Reaction Paper on Oedipus The King World Literature Oedipus the King‚ also known by the as Oedipus Rex‚ is an tragedy written by Sophocles. It was the second of Sophocles ’s three Theban plays to be produced‚ together with Oedipus at Colonus and then Antigone. Oedipus Rex chronicles the story of Oedipus‚ a man who becomes the king of Thebes who was destined from birth to murder his father Laius and marry his mother Jocasta. The play is an example of a classic tragedy‚ noticeably containing an
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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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Inner blindness and various flaws that Oedipus possesses‚ has caused his downfall and led to his status as a static character. A static character is a character who does not experience a major change throughout a literary piece. Oedipus had numerous opportunities to change his ways but unfortunately‚ never yielded himself to the needed change. Oedipus could have made one different choice and he would have had many different chances to change his ways. Oedipus’s downfall was caused by his inability
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situations; therefore‚ all people have influence over their destiny. In Sophocles’ tragic Theban play‚ Oedipus Rex‚ King Oedipus‚ or the King of Thebes‚ answers his citizens’ pleas to end the dreadful plague that has fallen upon their city. In order to heal Thebes from its illness‚ Oedipus must discover the killer of the previous King of Thebes‚ King Laius. Once the prophecy uncovers itself‚ “[Oedipus] realizes the ambiguity of words‚ of values‚ and of the human condition‚” conveying that the King becomes
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Oedipus the King A plague has stricken Thebes. The citizens gather outside the palace of their king‚ Oedipus‚ asking him to take action. Oedipus replies that he already sent his brother-in-law‚ Creon‚ to the oracle at Delphi to learn how to help the city. Creon returns with a message from the oracle: the plague will end when the murderer of Laius‚ former king of Thebes‚ is caught and expelled; the murderer is within the city. Oedipus questions Creon about the murder of Laius‚ who was killed by thieves
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hero”. A tragic hero held the spotlight of the drama to amplify the message of the script. One story that sparked much discussion and interest was Oedipus the King by Sophocles. The story of Oedipus is considered one of the best examples of a “tragic hero”. Greek drama can be better understood in light of understanding how Oedipus in Sophocles’ Oedipus the King is a strong example of a tragic hero. Aristotle defined a tragic hero to be a man‚ noble in stature‚ with outstanding quality about him‚
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Oedipus the King Sophocles Translated by David Grene CHARACTERS OEDIPUS‚ King of Thebes JOCASTA‚ His Wife CREON‚ His Brother-in-Law TEIRESIAS‚ an Old Blind Prophet PRIEST PART I: Scene: In front of the palace of Oedipus at Thebes. To the Right of the stage near the altar stands the PRIEST with a crowd of children. OEDIPUS emerges from the central door. OEDIPUS: Children‚ young sons and daughters of old Cadmus‚1 why do you sit here with your suppliant crowns?2 the town is heavy with a mingled burden
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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’s “Oedipus The King” is considered a excellent example of greek tragedy. Oedipus is portrayed as a very capable and heroic leader‚ beloved by his people. The dialogue opens with Oedipus declaring that he will rid Thebes of the plaque that has been ravaging his people. As the dialogue progresses it is learned that Oedipus is actually responsible for his city’s suffering and he is subject to a prophecy dictating that he will murder his father and sleep with his mother. Primarily the plot
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heroes are known as tragedies‚ some of the earliest known tragedies are Medea and Oedipus the King. As stated in The Vocabulary of Ancient Greek Tragedy in Modern English by Francis Blessington the Greeks believed‚ “a hero must explicitly accept his fate. But in Greek tragedy‚ the hero or heroine or the play itself questions fate” (Blessington). The greatest example of this is Oedipus The King by Sophocles. Oedipus is considered to be the greatest tragic hero‚ because he has a great sense of hubris
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