Seneca’s Oedipus: Seneca vs. Sophocles

Seneca’s Oedipus is a retelling of the story of Oedipus – better known as the retelling of Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex. Just like Seneca’s Medea in the previous blog post, Seneca’s Oedipus is classed as a ‘fabula crepidata’ – a Roman tragedy that has a Greek subject.

In summary, the play begins with Oedipus lamenting about a plague which is affecting Thebes. Many people are dying and Oedipus speaks of a prophecy that he received from Apollo before he came to Thebes, which told of how he would kill his father and marry his mother, therefore resulting in his fleeing of his home. Next, Creon returns from the Oracle at Delphi with the instruction that Thebes has to avenge the death of the former King Laius in order to end the plague. Tiresias appears and Oedipus asks him to make the meaning of the oracle clearer. Tiresias then carries out a sacrifice which contains multiple horrific signs. Tiresias doesn’t have the name of King Laius’ killer, he says he will summon Laius’ spirit to learn the identity of the guilty individual. Creon returns from seeing Tiresias after he had spoken to Laius’ ghost, but he is unwilling to reveal to Oedipus the murderer’s name. Oedipus then threatens him and Creon relents by saying that Laius accused the king of having blood on his hands. Creon continues by saying that Laius promised the plague will cease if the king is expelled from Thebes and so Creon advises Oedipus to abdicate. However, Oedipus believes that he has lied about this and so along with Tiresias, he seizes the throne. Despite Creon protesting his innocence, Oedipus has Creon arrested. Later, Oedipus becomes trouble by the memory of a man he murdered on the road for behaving arrogantly, whilst he was travelling to Thebes. A messenger from Corinth tells Oedipus his father (King Polybus) has died and tells him he must take the throne. The messenger then says that Corinth’s queen is not his mother and that he was given away as a baby. After threatening the shepherd that gave him away, Oedipus learns Jocasta is his mother.

Finally, a messenger tells the audience that Oedipus has contemplated suicide but then he decided that his crime deserved something worse, because of the suffering that Thebes has endured. Oedipus then decides to find a slow death. The messenger than explains that Oedipus has torn his eyes out with his hands. The chorus then questions fate and Oedipus enters. Oedipus appears with both his eyes removed and is confronted by Jocasta, who realises from his action that she must punish herself for her crimes. Jocasta, whilst still on stage, takes Oedipus’ sword and kills herself.

Seneca vs. Sophocles:

· In Seneca’s version, the character of Oedipus is much more fearful, guilt-ridden and certainly more open to the idea that he might be implicated in the Theban plague. However, Sophocles’ version depicts Oedipus as much more proud and arrogant.

· Seneca’s version has a more violent tone, and an example of this violent tone is the sacrifice done by Tiresias which is described in incredibly graphic detail.

· In Seneca’s play, Oedipus blinds himself before Jocasta kills herself, by pulling out his eyeballs. In contrast, in Sophocles’ play, Oedipus blinds himself after seeing Jocasta’s corpse, and uses the golden brooches from her dress to stab out his eyes.

· Seneca’s play details Oedipus as an aid to the Jocasta’s death which contrasts to Sophocles’ play where Jocasta first hangs herself, only for Oedipus to discover her corpse.

· In Seneca’s play, Laius openly names his killer. However, in Sophocles’ version, Oedipus’ guilt emerges gradually throughout the play.

· There is no mention of Oedipus’ feelings towards his children in Seneca’s version. But in Sophocles’ play, Oedipus leaves them to Creon’s guardianship and is desperate to hold them once more.

· Seneca’s play finishes with Oedipus leaving Thebes. In Sophocles’ version, Oedipus is told by Creon that his rule has ended.