How we cite our quotes: (Line)
Quote #1
OEDIPUS. When He pronounced those many evils to me,
He also said that, after a long time, this should be a resting place;
That I would come to a final country, where I should find
A seat of the solemn gods and a refuge for strangers (87-90)
Apollo “pronounced” Oedipus’ fate to him, explaining that he would suffer a whole bunch of evils but that he would also arrive to a resting place that would make the end of his life a little more comfortable. Oedipus accepts this because he believes it’s his fate, and the hope of the refuge gives him strength through the evils; it's like his light at the end of the tunnel.
Quote #2
ANTIGONE. Oh strangers, you whose minds are full of reverence,
You cannot abide
My old father, because you have heard
Of his involuntary deeds! (237-40)
Antigone defends Oedipus against the Chorus, who think he’s pretty awful because he murdered his father and married his mother. She brings up the subtle point that he didn’t know that his father was his father and that his mother was his mother, questioning the role free will should (or shouldn't) play when it comes to holding people responsible for their crimes.
Quote #3
OEDIPUS. [. . .] And yet how am I evil in my nature,
I who suffered and then retaliated? Even had I acted
Wittingly, even so I would not have been evil!
But I, knowing nothing, came where I came,
Yet those from whom I suffered were knowingly trying to wreak destruction! (270-74)
Oedipus joins in Antigone’s defense, pointing out that when he killed his father he was acting in self-defense and he didn’t know it was his dad. So he’s double justified. It’s hard to understand why he is so accepting of his fate when he had absolutely no free will when it came to committing his so-called crimes.