Oedipus the King - RACHEL VIOLA
Storyboard Text
- Oedipus, the highly revered king of Thebes, had been made aware that there was a plague that leaves the fields and women barren. He sent Creon, his brother-in-law, to ask an oracle how to end the plague. Creon arrives saying that once the previous king, Laius' killer is found, the plague will end, and that the murderer is in Thebes. The people (represented by Chorus) suggest they contact the blind prophet, Tiresias, for help, and Oedipus says he already sent for Tiresias, and vows to catch the murderer.
- I will definitely exact revenge on the gods' behalf and for the people, and the murderer should be exiled from this land!
- What is sought can be captured, but what is ignored escapes. We should make haste and find the killer!
- Lord Tiresias sees the same as Lord Apollo does, consulting him would lead to learning wisest things.
- This is no prophecy! Do you really think you can say this unpunished? You are blind in your mind and your ears and your eyes.
- Tiresias arrives looking dispirited, and refuses to answer Oedipus questions, warning him that he does not want to know the answers. Oedipus says that he dishonours the city and its people by refusing to help and threatens him with death, and finally Tiresias says that Oedipus himself is the killer and the one who brought upon the plague, and he lives foully with those he holds dear, and he does not see the extent of the evil he's done. Oedipus is insulted and says that Creon must've paid Tiresias to say this to overthrow him, and Tiresias leaves saying that he will end up blind too.
- You, are the unholy polluter of this land. The potent truth is that though you see well enough now, you will soon be blind.
- Though it came quickly, pushed out in anger, and not in rational thoughts. He said those things, though I do not know why.
- Don't blame me like that, with mere suspicion. I see well that you do not understand. If I have done what you have accused me of, may I die accursed.
- Creon arrives, asking the Chorus if it's true that Oedipus had accused him. The Chorus attempts to mediate but Oedipus appears and after questioning each other in a back-and-forth, Oedipus charges Creon with treason. Creon does not defend himself because he himself doesn't fully understand what the oracles mean and that Oedipus will not see the truth even if he explains himself. Jocasta, Oedipus' wife appears and makes Oedipus relent and let Creon free, while telling them not to argue about their private matters in full view of the sick people and brings Oedipus inside to comfort him and offer advice.
- Whenever someone plans against me, I must act swiftly so they do not become my mistakes. I must protect the people, even if I am to cast away my friend.
- Aren't you ashamed to stir private evils when the land is so sick? Creon, return home; don't make this foolish grief into something big.
- Jocasta asks what is upsetting Oedipus and he tells her of Tiresias' prophecy. Jocasta comforts him by saying prophecies hold no truth by recounting the story of the Laius, who was her previous husband and king, who consulted an oracle that said his son would kill him, and he and Jocasta gave the infant to a shepherd to leave to die with a pin on the baby's ankles. But Laius was killed by many bandits, not his son. But the story only troubles Oedipus as Jocasta mentioned Laius was killed where three roads meet, which reminds Oedipus that he killed a stranger at a similar place.
- I thought I heard you say this: that Laius was cut down where the three wagon-roads meet.
- And so it was announced, nor has it changed at all. In a land called Phocis, just before you took the rule of this land.
- I fear myself, lady, lest I have said too much, and so I wish to see him. If that stranger had some connection with Laius, who would be more wretched than this man you see? And no other called down such curses on me than myself!
- Oedipus is further troubled when it is revealed that her description of Laius matches the stranger he killed, but Jocasta says that the only eyewitness was a herdsman that swore five robbers killed Laius. Oedipus sends for someone to fetch him, and tells Jocasta that a drunkard once told him he was not his father's son. It troubled him and he went to an oracle to discover his heritage, but instead is told a prophecy that he would kill his father and marry his mother. This prophecy scared him and he left his homeland, and encountered a cruel stranger at a crossroads and killed him. like Laius.
- What holds so badly for you, my lord, will come to light, yet my poor boy perished long before, so I would not look to prophecies.
- If indeed you care for your own life, do not go after this! I grieve enough. Obey me, I pray, do not do this. Unlucky man, may you never know who you are!
- A messenger from Corinth arrives instead, with the news that Oedipus' father, Polybus, is dead. Oedipus is worried about the part of the prophecy that says he marries his mother, and the messenger reassures him because Merope and Polybus aren't his real parents. The messenger says a man gave a baby to him and he delivered the baby to the king and queen of Corinth, and that the injury at Oedipus' feet is proof of that because the baby had been pierced through the ankles. The baby was given by one of Laius' servants who Oedipus sends for, and Jocasta begs him to stop investigating.
- Even if I am revealed a slave for three generations back, I cannot be persuaded not to learn this clearly. Will someone go and bring the shepherd to me?
- You may justly fear nothing, because Polybus is nothing to you by birth, that man did not beget you, instead took you as a gift from my own arms, pierced ankles and all.
Over 30 Million Storyboards Created
No Downloads, No Credit Card, and No Login Needed to Try!
