Oedipus The King Compare And Contrast Essay

Oedipus and Herakles were two of the greatest ancient Greek heroes to ever live. They are famous for having saved many people but learn, in the course of their respective plays, that without conscious intent they have committed terrible crimes. They were both prophesized to have a burdensome future before or after their births and they rely on these fates to predict the outcome of their lives. The two scenes, lines 1298-1530 in Oedipus the King and lines 1121-1419 in Herakles, depict the aftermath of the two tragic events and how the characters were effected by them. Although Herakles was greatly changed by his tragedy, Oedipus had a truly life altering crisis. Following the murder of his wife and children, Herakles is put in a deep sleep by Athena. Upon waking, his step father Amphitryon shows Herakles what has happened to his family. He is confused at first, not remembering what he had done in his madness, but soon discovers that he has committed this horrendous crime. He is thrown into a deep depression and wants to take his own life. “Let me thrown myself off a cliff or drive a sword through my liver or burn the scandal out of my flesh with fire!” (Lines 1125-1127). He is obviously very emotional and hysterical about this incident and takes full responsibility for his actions, he even considers paying the ultimate price; taking his life. He …show more content…
Both wanted to take their own lives but they knew that killing themselves would be a dishonorable and despicable death. Although Herakles was greatly changed by his tragedy, Oedipus had a truly life altering crisis. At the start of the play he believes he is the son of the King and Queen of Corinth, married to the beautiful Jocasta, his wife. By the end of it, he's the son of the King of Thebes, Laius, whom he murdered, and both husband and son of