critical analysis of oedipus
Critical Analysis of “Oedipus the King” The Truth of Fate
Critical Analysis of “Oedipus the King” The journeys we as humans take over our lifetimes are all a matter of choices. As we age, our daily decisions shape the overall outcome of our collective destinies. Gathering our personal views, our beliefs, and our general knowledge of what is right and wrong gives us the ability to form the decisions that shape our destinies and the fates of the people around us. This is a choice that we take for granted, but a choice that Oedipus was never permitted to make for himself. Apollo prognosticated Oedipus’ fate and imparted this knowledge by the time of his conception. It is this prophecy that is the beginning and the end of Oedipus and his undoing. Oedipus’ journey for the identity of self and determination to change his fate is plagued and twisted and the consequences of the outcome agonizing. Sophocles introduces the readers to “Oedipus the King” by highlighting his triumphs. Oedipus ascended as the King of Thebes after solving the riddle of the Sphinx, an accomplishment that has brought him fame and power. The inhabitance of Thebes falling, martyred by plagues have congregated for prayer at the royal house of Thebes, the temple of” Queen Athena, the goddess of wisdom and protector of Greek cities,” and the river temple of Apollo. (1300). Their prayers are given to “Apollo, the god of poetry, the sun, prophecy and healing,” with offerings of wool to beg for relief from the agony and death brought upon them by the plagues. (1300). Oedipus, hearing the prayers and cries from the city, call forth a priest from his knees to enlighten him as to the cause of such distress. The priest pleads with Oedipus,” first of men,” to find it with-in himself to be the savior the people of Thebes think he is in these turbulent times of the Death and dying of the crops, cattle, women in childbirth, newborn infants, and the Black Death that
Critical Analysis of “Oedipus the King” The journeys we as humans take over our lifetimes are all a matter of choices. As we age, our daily decisions shape the overall outcome of our collective destinies. Gathering our personal views, our beliefs, and our general knowledge of what is right and wrong gives us the ability to form the decisions that shape our destinies and the fates of the people around us. This is a choice that we take for granted, but a choice that Oedipus was never permitted to make for himself. Apollo prognosticated Oedipus’ fate and imparted this knowledge by the time of his conception. It is this prophecy that is the beginning and the end of Oedipus and his undoing. Oedipus’ journey for the identity of self and determination to change his fate is plagued and twisted and the consequences of the outcome agonizing. Sophocles introduces the readers to “Oedipus the King” by highlighting his triumphs. Oedipus ascended as the King of Thebes after solving the riddle of the Sphinx, an accomplishment that has brought him fame and power. The inhabitance of Thebes falling, martyred by plagues have congregated for prayer at the royal house of Thebes, the temple of” Queen Athena, the goddess of wisdom and protector of Greek cities,” and the river temple of Apollo. (1300). Their prayers are given to “Apollo, the god of poetry, the sun, prophecy and healing,” with offerings of wool to beg for relief from the agony and death brought upon them by the plagues. (1300). Oedipus, hearing the prayers and cries from the city, call forth a priest from his knees to enlighten him as to the cause of such distress. The priest pleads with Oedipus,” first of men,” to find it with-in himself to be the savior the people of Thebes think he is in these turbulent times of the Death and dying of the crops, cattle, women in childbirth, newborn infants, and the Black Death that