Treachery In Oedipus The King

Jennifer Francois

Dr.Beitchman

The story Oedipus the king was written by Sophocles. This play was one of the greatest tragedies of all time. Oedipus Kinds of Thebes once was praised by priest and the people of the city. The plague was struck by the people of Thebes grew sick. When the people of the Thebes, (described as the chorus) went to the priest for help, they all turned to Oedipus for their salvation. Oedipus sought for answers by sending his best man Creon to Apollo the Oracle of Adelphi. Once questioned what he was going to do about this plague, Oedipus replied to the people of the city with answers. When Creon returns, he tells Oedipus that the plague is cause by the person who killed Liaus. Creon also stated that the killer
lived within the city walls. Stunned of what he heard, Oedipus pursued to take revenge on the late king. Angry on such tragedy Oedipus questions Creon real story.
Scared and unsure of what fate has cast upon the city, the people searched for answers.
Oedipus called for a blind prophet named Tiresias. Tiresias knew who the murder is, but wish that he didn’t tell. Oedipus then questions Tiresias intentions for being in his presence. Was it an act of treachery? Oedipus thought. After Oedipus questions Creon and the Tiresias’s motive, Tiresias then slowly tells Oedipus about a future of blindness and wandering. Jocasta, Oedipus wife tries to advise him to disregard the prophet and his fate, Oedipus stressed sought out to find such man. Oedipus called upon the people of the city to report such man who killed the late king Laius. Determine to find the truth his cursed himself blind. (Line
265).
Oedipus finds out that he is the antagonist and Jocasta the queen is his mother. Realizing he has unlocked his twisted fate he runs back to his palace. Then to find his mother, his wife hanging on a noose for she has committed suicide was a tragedy indeed. Knowing that her prophecy was true Oedipus tries to rescue he lifeless body (Line 1340) and then poke his eyes making him blind. Begging Creon to kill him, Oedipus leaves exile from the city of Thebes.
To conclude, the story of Oedipus the King described Oedipus fate which was to kill his father and marry and have children with his mother. However, it was his freewill that led him to this fate. His arrogant, aggressive, and stubborn personality pushed him right down a path that complied directly with his pre-intended fate. I admire for Oedipus for as a strong character to protect the city he once fought for he had cursed himself. Even though he was hinted by the prophecy, he wanted to avenge the late King Laius. Although unraveling his fate cost him his Wife/mother and his own blindness, he found his answer. I feel sorry when Oedipus discovers his mother hanging herself in the palace. It was almost in shock for as she did not want his fate to come out.
The story of the Iliad has been astonishing. Filled with aggression, Love and Drama, the author creates excitement by starting in the middle of an epic story. Agamemnon takes the daughter of Chrysies and then releases her once the priest prays to Apollo to send plague against the Achaeans. Starting off in the middle of the Trojan War, Agamemnon and Achilleus battle Greek against Trojan. Agamemnon a strong powerful Greek takes Achilleus prize Briseis. Even though Achilleus gives her up, he becomes so enraged that he refuses to fight any more. That and he prays to his mother, Thetis, who happens to be a Sea Nymph, to pull some strings with the other gods so that the Achaeans will start getting defeated in battle and realize how much they depend on him. When Achilleus cries out to his mother Thetis, she gives him a choice. Achilleus could either to live a long life shameless or a short with glory. Thetis she felt her son sorrow. With Thetis requesting her son’s wishes to win honor for him, she waits to Zeus god of gods to come back to olympos. The next day in the morning, the author vividly describes Thetis form as she emerges from the sea waves to find to find Kronos as speak to him.
(Line 496-500) Thetis requested the Trojans to win to create honor for Achilleus as she did a favor for Zeus before. As read in the book Iliad, a lot of body language was used vividly to express Zeus and Thetis communication. For instance (line 528-530), Zeus nodding his head as a secret code to Thetis saying yes because he was going against his wife who favored the Greeks. Also in book 22, the death of Hektor was theatrical. Within a few lines as the reader I understood hector’s
thoughts. Using internal monologue I had a better understanding of what hector was thinking. Athena tricks Hektor into believing that he will have help against Achilles. Trying to fight Achilles the leader of the Greeks army Hektor mom pleads for him not to battle Achilles. She expresses her love for him by telling him how she used to lay his head upon her breast to comfort him. (Line 80-85) Although Zeus is tempted to save him his daughter Athena doesn’t allow it. Athena disguised as his ally Deiphobus convinces Hektor that he could beat Achilles. Hektor tries to make Achilles promise to treat his body with respect if he dies. With Achilles furious he refuses. Only to betray him, Achilles hits him with a spear through his throat. Hektor slows dies and begs Achilles to return his body to his family for a proper burial but Achilles refused his request. Achilles only returned his body to the Trojans and let the dog’s scavenger his remains.
To conclude, in the book Iliad which included tragedy between the falls of the Trojans, there was much room for empathy from Achilles mother was expressed her sorrow from her loved son. I also felt sorry after Hektor died he left his wife Andromache and the King Priam to witness the devastation.