Tragedy Journal 3

Themes and ideas:

As a class assignment, we were supposed to pick a certain image or motif or topic that could be used as a comparison between all three dramas. I picked the comparisons between the upper class and the lower class and how they are the same or different. This also includes the view from one of the classes of the other.

Oedipus is a prime example of the elitist upper class, when the messenger brings an important message about Polybus's death, Oedipus refers to the queen first "And who is he? What can he have for me?" (1044). The word choice as well in this passage suggests that Oedipus lacks the seriousness about a lower class messenger as if Oedipus is a king and should not be bothered by minor matters.
Another example of this is when Oedipus realizes with utter disbelief that the messenger played the pivotal role as his caretaker, "My father - how can my father equal nothing? You're nothing to me!" (1115-1117). Oedipus makes instant judgements on a person's background mainly off the basis of their position in society.

The masses can be easily represented by the chorus and throughout the tragedy, their views on Oedipus are almost godlike, "You outranged all men! [...] From that day on we called you king we crowned you with honors, Oedipus, towering over all - mighty king of the seven gates of Thebes" (1320-1330). The lower or middle class public seem to greatly respect the upper class and the king. They even pity Oedipus and the horrible situation fate has brought him. But even the lower class has a depth of understanding that the upper class believes they are incapable of having, "I tell you the truth, you gave me life my breath leapt up in you and now you bring down night upon my eyes" (1348-1349). This is ironic because of the inability for Oedipus to see the truth in events compared to the understanding of the chorus, which furthermore is removed in its involvement in the actual conflict.

In summary to all of this, Sophocles portrays the upper class as being very snobbish even to the extent where they only refer to the masses in accusations or pleas for help. The lower classes in this tragedy tend to integrate themselves with this same view and adopt a perspective giving almost absolute respect and admiration for those who are higher on the societal ladder. Sophocles separates the two classes very distinctly in Oedipus the King.