HUMA 1105 Lecture 31: Lecture 9, Sophocle’s Oedipus Tyrannus, February 5th
6 Mar 2018
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Document Summary
Oedipus is often depicted with a walking stick, or sta , because at some point he developed a problem with his feet. This is a tragic play: tragedy is associated with 5th century athens, or classical athens. Its kind of like an urban centre in the middle, with rural space around it supporting the people who live within the polis. Monarchy: ruled by a king, and his kids are the ones that take over rule. Oligarchy: it is rule by a few aristocrats, and they work to bene t themselves and the rich. A tyrant takes power away from the aristocrats, which are the rich people. Democracy: all the citizens share power, and people are elected. There is discussion and debate based on what decisions should be taken. What we read in oedipus tyrannus is a bunch of democratic people imagining what it would be like if they lived with a tyrant, instead of the democracy that they have.
