Greek tragedies have a wonderfully twisted way of hiding thought-provoking topics and ideas in the misfortune of its people. The great tragic playwright Sophocles has done this very deed in his play Oedipus the King. The fate of Oedipus stated in the prophecies is discussed and seen as an unchangeable path. The question to be asked is if he knew more if he gained some higher knowledge would he have a different ending? Using one man's trials; several ideas on the effects of knowledge can be linked. The play Oedipus the King by Sophocles suggest knowledge should be pursued, may be withheld for someone’s benefit, and gaining knowledge may not lead to the expected results.
One thing Sophocles’ Oedipus the King suggests is that knowledge should be pursued. Oedipus …show more content…
In the beginning of the play, Oedipus curses the man he is trying to find. He thinks once restoring peace to the city he would be on a higher pedestal in the eyes of his people. However, a clever foreshadowing of Teiresias’ prophecy of Oedipus’ inevitable fate he comes to a different path than expected. Through dialogue between the chorus and the second messenger the audience is informed that Jocasta has run into her chambers and hung herself and Oedipus had the misfortune of walking in to find her dead. He started to gouge his eyes “shrieking out / such things: they will never see the crime / I have committed or had done upon me!” (Second messenger Part II. lines 1458-1460). Oedipus was not expecting these events to happen when he innocently started out searching for the man polluting the city. Words and actions made before all information is acquired are most likely regretted and end in worse conditions, such as in this case. Although an equal amount of positive results could potentially happen, occasionally after gaining knowledge ‘fate’ could deal a dramatic and different result than first
One thing Sophocles’ Oedipus the King suggests is that knowledge should be pursued. Oedipus …show more content…
In the beginning of the play, Oedipus curses the man he is trying to find. He thinks once restoring peace to the city he would be on a higher pedestal in the eyes of his people. However, a clever foreshadowing of Teiresias’ prophecy of Oedipus’ inevitable fate he comes to a different path than expected. Through dialogue between the chorus and the second messenger the audience is informed that Jocasta has run into her chambers and hung herself and Oedipus had the misfortune of walking in to find her dead. He started to gouge his eyes “shrieking out / such things: they will never see the crime / I have committed or had done upon me!” (Second messenger Part II. lines 1458-1460). Oedipus was not expecting these events to happen when he innocently started out searching for the man polluting the city. Words and actions made before all information is acquired are most likely regretted and end in worse conditions, such as in this case. Although an equal amount of positive results could potentially happen, occasionally after gaining knowledge ‘fate’ could deal a dramatic and different result than first