OEDIPUS THE KING - EPISODE FOUR AND STASIMON FOUR

WHAT HAPPENS

- Characters in this episode = Oedipus, Messenger from Corinth and Shepherd

- Laius' shepherd arrives, Oedipus questions him about his birth but he doesn't want to answer due to level of suffering it would cause. Use of STICHOMYTHIA to build tension here.

- Oedipus shows excessive anger = twists shepherd's arms behind back, contrasts to earlier examples of respect towards old people such as the priest in the Prologue but supports examples of his anger towards old people when he does not get his way, such as his behaviour towards Tiresias in the first episode. 

- The shepherd eventually tells Oedipus it was Jocasta who gave him baby Oedipus and is therefore his birth mother.

- Oedipus' ANAGNIRISM (moment of revelation) occurs. 

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