Chapter Synopsis of Oedipus Rex - Study Guide by Sophocles

he broke into terrible lamentations. He goes on to narrate how Oedipus took a brooch from Jocasta's dress and blinded himself with it by piercing his eyeballs many times.

1297-1530: second kommos and final scene (exodus)

The chorus and Oedipus talk about his act of blinding himself. While the chorus say that being dead is better than to live blind, Oedipus is convinced that he took the better of the two choices. For being blind, he does not have to face his father or mother beyond the grave with seeing eyes and at the same time he cannot see his children or city with his own eyes while he is alive. He reviews some of the crucial moments in his life, which culminate step by step in the fulfilment of the oracle. Creon enters and proves himself a true friend and an upright character. For he is not mindful of the unjust accusations that Oedipus had previously thrown at him. He shows pity and listens to Oedipus' reminiscent groans. Creon insists that Oedipus enters the house and does not yet go to the mountains, where he was exposed as a child and where he will go into exile later on in his life. Meanwhile Oedipus' two daughters, Ismene and Antigone, have been lead in on Creon's order and Oedipus laments about their hopeless and cheerless future. Oedipus and the children are finally led off the stage by Creon and the chorus ends the play with a moral advice: that no man shall ever enjoy his present happiness too much until he has carried it to his grave.