In the plays The Cure at Troy and How I Learned to Drive, issues with the body are the driving forces that define the course of each of the plays. In these plays we encounter principal characters who suffer from injuries and dissatisfaction with their bodies being the sources of both physical and emotional pain. Therefore, the basis of this essay is to show how in both plays, The Cure at Troy and How I Learned to Drive, the principal characters who suffer from issues with their bodies are vulnerable to “predators” who want to take advantage of them. In the play The Cure at Troy, Sophocles presents us a tragedy about pain and suffering through Philoctetes.…
For more than 2,500 years, Sophocles was one of the greatest playwrights, and his work continues to be studied. His two plays, Oedipus Rex and Antigone, are part of the Oedipus Cycle of plays. Oedipus Rex, the first play featured in the Oedipus Cycle, reveals the past of the main character, Oedipus. As a baby, Oedipus was meant to be killed to avoid a prophecy. Instead, he grew up to unknowingly murder his father, Laius, and marry his mother, Jocasta.…
The play Antigone by Sophocles presents a case of the conflicting perspectives between the protagonist and the antagonist. The contrasting notions are evident regarding religion, duty, country and family. The contrasting views are occasioned by the sense of pride among the characters who believe their stance to be right as compared to the attitude of the other. However, the play partly promotes some of the conflicting perspectives while it also leaves the audience to choose on the stances to promote. To enable the reader to make a decision, it is observable that the perspectives taken by the two characters have dire consequents.…
Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex flawlessly demonstrates Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero through the protagonist, Oedipus. As required, the character exhibits errors of judgement, reversal of fortune due to such judgement, and acknowledgement of their self-inflicted misfortune. In addition, Oedipus exhibits extreme pride and receives a fate much colder than deserved. Shortly into the play, Oedipus reveals his hamartia, or flaw in judgement, when he refuses and mocks the advice of the blind prophet after it’s not to his liking. “You have no power or truth.…
Sophocles, was a playwright about 2,500 years ago, who specialized in writing about Greek tragedies. In Sophocles’ plays, Oedipus Rex and Antigone, the main characters Oedipus and Creon, are both found in a position of power as the ruler of Thebes. Oedipus, who has been doomed by a prophecy, finds out that his wife is truly his mother and the person he killed on the roadway is really the King, and his father. Creon, who is Oedipus’ uncle, takes the throne after Oedipus leaves Thebes due to his mother committing suicide and Oedipus blinding himself. Creon becomes King, and is seen as a very strict ruler.…
Antigone Essay Sophocles’ perplexing play illustrates a heroic journey of the leading protagonist, Antigone. In the play, Antigone suffered through a heartache after she lost her brother Polyneices in war. The ruler, Creon passed a decree that whoever buries Polyneices will die. Family and authority are common themes and misconceptions in the play Antigone. When comparing the essential themes of family and authority, Creon and Ismene characterize the theme of authority, while Antigone and Haemon value family.…
Sophocles is an Ancient Greek tragedian. Sophocles was born during 496 B.C in Colonus in a village close to Athens. Sophocles was an original Greek boy from a wealthy family. Sophocles was born a few years before the battle of marathon. The exact year of his birth is unknown.…
As the great Martin Luther King, Jr. once said “Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.” Martin Luther King, Jr. and Sophocles both had the same idea of selfishness causing destruction Sophocles just wrote a play displaying that idea instead of saying it. In Antigone the famous play written by Sophocles, Antigone and her sister Ismene also Oedipus’s children decide to return to Thebes with the intention of helping their brothers, Eteocles and Polynices to avoid the fate that displays they will kill each other in a battle for the throne of Thebes. But upon her arrival in Thebes, Antigone learns that both of her brothers are dead. Eteocles has been given an…
A Leader’s Effectiveness There are many traits that make a leader effective, but not every leader has the same level of effectiveness on his/her people. In Sophocles’ Antigone and Oedipus the King, Oedipus and Creon are both seen as effective leaders; however, Oedipus was the most effective King of Thebes because he cares about his citizens, is responsible, and he is respected by the citizens of Thebes. An effective leader displays sympathy for his/her people and genuinely cares about them. In Oedipus the King, Oedipus shows empathy towards the citizens of Thebes when he says, “But my spirit grieves for the city, for myself and all of you” (Sophocles lines 75-76).…
My fellow Thebans, I am here today to justify Antigone’s actions in burying her brother. As I stand here and profess my feelings, I hope you can imagine yourself in Antigone's shoes. Many believe Eteocles was a traitor for starting a war on this country, and did not deserve to be buried. Antigone is being taken as a traitor for burying her beloved brother.…
Once Oedipus was out of the picture so many things have happened over time. Creon becomes the new king of Thebes after both princes have died. Eteocles and Polyneices were killed by each other's hands and only Eteocles was given a proper burial. There is a new law that is being enforced: No one shall bury the traitor Polyneices, anyone who buries Polyneices will be punished. Antigone hears the new law but, she immediately acts on it.…
Sophocles is best known for his work in what is referred to as The Theban Plays. The last of these plays Antigone, is one well worth noting as a literary work and does an effective job of wrapping up the story of what happened to Oedipus and his family. The tragedies that take place within it are great in number and always developing. Antigone takes place…
Oedipus the King was written by Sophocles, who was famous drama writers in ancient Athens in fifth century B.C.E. Sophocles held the idea of the unity and close relationship of society and the governor of the state. He described Oedipus as a king who feels responsibility for his people’s future, for homeland and he is ready to find a resolution that can help to stop the plaque in Thebes. Sophocles tries to show the human desire to control their own life by their own accord. Sophocles believed, even though a person cannot avoid the troubles “predicted by the gods”, but the cause of these problems is the nature of the person, which is shown by the person’s actions.…
The Island written by Athol Fugard, John Kani, and Winston Ntshona draws numerous parallels from Sophocles’ Antigone. Firstly, the roles are played by men. Secondly, the characters of the play denounce apartheid by performing this piece similar to how Antigone defies the law by burying her brother. Lastly, Winston shares parallels with Antigone. The story line and characters of The Island draw copious amounts of parallels from Sophocles’ Antigone.…
Oedipus Rex and 21st Century World The story of Oedipus Rex written by Sophocles is a tragedy. This story reveals a lot of truths not only Oedipus has to deal with, but all of humanity. He faces a great deal of pain and suffering much like there continues to be pain and suffering in today’s society.…