People's Reflection In Oedipus Rex

“People are much deeper than stereotypes. That’s the first place our minds go. Then you get to know them and you hear their stories, and you say, ‘I’d have never guessed.” (Carson Kressley) This quote by Carson Kressley perfectly explains how people’s perspective of a person changes as they get to know them. Not the, “What is your favorite color?” get to know them, but to learn about their fears, hopes and dreams, which is what makes a person unique and are usually the hardest things to identify about someone you only know superficially. This quality, to change the one’s perspective of someone as one gets to know them, can be seen in the chorus of Sophocles’ play. In Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, the chorus indeed changes over the course of the

In Oedipus Rex specifically, the chorus goes from explaining what is going on in the play, to criticizing the characters and their choices. In the beginning of the play, the chorus defines the situation Thebes’ is going through. “The plague burns on it, it is pitiless, though pallid children laden with death lie unwept in the stony ways.” (Sophocles 11) This claim, clearly presents the bad things happening in Thebes, since the plague has made living conditions horrible, killing the people and cattle. Consequently, after everything has been clarified, the chorus criticizes how Jocasta handles and makes tough decisions. “How could that queen whom Laius won, the garden that he harrowed at his height be silent when that act was done?” (Sophocles 66) The chorus finds many faults in the way Jocasta handled the situation, even though she thinks she was protecting King Laius and herself, she did it incorrectly, by killing her only son. The chorus has many characteristics but in Sophocles’ play, it has many more purposes than just paraphrasing the story and what was unknown to the audience, it also served as the voice of the

For instance, in the beginning of the play, the chorus admires and supports Oedipus but as the story progresses, they begin to question him. “Haughtiness and the high hand of disdain tempt and outrage God’s holy law; and any mortal who dares hold no immortal power in awe will be caught up in a net of pain.” (Sophocles 46) This perfectly expresses the moment when Oedipus begins to doubt the gods and the predetermined fates, the chorus rapidly queries him seeing as they are very religious and believing of the gods and for their leader not to be, ignites uncertainty within them. Moreover, after Oedipus’ fate is exposed, the chorus quickly changes its attitude once again. “I can not even look at you, poor ruined one, and i would speak, question, ponder, if I were able. No. You make me shudder” (Sophocles 70-71) This quote clearly indicates how the chorus, after knowing Oedipus’ real story, they suddenly stop doubting and questioning him and begin to pity him. The chorus definitely understands that finding out that one’s wife is actually their mother and that they killed their father must not be facile; therefore, they feel plenty of sympathy towards him. Thus, the chorus’ change is clearly seen in its attitude modifications all through the