Oedipus the King

In Oedipus Rex, the eponymous character attempts to thwart an oracle and in doing so unleashes tragedies far worse than he could have imagined. The suffering that King Oedipus unleashes upon the city of Thebes, Jocasta, and ultimately himself helps establish the play’s tragic vision about the inevitability of fate as well as the negative consequences that arise when one tries to outwit the gods and their oracles. When applied to Oedipus, Northrop Frye’s statement, “tragic heroes are so much the…

Drama Paper: Oedipus the King and A Dollhouse `There are many characteristics that go into creating a good tragedy. A tragedy, in Aristotle 's view, “arouses the powerful emotions of pity and fear, and, through the experience of the drama, bring about a “proper purgation” or purification of these emotions” (1028). According to Aristotle, there are many characteristics that a tragedy will contain, such as: the “representation of a single major action” (1029), “appropriate diction and song”…

to all people even if they possess the ability to "see". People tend to avoid realizing the truth or completely understanding a situation. In Oedipus the King, Sophocles uses blindness as a motif by making Oedipus blind through his refusal to see the prophecy has come true, while Teiresias' physical blindness allows him to realize or “see” the truth. Oedipus begins his life with the prophecy that he will kill his father in order to marry his mother, he will later go on to have kids with her. He…

Through the play Oedipus The King, irony is a key factor to understanding the humor of the play. The use of irony helps the reader discover what kind of person Oedipus is. By using irony it helps readers better understand Oedipus’ stubbornness to learn about his past and that in the end nothing good comes out. Many examples are used in the story to show irony. He talks about Creons' message, and Jocastas' conversation with Oedipus to help reveal the dramatic and situational irony hidden in the…

messenger informs Oedipus that Polybus is dead and his reaction to this isn’t normal. Jocasta said, “Yet this news of your father is wonderful”(Sophocles 51). This quote shows that Oedipus doesn’t care much about his “father’s” death. It was great news to Oedipus because Oedipus didn’t kill his “father”, so Oedipus believes and tells people that there was no way he could have killed Laius. These actions show that Oedipus is very selfish and only cares about himself. Also, Oedipus said, “You dare…

others. In Oedipus’ case, that was from the beginning of his time. As a young man, Oedipus was living the life of royalty and never really knew anything otherwise. Growing up in this kind of lifestyle shaped the way Oedipus viewed himself and interacted with others. Expressing attributes like excessive pride, overconfidence, and lack of judgement, Oedipus paves the way for his own destruction that affects not only him but those around him. In Oedipus Rex, Sophocles shows the character Oedipus’…

In Oedipus the king by “Sophocles” the main idea of fate and freewill is represented heavily. Basically everyone has a destiny they will undoubtedly fulfill. It doesn’t matter how you reach your destiny as long as it is met. It all started when Oedipus’ parents heard his destiny was to kill his father, so they sent him to a mountain to die at only 3 days old. He was chained to the ground to ensure he did not survive. This is an example of free will. His parents tried to defy what was destined…

In the play "Oedipus the King", written by Sophocles, Oedipus seeks to cure his land of the plague. To that end, he sends his brother-in-law Creon to find the answer to do so. While on his journey Creon met a blind prophet who told him about the man who killed Laius. The prophet told Creon that the son of Laius was the killer and that the son was also to go on to marry his mother. After meeting with this prophet, Creon goes back to meet with Oedipus and tell of his findings. As time passes…

In the Oedipus the king play irreverence is reflected toward the gods. Many of the characters are indifferent about them and push their prophecies aside. They would try to change their fate but end up suffering and with the prophecy that they dreaded coming true. Many say that the play is a warning about the gods and how we are great, but the gods are greater, but could have Sophocles really been trying to show us his dislike towards the gods? He shows us what the gods are truly like and how…

is considered a victim of free will. Free will is regarded as the potential to choose, form opinions and to act voluntarily. In this case of study, Oedipus Rex,written by Sophocles, translated by Dudley Fitts & Robert Fitzgerald, Oedipus, is the author of his own free will and is not a victim of fate. Not under any oppression of the deities, Oedipus is a young protagonist that stirs himself into trouble by his self-determination and his independence to do what he pleases. It is determined that…