Going to her and undoing the rope, Oidipous lets her body down. He is beside himself and yet still purposeful as he pulls out the pins that clasp her clothing about her body; he seems to undress her, a strange and horrible twist, for this might previously have been the prelude to intercourse between them. Now, however, the memory of intercourse brings excruciating pain, not only to him, but to the audience as it is made to appreciate how in hindsight a deed may seem dreadfully inappropriate when at the time it was performed with enthusiasm and confidence. [Mpei] [Mw] [Md] [Apc]