People read literature because it teaches about humanity, both the positives and negatives. Sometimes, they learn more from reading about the mistakes and flaws of characters. Oedipus Rex is one of these characters, flawed even though he thinks he is divine. According to Bernard Knox, “these attributes of divinity – knowledge, certainty, justice – are all qualities Oedipus thought he possessed – and that is why he was the perfect example of the inadequacy of human knowledge, certainty, and justice.” In Sophocles’ tragedy Oedipus Rex, Oedipus’s untimely fall is caused by his false certainty of knowledge, his rash actions done without that certainty, and his injustice toward those trying to warn him.…
In the study of Greek plays, one tries to recreate for an experience, to recapture something of what is meant to those for whom it was written. We know more about the life of Sophocles than we know do about the lives of any other Greek playwright, but this still is not a lot. Sophocles’ work has been said to be the pinnacle of Greek tragedy. Oedipus the King is something like the literary Mona Lisa of ancient Greece. It presents a nightmare vision of a world turned upside down; a decent man, Oedipus, becomes the king of Thebes, whilst in the process unknowingly fulfilling a prophecy that he would kill his father and marry his mother. As scholars, we are bound to relate this story through history, to ask what the writer really meant, how…
Aristotle once said “A man doesn't become a hero until he can see the root of his own downfall.” (Aristotle) Aristotle actually had a lot of ideas about heroes, specifically tragic heroes. He defined a tragic hero as an individual of high social standing, whose fatal flaw leads him to be brought low in a reversal of fortunes, which he later recognizes before receiving a fate worse than he truly deserves. One of the most famous characters from a play in the tragedy genre is Oedipus. His tale is one of destiny, hope, and finally sorrow. The question posed, however, is whether or not Oedipus really does fit this model of a tragic hero. Oedipus must be a nobleman and have his own tragic flaw that causes him to experience a reversal of fortunes…
“Oedipus the King” is a drama that portrays misfortune that dwells among mankind. The tragic sequence of events first starts with the birth of Oedipus. His biological parents are stricken with grief when they discover a secret that causes them to banish their son from the city of Thebes. Little did they know that, despite their actions, fate would still play out which would, in turn, cause the society of Thebes to be stricken by the plague. Although many people suffered from the unfortunate destiny of Oedipus, perhaps the person that suffered the most was Oedipus himself. Oedipus endured an unforgiving reality check after being blindsided by the current state of his life.…
Oedipus The King is most likely one of the greatest tragedies ever recorded. This play tells the story of the great downfall of a once honored king who by the end of the story, becomes a great curse. This is mainly due to his great sense of pride. It was believed by the Greeks that people with this immense pride thought that they were above the gods. Aristotle believed that the protagonist of every tragedy must have some type of tragic flaw that will eventually lead to his demise. To Oedipus ,of Oedipus The King, pride is his tragic flaw that leads to his downfall. Some examples of his pride taking over him were: when he correctly answered the Sphinx’s riddle, when he abandoned his adoptive parents in Corinth, and when he killed Laius in the crossroads.…
A tragic hero is defined as “a [great] man who is neither a paragon of virtue and justice nor undergoes the change to misfortune through 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 his hamartia, the third involves the actual plot itself, and the fourth involves the characterization of…
“Tragedy is an imitation not of men but of a life, an action…” (Aristotle). Greek Tragedy was invented five hundred years Before Common Era, and focuses on the actions of characters. These actions emphasize the harsh reality in which the innocent mankind lives in. In Oedipus the King, Oedipus is defined as one with great potential, but has a hamartia leading to the ultimate demise of himself. Oedipus’ actions are tragic, as he tries to make the right choice but fails. He was dealt a hand that would only lead him to lose. Furthermore, Sophocles develops Oedipus as a relatable character which allows for catharsis to occur. Aristotle’s, The Poetics, explains the necessary components to create a powerful Tragedy. Oedipus the King is a powerful representation of Aristotle’s ideas on tragedy, so the purpose, protagonist, fall, and plot elements in Oedipus the King demonstrate the concepts of tragedy written in The Poetics.…
