Midterm Paper Rough Draft

“The theme of a play is an abstract concept which part or all of that play is “about.”

In David Ball’s, Backwards and Forwards, he explains that the theme of a play is abstract, it is not always meant to mean something, and it is “an artistic expression meaning in and of itself.” Themes of a play can sometimes come forth because of the actions in a play. Ball also, stated that to know the theme of a play one must know the plot first, the actions of the play should spell out the theme clearly if the play is done right. The theme need not be what the audience first knows but it should be the last thing that they look at. Therefore to understand the theme of free will versus fate we must explore the plot or actions of Oedipus.

The beginning of Oedipus starts with Oedipus declaring a decree to find out why the city is being plagued with disease. Creon informs him that the city starting feeling the effects of the plague after King Laius was murder. Upon hearing of this Oedipus is set on finding the murderer of Laius so he can banish him from the land or kill him or sacrifice him to the Gods, do anything to get the pollution out of his land. Oedipus seeks out the blind Prophet Teiresias for guidance on who the murderer is of the previous King. Teiresias does not want to share his knowledge to Oedipus because he knows that Oedipus would not believe it, the prophet then provokes Oedipus bringing forth his temper and in riddles tells Oedipus, he is the murderer of Laius. This continues to anger Oedipus accusing him to be in league with Creon to steal the crown from him and he continues to insult the old man causing Teiresias to share with him the prophecy,

“I tell you, king, this man, this murderer

(whom you have long declared you are in search

of, indicting him in threatening proclamation

as murderer of Laius)—he is here.

In name he is a stranger among citizens

But soon he will be shown to be a citizen

true native Theban, and he’ll have no joy.

of the discovery:...