Reading questions for OedipusThe dramatic purpose of the prologue is to place the audience at the center of the action with as little friction as possible. All the information to continue and understand the work is placed at the beginning called the prologue. It's very similar to the reverse scrolling at the beginning of the Star Wars films. Oedipus considers himself very similar to the parent of Thebes. He knows he has a natural benevolence in him to be a good king and have an overall concern for the people of Thebes. He believes it is his duty to take care of the people when there is so much suffering in his country. His point of view is somewhat accurate in that he cares for the people of Thebes and it is out of the goodness of his heart but at the same time, we know that he killed the former king and is therefore the source of the problems. it is here in this specific section to provide the audience with a clearer summary of the introduction. Since it's not a dialogue, it might be easier to understand. In this specific Parados, the choir reiterates to the audience the fact that the Theban people are suffering as if there were a curse placed on the country. The farmers “cannot bear the grain,” the women “cannot bear it,” and there is a plague “burning” throughout the land. Many ironies are inserted into Oedipus' speech that foreshadow what the audience should grasp. During his speech he explains that "he was uninvolved in the crime" but in reality he himself was the perpetrator of the crime. Oedipus also invites the people not to "let [the criminal] remain silent: he will have his reward from me". This threat is a macabre foreshadowing of Oedipus' future self-mutilation. When you turn to the unknown killer... middle of paper... let yourself be fooled by them again. A fitting punishment for mocking a blind prophet. Creon tells Oedipus that his life must not be lived as before. He must respect God's laws. He tells Oedipus to "not allow this pollution to manifest itself openly here." He must hide his lack of respect for the Laws as quickly as possible. Even if he has “lost respect for the dignity of man, he at least respects the flame of Lord Helios.” This lesson shows that all his life he had followed the laws of the gods and did not worry about them. It is for this reason that his downfall is the way it is. The chorus uses the final bars of the play to teach all men a lesson. Never think that luck is something that is simply given. Never count on life and everyday life. Oedipus took his knowledge for granted and in his search for the truth ruin befell him.