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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Aristotelian philosophy teaches that knowing material reality can be achieved by properly identifying the essential traits of things and distinguishing things from other things by forming classification schemes based on those traits. The theory’s great power is that it canproduce useful‚ independently verifiable categories of analysis--if we all can agree on the epic’s essential traits‚ then we can conduct reasonable scholarly discussions about epics. Since Aristotle also was interested (like his
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Oedipus Rex is an example of how a character reacts and understands justice in his time. Oedipus was the king of Thebes‚ so it is expected for him to be the one making important choices and justice. Oedipus demonstrates different responses to injustice‚ than expected. First of all‚ Oedipus does understand his place in the injustice that is happening. For example‚ Oedipus decides that the killer of Laius would have to be punished. Once Oedipus learns that he is the killer‚ he admits it and does
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Oedipus The King; Did the prophecy cause his destiny? Undoubtedly there has been a tremendous amount of speculation and dissection of this play by countless people throughout the ages. I can only draw my own conclusions as to what Sophocles intended the meaning of his play to be. The drama included a number of horrific and unthinkable moral and ethical dilemas‚ but I believe that was what made the play so interesting and that is exactly the way Sophocles intended it to be. The play was obviously
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one of the early Greek tragedies written by Sophocles in 470 BC‚ ‘Oedipus the King’ demonstrates the arrogance portrayed by human nature which he therefore turns away the obvious truth. This early Greek Myth shows the way in which Oedipus‚ the King of Thebes‚ is so arrogant in wanting the truth in regards to the mishaps that shroud his land and so persistent that he is ultimately leading himself into his own demise. * Oedipus’ arrogance is demonstrated very early on in the play‚ when his uncle
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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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In the story‚ "Oedipus the King"‚ there are different examples of justice‚ but the one that I pointed out could be creating justice for the murder of Oedipus’ father. Ever since Oedipus had possessed his power‚ his actions from traveling from his hometown to Thebes‚ have since then remained as so we name it‚ justified. When held on account of being "found guilty"‚ from his power‚ the murder of his father has become a crime. Subsequently‚ after Oedipus heard the tragic news about his father‚ he was
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Characteristics of King Oedipus At the beginning of Oedipus the King‚ Oedipus is hugely confident‚ and with good reason. He has saved Thebes from the curse of the Sphinx and become king virtually overnight. He proclaims his name proudly as though it were itself a healing charm: “Here I am myself— / you all know me‚ the world knows my fame: / I am Oedipus” (7–9). Also‚ we see that these qualities make him an excellent ruler who anticipates his subjects’ needs. When the citizens of Thebes
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“I‚ Oedipus‚ a name that all men know” said a very hubristic and “blinded” Oedipus. There are three causes that result in hubris‚ or overwhelming pride‚ that occur through Oedipus numerous times throughout the play Oedipus The King‚ and many other leaders. These three causes are: A situation in which a kingdom or a society is experiencing a downfall and is in need of a savior‚ something fortunate happens that puts the character in a favorable position and in an ideal setting in place‚ and an above-average
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in Athens The story of Oedipus Tyrannus‚ otherwise known as Oedipus the King or Oedipus Rex‚ is an Athenian tragedy written by Sophocles; it tells the story of Oedipus‚ the king of Thebes who is plagued by a self-fulfilled prophecy in which he kills his father Laius and marries his own mother‚ Jocasta. Not only is it widely recognized as Sophocles’ greatest work‚ the story of Oedipus has lent its name to what is recognized in the psychological realm today as the Oedipus complex‚ in which a young
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