Unraveling the Riddle of Oedipus Study Guide PITTSBURGH PUBLIC THEATER’S STUDY GUIDE Oedipus the King by Sophocles Translated by William Butler Yeats September 28 – October 29‚ 2006 TABLE OF CONTENTS SOPHOCLES Sophocles’ Life 3 Works by Sophocles 4 THOUGHTS FROM THE DIRECTOR 5 OEDIPUS THE KING Synopsis 6 Characters 7 Glossary 8 The Translator 9 Themes 10 The Riddle of the Sphinx 11 ANCIENT GREECE Daily Life 12 Why Ancient
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though fate seemed to control Oedipus ’ life‚ he did still have a free will. The story was based on whether free will or fates were influencing the characters ’ lives. Both fate and free will went throughout the play but only free will‚ brought Laius‚ Jocasta and Oedipus to their downfalls. Their behaviors decided their future. If someone can have a destiny‚ they can have the free will to change it. In my opinion‚ I think that fate does exist but you can still make your own decisions. I believe that
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sight. The main character is ignorant and “blind” towards the actual blind prophet. In addition‚ Jocasta is skeptical of prophecy‚ but ironically followed a prophet when her son was born; “To Laius once There came an oracle… That so it should befall‚ that he should die By a son’s hands‚ who he should have by me” (Sophocles 26). Jocasta’s ignorance brought the tragedy to herself. Although Oedipus and Jocasta both have their sight‚ they did not possess “blindness” to see what occurs in the
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Oedipus All of Oedipus’ obstacles were an effect of his own actions. It all began when the Oracle at Delphi announced to Oedipus that he was destined to murder his father and marry his mother. He made the decision to escape the life he knew to stop this event from occuring. He was not aware that by doing so he was allowing the prophecy to happen and that he was entering his destiny of tragedy. When all is said and done‚ Oedipus was blind and found guilty for the death of the king of Thebes. Although
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While Ophelia demonstrates a kind and sweet character‚ Queen Gertrude is depicted in a much different light. Shakespeare had made a developed character that has far more than one-dimensional. Aside from her role attached to the male characters in Hamlet‚ Queen Gertrude is an intelligent‚ respectable woman. Unfortunately‚ Gertrude is not always painted in the best light as her lack of awareness of her husband’s murder. Gertrude “doesn’t seem to know what’s going on around her and doesn’t know why
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his father Laius and marries his mother Jocasta. An oracle had predicted to Laius that his son would kill him. They feared Oedipus so much that they abandoned him. In the end‚ Oedipus went to find his real parents after he found out he was adopted. While he was traveling got into a fight with some men. Oedipus killed them all‚ including his father. Oedipus asked Jocasta for her hand in marriage. Oedipus doesn’t even know that Laius is his father or that Jocasta is his mother but because of the curse
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Oedipus and Batman Great and tragic love is something that happens to everyone in their life time. In the two completely different stories of Oedipus and Batman they both have them same story line. Batman and Oedipus are two different types of heroes but the same when it comes to the archetype theme of tragic forbidden love. In this essay I will explain archetypes‚ themes‚ and what the themes of these stories are. Forbidden love happens in all great stories. Some of the greatest include Titanic
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Hamlet and Ophelia is mostly controlled by Polonius. However‚ Ophelia does receive ill-treatment from her brothers Laertes and Hamlet‚ as well as her own father‚ Polonius. All of these men contribute to her weak female character individually and on different levels. They also appear to influence Ophelia’s later developed insanity and suicide. The opening act of the play introduces all important characters‚ tells much of the plot and projects an important‚ lasting image of Ophelia. In act 1
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murdered King Laius. Teiresias says that Oedipus is the murderer‚ and that he is living with the same blood he came from. Oedipus does not believe the blind seer and sends him away. His wife‚ Queen Jocasta
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through five in Hamlet‚ when Ophelia committed suicide. From these two acts‚ it revealed what Ophelia was going through and feeling. Suicide is the act of killing oneself intentionally. In act four‚ scene three‚ Ophelia committed suicide and drowned herself due to grief. Queen Gertrude broke the news to Ophelia’s brother‚ Laertes. Laertes could not believe this has happened and he asked the queen numerous questions. When Queen Gertrude explained to Laertes what
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