In the play Oedipus Rex by Sophocles (rpt. in James P. Place, Literature: A reader for Freshman Composition II, 1st ed. [Boston: Pearson, 2011] 122-168), the oracles had prophesied that Oedipus would kill his father and beget children by his mother. Oedipus does not want to do the things that Apollo predicted; he is no puppet, but indeed the controller of his own fate. Oedipus was unwilling to have his fate come true; he was frightened that he would kill his adopted parents. He believes they were his real parents, therefore he left to Thebes. The decision he made was based on the stories he heard. This led to Oedipus’s own downfall.…
Oedipus the King follows the story of a man named Oedipus who tries to escape fate. Before the play is even started, the readers are given background information about Oedipus. When Oedipus was a baby his parents abandoned him. His parents, Laius and Jocasta, ordered a servant to leave him on a mountain to die. The servant, taking pity on Oedipus, gave Oedipus…
Human Significance. The connection between literature and life is intimate and vital. Sophocles' Oedipus Rex shows variety of human struggles. Of all the themes in Sophocles' Oedipus Rex, fate is the most profound. Oedipus' struggle against his fate, as has been mentioned throughout this essay, is arguably the primary conflict of play. Oedipus' story demonstrates some people’s belief that men were bound by fate no matter how they fought against it. Yet, this might also be in contradiction to other people’s perspectives that man’s fate is determined by his choices in life. This masterpiece challenges one to think for some purpose – to bring about some inner transformation.…
Over the centuries, Oedipus Rex, which is a famous Greek drama written by one of three ancient Greek tragedians Sophocles, has come to be regarded as the Greek tragedy par excellence. It chronicles the story of Oedipus, a man who becomes the king of Thebes and was destined from birth to murder his father Laius and marry his mother Jocasta. The play is an example of a classic tragedy, noticeably containing an emphasis on the power of oracle on human destiny and how Oedipus's own flaws contribute to the tragic hero's downfall.…
The city of Thebes is suffering from plague and famine. The people believed that the gods were punishing them for a wrongdoing. The people asked for Oedipus’ help. He was the current King after King Laius died. The people thought, since Oedipus answered the Sphinx’s question, and freed them from its oppression, he can do the same thing and find a solution for their distress. Creon (Oedipus’ brother-in-law) gave him a message from the Oracle saying that the former king was murdered and they, by all means should find his murderer. He was killed by a band of highwaymen. Oedipus swore to find the murderer and called for Teirisias. Terisias is the blind prophet who told the prophecy that King Laius will be killed by his own son. Oedipus urged him to answer, but he refused, until both parties heated up, and he blurted that Oedipus himself was the murderer. Oedipus got angry, and sent him out. He confided with Jocasta and said Teirisias accused him of being the murderer. Jocasta assured him by telling him the prophecy from long time ago. Laius will be killed by his son. Because of this, he opted to get his son killed so he handed him to a Shepherd when he was still three days old. However, when Jocasta mentioned that Laius was killed in the place where three highways meet, he became bothered. Oedipus thought that Teirisias might be right. When he was adopted by King Polybos from Corinth, one day, a drunken man told him that he was bound to kill his father. Afraid, he left home. He met some men in the place where the three highways meet. Oedipus got into an argument with them and he killed them all. He called for the Shepherd who was tasked to get rid of Jocasta and Laius’ son. However, sad news from Corinth reached Oedipus. His father passed away and he is invited to take the throne. However, he was still bothered by the prophecy that he might marry his mother, Merope. It was then revealed to Oedipus that Merope and Polybos were not his biological parents and…
This leads to the ongoing argument about Oedipus living a life of fate, or in due course dooming…
Fate as it is eminently implicated in King Oedipus challenges all that we believe. Sophocles upsets with magnificent accuracy one’s reasoning of fate and free will. Shaking the thought of fate as god of our lives, we need to understand all that it reflects and seek not only the role of fate in King Oedipus but also the role of belief in such a thing as fate.…
Oedipus Rex was written by Sophocles as a tragedy highlighting the inevitability of fate in the lives of human beings. The finality of fate underlies in the entire theme of the play. To quote Charles Segal,…