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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Why? Why does this have to happen to me? I‚ Oedipus‚ King of Thebes‚ did nothing to deserve this cruelty. I.. I who saved Thebes from the Sphynx’s evil riddles; I… who led the country… and now this? Such a wicked life I have. Now‚ Jocasta‚ my beloved wife; no‚ my MOTHER‚ gave her last breath when faced to this truth. Her body now lies here in her chambers and all I can do is lament. What an incestuous act we have done. My mother… and I… our children… Oh gods. OH GODS! Please forgive me! I never
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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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Irony Oedipus the King Oedipus is self-confident‚ intelligent and strong willed. Ironically these are the very traits which bring about his demise. Sophocles makes liberal use of irony throughout "Oedipus the King". He creates various situations in which dramatic and verbal irony play key roles in the downfall of Oedipus. Dramatic irony depends on the audience’s knowing something that the character does not and verbal irony is presented when there is a contradiction between what a character
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In the play OEDIPUS THE KING BY SOPHOCLES‚ Oedipus is almost dependent on his brother in-law and fellow ruler Creon. “O King Apollo! May Creon bring us good fortune and rescue‚ bright as the expression I see on his face” (SOPHOCLES 8). This quote demonstrates the truth that Oedipus is mostly dependent on Creon. He sends Creon to seek answer from the God Apollo‚ to find answers to the death of the city Thebes. Oedipus’s reliance on Creon for answers emphasizes both his blindness‚ impotence‚ and lack
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completely different fields will be put side by side to compare their own tragic flaws. On one hand‚ Sophocles’ Oedipus is proud‚ arrogant and persistent; while on the other hand‚ Eliot’s Prufrock is self conscious‚ insecure‚ and indecisive. While the two characters are complete polar opposites‚ they also share a devastating similarity: they are paranoid and in fear of their own fate. Oedipus’ personality is clearly conveyed as having excessive pride and determination throughout the play. He first
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Major Works Data Sheet Oedipus the King Title: ________________________________ Sophicles Author: ______________________________ Date of Publication: ____________________ Around 450 BC Tragic Drama/Theater Genre: _______________________________ Historical information about the setting The work was written around 450 BC‚ a time of high Greek culture where literature and drama were placed at the forefront of society. Sophocles was a key player in this movement‚ and his plays were performed
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universal plot of Oedipus the King resonates a perfect tragedy. Sophocles’ implementation of anagnorisis and peripeteia enhances the idea of irony in the play and introduces a major theme. Catastrophe adds the aspects of hamartia and hubris‚ along with the element of irony. The well-constructed plot arouses the emotions pity and fear‚ and achieves the tragic catharsis. Sophocles implements these three different aspects well in his plays‚ which supports the statement of Oedipus being a perfect tragedy
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According to Aristotle’s definition of tragedy‚ the famous play “Oedipus the king” by Sophocles fit all of qualifications. Oedipus is a tragic hero since his particular characteristic is king. In another play “Fences” by August Wilson‚ the main character Troy Maxson‚ is different with Oedipus. He is not a tragic hero of Aristotle’s concept‚ but he is a modern tragic. Oedipus was definitely a tragic hero‚ but Troy is not matching it. Following the Aristotle’s definition of tragic hero:
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In Sophocles’ "Oedipus Rex"‚ the theme of irony plays an important part throughout the play. In the play‚ Oedipus Rex believes that if he leaves Corinth he will be able to avoid his fate. The oracle says the Oedipus will kill his father and bear children with his mother. Eventually‚ he unknowingly kills his father in a chance meeting and married his mother. Oedipus remains clueless that the oracle’s prediction has come to pass. The play is a tragedy‚ and Oedipus is a tragic hero because he has an
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