Oedipus

2 Pages 546 Words

Prophecies
“Who is the man denounced by the prophetic voice from Delphi’s cliffs-the man whose blood-stained hands committed a nameless crime? Now is the time for him to run, faster than storm-swift horses. In full armor Apollo son of Zeus leaps upon him, with the fire of the lightning. And in the murderer’s track follow dreadful unfailing spirits of vengeance. The word of Apollo has blazed out from snowy Parnassus for all to see. Track down the unknown murderer by every means. He roams under cover of the wild forest, among caves and rocks, like a wild bull, wretched, cut off from mankind, his feet in pain. He turns his back on the prophecies delivered at the world’s center, but they, alive forever, hover round him. The wise prophet’s words have brought me terror and confusion. I cannot agree with him, nor speak against him. I do not know what to say. I waver in hope and fear; I cannot see forward or back. What cause for quarrel was there between Oedipus and Laius? I never heard of one in time past; I know of none now.(31-32)”
The chorus is asking whoever killed Laius should leave before being found and killed as it says here “Now is the time for him to run, faster than storm-swift horses. In full armor Apollo son of Zeus leaps upon him, with the fire of the lightning. And in the murderer’s track follow dreadful unfailing spirits of vengeance.”(pg.31-32 chorus: line 4-8) Here it says that Zeus and Apollo will punish the murderer , so the murderer better run away from the gods.
The chorus also says the murderer is hiding somewhere and Apollo made sure we know that he wants us to find him by any means necessary , as it says here “The Apollo has blazed out from snowy Parnassus for all to see. Track down the unknown murderer by every means. He roams under cover of the wild forest, among caves and rocks, like a wild bull, wretched, cut off from mankind, his feet in pain.”(pg. 31-32 chor...