Receiving confirmation that Polybos is dead, Iokaste calls him “Oidipous’s father,” thereby revealing that she does indeed take the news to have bearing on the prophecy that Oidipous must kill his father, but it only reminds the audience that Oidipous’s father was long since killed by his son. Her error confirms that her project is at cross-purposes to that of the god, and since she is now making the same false assumption all along made by Oidipous, namely, that Polybos was his father, her error reflects on his life’s project as well; it has been based on an assumption that is not only false, but inexcusable, because he had reason to doubt it. Just as Iokaste, despite having just prayed for the god’s assistance, cannot control her joy at the unwarranted thought that prophecy has again shown itself to be wrong, and just as she prays for Apollo’s help but never sees herself as working in any sort of partnership with him, so Oidipous—or anyone who in a moment of need turns to the god for support—has always failed to understand that the relationship goes both ways; it is a partnership in which each party must accommodate the other. The mortal partner must presume the god to be acting and speaking in good faith. His prophetic utterance must always be presumed to offer a contribution to mortal wellbeing; it must neither be ignored nor shunned. It must not be run from but towards. Mortals must view even seemingly dire oracular responses as an opportunity to improve matters for themselves. [Ad] [Dnc] [Mw]