Oedipus: A Tragic Hero Oedipus Rex‚ or Oedipus the King is Sophocles ’s first play of "The Theban Cycle." It tells the story of a king that tries to escape his fate‚ but by doing so he only brings about his downfall. Oedipus is a classic example of the Aristotelian definition of a tragic hero. Aristotle defines a tragic hero as a basically good and noble person who causes his own downfall due to a flaw in his character. Oedipus is a man of noble blood; his parents‚ who raised him as a child
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Tessa Garibaldi November 15‚ 2012 Mr. Stoner English 10 Lit. (H) Oedipus Rex: Analysis of Story and Criticism Throughout the play Oedipus Rex written by Sophocles I‚ readers notice that identification of characters is crucial. In Oedipus Rex‚ Oedipus is the King of Thebes when a plague is brought upon his community. He sends Creon‚ his brother-in-law‚ to identify the origin of the plague. In doing so‚ he discovers that the reason is because a murder has been committed that has befouled the
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universal plot of Oedipus the King resonates a perfect tragedy. Sophocles’ implementation of anagnorisis and peripeteia enhances the idea of irony in the play and introduces a major theme. Catastrophe adds the aspects of hamartia and hubris‚ along with the element of irony. The well-constructed plot arouses the emotions pity and fear‚ and achieves the tragic catharsis. Sophocles implements these three different aspects well in his plays‚ which supports the statement of Oedipus being a perfect tragedy
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One of the main underlying themes in Oedipus Rex is blindness. Not just physical blindness‚ but intellectual blindness as well. The blindness issue is an effective contrasting method for Oedipus at different points in the play. Simply saying "blindness"‚ however‚ is a little ambiguous. It can be broken down into two components: Oedipus’s ability to "see" (ignorance or lack thereof)‚ and his
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King Oedipus Journal Notes a) Oedipus (characteristics / character study) King Oedipus is likewise a saviour. He does not die; he suffers‚ however on behalf of the people‚ a terrible and symbolic agony. He is impetuous and short-tempered. Intelligent‚ as shown in his following statement‚ “I‚ ignorant Oedipus‚ came-/ And stopped the riddler’s mouth” (37) Oedipus says. King Oedipus is a tragic hero. He has a Christ like character. King Oedipus is blinded by his pride and ignorance
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Oedipus Rex Questions The Prologue (p5-12) 1. Where does the play take place? 2. Which character begins the play? 3. What is Oedipus’s attitude toward the suppliants seeking his help? 4. What does the priest ask Oedipus to do? 5. What has Oedipus already done? 6. Who is Creon? 7. What is the message from the oracle of Delphi with which Creon returns? 8. What prevented Thebes from tracking down the murderer of Laius at the time the murder occurred? 9. What does
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Oedipus The King Fate and justice are determined by a higher power rather than by random chance. In Oedipus the King by Sophocles‚ fate and justice are an important factor throughout the play‚ in which every character questions the idea of fate and justice but ends up believing it at last. Oedipus illustrates the role of a tragic hero because in the beginning of the play he is considered a great and powerful king but as the story progresses he meets his downfall and discovers that he killed his
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Teiresias vs. Oedipus The play Oedipus Rex by Sophocles tells about a man who is blind to see his own fate. The King goes through many different hubris acts leading up to the reason why he is blind. Throughout the play many different people try to tell Oedipus what’s happening but he doesn’t want to believe it. Oedipus was given away as a baby‚ and raised by another King and Queen. Oedipus grew up and killed his father and became King of the city. This caused him to be wed to his mother. Eyes
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Hubris in Oedipus Rex Many people of Thebes believe Oedipus is a man with great power but sometimes he doesn’t use it with great responsibility. Throughout the story of Oedipus Rex Oedipus likes to believe he has great power and can do whatever he wants but sometimes he goes insane with power. Oedipus is arrogant many times throughout Oedipus Rex but three main parts when he does is when he lets the town know he solves the Sphinx’s riddle‚ searches for the killer and tells Tiresias what to do. Oedipus
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throughout Oedipus‚ stemming from Oedipus’ vehement quest to find out Lauis’s murderer‚ and his fate that is foreseen by the seer Tiresias. In addition‚ Oedipus’s constant search for the truth‚ and his unwavering to ability to not heed to the warnings constantly given to him by Tiresias and Creon. Oedipus’ supposed “sight” in the play and his coexisting “blindness” are both inherent to the development of Oedipus throughout the play. Sight and blindness are important themes in the play Oedipus the King
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