In the play Oedipus The King by Sophocles, Sophocles characterizes identities for many different characters that will end up in a conflict. There is one important character that was developed as a tragic hero: Oedipus. His story started off when the city of Thebes was cursed and he sent his brother in law, Creon, to seek advice and assistance from the god of Apollo. Apollo states that the curse will only be lifted if the murderer of the King of Thebes, Laius, is found and prosecuted. Laius was murdered many years ago at a crossroads. Oedipus starts the investigation where he encounters many other characters to seek for assistance. For example, he meets Tiresias, a blind prophet, to seek for help. Although, Tiresias’ power of prophecy only informs
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In episode 1 of the play, the blind prophet, Tiresias, was developed as a character and it described his power of prophecy. Tiresias explains, “Wisdom is a dreadful thing when it brings no profit to its possessor. I knew all this well, but forgot. Otherwise, I would never have come here.” (Page 21) This was stated after Tiresias, characterized as the wise, blind prophet, attempted to inform Oedipus the truth about the murder of Laius. As hard as it was for Oedipus to believe him, Tiresias has the insight of the truth. Tiresias decides to stay silent and protects Oedipus from the full truth. Even if Oedipus isn’t fond of what the prophet is doing and decides to insult him and his power, Tiresias still refuses to speak up. As the Oedipus’ investigation continues, it concluded that Tiresias insight and his power of prophecy was true after all. Oedipus took all the blame of not believing his insight and it ended in the loss of his eyes. To tie it back to personal identity, Oedipus represents the “community” in this context. When being hidden from the insight, his identity is being affected. Oedipus continues to not understand who he isn’t throughout his whole …show more content…
In the play, Oedipus faces many characters to seek for help. There was Creon, Tiresias, the messenger and the shepherd. The thing that was similar between all four of them was that they all had the insight, or at least a part of it, of the truth of Oedipus’ life and who really murdered King Laius. Oedipus, on the other hand, did not have the insight. There was a tough barrier between what he wanted to believe and what was actually true. In episode 4, Oedipus finally sees the truth. He was revealed who he really was this whole time; the murderer of Laius and the one who married his own mother. Oedipus preaches, “It was I who proclaimed that everyone should expel the impious man- the man the gods have now revealed as unholy- and the son of Laius. After I had exposed my own guilt, do you think I could have looked at my fellow citizens with steady eyes…?” (Page 99) As the true insight was revealed to Oedipus, his sorrow believed that killing himself was far too less for a punishment for what he has done. He gouges his eyes out from the robe pins of Jocasta, the ones she was wearing on her dress when Oedipus finds her dead. He feared the truth and felt a strong pity because of all the things he has done. Even when he can’t see, he finally has a true insight of who he is, and it is tragic. This tragedy causes him to take the blame for everything he has done and ends up
In episode 1 of the play, the blind prophet, Tiresias, was developed as a character and it described his power of prophecy. Tiresias explains, “Wisdom is a dreadful thing when it brings no profit to its possessor. I knew all this well, but forgot. Otherwise, I would never have come here.” (Page 21) This was stated after Tiresias, characterized as the wise, blind prophet, attempted to inform Oedipus the truth about the murder of Laius. As hard as it was for Oedipus to believe him, Tiresias has the insight of the truth. Tiresias decides to stay silent and protects Oedipus from the full truth. Even if Oedipus isn’t fond of what the prophet is doing and decides to insult him and his power, Tiresias still refuses to speak up. As the Oedipus’ investigation continues, it concluded that Tiresias insight and his power of prophecy was true after all. Oedipus took all the blame of not believing his insight and it ended in the loss of his eyes. To tie it back to personal identity, Oedipus represents the “community” in this context. When being hidden from the insight, his identity is being affected. Oedipus continues to not understand who he isn’t throughout his whole …show more content…
In the play, Oedipus faces many characters to seek for help. There was Creon, Tiresias, the messenger and the shepherd. The thing that was similar between all four of them was that they all had the insight, or at least a part of it, of the truth of Oedipus’ life and who really murdered King Laius. Oedipus, on the other hand, did not have the insight. There was a tough barrier between what he wanted to believe and what was actually true. In episode 4, Oedipus finally sees the truth. He was revealed who he really was this whole time; the murderer of Laius and the one who married his own mother. Oedipus preaches, “It was I who proclaimed that everyone should expel the impious man- the man the gods have now revealed as unholy- and the son of Laius. After I had exposed my own guilt, do you think I could have looked at my fellow citizens with steady eyes…?” (Page 99) As the true insight was revealed to Oedipus, his sorrow believed that killing himself was far too less for a punishment for what he has done. He gouges his eyes out from the robe pins of Jocasta, the ones she was wearing on her dress when Oedipus finds her dead. He feared the truth and felt a strong pity because of all the things he has done. Even when he can’t see, he finally has a true insight of who he is, and it is tragic. This tragedy causes him to take the blame for everything he has done and ends up