Oedipus Rex Group

Question:

arghyapikai
arghyapikai
Student
College - Junior

"Death is the doom I choose, not banishment." Why does Oedipus threaten to murder, not banish, Creon?

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Posted by arghyapikai on Saturday September 20, 2008 at 1:57 AM and tagged with banishment, creon, death, oedipus, oedipus rex, sophocles, traitor.

Answers:


  1. robertwilliam

    eNotes Editor

    This quotation comes from the argument between Oedipus and Creon. Creon sent Teiresias to Oedipus originally, and - as Oedipus disagrees so strongly with Teiresias advice - Oedipus thinks that Creon and Teiresias are conspiring against him.

    Creon has told Oedipus that ‘in time you will know all with certainty”. Oedipus refuses to listen, and Creon accuses him ruling unjustly.

    This is why Oedipus wants to punish Creon with death: not banishment, as death is the punishment for traitors against the crown. And if Creon were a conspirator, that's precisely what he'd deserve. The fact is, unfortunately for Oedipus, he isn't.

    One last thing - I wouldn't use the rather pathetic Gilbert Murray translation of the play which you're quoting from. The University of Chicago edition (ed. Grene / Lattimore) is infinitely superior: and far closer to Sophocles' play.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/oedipus-rex

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    Posted by robertwilliam on Saturday September 20, 2008 at 1:28 PM