Oidipous’s description of his daughters as “crouching beggars” might prompt the audience to make a comparison between the present scene and the supplication at the play’s opening. The parallel suggests that the situation for the next generation has not yet improved; if anything its condition is portrayed more bleakly than that of the present generation. A change for the worse suggests that Apollo will not yet have withdrawn or dimished his sanctions, and this in turn suggests that if Athens has not improved its attitudes towards its gods, it will suffer consequences worse than those already predicted. As Athens’ faith in human agency continues to dominate its decision making even after the arrival of war and plague, Athens necessitates the god to continue to work the city’s harm. [Mw] [Mpea] [P] [Aj] [Dn]