Oedipus Monologue
Why? Why does this have to happen to me? I, Oedipus, King of Thebes, did nothing to deserve this cruelty. I.. I who saved Thebes from the Sphynx’s evil riddles; I… who led the country… and now this? Such a wicked life I have.
Now, Jocasta, my beloved wife; no, my MOTHER, gave her last breath when faced to this truth. Her body now lies here in her chambers and all I can do is lament. What an incestuous act we have done. My mother… and I… our children… Oh gods. OH GODS! Please forgive me! I never knew the truth. If only I knew the truth.
My father, King Polybus, whose blood never ran into my veins; WHY HAVE YOU LIED TO ME? I had loved you and respected you to the point that I had to exile myself from our land just to save your life….but I was wrong. Your life was not meant to be saved by your false son.
And now, to have known that I murdered my real father is just an act I cannot accept I have done. It was never in my conscious mind that I killed the man whom my flesh and blood connects to.
Oh, Apollo, God of Truth, why only now have you shown me this reality? It is too late for me to fully understand what is real. My eyes cannot stand this any longer.
*stab eyes with a brooch/pin*
My life has to change from light to darkness. This black world of blindness is a refuge. It is better to be in this life of unending night than to see with strange shamed eyes the old world that had been so bright. (Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes by Edith Hamilton p.273)
Audience:
I tell you, all those whose ears have paid attention to me…The truth WILL set you free.. free from the world you believe brings you life… free from the reality you think is perfect.. and free from the life you perceive as true.
Now, Jocasta, my beloved wife; no, my MOTHER, gave her last breath when faced to this truth. Her body now lies here in her chambers and all I can do is lament. What an incestuous act we have done. My mother… and I… our children… Oh gods. OH GODS! Please forgive me! I never knew the truth. If only I knew the truth.
My father, King Polybus, whose blood never ran into my veins; WHY HAVE YOU LIED TO ME? I had loved you and respected you to the point that I had to exile myself from our land just to save your life….but I was wrong. Your life was not meant to be saved by your false son.
And now, to have known that I murdered my real father is just an act I cannot accept I have done. It was never in my conscious mind that I killed the man whom my flesh and blood connects to.
Oh, Apollo, God of Truth, why only now have you shown me this reality? It is too late for me to fully understand what is real. My eyes cannot stand this any longer.
*stab eyes with a brooch/pin*
My life has to change from light to darkness. This black world of blindness is a refuge. It is better to be in this life of unending night than to see with strange shamed eyes the old world that had been so bright. (Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes by Edith Hamilton p.273)
Audience:
I tell you, all those whose ears have paid attention to me…The truth WILL set you free.. free from the world you believe brings you life… free from the reality you think is perfect.. and free from the life you perceive as true.