THE background of tho story is this: King
Laius, the husband of Jocasta and father of (Edipus, was told by an oracle that his death would bo bought about by his own son When
(Edipus was bom, therefore, Laius sent him away to be got rid of; but the child was taken by a shepherd to Polybus, King of Corinth, who brought him up as his own son. CEdipus, ignorant of his parentage, has been told by an oracle that he will slay his father and marry his mother. Already part of the prophecy has come true, for he has met his father (not knowing him) and killed him in a quarrel. He goes to Thebes, and is given the kingdom by Creon (Bass-Baritone), brother of Jocasta, who, unknown to (Edipus, is his mother. Her ho marries.
ACT I.
At the beginning of the Opera the people beg (Edipus to free the city from pestilence. He promises to do so. and consults Tiresias (Bass), the blind soothsayer. This oracle tells liim that the murderer of Jocasta's late husband, King Laius, is himself a king. The city, he says, can only be freed from the plague if the murderer be banished.
ACT II.
This opens with a repetition of the chorus that ended Act I. Jocasta (Mezzo-Soprano) does not believe in oracles, for did not one predict that her husband Laius would be slain by her son, and was not the king killed by robbers, far from Thebes ? Œdipus with horror begins to realize the horrible truth of his position and relationship.
A Messenger (Bass-
Baritone) comes telling of the death of Polybus, King of Corinth, Œdipus ' adopted father, and saying that CEdipus was not really Polybus' son. A Shepherd (Tenor), who accompanies him, brings out the awtul truth that (Edipus is the son of Laius and Jocasta.
Soon the Messenger ro-enters to tell how Jocasta, on hearing the dread news, hanged herself, and CEdipus put out his eyes. The Chorus closes the work with a sad song of farewell.