CLIMAX (Lines 911-1222)
Summary
The climactic section of Oedipus Rex is divided into two scenes that are divided by the third and fourth Stasimon. As a prelude to the scene, Jocasta gives offerings of flowers and incense at the altar of Apollo, asking him to relieve the city of its fears, especially those of Oedipus.
The first scene shows the arrival of the Corinthian shepherd who brings the news of Polybus’ death, the king of Corinth and apparent father of Oedipus. On hearing the news, Jocasta informs Oedipus and tells him that the fate he had dreaded all his life has now been averted. His fear that he would kill his own father is pointless as his father has died a natural death. But Oedipus still fears that apart from murdering his father, he was also destined to wed his mother, therefore he refuses to return to Corinth with the shepherd for his coronation.
In order to reassure Oedipus that this will not transpire, the Corinthian discloses the secret that Oedipus is not the real son of Polybus and Merope. As an infant with a wounded foot he had been handed over to this same shepherd by one of Laius’ servants who had then passed him on to a Corinthian shepherd and then to Polybus. Thereafter, he had been raised to be Oedipus, so named for the injuries to his feet.
This story arouses Oedipus’ curiosity about his real parents and when he asks if anyone knows the shepherd the messenger speaks of, the chorus replies it is the same one who has been summoned. Jocasta, on the other hand, realizes by this time, that Oedipus is her own son and that the prophecy has come true. She tries to stop Oedipus from continuing with his investigations, but the adamant ruler pays no heed, thinking that she is concerned whether or not he will be of humble birth.
As Jocasta leaves the stage, she screams that he is doomed and that those are to be her last words. Oedipus remarks that the truth must come out, regardless of how vile it is. He is not ashamed by the possibility of not coming from royal blood although Jocasta is. He then says, “I ask to be no other man/Than who I am, and will know who I am.”
The Chorus chants the third Stasimon, which is a paean to Oedipus’ origins. They express their curiosity about Oedipus’ birth and even fancy him to be the son of some god or goddess.
In the following scene, the Theban shepherd arrives. He is the same man who had handed over little Oedipus to the Corinthian and also the sole witness to Laius’ murder. The messenger immediately recognizes him yet the Theban shepherd is reluctant to talk. Oedipus grills him with questions, almost to the point of threatening him with death if he does not tell him the truth. Finally, the old Theban reveals that Oedipus is indeed the Laius’ son and also the man who had murdered Laius at the crossroads. He confesses that he saved the child’s life though he had orders to leave it to die. On realizing that the prophesies have indeed come to pass, Oedipus runs throughout the palace, announcing the atrocities which he has committed and asking that he no longer gaze on the sun after discovering the truth of his birth.
This is followed by the fourth Stasimon, which uses a grave tone. They lament the inexorable nature of fate, which does not even spare kings.
