Oedipus Rex is also known as Oedipus the King is a famous tragedy written by the Athenian philosopher, Sophocles. The first play of this tragedy was performed during 429 BC. It has been regarded by many scholars as the masterpiece of Greek tragedy. This tragedy is just part of the trilogy of Oedipus' story. The first part is Oedipus Rex, followed by Oedipus at Colonus, and the final part is Antigone.
The story follows Oedipus, the king of Thebes who seeks an advice from an Oracle regarding the plague that is destroying Thebes. Oedipus is then informed that the plague is caused by religious pollution. The religious pollution was caused by the murder of the previous King who was not yet avenged and brought to justice. The plot revolves around Oedipus searching for the murderer of the previous King. He seeks help from a blind prophet named Tiresias, the blind prophet then tells Oedipus that there is no need to search for the murderer, since, Oedipus himself is the murderer and the person whom he is seeking. Enraged, Oedipus thinks that Creon, his servant, to be the one behind this. He then mocked the blind prophet for being blind and the prophet told him that he is blind as well. The prophet then leaves muttering the description of the murderer. A murderer of his father and son and husband of his mother. The story then escalates, as Creon was about to be persecuted but was fortunately stopped. The tragedy goes on and on as Oedipus uncovers the truth and a dark secret that he never knew about. He was the one who murdered his own father, he was also the same person that fell in love with a woman and made love to her, only to be revealed later that it was his mother. What the blind prophet said to him was true and Oedipus was in great despair, at the end of the story he also went blind which was also prophesied.
Now to answer the question, why the Chorus is confused in the First Stasimon and about what they are confused?
In the first stasimon, where Oedipus seeks the advice of the blind prophet, the chorus was confused by the accusations made by the blind prophet Tiresias towards their King Oedipus, they could not fathom the possibility of him being the murderer of the previous King. The chorus has trembled in fear and confusion, which was also felt by Oedipus as the blind man gave those accusations. They could not believe and refuse to believe the accusations made by the blind prophet. They were not sure whom to believe in, since, during those times, prophets are considered as emissaries of the gods, and they would not give false accusations and were not wrong about anything because they have the guidance and wisdom of the gods. Their feelings were conflicted due to their respect towards their current King, Oedipus. They do not believe such accusations but their feelings are confused and conflicted.
