“In Greek tragedy the consequences of personal integrity and/or discovering the truth are often equally fatal.”
Throughout my study of Greek tragedies, it has become evident that the plot will always be a sad and deplorable one. My study of the ancient Greek dramatist Sophocles has proved just that. Before Sophocles’ time, dramatists wrote tragedies three at a time. He in fact broke this practice by writing single plays that stood alone as dramatic units. As Dr. Michael Hinds stated in a lecture, “In portraying his characters, Sophocles raised irony to high art, making the characters unwitting victims of fate or their own shortcomings”, which I believe is an accurate description of his work as the reader somehow already presumes a tragic ending …show more content…
In real life I suppose he might. But we are not entitled to blame Oedipus either for carelessness in failing to compile a handlist or for lack of self- control in failing to obey its injunctions” (Dodds, E. R. “On Misunderstanding the 'Oedipus Rex'.” Greece & Rome, vol. 13, no. 1, 1966, pp. 37–49. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/642354.)
Fate cannot be avoided because it is already set in stone, that being said, could Oedipus have gone to extreme measures in order to bypass such a horrid destiny? Perhaps, but going down the line of mythological stories, the lives of people lay in the hands of the gods and it was not questioned or challenged. Oedipus was destined to do the unthinkable; kill his Father, marry his mother and cause a plague.
As the story progresses, it dawns on Jocasta that Oedipus is in fact her son and she tries to cover up the truth which he imminently discovers. The ironic part about the whole play is the fact that Oedipus believes he is making all the right moves in a bid to avoid his fate whilst all along setting himself up for the horrific outcome and consequently the tragic ending to many.
“OEDIPUS
See, for this crown the State conferred on …show more content…
Oedipus the King. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2010. Print.)
Admittedly Oedipus was only reacting as anyone would upon hearing such words but nevertheless he lives in denial and accuses Creon of bribing Teiresias. The ending of the play is no doubt an unfortunate one as the truth unavoidably comes to surface. Jocasta, not being able to face the truth, kills herself. Oedipus, in a fit of despair gouges his eyes out and begs to be exiled from Thebes.
Conclusion
With regards to both Antigone and Oedipus Rex, it is appropriate to say that in Greek tragedy, the consequences of a character’s personal integrity and also discovering the truth has proved to be equally fatal. Undoubtedly, stubbornness and pride cause the downfall of even the most dignified humans. On one hand Antigone has such respect and loyalty for her brother that she would go to such lengths in order to see that he was treated with respect, although, on the other hand her stubbornness sought that she would defy the divine laws in order to do so. From beginning to end, Oedipus’ fate was set in stone but in hopes to avoid such a fate, he went to extreme measures which proved futile.
Even the most admirable traits such as loyalty and pride can lead to the result of
Throughout my study of Greek tragedies, it has become evident that the plot will always be a sad and deplorable one. My study of the ancient Greek dramatist Sophocles has proved just that. Before Sophocles’ time, dramatists wrote tragedies three at a time. He in fact broke this practice by writing single plays that stood alone as dramatic units. As Dr. Michael Hinds stated in a lecture, “In portraying his characters, Sophocles raised irony to high art, making the characters unwitting victims of fate or their own shortcomings”, which I believe is an accurate description of his work as the reader somehow already presumes a tragic ending …show more content…
In real life I suppose he might. But we are not entitled to blame Oedipus either for carelessness in failing to compile a handlist or for lack of self- control in failing to obey its injunctions” (Dodds, E. R. “On Misunderstanding the 'Oedipus Rex'.” Greece & Rome, vol. 13, no. 1, 1966, pp. 37–49. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/642354.)
Fate cannot be avoided because it is already set in stone, that being said, could Oedipus have gone to extreme measures in order to bypass such a horrid destiny? Perhaps, but going down the line of mythological stories, the lives of people lay in the hands of the gods and it was not questioned or challenged. Oedipus was destined to do the unthinkable; kill his Father, marry his mother and cause a plague.
As the story progresses, it dawns on Jocasta that Oedipus is in fact her son and she tries to cover up the truth which he imminently discovers. The ironic part about the whole play is the fact that Oedipus believes he is making all the right moves in a bid to avoid his fate whilst all along setting himself up for the horrific outcome and consequently the tragic ending to many.
“OEDIPUS
See, for this crown the State conferred on …show more content…
Oedipus the King. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2010. Print.)
Admittedly Oedipus was only reacting as anyone would upon hearing such words but nevertheless he lives in denial and accuses Creon of bribing Teiresias. The ending of the play is no doubt an unfortunate one as the truth unavoidably comes to surface. Jocasta, not being able to face the truth, kills herself. Oedipus, in a fit of despair gouges his eyes out and begs to be exiled from Thebes.
Conclusion
With regards to both Antigone and Oedipus Rex, it is appropriate to say that in Greek tragedy, the consequences of a character’s personal integrity and also discovering the truth has proved to be equally fatal. Undoubtedly, stubbornness and pride cause the downfall of even the most dignified humans. On one hand Antigone has such respect and loyalty for her brother that she would go to such lengths in order to see that he was treated with respect, although, on the other hand her stubbornness sought that she would defy the divine laws in order to do so. From beginning to end, Oedipus’ fate was set in stone but in hopes to avoid such a fate, he went to extreme measures which proved futile.
Even the most admirable traits such as loyalty and pride can lead to the result of