Blog Post #1 Oedipus and the gods

The opening of the play shows the relationship between the citizens and the gods. The reader does not find out why the plague has affected the Thebes until a little bit in. The god Apollo is revealed as the reason. Laius, the ruler before Oedipus arrived, was murdered by thieves. Apollo will not remove the plague on the city until Oedipus will “Pay the killers back—whoever is responsible (1.122).” Soon after when the Chorus comes in, they complain to the gods of their current state. They spit out most of the prominent gods such as Zeus, Apollo, Athena, and Artemis. The point of their whole speech is that Thebes is a “city of death (1.211).”                                                                                      The citizens believe the gods will help them and the story characterizes the Chorus as somewhat weak and helpless. Besides their reason for complaining their speech portrays them as helpless people who depend on the gods for everything. Just the opening shows that the people have a strong connection to the gods and depend on them to survive and for advice and problems. They may depend on the gods, but they don’t seem to understand them. The citizens just say what they want with no politeness or meaning. They just want all their problems to be wiped away. “Apollo, lord of the light, I beg you—whip your long bow’s golden cord showering arrows on our enemies (1.231-233).” They rely on the gods and not on themselves. When it comes to the gods’ instructions Oedipus and the Chorus follow them because they fear them and respect that they have the power and the citizens should not abuse the gods’ powers.