In Greece, tragical plays were popular amongst the citizens for their love of literature. A famous writer, Sophocles, produced several plays himself such as Oedipus the King. This theatrical piece mainly illustrated the struggles between the main character, Oedipus, and his inevitable fate. Upon being abandoned as a child, he was never aware of the imposing truth that would soon bring destruction to him and to all the people of Thebes. Moreover, the emotions that were exhibited throughout the play were greatly affected by the literary techniques used by Sophocles. Recurring objectives that are displayed will have a role in representing the meaning of the prophecy. Also, the simplest of details will give an explanation for the foretold future.
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The old man, Teiresias, is indeed blind, but he is very knowledgeable about Oedipus’s past. While Oedipus continues arguing with Teiresias, he asks the king, “Do you know who your parents are? A deadly footed, double striking curse, from father and mother both, shall drive you forth out of this land, with darkness on your eyes” (487 - 489). Seemingly, since Oedipus does not wish to discover the events of his own life, Sophocles uses Teiresias to foreshadow that Oedipus could be the murderer of King Laius. When Oedipus was just three days old, he was abandoned by his father in fear of his own son killing him based on the prophecy. As Oedipus is taken in by Polybus, he was never aware that they were just his adoptive parents and continues to marry Jocasta and kill King Laius without even knowing it. Correspondingly, Oedipus’s ankle injury will also be a sign of foreshadowing. With a sudden eagerness to discover his true parents, Oedipus speaks with the messenger in which he explains that “your ankles should be witnesses...the tendons of your feet were pierced and fettered...So that from this you’re called your present name” (1171 - 1179). Through this, Sophocles uses Oedipus’s ankle injury as a harbinger of foreshadowing because Oedipus in Latin literally means “swollen foot”. The fact of using Oedipus’s name as a reference goes to show how the simplest of detail can reveal such a major part …show more content…
Symbols gave details a more profound meaning that will provide clues to the revelation of the characters. By using various textual indications, the truth of the prophecy could be indirectly stated, but at the same time adding emotion and tension to the story. With that, Sophocles’s theatrical performance has not only develop to a more relatable level but also contain fundamental influences. Fate is said to be unavoidable as so exhibited through Oedipus; he was given a fate and the choices he made were probably bound to happen, but it was his destiny depending how he chose to make of it. In context, what can’t be changed should be accepted, but what could change should be
The old man, Teiresias, is indeed blind, but he is very knowledgeable about Oedipus’s past. While Oedipus continues arguing with Teiresias, he asks the king, “Do you know who your parents are? A deadly footed, double striking curse, from father and mother both, shall drive you forth out of this land, with darkness on your eyes” (487 - 489). Seemingly, since Oedipus does not wish to discover the events of his own life, Sophocles uses Teiresias to foreshadow that Oedipus could be the murderer of King Laius. When Oedipus was just three days old, he was abandoned by his father in fear of his own son killing him based on the prophecy. As Oedipus is taken in by Polybus, he was never aware that they were just his adoptive parents and continues to marry Jocasta and kill King Laius without even knowing it. Correspondingly, Oedipus’s ankle injury will also be a sign of foreshadowing. With a sudden eagerness to discover his true parents, Oedipus speaks with the messenger in which he explains that “your ankles should be witnesses...the tendons of your feet were pierced and fettered...So that from this you’re called your present name” (1171 - 1179). Through this, Sophocles uses Oedipus’s ankle injury as a harbinger of foreshadowing because Oedipus in Latin literally means “swollen foot”. The fact of using Oedipus’s name as a reference goes to show how the simplest of detail can reveal such a major part …show more content…
Symbols gave details a more profound meaning that will provide clues to the revelation of the characters. By using various textual indications, the truth of the prophecy could be indirectly stated, but at the same time adding emotion and tension to the story. With that, Sophocles’s theatrical performance has not only develop to a more relatable level but also contain fundamental influences. Fate is said to be unavoidable as so exhibited through Oedipus; he was given a fate and the choices he made were probably bound to happen, but it was his destiny depending how he chose to make of it. In context, what can’t be changed should be accepted, but what could change should be