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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Journal Project for Oedipus Rex 1. What is the effect of Oedipus’ insistence and promises regarding the hunting down and punishing of the murderer of Laius? What does this suggest concerning his character as well as the meaning of Sophocles’ play? Sophocles a Greek poet and a writer was famous for his tragedies. All of his plays and tragedies consisted of a very distinctive style called dramatic irony - a situation of drama which is understood by the audience but not grasped by the characters
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MACBETH IS A HELPLESS VICTIM OF SUPERNATURAL AND EVIL FORCES‚ HENCE HID DOWNFALL AND DESTRUTION. Macbeth was a noble and loyal man‚ who would never harm his King. If it wasn’t for the influences of the witches and his wife‚ Lady Macbeth‚ he would have lived happily as Thane of Cawdor‚ an honorable title in itself. The downfall of Macbeth was ignited by the actions by those around him‚ mainly‚ and eventually‚ his ambitions took over. Macbeth never had the intention of killing his king‚ but was
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character: Othello. As one first begins to read this play‚ it seems that Othello is a truly noble character. Interestingly enough‚ with further reading and studying‚ one begins to doubt this nobility and speculate if his motives are guided by his love for others or his love for himself. Even though it is hard to see at first‚ the true nature of Othello’s character is actually quite self-centered. Throughout Othello there are several occurrences where it is shown that the character Othello is very
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Road to Self-Destruction From the ancient Greek society to the modernistic world in which [we] reside‚ the one constant which has had the ability to both bind and divide masses of people remains to be an unparalleled belief in a higher power. For it is human nature to submit to a divine presence as justification for that which is beyond the realm of man’s comprehension. But what are the criteria to substantiating the intangible? Fleeting passions have lead many to challenge the limits of mankind
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Brian Bachmann Ms. Veltri English 2011 April 6‚ 2013 Keep your friends close and your enemies closer In the play‚ Othello by William Shakespeare‚ one of the main characters Iago is a master of both deception and manipulation. One will see throughout the play how Iago manipulates people‚ even the mighty black war general‚ Othello. Desdemona‚ (I.iii.395) “Put money in thy purse.” Iago says Desdemona will soon lose interest in the Moor‚ (I.iii.384-387) “It cannot be that Desdemona should long
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cause of his downfall? According to Aristotle’s Poetics‚ a classical tragic hero should be renowned and prosperous‚ superior in some specific way‚ so that the reversal of fortunes or downfall‚ stirs up feelings within the audience of a greater intensity. Such disastrous results are often triggered by the mistake of the tragic hero due to their tragic flaw or hamartia‚ which is often linked to hubris or excessive pride. In Shakespeare’s Othello‚ as a General of the Venetian army‚ Othello meets these
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Essay on Oedipus Rex 4-3-97 In Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex‚ the theme of irony plays an important part through the play. What Oedipus does‚ what he says‚ and even who he is can sometimes be ironic. This irony can help us to see the character of Oedipus as truly a ’blind’ man‚ or a wholly ’public’ man. A great irony is found in Oedipus’s decree condemning the murderer. Oedipus says‚ "To avenge the city and the city’s god‚ / And not as though it were for some distant friend‚ / But for my own sake‚ to be
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Andy Stoops Honors Language Arts Landow 3/4th hour 27 February‚ 2012 Discovering and Suffering: Why Oedipus is The Most Tragic Fate is the develpment of events outside a person’s control‚ regarded as determined by a supernatural power. In Oedipus’s fight against fate‚ he expierenced all aspects an Aristostlian Tragic Hero‚ but above all suffering and discovery. Therefore‚ Oedipus is far more tragic than Antigone and Creon; for his suffering exceeds greatly beyond theirs‚ as does his discovery
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cause-and-effect chain. The plague in Thebes prompts Oedipus to send Creon to consult the oracle of Delphi; the oracle¡¦s reply that the murderer of Laius must be banished from Thebes prompts Oedipus pronounce a solemn curse on the murderer and to send for Teiresias. Teriesias states that Oedipus is the murderer‚ but since the king knows himself to be innocent (or thinks he knows)‚ he accuses Creon of plotting with Teiresias against him. The quarrel of Oedipus and Creon brings Jocasta from the house; seeking
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