Oedipus The King Symbolism Essay

After reading and analyzing Sophocles’ ancient work during freshman year of both high school and college, it is apparent that Oedipus The King is the second work in a trilogy that focuses on a Theban ruler named Oedipus, his hamartia, and his tragic fall from power. Thebes is ridden with plagues and is terribly cursed by the gods due to the death of the former king, Laius (Yeckley). The use of symbols can be found throughout the entirety of Sophocles’ Oedipus The King. Symbolism is when an author uses the method of ambiguous suggestions and insinuations to imply or make reference to more important and meaningful aspects of their work that may not be easily understood (Yeckley). The work is laced with details that actually stand for, represent, and are meant to allude to different things. The implementation of these symbols within Oedipus The King aids in moving along the plot and adds depth to the story while providing the audience with connections to make as they progress in their reading. Some of the major symbols that Sophocles has made use of in Oedipus The King include vision and blindness, the swelling of Oedipus’s feet due to his injury, and crossroads or a place where paths meet. These concepts are presented in the story to make reference to something greater.
The most important and most important symbol
This story is told largely in part through the use of the literary device of symbolism. These symbols and representations add to the quality of the work and also allow it to have a deeper meaning. Without these symbols, the play would be lacking substance and certain ideas that Sophocles wanted to convey would not be clear. For example, if Sophocles did not place the murder of Laius at a crossroads, the emphasis on the importance of fate presiding over human decision would be entirely lost. The incorporation of symbolism plays a major role in the success of this