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Delahoyde & Hughes
Orpheus
OEDIPUS AT COLONUS
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Oedipus at Colonus is the second of the Theban plays
chronologically but the last to be written, produced in 404 bce, the year
after Sophocles' death. Like Philoctetes, Oedipus "is a man whose value
is inextricably coupled with his offensive quality" (Grene 4). The play
begins with the long-exiled Oedipus, accompanied by his daughter
Antigone, coming to an unfamiliar place under Athenian jurisdiction, a
grove sacred to the Eumenides. Colonus, this suburb of Athens, is ruled
by Theseus. Oedipus has been told that this is where he will find rest. A
Chorus calls him "a stranger in a strange land" (87) and gradually learns
his identity.
Ismene, Oedipus' other daughter, reports of political unrest involving
his sons, Polyneices and Eteocles (who in this version of the story
exiled Oedipus), and Creon. The oracle has said that the city possessing
Oedipus' bones will not be captured. Oedipus is disgusted. Theseus,
however, is respectful of the old man and vows protection, which is soon
necessary as Creon, to manipulate Oedipus, kidnaps his daughters. Theseus
berates Creon and returns Antigone to Oedipus. Polyneices wants an
audience with Oedipus and Antigone thinks there's no harm in at least
hearing what he has to say.
The Chorus laments the misery of old age, and Polyneices appears to be
sorry for his disloyalty. Though the older brother, he has been exiled by
Eteocles; so he has now raised an army of seven spearmen against Thebes.
Oedipus doesn't buy it. Polyneices is responsible for the shabby vision
of his father that now strikes him as lamentable. Oedipus predicts that
the brothers will kill each other. Polyneices extracts a promise from
Antigone that she'll provide the proper rites when it comes time for his
burial.
Thunder signals the impending death of Oedipus, as he recognizes
instinctively. He calls for Theseus and gives him final secret advice.
According to a messenger reporting to the Chorus, Oedipus prepared for
his death, bid good-bye to his daughters, and magically disappeared in
front of Theseus.
Powell, Barry. Classical Myth. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 2001.
Sophocles. Oedipus at Colonus. Trans. David Grene. Sophocles I. Second edition by David Grene and Richmond Lattimore. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1991. 77-157.