PART II
(For Cast see centre column)
THE background of the story is this :
King Laius, the husband of Jocasta, and father of Oedipus, was told by an oracle that his death would be brought about by his own son. When Oedipus was born, 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. Oedipus, 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 and, all unknowing, killed him in a quarrel. He goes to Thebes, and is given the kingdom by Creon (Bass-Baritone), brother of Jocasta, who, unknown to Oedipus, is his mother. Her he marries.
ACT 1. 1
At the beginning of the Opera the people beg Oedipus to free the city from pestilence. He promises to do so, and consults Tiresias (Bass), the blind soothsayer. This oracle tells him 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. The Act ends with a chorus of the people, who acclaim Jocasta.
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 ? Oedipus with horror begins to realise the horrible truth of his position and relationship.
A Messenger (Bass-Baritone) comes telling of the death of Polybus, King of Corinth, Oedipus' adopted father, and saying that Oedipus was not really Polybus' son. A Shepherd (Tenor), who accompanies him, brings out the truth-that Oedipus is the son of Laius and Jocasta.
Soon the Messenger re-enters to tell howJocasta, on hearing the dread news, hanged herself, and Oedipus put out his eyes. The Chorus closes the work with a sad song of farewell.