“Not knowing information that causes [one] pain and leaves [one] worse off is more pleasant than knowing that information” (Paul Hudson). Oedipus Rex‚ a classic Greek tragedy by Sophocles‚ tells of King Oedipus and the consequences of a curious mind. Throughout the play‚ Oedipus gains more knowledge of his heritage‚ causing trouble for himself and his peers. Rather than pursuing justification‚ remaining unaware of sufferings and tragedies allows one to live more peacefully. Blissful incognizance
Premium Oedipus Sophocles Oedipus the King
Nicholas Coleman Prof. Shemak English 265 2 October 2009 The Blind Oedipus Ignorance is bliss. Ignorance keeps us blind‚ yet it frees us from the painful stare of truth. A false paradise is created under the veil of knowledge that is simply not present. The theme of vision and blindness is significant in Oedipus Rex because throughout the play‚ the truth was always beyond the characters grasp‚ and without truth the actions carried out by the characters were done in blindness. Their views
Premium Oedipus Truth Oedipus the King
A major theme of the classic Greek theatre production Oedipus Rex is the conflict between knowledge and ignorance. This is shown most strongly within the conversation held between Oedipus and Tiresias‚ the blind seer. Despite the prominent trait within the old man‚ rendering him unable to visually see his environment‚ he was very well-respected and revered by the people of Thebes for his ability to communicate with the gods‚ being given prophecies and answers to questions in doing so. This is seen
Premium Oedipus Tiresias Oedipus the King
Katie Bertelsen Hour 4 10/26/2013 Ignorance “Ignorance is bliss.” Many times I have thought this to be true. But now that we have read Oedipus Rex‚ by Sophocles‚ I’m rethinking my thoughts on this idea. What if Oedipus was better off not knowing his true parents? Could this predicament have been avoided if Oedipus hadn’t known his “true calling” of killing his father and sleeping with his mother? His life‚ in my eyes‚ would have been better being ignorant. He would’ve lived a great and long life
Premium Oedipus Family Sophocles
Analysis of Oedipus the King Who is one of the most famous tragic heroes in the world of literature? It can be none other than the main character in Oedipus Rex: Oedipus the King. This is an inspired play written by Sophocles. In the duration of the play‚ a prophet has told that Oedipus is going to kill his father‚ and then marry his mother. Because of this‚ Oedipus faces many problems through the course of his life. But his doomed fate is not the only thing that causes him to fall. Oedipus has three
Premium Oedipus Tiresias Oedipus the King
tragic hero? “Oedipus the King” by Sophocles is a very good play which talks about a guy who was fated to kill his father and married his mother. Aristotle defines “tragic hero as a person of great stature and virtue who becomes aware of a mortal defect within himself.” This defect leads to great tragedy. Oedipus’s own essential nature makes him a tragic hero because his ignorance (lack of knowledge) led him to his own destruction. Also Fate plays an important role in make Oedipus a tragic hero because
Premium Oedipus Sophocles Greek mythology
In this play‚ Oedipus the King‚ there are any references to eyes‚ sight‚ and the lacks thereof are made throughout Oedipus the King. There are parts where characters have limited physical sight‚ such as Teiresias’s blindness‚ and there are also parts where their sight‚ in the form of perception‚ is limited. Most importantly‚ sight is used in the play as a symbol for knowledge‚ such as the how the oracles and the "seer" (16)‚ Teiresias‚ can ’see’ the truth. The play is about Oedipus’s quest for knowledge
Free Oedipus the King Oedipus Blindness
Oedipus the King Oedipus is written as a play‚ there is no narrator‚ Sophocles explains the story line and then runs the story into playwright. I like this point of view because it can sometimes be more clear to the reader. There are many points of view in this play. That is there are many different individuals addressed this playwright. Thus there are many different points of view. I think that Oedipus generally speaks in place of a narrator‚ because he is the main character. I believe he expresses
Premium Oedipus Oedipus the King Sophocles
even more complex. Indeed‚ the situation of Oedipus‚ king of Thebes‚ the truth of this statement is in question. Would Oedipus have been better off if he was blind to the knowledge of his birthing and the fate which was foretold to someday befall him? Truly though‚ his life would have been a far better and easier path had he never known about his true origins. His life in Corinth would have been long and prosperous‚ and Thebes would have lived on under King Laius. In fact‚ everyone would have been better
Premium Oedipus Sophocles Socratic method
In Oedipus the King‚ Oedipus is the new king of Thebes after the former king‚ Laius‚ was killed. Thebes has been cursed‚ and a prophet of the god Apollo tells Oedipus that Laius’ killer must be banished from Thebes. Oedipus begins on a disastrous quest to find the assassin‚ and finds that he is the one he seeks. He pierces his eyes and tries to kill himself‚ and is banished from Thebes at the end of the play. Oedipus realizes his foolishness at the end of the play‚ comparing his lack of wisdom to
Premium Oedipus Oedipus the King Sophocles