http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090105.WBTheatre20090105184323/WBStory/WBTheatre/

Strongest images for me were Dirce’s death and the line “the city eats itself”

Question- I already asked Ned this…more back story about the sown men. I really want to read the two plays that preclude Laius.

Sorry for the brevity.
see you all in an hour!
Claire

Throughout the cycle several stories are repeated. The origin of Bacchus is retold several times. In ‘Jocasta’ for example, the friend retells the story to comic effect when it becomes clear that everyone has heard it before. The repetition of stories serves to remind the audience of the events that occurred in earlier plays and to set up events that will resonate within the context of those stories. In Oedipus the repetition of stories actually drives the plot. The main project of all the characters is to determine what happened all those years ago to Laius. Through the retelling of stories that project comes closer and closer to resolution. When the captain publicly tells of what really happened on the day the king was killed it arouses the suspicion of the other characters. By calling into question the official story with the captains account it allows the search for truth to continue. The shepherd also repeats the story of the leg bound prince further damming king Oedipus And queen Jocasta. The repetition that occurs in this play is not merely used to provide a frame of reference to the audience but is central to the plot and it’s resolution.

Although the unnamed are not necessarily the same character from play to play they do share similar characteristics. The most easily identifiable of these recurring characteristics occurs in the character of Bowl, (this may be due to the fact the bowl has been read almost exclusively by the same actor throughout our readings). Bowl is the most boisterous of the unnamed. His love of wine, (or ambrosia), permeates his character. Although he enjoys a stiff drink he also has characteristics of warmth, generosity and hospitality. He never seems above sharing a drink with even the most disagreeable characters, (so long as the wine is plentiful). Of course his love of wine takes a rather morbid turn in Oedipus when it is implied that he has been robbing graves for the wine within.
The character of Blood also has specific characteristics from play to play. Blood knows his place and is cautious not to step out of it. He is always the first to warn the other unnamed off when they have had a bit too much to drink and start speaking before they think. Blood is a survivor. He does not want to rock the boat. He would much rather suffer quietly and do what is expected of him and is frustrated when others put him in a position where he cannot do that.

The elements of time and space are essential in ‘Jocasta’ to build tension throughout the play. The element of space manifests itself in the use of the three leveled playing areas. When action is happening in two or more areas we can see a contrast between the feelings, worries and attitudes of the unnamed versus the royals. The use of time in conjunction with the spatial elements of the play offer a suspenseful aura that consumes the city of Thebes. The best example of these two elements coming together happens near the end of act one. The short scenes that occur in rapid succession between the royal apartment and the tavern present to the audience the ever intensifying authoritarian rule of Liaus. We see the desperation in both the common folk and the queen with the disintegration of life in Thebes. This cross actioning intensifies the information the audience is being presented and is essential to the misery that is felt at the end of act one.

The use of story telling to bring about a characters specific goals is best exemplified by the Captain. Upon his return the captain tells of how the kings party was waylaid by robber and despite a valiant effort the king was killed. With fresh wounds to back up his story the captain is forgiven for his failure and cared for. Despite the official story being robber the captain eventually has to admit what really happened to the Friend when questioned about the inconsistent nature of his wounds. The captain and his men knowing the disgrace of finding their charge dead on the road concocted the whole story in order to save face upon returning home. The faith they had in the story was so great that some of his men actually died to support its legitimacy. Another example of story telling to achieve a desired goal occurs when Oedipus meets the unnamed. Being a stranger to the town and wanting to ease the discomfort of the townspeople in fraternizing with royalty of any kind Oedipus tells of how his father, the king of Corinth, resolves disputes justly. By displaying how Corinthian royals behave in contrast to the tyrannical Theban king, he succeeds in pleasing the townspeople and being accepted by them. He later tells the same story to the royal court and in much the same way succeeds in appeasing their suspicions.