Oedipus: The Tragic Hero Normally when someone hears the word “tragedy‚” they automatically think of suffering‚ pain‚ destruction‚ and calamity. The final result would be the unfortunate collapse of a powerful protagonist whether it was a misjudgment or a flaw within their character. A great example of a tragedy would be Oedipus the King by Sophocles. This play was set in the city of Thebes during another terrible plague that the people had just overcome. It tells about a king who lives out his
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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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The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle once identified the key ingredients of the tragedies that his culture is so famous for. These ingredients include a character with a fatal flaw‚ the realization of the fault for a particular problem and the final sudden reversal of fortune. For many tragedies‚ the fatal flaw is demonstrated as excessive pride‚ which usually serves as the driving force of the play’s action. It is common‚ even beneficial‚ to have pride in oneself‚ but when it becomes expressed
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In the Greek tragedy Oedipus Rex‚ blindness is a reoccurring theme which is used in many different ways in the play. Blindness is used quite often and is emphasized with the prophet Tiresias who is literally blind can see the truth unlike Oedipus who is blind to see the truth about his past and the crimes he has committed. It is ironic that the prophets Tiresias who is blind can see better then Oedipus in a metaphorical sense. The prophet Tiresias is physically blind but is able to see much more
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with seeing forbidden sexual acts‚ or revealing secret sexual truths”. Tiresias is summoned to the palace Oedipus can find the murderer so he can end the plague that threatens to overtake Thebes. The accusation Tiresias provides for the royal couple is disregarded because at the time nor Oedipus and Jocasta believed that the prophecy was true‚ due to that they were ignorant of the truth. Oedipus starts degrading Tiresias and his blindness. Tiresias replies by saying “your eyes can’t see the evil to
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although only seven plays remain‚ his work continues to be enjoyed‚ evoking a variety of emotions and passions from his meaningful and disturbing tragedies‚ proving that he revolutionised the face of drama. One of Sophocles most legendary plays‚ Oedipus the King‚ demonstrates his outstanding writing skill‚ by the number of techniques he incorporates‚ such as dramatic irony‚ symbolism and his usage of the Chorus. Dramatic irony is a prominent device used in many tragedies. It allows the audience to feel
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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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any real badness or wickedness but because of some mistake” (“Aristotle”‚ n.d.). Therefore‚ a tragic hero has some sort of tragedy that surrounds their life. A tragic hero also makes dramas more interesting and makes readers think. Dramas sometimes either exemplify or refute Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero. Oedipus by Sophocles exemplifies Aristotle’s definition in four different aspects. The first aspect involves both Oedipus’ ignorance and knowledge of his life situations‚ the second involves
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Written 442 B.C.E Translated by R. C. Jebb Dramatis Personae daughters of Oedipus: ANTIGONE ISMENE CREON‚ King of Thebes EURYDICE‚ his wife HAEMON‚ his son TEIRESIAS‚ the blind prophet GUARD‚ set to watch the corpse of Polyneices FIRST MESSENGER SECOND MESSENGER‚ from the house CHORUS OF THEBAN ELDERS Scene The same as in Oedipus the King‚ an open space before the royal palace‚ once that of Oedipus‚ at Thebes. The backscene represents the front of the palace‚ with three doors
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Oedipus The King The Greek drama Oedipus is clearly a Aristotle’s tragedy. It definitely meets the five main criteria for a tragedy: a tragic hero of noble birth‚ a tragic flaw‚ a hero‘s downfall‚ a moment of remorse‚ and a catharsis. Aristotle in his Poetics defines Oedipus as being a definite example of the form and purpose of Aristotelian tragedy. In tragedies the Greeks dramatized climactic events in the lives of heroes‚ and Oedipus story is no different. By using many different literary
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