Oedipus the King (俄狄浦斯王)

1、The writing background of Oedipus the KingThe brief introduction of Oedipus the KingThe writer himselfThe writing backgroundLatin Latin title :title :Oedipus Oedipus RexRex, , An Athenian An Athenian tragedy tragedy by by Sophocles Sophocles first first performed performed in cin c. 429 . 429 BCEBCE

2、a a man who becomes the king of Thebes man who becomes the king of Thebes who who was was destined from destined from birth to murder birth to murder his father his father Laius and Laius and marry his mother marry his mother JocastaJocastaan an example of a classic example of a classic tragedytrage

3、dyOedipuss Oedipuss own faults contribute to own faults contribute to he he tragic heros tragic heros downfalldownfall, as opposed to having , as opposed to having fate fate be the sole be the sole causecauseBeing regarded as Being regarded as the Greek tragedy par the Greek tragedy par excellenceex

4、cellence c c. 497/6 BC . 497/6 BC winter 406/5 winter 406/5 BC BC one one of three ancient Greek tragedians of three ancient Greek tragedians whose plays have survived. whose plays have survived. 123 123 plays during the course of plays during the course of his lifehis life, , only only seven have s

5、urvived in a complete seven have survived in a complete form :form :Ajax, Antigone, The Women of Ajax, Antigone, The Women of TrachisTrachis, Oedipus the King, Electra, , Oedipus the King, Electra, PhiloctetesPhiloctetes and and Oedipus at Oedipus at ColonusColonus the the most-fmost-ftedted playwri

6、ght playwright in the in the dramaticdramatic competitions competitions of the city-state of the city-state The Golden AgeOverviewTheatreFate and free will The Golden Age the the Age of Age of PericlesPericles 480 480 BC-404 BC. BC-404 BC. Athenian Athenian political hegemony, economic growth and po

7、litical hegemony, economic growth and cultural flourishing formerly cultural flourishing formerly its its enemies under its enemies under its feetfeet its its political political fortunes fortunes guided by statesman and guided by statesman and orator Pericles, orator Pericles, p producing some rodu

8、cing some of the most influential and of the most influential and enduring enduring cultural cultural artifacts of the Western artifacts of the Western traditiontradition.Overviewmilitary military and external affairs were mostly and external affairs were mostly run run by the ten by the ten strateg

9、osstrategos (or (or generals) generals) planning military expeditions, receiving planning military expeditions, receiving envoys of other envoys of other states and directing diplomatic affairs. states and directing diplomatic affairs. The development of theatre Reaching its Reaching its greatest he

10、ight in the 5th greatest height in the 5th century century BCEBCE. . Being promoted Being promoted and favored and favored by by a series of a series of practical and practical and economic economic measures. measures. ServeingServeing the the moral and intellectual education of moral and intellectu

11、al education of the people.the people. . lasting lasting eight consecutive hours eight consecutive hours Being Being performed performed as part of a competition as part of a competition The permanent theatrical venues of ancientThe permanent theatrical venues of ancientAthens being sumptuous and el

12、aborate. Athens being sumptuous and elaborate. Actors wearing masks to identify them with the Actors wearing masks to identify them with the characters and characters and b being accompanied by a chorus who eing accompanied by a chorus who sang and danced.sang and danced.Fate and free will Fate is a

13、 theme that often occurs in Greek writing, Fate is a theme that often occurs in Greek writing, tragedies in particular. The idea that attempting to avoid an tragedies in particular. The idea that attempting to avoid an oracle is the very thing which brings it about is a common oracle is the very thi

14、ng which brings it about is a common motif in many Greek motif in many Greek myths.myths.The The prophecy itself sets in motion events that prophecy itself sets in motion events that conclude with its own fulfillment. conclude with its own fulfillment. Oedipus Oedipus freely made freely made a serie

15、s of a series of specific specific choiceschoices not to return to Corinth after hearing the not to return to Corinth after hearing the oracleoracle chooses to head toward chooses to head toward ThebesThebes to kill Laius, to marry and to take to kill Laius, to marry and to take JocastaJocasta specifically as his specifically as his brideb