Videoconference

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5027- English Drama
The Nature of Good Leadership in Oedipus the King
Videoconference Third quarter Prof. Emilia
Quirós Vargas October 12, 2006
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Aristotles Ars Poetica

• A tragedy must be an imitation of life in the
  form of a serious story that is complete in
  itself.

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• A good tragedy will evoke pity and fear in its
  viewers, causing them a feeling of catharsis.

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The Tragic Hero

• Must be superior to the average man in some way
• Must evoke pity and fear

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Oedipuss profile

• Intelligence
• He is the only person who can solve the Sphinxs
  riddle.

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• Problem - solving mind
• Oedipus seeks to unravel mysteries and find
  explanations to the problems he encounters.

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• Paternalism
• Oedipus shows to be both a loving father and a
  compassionate king to his people.

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• Reliance on the power of truth
• Oedipus believes in oracles but refuses to remain
  passive waiting for destiny to fulfill its plans.

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Questions

• Are the personal characteristics mentioned
  desirable in a good leader?
• Do those characteristics help Oedipus to be a
  good king?

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• Noblest of men, go, and raise up our city, go, -
  and give heed. For now this land of ours calls
  you its savior since you saved it once. So, let
  us never speak about your reign as of a time when
  first our feet were set secure on high, but later
  fell to ruin. Raise up our city, save it and
  raise it up. (lines 46-51)

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Question

• How does Oedipus react to his subjects plea?

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• I pity you children. You have come full of
  longing, but I have known the story before you
  told it only too well. I know you are all sick,
  yet there is not one of you, sick though you are,
  that is as sick as myself. (Lines 57-60)

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Question

• Is Oedipus quick-witted or quick-tempered?

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• You blame my temper but you do not see your own
  that lives within you. (Lines 37-38)

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• Indeed I am so angry I shall not hold back a jot
  of what I think. (Lines 345-346)

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Oedipuss unreflective behavior

• Leaves Corinth without finding out who his real
  father is.
• Kills a man old enough to be his father.
• Marries a woman old enough to be his mother.

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• Oedipus excites himself too much at every sort of
  trouble, not conjecturing like a man of sense,
  what will be from what was, but hes always at
  the speakers mercy, when he speaks terrors
  (Lines 914-916) when we look to him we are all
  afraid. Hes pilot of our ship and he is
  frightened. (Lines 922-923)

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Question

• Could Creon be a better leader to govern Thebes?

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Creons leadership style

• Reflection, wisdom, and self-control.
• Assured authority rather than fear.
• Commitment to people rather than a position.

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• Do not seek to be master in everything, for the
  things you mastered did not follow you throughout
  your line. (Line 1524)