Oedipus Redeemed

Seeing through Listening

Kalman J. Kaplan

• Publisher: Resource Publications
• Year: 2019
• ISBN:
  9781532671968
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Jewish Theology

An initial play,Oedipus in Jerusalem,related the narrative of Nathan, the biblical prophet, encountering the blinded Oedipus wandering alone outside of Thebes. Nathan brings him to Jerusalem to be tried at the Jewish Sanhedrin.The Greek playwright Sophocles is the prosecutor, and Nathan serves as the defense attorney. Oedipus is acquitted, but herefuses to accepthis acquittal,shouting,"I am guilty! I am guilty of patricide and incest."Oedipus Redeemedfocuses on Nathan and Sophocles combining forces to present Oedipus with two dialogues of historical/biblical characterswithin the play. The first contrasts the suicide of the GreekZeno the Stoic after a minor mishap with the life affirmation expressed by the biblical Job after monumental losses. This is designed to uncover the possibility that Oedipus is experiencing shame rather than guilt (after all, he did not commit suicide until after he blinded himself). Nathan and Sophocles focus on the secondary psychological benefit Oedipus has receivedfrom insisting on his guilt, and on his coming to terms with the fact that he had blinded himself needlessly if he was innocent. The second dialogue between thebiblical prophetess Judith and the blind Greek seer Teiresias focuses on the biblical story of Samson being betrayed by "following his eyes." Insight is contrasted with sight. Oedipus's surviving daughter Ismene reunites with Oedipus, telling him she loves and needs him. The play ends with Oedipus's return to the Sanhedrin, tentatively and tearfully accepting his acquittal.

Acts and Scenes

Act I: Oedipus Rejects His Acquittal

Scene I-1: The decision of the Sanhedrin

The Sanhedrin is reconvened. Oedipus is ungagged.

THE AV BET DIN: I have received a note from the Sanhedrin that they have arrived at a verdict. Is this correct?

SPOKESMAN FOR THE SANHEDRIN: We have. We would like to offer our verdict and the reasoning behind it.

THE AV BET DIN: What is your verdict?

SPOKESMAN FOR THE SANHEDRIN: We find Oedipus not guilty of the murder of his father because he acted in self-defense. We find Oedipus not guilty of incest because he did not know that the woman he married and impregnated was his mother. Therefore we judge that Oedipus lacked the mental state of specific intent which is required for the offense of incest. Oedipus did not know who his natural father and mother were.

THE AV BET DIN: Do you then not find Oedipus guilty of any crime?

SPOKESMAN FOR THE SANHEDRIN: Only one act, Adoni, an act he has not been accused of.

THE AV BET DIN: If he has not been accused, this court cannot find Oedipus guilty, and no punishment can be assessed.

SPOKESMAN FOR THE SANHEDRIN: We understand this, Adoni. Yet this act is so destructive, we must comment on it.

THE AV BET DIN: And what is this act?

SPOKESMAN FOR THE SANHEDRIN: Oedipus’s taking out his eyes. The prohibition against self-injury occurs in Deuteronomy 14:1 in our Holy Torah. “Ye are the children of the Lord your G-d. You shall not cut yourself nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead.”

THE AV BET DIN: The Sanhedrin will note this. The Sanhedrin finds Oedipus not guilty of murder or incest, yet expresses its dismay and horror over his self-mutilation. The trial of Oedipus is completed. The Sanhedrin is adjourned.

OEDIPUS (continues to shout): I am guilty! I am guilty! I am guilty of patricide and incest. I am a pollutant, the worst of the worst.

Scene I-2: Oedipus leaves the courtroom in great distress

Oedipus leaves the courtroom in great distress. He rips off the rag loosely lying around his mouth and pulls at the rag around his eyes. He is walking aimlessly with Nathan following him.

NATHAN: Oedipus, why are you so distraught? You have been acquitted by the highest court of Judea.

OEDIPUS: I am guilty of everything with which I was charged.

NATHAN: But the Sanhedrin found you not guilty .

OEDIPUS: I am guilty.

NATHAN: But the Sanhedrin found you not guilty.

OEDIPUS: How can I be not guilty? I murdered my father and committed incest with my mother

NATHAN: But you were entrapped.

OEDIPUS: Stop spewing such nonsense. Don’t you see? I murdered my father and slept with my mother.

NATHAN: But you didn’t know who your father and mother were.

OEDIPUS (howling): Stop it! I am the worst man that ever lived. I murdered my father and bedded my mother. I am the worst of the worst, and the acts I performed are unpardonable.

NATHAN: But you didn’t know. You were trying to avoid doing these acts. You did not know who your true parents were. You were raised by foster parents, the King and Queen of Corinth, and when the Oracle of Delphi told you were destined to kill your father and marry your mother, you tried to avoid doing this by running away to Corinth.

OEDIPUS: Did I kill my father and ...

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Acknowledgements
• Foreword
• Preface
• Characters, Acts, and Scenes
• Costumes
• Acts and Scenes