Unraveling the Riddle of Oedipus Study Guide PITTSBURGH PUBLIC THEATER’S STUDY GUIDE Oedipus the King by Sophocles Translated by William Butler Yeats September 28 – October 29‚ 2006 TABLE OF CONTENTS SOPHOCLES Sophocles’ Life 3 Works by Sophocles 4 THOUGHTS FROM THE DIRECTOR 5 OEDIPUS THE KING Synopsis 6 Characters 7 Glossary 8 The Translator 9 Themes 10 The Riddle of the Sphinx 11 ANCIENT GREECE Daily Life 12 Why Ancient
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The Greek tragedy Oedipus Rex by Sophocles demonstrates the theme of free-will versus fate. Theme is the central or dominating idea of a work. Through the character‚ actions‚ and subsequent downfalls of Laius‚ Jocasta‚ and Oedipus‚ Sophocles shows how free-will is limited. Firstly‚ as Oedipus is the tragic hero of this play‚ he must possess a characteristic that leads to his downfall and for Oedipus‚ that flaw is his hubris. When told by Teiresias‚ the blind prophet‚ that “those clear-seeing eyes
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Oedipus Oedipus Rex written by Sophocles provides readers with a tragic tale of mystery. In Oedipus’ quest to search for the murderer of the slain king‚ Laius‚ whose death has brought disdain to the land of Thebes‚ Oedipus begins to unravel a whole new mystery altogether‚ the mystery of his life and origins. In the crumbling city of Thebes‚ the citizens have sought out the help of Oedipus because of the death of their king‚ Laius. They believe that the murder of Laius is what has brought the
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the tragic Oedipus and the absurd Sisyphus. Yet while the story of Oedipus had been adapted 2000 years ago to a tragedy by the Greek writer‚ Sophocles‚ the myth of Sisyphus is known for its interpretation by 20th century French author‚ Albert Camus‚ who gave the myth its title of the absurd. The distance of time between the two‚ accounts for a difference in the generations’ opinions and beliefs‚ separated by modern science and technology as well as by time itself. The play‚ Oedipus Rex‚ which is
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because of their fate or their choices or their fate. In the story Oedipus Rex there is a character named Oedipus whom through out the story has things happen to him. Some people say it’s because of his faith. Other people say it’s because of his actions. Most people say it’s because of his actions. For starters‚ Oedipus’s problems are because of his actions. For example Oedipus thinks too highly of himself as a king‚ he believes everyone
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aware of his reality. In both Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex and Franz Kafka’s Metamorphosis this method is used in order to create an ironic world for their hero‚ where neither Oedipus nor Gregor are fully informed of their tragic standing in their world. The use of dramatic irony in both of these works of literature is what leads to the main character’s tragic end. In the Metamorphosis‚ Gregor never finds out the truth‚ arousing pity for the audience‚ while Oedipus does‚ which makes Frank Kafka’s novel even
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Oedipus Rex – Key Quotes OPENING SCENE – TONE‚ LOCATION AND EXPOSITION The action takes place in Thebes in front of the royal palace OEDIPUS: the city fills with incense‚ chants‚ and cries of pain? PRIEST: For our city‚ as you yourself can see‚ is badly shaken—she cannot raise her head above the depths of so much surging death. Disease infects fruit blossoms in our land‚ disease infects our herds of grazing cattle‚ makes women in labour lose their children.
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Wisdom is so often thought as a gift that many people overlook how it can also be a curse. Teiresias‚ a character in Oedipus Rex by Sophocles‚ is an Oracle that is miserable with the wisdom he holds. Oedipus‚ the king of Thebes‚ solves the riddle of the Sphinx to obtain the throne. Now the king is trying to find out who is responsible for the plague. However‚ Teiresias knows that Oedipus is searching for himself. Teiresias believes that his wisdom does not profit him because he is miserable; I agree
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Another flaw of Oedipus that leads to his self-destruction is his excessive self-pride. He made it his mission to find the killer of Laius in order to end the misery that the plague in Thebes caused. He was sure of himself that he will save the land‚ ironically not realizing that he is the one at fault. He sees himself as being all mighty since he presumably escaped his fate. He was able to save Thebes from the Sphinx so he thinks history can repeat itself and he can be a hero ones again for his
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Elements of Drama Drama is a display of emotions‚ a representation of relationships and the portrayal of the different phases of human life. It sketches different personalities and represents a wide variety of emotions through the different characters it portrays. Which of its components are identified as the elements of drama? Let us see. Aristotle‚ a philosopher who wrote on a variety of subjects like poetry‚ theater‚ music‚ rhetoric and handled subjects like biology‚ physics‚ logic and politics
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