Preview

Oedious as a Statement of Hope in Oedipus at Colonus

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
2342 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Oedious as a Statement of Hope in Oedipus at Colonus
<b>Outline</b>
<br>I. Oedipus ' decency
<br> i. To daughters
<br> ii. To sons
<br>II. Appearance
<br> i. Characteristics
<br> ii. Clothing
<br> iii. Blinded
<br> iv. Confident
<br>III. Sufferings
<br> i. Murder of father/wed mother
<br> ii. Betrayed by sons
<br> iii. Exiled
<br> iv. Blinded/beggar
<br>IV. Divinity
<br> i. Prays to gods who are to punish him
<br> ii. Chooses place of death
<br>V. Effect
<br> i. On Theseus
<br> ii. On man
<br>
<br><b>Essay</b>
<br>The Greek tragedy Oedipus at Colonus was written by the great and renowned Greek playwright Sophocles at around 404 B.C. or so. In the play, considered to be one of the best Greek dramas ever written, Sophocles uses the now broken down and old Oedipus as a statement of hope for man. As Oedipus was royalty and honor before his exile from his kingdom of Thebes he is brought down to a poor, blind old man who wonders, "Who will receive the wandering Oedipus today?" (Sophocles 283) most of the time of his life that is now as low as a peasant 's. Although former ruler of Thebes has been blinded and desecrated to the point where he is a beggar, he will not give up on his life and on the life of his two daughters Antigone and Ismene, and his two sons Eteocles and Polynieces who were supposed to help their sorrowful father like true sons and true men but instead they "tend the hearth like girls."(304). Yet Oedipus still gives praise to those who have helped him, his daughters Antigone and Ismene, although he has no sight, is poor, and his life is of no meaning to him, he recognizes honor and loyalty when he sees it:
<br>
<br>"Antigone from the time she left her childhood behind and came
<br>into full strength, has volunteered for grief, wandering with me,
<br>leading the old misery, hungry…Hard labor, but you endured it all,
<br>never a second though for home, a decent life, so long as your father
<br>had some care and comfort. And you, child, in the early days, all
<br>unknown to Thebes



Cited: /b> <br><li>Baade, Eric C. Seneca 's Tragedies: Oedipus, Troades, Agamemnon. Collier-Macmillan Limited, London. 1969. <br><li>Readings on Sophocles: Oedipus at Colonus. Fitzgerald, Robert. Green Haven Press, San Diego, California. 1997. <br><li>Melchinger, Siegfried. Sophocles. Frederick Ungar Publishing Co., New York, New York. 1974. <br><li>O 'Brien, Michael J. Twentieth Century Interpretations of Oedipus Rex. Prentice-Hall, Inc. Englewood cliffs, New Jersey. 1968. <br><li>Roche, Paul. The Oedipus Plays of Sophocles. The New English Library Limited, London. New York and Scarborough, Ontario. 1958. <br><li>Sophocles. The Three Theban Plays: Antigone, Oedipus The King, Oedipus At Colonus. Penguin Books. New York, New York. 1982, 1984. <br><li>Sophocles: A collection of critical essays edited by Thomas Woodward: Oedipus at Colonus. Whitman, Cedric H. Prentice-Hall, Inc. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. 1966.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    The following analysis will examine Oedipus the King, by Sophocles. The following questions will be addressed: What is the historical context of this period? What are the storylines, as revealed in the document? What does the document reveal about the Greek notion of fate and free-will? Who was the author and does he reveal a bias? What was the author’s intent in writing this and whom did he see as his audience? And lastly, what stands out as particularly meaningful and why?…

    • 1577 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Creon: a Virtuous King?

    • 956 Words
    • 4 Pages

    References: “Chapter 37/ Sophocles/ Antigone." Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing. Comp. Dana Gioia and X. J. Kennedy. 10th ed. Boston: Pearson, 2007. 1324-352. Print.…

    • 956 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Cited: Sophocles. (or Miler, Arthur.) “Oedipus”. The Bedford Introduction to Drama. 5th ed.. Ed. Lee. A. Jacobus. Bedford/St. Martins. New York. 43-64…

