Oedipus Rex
Journal Project for Oedipus Rex
1. What is the effect of Oedipus' insistence and promises regarding the hunting down and punishing of the murderer of Laius? What does this suggest concerning his character as well as the meaning of Sophocles' play?
Sophocles a Greek poet and a writer was famous for his tragedies. All of his plays and tragedies consisted of a very distinctive style called dramatic irony - a situation of drama which is understood by the audience but not grasped by the characters in the story. This not only brings suspense and tension in the play, but it also makes audience feel that they are a part of the play.
The play begins with an invocation a convection commonly used in Greek literature where in the beginning of the epic, a formal plea for aid is called which serves to state the epic's subject and theme. In the beginning of the play, a plague had stricken the city of Thebes which caused a prodigious amount of life-loss. Oedipus a respectable and an effective ruler decides to find a way to end the plague. By consulting the oracle of Delphi, Oedipus learns that the plague is the result of the anger of God Apollo. The murderer of King Laius was dwelling in Thebes and was still not convicted for the crime.
Leaning of this, Oedipus responses by promising the subject of Thebes that he will strive to hunt down and punish the murdered of Laius. Oedipus said, "As for the criminal, I pray to God whether it be a lurking thief, or one of a number- I pray that that man's life be consumed in evil and wretchedness. And as for me, this curse applies no less if it should turn our that the culprit is my guest here, sharing my hearth." pg(316). This dialogue invokes that Oedipus is not only strict and a determined ruler, but he is also an unbiased person who treats matters with objectivity. This is a perfect example of verbal irony in which a character's dialogues have ambiguous and double meanings. In this quote, Oedipus is unknowingly
1. What is the effect of Oedipus' insistence and promises regarding the hunting down and punishing of the murderer of Laius? What does this suggest concerning his character as well as the meaning of Sophocles' play?
Sophocles a Greek poet and a writer was famous for his tragedies. All of his plays and tragedies consisted of a very distinctive style called dramatic irony - a situation of drama which is understood by the audience but not grasped by the characters in the story. This not only brings suspense and tension in the play, but it also makes audience feel that they are a part of the play.
The play begins with an invocation a convection commonly used in Greek literature where in the beginning of the epic, a formal plea for aid is called which serves to state the epic's subject and theme. In the beginning of the play, a plague had stricken the city of Thebes which caused a prodigious amount of life-loss. Oedipus a respectable and an effective ruler decides to find a way to end the plague. By consulting the oracle of Delphi, Oedipus learns that the plague is the result of the anger of God Apollo. The murderer of King Laius was dwelling in Thebes and was still not convicted for the crime.
Leaning of this, Oedipus responses by promising the subject of Thebes that he will strive to hunt down and punish the murdered of Laius. Oedipus said, "As for the criminal, I pray to God whether it be a lurking thief, or one of a number- I pray that that man's life be consumed in evil and wretchedness. And as for me, this curse applies no less if it should turn our that the culprit is my guest here, sharing my hearth." pg(316). This dialogue invokes that Oedipus is not only strict and a determined ruler, but he is also an unbiased person who treats matters with objectivity. This is a perfect example of verbal irony in which a character's dialogues have ambiguous and double meanings. In this quote, Oedipus is unknowingly