's tragic flaw is his belief that the human intellect is sufficient by itself, and his pride in his intellectual superiority, which misleads him into thinking that cleverness is the same as wisdom.

How does Oedipus react to the revelation of his true identity?

Upon the revelation of his true identity, Oedipus blinds himself, symbolizing his transition from sight to true understanding, and then leaves Thebes to wander in exile.

What is the significance of the opposition of light and darkness, sight and blindness, in the play?

The opposition of light and darkness, sight and blindness, signifies the journey from ignorance to knowledge, with Oedipus ultimately gaining true insight despite his physical blindness.

How does Sophocles characterize his protagonists in the script?

Sophocles characterizes his protagonists as superhuman figures, dealing with great issues and purged of triviality, yet still possessing virtues and vices that allow the audience to sympathize and suffer with them.