Sophocles - Oedipus Journal # 3

Who speaks to which gods and what does the connection suggest? How does Sophocles use metaphors and symbols? What do characters believe about the gods' role in society?

The main god that the people of Thebes talk to is Apollo. All the focus and praying is to Apollo and they always consalte his oracle at Delphi. The people and the chorus are not the only ones who pray to the gods Jocasta also expresses a desire to pray to the gods in a time of trouble when Oedipus is finally coming to terms with what he did. The prophet Teiresis and the Oracle at Delphi seem to have acloser relationship to the gods and so people seek their council for help.

"triple shield against death..." (185). This metaphor is used to convey that the gods are very real and can interact with people by using this meatphor of Apollo steping in with a sheild and protecting his people.

The character in the society that the gods are their to help them but they are also a large part of their trouble because tehy spite them for evil or to test them with prophecys and that they can curse a persons life to misserable.