When Oidipous says, “I’m bad at learning” he again uses the word κακός, a common word to be sure, but in the context of this play strongly associated with his ignominy in relation to the commitment to fulfill his responsibility to the god (declared at l. 77). His self-description “bad at learning” might suggest to the audience, however, that just as he presently seems to be reacting with unnecessary vehemence to Kreon’s most reasonable request to be given a proper hearing, he has similarly reacted with unnecessary vehemence to other similar requests. This criticism cannot bear on his response to the god’s instructions pertaining to discovery and punishment of Laios’ killer, for in this matter Oidipous is being as cooperative and attentive as he promised to be. He has been anything but “ignominious” or even simply “remiss.” On what occasion, then, or in what regard has Oidipous failed properly to listen to the god? Certainly, he has been brusquely dismissive of Teiresias, whose prophetic speech he rejected out of hand, while the audience knows that the those statements were both in keeping with the truth and echoed the prophecies that play a signal role in Oidipous’s life. To these prophecies Oidipous’s present characterization, “bad at learning,” may inadvertently pertain. It must be the god, then, again making use of double entendre to point the audience’s attention to an inadequate or inappropriate response to prophecy. Wherein lies the shortcoming? In his response to Teiresias, Oidipous is altogether dismissive, presumably because he is so thoroughly convinced of his own innocence. [Gd] [Mpea] [Mi]