The most common theory for the actions of Oedipus in his story is the Oedipus complex‚ theorized by Freud. In the story Oedipus‚ it was his fate to marry his mother and have children with her‚ and kill his father. The Oedipus complex says that this must happen at a young age. However‚ this complex doesn’t apply to Oedipus‚ because of the different circumstances in which these actions occurred. Freud’s theory on the Oedipus complex is that it is the childhood desire to sleep with the mother and kill
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Oedipus’ Gratification Famous author C.S. Lewis once said: “A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and of course‚ as long as you’re looking down‚ you can’t see something that is above you.” This quote correctly authenticates Oedipus’ tragic flaw in the Greek tragedy Oedipus Rex by Sophocles. Beyond other factors‚ Oedipus’ pride through out the story blinds him from seeing many things that eventually lead us to believe his prevalent tragic flaw of all was his pride. First‚ Oedipus
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Through analysis on the play Oedipus Rex by Sophocles‚ I found that my understanding was deepened by my knowledge of major themes shown through Sophocles’ use of symbolism‚ paradox‚ and setting. This led to a deeper understanding regarding existentialism and man’s pursuit for knowledge itself. During a discussion on symbolism‚ Oedipus’ fate was linked to a quote by Randy Pausch: “We cannot change the cards we are dealt‚ only how we play the hand.” One of the themes Sophocles makes prevalent throughout
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Analysis “Oedipus the King”… Hunter‚ Plowman‚ and Sailor-Helmsman Throughout the play “Oedipus Rex”‚ the main character Oedipus has a number of different character traits throughout the play. His out-look on the stories situation evolves as he begins to learn the truth about who he really is. Oedipus takes on the characteristics of a hunter as well as becoming the hunted; he is a sower yet also the seed‚ and a sailor-helmsman of the city. Each of these images has their own significance. Oedipus first
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Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex that “if [Oedipus] was to avoid heinous pollutions‚ he must make for himself two unreadable rules; never to kill an older man; and never to marry an older woman.” This is a highly unfair assessment of Oedipus’ character‚ and expects too much of any human. Oedipus’ innocence is shown in the fact that he was ignorant of his true origins‚ he was only human‚ and he was subject to fate. According to Polybus and Merope‚ Oedipus was their son. One cannot blame Oedipus for his misguided
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that is associated with impending doom. One such example is found in the tale of Oedipus Rex‚ the tragic hero of Thebes who is destined to kill his father and marry his mother. Oedipus learns that in attempting to run away from the prophecy‚ he fulfills it instead. After blinding himself in shame‚ Oedipus bemoans to his friends that “my measure of ills fills my measure of woe; Author was none‚ but I” (Sophocles 47). Oedipus laments the fact that he was the one who authored his fate as he tried to run
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In Oedipus Rex the character of Creon serves as a foil to Oedipus. An individual who is the foil of another provides contrast. Creon is portrayed as a rational‚ ethical‚ and dutiful leader who represents the need for a stable society. All the while Oedipus is portrayed as a rash‚ unreasonable‚ and overly confident king‚ who is constantly trying to keep up with his unavoidable fate. Creon says that he doesn’t want to rule alone as sovereign of Thebes. He prefers the power sharing arrangement that
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Oedipus Throughout the course of time‚ the definition of the word "tragedy" has changed significantly from what the word originally meant when the Greeks were writing their famous plays. The word has gone from meaning "A drama or literary work in which the main character is brought to ruin or suffers extreme sorrow‚ especially as a consequence of a tragic flaw‚ moral weakness‚ or inability to cope with unfavorable circumstances‚" to the modern meaning of the word‚ "a lamentable‚ dreadful‚ or
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Okonkwo and Oedipus are two different people from two different cultures‚ but they are both tragic heroes. In the stories‚ Okonkwo and Oedipus are very important people and rules in their society. Granted‚ Okonkwo does not rule alone and Oedipus did. Like true tragic heroes they have a fall from grace. For one of the two‚ the fall drives him to his death. Both of these men were leaders of their community. Even though Okonkwo didn’t rule by himself‚ he was still a very important man to his tribe
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Various works of literature contain characters who embody the elements of the classic Oedipus Complex‚ that of a son with an undue and unhealthy attachment to his mother. D.H Lawrence’s Sons and Lovers‚ along with other early modernist works‚ shows how a son’s bond to his mother can lead to that character’s major downfall. Even earlier than works of the late 19th Century does the Oedipus Complex appear‚ in this case‚ William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Shakespeare’s play
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