    • 776 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    MWD Oedipus Rex

    • 1695 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Biographical information about the author: Born at Colonus, son of Sophilus. Sophocles was a playwright and served as a priest. He had a son with Nicartrata, who was also a playwright. And he also had a son with Theoris. Wrote 123plays but only 7 survived: Ajar, Antigone, Trachinian women, Oedipus Tyrannoss, Electras, Philocetes, and Oedipus at Colonus. Also increased the number of chorus from 12 to 15. Powerful imaged occur in Ajar’s sword, Philocetes bow, and Electras urn. Actions in his play unfold in a more natural way and avoid the expository prologues of his contemporary. The modern concept of tragic drama begins with Sophocles. Oedipus is arguably the most influential play written. Also distinguished as a figure coincided with the rise and fall of Athens. At 16 he was an accomplished dancer and lyre player. Served as an imperial treasurer and diplomat. Sophocles is regarded as the tragic Homer. All tragedies posses a moral or religious problem and an unalterable idea of fate and divine will of the gods. Died in 406 B.C., 2 years before the fall of Sparta. Considered one of the three greatest playwrights of classical Greek.…

    • 1695 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Hamburger, Kate. "From Sophocles to Sarte." Sophocles the Classical Heritage. Ed. R D. Dawe. New York: Garland, Inc., 1996. 251-269.…

    • 2361 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Knox, Bernard M. W., and William G. Thalmann. "Sophocles." The Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces. 7th ed. Vol. 1. Gen. Ed. Sarah Lawall. New York: Norton, 1999. 596-99.…

    • 1827 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Oedipus the King

    • 1315 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Cited: Sophocles. “Oedipus the King” Trans. Dudley Fitts and Robert Fitzgerald. Drama: A Pocket Anthology. Ed. R.S. Gwynn and Wanda Campbell. Toronto: Pearson, 2004. 39-89.…

    • 1315 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Many questions were raised against Oedipus in class argument about his character flaws, running from the fate, killing his father, marrying his mother, and insulting prophet etc. Here I would try to answer as much I can.…

    • 1505 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Oedipus at Colonus

    • 669 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Sophocles was a Greek playwright who lived during the 5th century b.c. The Oedipus Cycle is one of his most famous works; the trilogy of plays traces the ill-fated life of a noble blooded man and his descendants. Oedipus at Colonus is the second play of the set. Oedipus at Colonus is set many years after Oedipus the Rex, and Oedipus has changed his perspective on his exile from Thebes. He has decided that he was not responsible for his fate and that his sons should have prevented his exile. His view has changed from the previous play when Oedipus proudly claimed responsibility for his actions, blinding himself and begging for exile. Although Oedipus seems to have traded his former pride for kindness he regards himself as someone who is more knowledgeable of the gods then that of the other citizens.…

    • 669 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Place yourself back in to the times of Greek tragedy and culture, the glorious palace doors overlooking the Kingdom and the elegant, admirable robes. Here you will find the setting of “Oedipus the King” written by Sophocles, adapted in 1986 by Don Taylor. Taylor adapts this version extremely well, highlighting the main themes and significant symbolising Sophocles would have used in the play outstandingly. Also he still keeps the reflection of the Greek culture of the play too.…

    • 1288 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Sophocles, Three Theban Plays (Antigone and Oedipus the King), (translated by Robert Fagles), 1982, published by Penguin Classics…

    • 1549 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Of all the tragic heroes in Greek literature, Sophocles believed that Oedipus was the truest. Sophocles was correct, for based on analysis of Aristotle’s Poetics; it is obvious that Oedipus is indeed far more of a tragic hero than any other hero of ancient Greek literature.…

    • 967 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Oedipus Rex

    • 2535 Words
    • 11 Pages

    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.…

    • 2535 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Through the use of characterization, Sophocles is able to mold Oedipus’ character into Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero. Oedipus is a very admirable character as he is a compassionate man (lines 11-12), and one who wants justice (lines 21-22). Although Oedipus has good intentions, in doing so, he corrupts his power to frighten his people, by putting himself above everyone else, so they “respect” him. Through this respect, he can gain knowledge and truth from the people who are essentially the witnesses, to uncover justice. This is shown through lines 6-18. Oedipus calls down a curse, and threatens the people who do not oblige to his measures. This was an impulsive act, as even those who don’t agree with Oedipus will be sentenced with death. Imagine what kind of curse he will call down on those who not only disagree with his actions, but act against them. Ironically, this curse he called down was to be destroyed by the present plague, which is what Oedipus is ultimately trying to rid the land of.…

    • 559 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Cited: 1. Sophocles. The Oedipus Plays of Sophocles. Trans. Paul Roche. New York: Penguin, 1991…

    • 856 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays