August 3, 2001

Learning to Roll With 'Oedipus'

By BOB BLAISDELL

I prepare them for Sophocles from the first week, when I distribute the syllabuses. "And there, you see, in the seventh week, we'll read and talk about a play called Oedipus Rex."

"What's it about?"

"A man who kills his father and sleeps with his mother."

There is a pause. Then Wayne says, "No, professor, really."

"It really is."

"That's sick!" But the way Wayne says this is not without interest -- that is, "That's sick, but possibly very

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