As Oidipous now emergences again from his palace and advances onto the stage as he did in the opening scene, he is responding not to prayers but to accusations. He comes not to serve the people but to confront the would-be usurper. He is seen not as a man of god-like abilities but a man of uniquely mortal limitations. Just so, as he reads Kreon’s facial expression, he relies upon the mask of appearance rather than knowledge of his character, and whatever it is that Oidipous reads on that mask is in error—a projection of his own false assumptions. [Mpea] Kreon has shown himself to be neither brash nor daring but offended and concerned. He has come manfully and astutely to the palace to address the false accusation against him. A capacity for brashness seems better to describe Oidipous; it is he who begins the exchange by flinging invective at his brother-in-law. [Md] Oidipous’s unjustified self-righteousness puts the mask of unseemly power upon his own face. [Mg]