Oedipus Rex Group

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bbn27
bbn27
Student
College - Senior

In "Oedipus Rex", how does Oedipus react to the Messenger's message?

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Posted by bbn27 on Saturday September 20, 2008 at 11:36 AM and tagged with character, messenger, oedipus, oedipus rex, reaction, sophocles.

Answers:


  1. robertwilliam

    The messenger from Corinth arrives to tell Oedipus that his father, Polybus, is dead, and that the people of Corinth wish Oedipus to be their new king. Oedipus, is of course delighted, because he believes his father has died, and Oedipus has managed to avoid killing him.

    Yet the messenger also reveals to Oedipus that Polybus and Meropé (of Corinth) are not his real parents. The messenger tells Oedipus that, long ago, a stranger from Thebes gave him a baby as a gift to the king and queen of Corinth. Oedipus realises that the baby could be him - and interrogates the messenger firmly to find out who gave him the baby: a shepherd, who he summons immediately. The prospect that he himself might be the murderer only strengthens Oedipus' resolve to get to the bottom of things.

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

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    Posted by robertwilliam on Saturday September 20, 2008 at 6:39 PM