Final answer:
The assembly of people in Oedipus Rex are grieving and seeking divine and royal help due to a plague ravaging Thebes. They believe this plague is divine punishment for a past crime, the murder of the former king. As Oedipus saved Thebes before, they seek his help again.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the Greek tragedy, Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, the assembly of people are grieving and seeking help from the gods and their ruler, Oedipus, due to a terrible plague that has struck the city of Thebes. The plague has resulted in famine, infertility, and death, causing intense suffering among the people. The Priest of Zeus speaks on behalf of the assembly, as he is considered the intermediary between the gods and humans. The people believe that their suffering is a result of divine punishment for an unresolved crime - the murder of the former king, Laius. They ask Oedipus for help as he had previously solved the riddle of the Sphinx, saving Thebes from its tyranny.
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