Which lines from “nefarious war,” by li po, best express the theme of the poem?
a)“oh, nefarious war! i see why arms /
were so seldom used by the benign sovereigns.”
b)“our three armies are worn and grown old.”
c)“last year we fought by the head-stream of the so-kan, /
this year we are fighting on the tsung-hoo road.”
d)“our three armies are worn and grown old.”

What is the significance of the above statement in relation to the play’s conclusion? oedipus treats his inferiors poorly but ultimately grants them the same respect he grants to nobility. while teiresias appears to be mocking oedipus, the real message is one of warning about the forces working against the king. oedipus earns great fame for answering the riddle of the sphinx but ultimately loses his crown to a common man. just as oedipus is unable to conceive that he has done wrong in the past, he is unable to imagine that his enviable position is impermanent.