As the Staffperson opines that the most grievous pains are some distance removed, the audience will understand that this statement’s truth lies in the fact that the greatest damage was done elsewhere and at another time. By this interpretation of the staffperson’s words the suicide is not as damaging as the actions that made it necessary: intercourse with Laios against the god’s explicit instructions, complicity in the death of the infant born to her and Laios with the intent of defeating the prophecy and the god who issued it, and her confidence that, having defeated prophecy once, neither she nor anyone else had anything to fear from it. These actions, the assumptions on which they are based, and the beliefs to which they lead are the more grievous pains, for they bring destruction not only upon self, but upon all those who might be influenced by them. They are toxic. They are capable of polluting an entire community. [P] [Mpea] [Mw]