Sophocles

Alternate Personalities in Oedipus Rex In most current literature, there is a clear division between the protagonist and the antagonist. One is a clear hero and one is a clear villain. However, in Oedipus Rex, this is not true. In Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex, the portrayal of Oedipus as both a hero and a villain impacts the envisioning of the audience as Oedipus, develops the audience members’ emotional bonds toward the character, and creates curiosity about what extent Oedipus deserved his fate.…

The Greek tragedy, Oedipus Rex, written by Sophocles, teaches vital lessons about metaphorical blindness and reveals that society values happiness over truth, no matter what the circumstances display about the realities of life. The play begins with the Priest explaining, “Your eyes see the truth: Thebes is drowning in a deadly sea, is sinking beneath the waves of death” (Sophocles, Page 9). Through his interaction with Oedipus, readers learn that Thebes is being devastated by a plague. Oedipus,…

thinks that the prophet is not saying everything, but really the prophet is saying what Oedipus wants to hear, but Oedipus is too busy yelling at him “Tell us, you villain, / tell us, and do not stand there quietly/unmoved and balking at the issue” (Sophocles 362-364). This shows the audience that even though the prophet is telling him things Oedipus wants to hear more, and only the things that he likes. He also refuses to listen to the things that the prophet has told him because of his fate…

Justice doesn’t come easy to anyone who wants it. For justice to be given, it means a lot of patience and sacrifice. In the ancient Greek story Antigone by Sophocles, Antigone is a strong, young woman who does not abide to ruler Creon’s decision to refuse her brother, Polyneices, a proper burial. The Letter from a Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr. discusses M.L.K.’s desire to end segregation and racial injustice in America for the good of the people. Although these two bold characters…

thinks that he is always right. When his son, Haemon, informs him about his repretation, he replies, “It seems this boy is on the woman 's side” (Sophocles). Instead of listening to how everyone identifies him as the king, his arrogance causes him to say, he is just think like everyone else. Creon then states, “I will make her [city] greater still” (Sophocles). Although things were not going as he plans, and everyone was turning their backs on Creon, his excessive pride still makes him believe…

An Analysis of Antigone by Sophocles The classical play, Antigone, by Greek playwright Sophocles is a testament to issues of morality that have plagued leaders throughout time. In his play, Sophocles comments on issues of death, revenge, kinship, and even remorse. The heavy tone that accompanies this tragedy truly gives readers a sense of depth behind each controversial action in the play. In general, Sophocles defined the quality of each characters through their actions and their reactions.…

issue throughout mankind. In the play Antigone by Sophocles man’s and god's laws also reappears throughout the story. The two types of laws are very different, god’s law depends on faith and man's law can be set by a democracy or a monarchy. Whether one believes in god’s law or man’s these laws keep civil order and peace, but that does not mean that these laws cannot create moral conflict every now and then. In the play Antigone written by Sophocles, the author demonstrates Kohlberg’s moral…

powerful and dominant emotion shown throughout the Greek drama, Antigone, by Sophocles. There are many examples of anger during the play that eventually help to lead to the demise of the ruler of Thebes, Creon. Creon struggles with his anger multiple times throughout the play, such as when Creon said to his niece, “You crawling viper! Lurking in my house to suck my blood! Two traitors unbeknown plotting against my throne.” (Sophocles 395) Creon is fuming at his nieces and making assumptions…

deserved a proper burial and refused to have Creon tell her otherwise. She makes her point very clear when she is speaking to Ismene about her plan when she says, “Ismene, I am going to bury him… Creon is not strong enough to stand in my way.” (Sophocles 2-3) Thoreau states that a just person is someone who defies an unjust government to achieve fairness, and Antigone fighting for her own bloodline’s burial is a perfect example of what Thoreau was saying. Right as Creon came…

Violence can be considered positive, as well as negative. In Oedipus the King by Sophocles, violence occurs throughout the play, and always leaves an important impact. Oedipus finds out the prophecy that Teiresias predicted is true. Jocasta kills herself and Oedipus gouges his eyes out. Through Oedipus’ and Jocasta’s self-inflicted violence, Sophocles suggests that some truths are too difficult to look past. Sophocles uses Jocasta’s suicide to convey the belief that people cannot always…