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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Through analysis on the play Oedipus Rex by Sophocles‚ I found that my understanding was deepened by my knowledge of major themes shown through Sophocles’ use of symbolism‚ paradox‚ and setting. This led to a deeper understanding regarding existentialism and man’s pursuit for knowledge itself. During a discussion on symbolism‚ Oedipus’ fate was linked to a quote by Randy Pausch: “We cannot change the cards we are dealt‚ only how we play the hand.” One of the themes Sophocles makes prevalent throughout
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Austin Jones December 2‚ 2012 English Period B Ms. Mazz Oedipus the King: 1. Free will plays a greater role than fate in this play. Fate plays a greater role because the characters make their own decisions. They make the decisions that lead to their downfall. An example of how free will plays a greater role than fate in this play is when Oedipus decides to continue his search for his real parents. Jocasta warns him and tells him to call of the search. “Stop. In the name of god‚ if you love
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with Lear’s many meanings and interpretations. The main character‚ King Lear‚ is the object of universal identification with his obliviousness as to who people truly are‚ and the discovery of truth. It is this identification that exceeds the Elizabethan period‚ making King Lear a play for all times. With his world about to be shattered‚ Lear will realize that the world he was living in as King‚ is not so nice as it seems. King Lear is the story of how a man “once obsessed with image and power”(Hamilton
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The Punishment of Oedipus the King At the end of Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex‚ Oedipus‚ king of Thebes‚ ends up banished forever from his kingdom. Additionally‚ Oedipus physically puts out his own eyes‚ for several reasons which will be discussed later. The question is: Did Oedipus deserve his punishments? There are many factors that must be considered in answering this‚ including how Oedipus himself felt about his situation. His blinding was as much symbolic as it was physical pain
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inscribed. This is a classic example of irony because Oedipus’s main problems come from not knowing his true self. Oedipus runs away from Merope and Polybus when he finds out the prophecy only to see it fulfilled when he returns to his homeland of Thebes. Another problem Oedipus causes himself is not realizing that his tendency to act hotheaded will come back to haunt him. When Oedipus was born‚ there was a prophecy told to his parents that he would kill his father and marry his mother. Oedipus’s father
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ending of Sophocles’ Oedipus the King. How could one not blame them‚ for they placed a prophecy on the king‚ his wife and their son‚ sending them to their dreadful doom. Perhaps there is more to be seen in this famous Greek tragedy. Perhaps the blame does not belong completely to the gods‚ but to the victims of the prophecy. Sophocles exemplifies this throughout the play using methods of symbolism‚ actions and words. From the get go of the prophecy‚ things weren’t well. Once king Laius and his wife
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sometimes comes with complications. In Oedipus Rex‚ to see is to not know‚ and being blind comes with knowledge. This theme comes through the most. Oedipus Rex is a play written by Sophocles‚ a greek playwright. Oedipus and others further strengthen this theme with their actions and choice of words. Knowledge isn’t always better than not knowing‚ or being blind. To see in Oedipus Rex‚ seeing comes with not knowing‚ and blindness comes with knowledge. When Oedipus learns of his prophecy‚ that he will
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Unlike the king that dies with his image and greatness‚ a self sacrificing individual dies with the start of their legacy. In the play Oedipus‚ the protagonist’s free will generates the downfall in the play which becomes clear that fate takes over his life. Oedipus‚ the protagonist‚ is still able to make his own decisions; however‚ he was mainly mortified based on his lack of judgment and his bad decisions throughout the play. Aristotle‚ the Greek philosopher considers this play to be a huge example
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KING LEAR Often how individuals appear in front of other people is different from who they really are. They can show the love and loyalty to their masters so they can get what they really want. In the play King Lear by Shakespeare‚ the topic of blindness occurs often. The theme of blindness is demonstrated by the biggest mistake that King Lear makes‚ by the disguise of Kent‚ and by Gloucester’s trust in Edmund. The biggest mistake of King Lear when he divides his kingdom among his three daughters
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