Oidipous has previously made mention of his children, though without giving any particulars. Yet they are well known to the audience, for they are the focus of earlier plays by Aeschylus (Seven Against Thebes) and Sophocles (Antigone). [Gm] When Oidipous speaks of his “male children,” then, the audience will think of Eteokles and Polyneikes, who kill one another in single combat outside one of Thebes’ seven gates. One will be given a hero’s burial, while the other will at Kreon’s decree be left unburied. Their sister Antigone will not abide this disgraceful treatment of her brother’s body; so strongly will she feel her duty to him that she will accept any consequence, even death, rather than fail to fulfill her obligations to her family. Oidipous only shows his ignorance of the future, then, when he suggests that Kreon need not worry about his sons. And yet he should be worried about their future, if he were to bear in mind the Oracle’s mention of the race (or generation) “unbearable for men to see” (ll. 791-2). It appears, then, that Oidipous is not now carefully reconsidering every word said to him by the Oracle; he is more concerned with what Kreon might say and do. His regard for the god and prophecy is still woefully inadequate. His impiety is stubbornly resisting improvement. [Mpei] [Mi] [P] [Mpea] [Mw]