In the Greek tragedy Oedipus Rex‚ blindness is a reoccurring theme which is used in many different ways in the play. Blindness is used quite often and is emphasized with the prophet Tiresias who is literally blind can see the truth unlike Oedipus who is blind to see the truth about his past and the crimes he has committed. It is ironic that the prophets Tiresias who is blind can see better then Oedipus in a metaphorical sense. The prophet Tiresias is physically blind but is able to see much more
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with seeing forbidden sexual acts‚ or revealing secret sexual truths”. Tiresias is summoned to the palace Oedipus can find the murderer so he can end the plague that threatens to overtake Thebes. The accusation Tiresias provides for the royal couple is disregarded because at the time nor Oedipus and Jocasta believed that the prophecy was true‚ due to that they were ignorant of the truth. Oedipus starts degrading Tiresias and his blindness. Tiresias replies by saying “your eyes can’t see the evil to
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any real badness or wickedness but because of some mistake” (“Aristotle”‚ n.d.). Therefore‚ a tragic hero has some sort of tragedy that surrounds their life. A tragic hero also makes dramas more interesting and makes readers think. Dramas sometimes either exemplify or refute Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero. Oedipus by Sophocles exemplifies Aristotle’s definition in four different aspects. The first aspect involves both Oedipus’ ignorance and knowledge of his life situations‚ the second involves
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Literature to the Renaissance April 25‚ 2012 Sophocles King of Catharsis What is Catharsis? Aristotle describes catharsis as the purging of the emotions of pity and fear that are aroused in the viewer of a tragedy. Debate continues about what Aristotle actually means by catharsis‚ but the concept is linked to the positive social function of tragedy (english.hawaii.edu). A good example of a Catharsis play is Oedipus the King by Sophocles. Pity and fear are the dominating feelings produced by the
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although only seven plays remain‚ his work continues to be enjoyed‚ evoking a variety of emotions and passions from his meaningful and disturbing tragedies‚ proving that he revolutionised the face of drama. One of Sophocles most legendary plays‚ Oedipus the King‚ demonstrates his outstanding writing skill‚ by the number of techniques he incorporates‚ such as dramatic irony‚ symbolism and his usage of the Chorus. Dramatic irony is a prominent device used in many tragedies. It allows the audience to feel
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Written 442 B.C.E Translated by R. C. Jebb Dramatis Personae daughters of Oedipus: ANTIGONE ISMENE CREON‚ King of Thebes EURYDICE‚ his wife HAEMON‚ his son TEIRESIAS‚ the blind prophet GUARD‚ set to watch the corpse of Polyneices FIRST MESSENGER SECOND MESSENGER‚ from the house CHORUS OF THEBAN ELDERS Scene The same as in Oedipus the King‚ an open space before the royal palace‚ once that of Oedipus‚ at Thebes. The backscene represents the front of the palace‚ with three doors
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Oedipus The King The Greek drama Oedipus is clearly a Aristotle’s tragedy. It definitely meets the five main criteria for a tragedy: a tragic hero of noble birth‚ a tragic flaw‚ a hero‘s downfall‚ a moment of remorse‚ and a catharsis. Aristotle in his Poetics defines Oedipus as being a definite example of the form and purpose of Aristotelian tragedy. In tragedies the Greeks dramatized climactic events in the lives of heroes‚ and Oedipus story is no different. By using many different literary
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Catharisis refers to a purgation or purification of the emotions of the audience by art. According to Aristotle‚ it is applied to a tragedy which can produce in the audience purgation of fear and pity and then gives a heightened understanding of the ways of gods and men. In both plays‚ Catharisis allows the dramatists to raise the prevailing themes as well as fully express their perceptions toward the society. In Euripides’ Medea‚ the woman with magic was taken back to a civilized society. However
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Gilgamesh and Oedipus Rex The stories of Gilgamesh and Oedipus Rex show us through their themes that they have stronghold ties to the characteristics of classical literature. The story of the flood from the Old Testament shows great significance in the epic of Gilgamesh. In the story‚ it tells how Gilgamesh built a boat because the gods were going to send a flood and he wanted to cross the ocean to find immortality. Well‚ this is very similar to how God told Noah to build the ark because he was
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Blindness one may not have sight but another type of vision. In king Oedipus‚ Tiresias‚ the blind prophet‚ presents the truth to Oedipus and Jocasta. Oedipus has been blind his whole life‚ and when faced with the truth‚ lost his the truth is uncovered she still cannot accept it. Those who are truly blind ultimately have a higher vision. Oedipus started his life with a prophecy that he would kill his father‚ and marry his mother. Oedipus had no idea that his real parents were Laius and Jocasta‚ and
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