Read the following dialogue from Oedipus the King, Part II:

Question

Chorus. You have chosen a painful path.
It were better to be no more than to live in darkness.
Oedipus. No! What I have done is right. You cannot change my mind.

Which best explains why Oedipus insists that he has done the right thing by putting out his eyes?
A. He wants to salvage something from the tragedy for his children
B. He believes he must atone for his crimes before he dies
C. He hopes the Thebans will take pity on his blindness
D. He cannot save Thebes without making a sacrifice
Part B
Which of the following lines of dialogue from Part II best supports the answer to Part A?
A. Oedipus. I have sinned against them both. To hang myself would not wash clean that sin.
B. Oedipus. Cithaeron, why did you keep me safe . . . why did you not kill me?
C. Oedipus. You were the silent witnesses to my crime. You drove me here to save the city.
D. Oedipus. The decision was made . . . death to the father-killer, the murderer. I am he.

Answer 1

For Part A, the best explanation for why Oedipus insists that he has done the right thing by putting out his eyes is:

B. He believes he must atone for his crimes before he dies.

Oedipus feels a deep sense of guilt and responsibility for his actions, particularly regarding the crimes he committed without knowing their true nature.

For Part B, the line of dialogue that best supports the answer to Part A is:

A. Oedipus. I have sinned against them both. To hang myself would not wash clean that sin.

This statement directly reflects Oedipus's belief in the need for atonement and the weight of his guilt, reinforcing the idea that he feels the need to confront his actions rather than escape them.