In expressing the view that all occurrences appear “fair” (καλά) at the right moment (καιρῶι), Kreon predicts that the time will come when even Oidipous might appreciate the wisdom of being made to wait for the results of a new consultation. [Mipd] The audience, however, should already see that Kreon’s cautious approach will cost Oidipous little and benefit Thebes a great deal. Indeed, Oidipous himself declared early in the play that he suffered more for his people than for himself (ll. 64-5), thereby implying that he would willingly take on additional personal suffering if it meant that Thebes would suffer less. [Md] That Oidipous embraces the idea of sacrifice for the greater good at one moment and resists at another suggests, however, that self-determination is of greater importance to him than the town’s wellbeing. In order for him to realize the wisdom in Kreon’s judgment, he would have to give up his insistence on being the arbiter of every significant decision. This applies to Athens, whose similar attraction to self-determination has occluded its appreciation for the advantages of submission to a higher power. [Gt-a] Athens denies the wisdom of submitting important decisions to Delphi. [Mip] The gods’ awareness of necessity, however, renders them unable to accept such a state of relations between themselves and mortals, and so they will intervene with the means at their disposal (e.g., plague) to prevent civic endeavors from coming to fruition in season (καιρῶι). Play on the word “season” in Kreon’s comment prophesies that the time will nevertheless come when the benefit of acting in accordance with instructions from the god will be made manifest to all. [Gd] [Mpea] [Mw]