Oedipus Rex And Religion Essay

Oedipus Rex And Religion Essay
An Analysis of Religion in Oedipus Rex
I. Introduction – Role of religion in Greek culture. Oedipus Rex has survived the ages and audiences and readers alike continue to be surprised,
revolted, and forced to confront those moral reactions that this play inspires. Religion was a dominate force in ancient Greece and had a highly
cohesive effect on society (Garland).
Context: The poleis in ancient Greece believed the roll of the gods were to control of human destiny; and the gods controlled everything regarding
man and nature. These myths were religion in Greece 300 years before Christ. At the outset, we see the gods at work. The poleis in ancient Greece
believed that specific gods controlled events in both man and nature. The gods were...show more content...
Something somewhere is in charge. Religion was a dominate force in ancient Greece and had a highly cohesive effect on society (Garland). Sophocles
reflects the role of religion and its importance in Greek society within his plays; Oedipus is the embodiment of their beliefs (Watling).
Thesis: Religion plays a dominant role in Oedipus' defiant struggle as he challenges the gods' supremacy and mandated control of human destiny.
IV. Conclusion Throughout history religion has always been a formidable force, both good and bad, influencing decisions and outcomes (Roman). In
Oedipus, Sophocles provides a scenario that has the play's characters questioning their own religious beliefs. The plague on the city and prophecy
fulfilled directly challenge their convictions.
Is there a higher power that is ultimately in control? The gods were in control all along; intolerant of his determination to outwit and thwart their
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Oedipus Rex Essay
"Crossroads, and hidden glade, oak and the narrow way at the crossroads, that drank my father's blood offered you by my hands, do you remember still
what I did as you looked on, and what I did when I came here?" (Oedipus Rex, 1575–1580). Precisely placed at the crossroads of fate and autonomy,
Oedipus struggles to define what, exactly, is fate and what, exactly, is left to his own discretion;Oedipus Rex challenges the common thought of Greek
Society. Transcending more than one thousand years, questions often posed within the context of this play come to light in high school classrooms
across America. What is seemingly an ineffective, antiquated piece of literature from Ancient Greece, actually should serve as a piece of required
reading...show more content...
Sophocles, through his writing, begins to engage in a contemporary debate of the time period: fate versus free will. Philosophers of ancient Greece
would often debate whether or not the gods had control over one's life, and Sophocles entertains all aspects of this debate. Through the use of a
meticulously crafted plot, humanity appears to have solved the issue prophesied at the birth of Oedipus. Ultimately, however, Sophocles
demonstrates the revolving way in which preordination of action ultimately comes to fruition. This is epitomized when Oedipus is met by King
Laius, his father, at the crossroads. When Oedipus is faced with the decision of whether or not to kill the man in front of him, he fulfills the
prophesy which had been placed upon him before his birth. While this concept might seem like an ancient event that leads to an archaic discussion, it
still invades relevant, personal philosophy of the world. The high school years require each student to arrive at a crossroads in their own life.
Decisions permeate their existence. Behind everything, each student has to arrive at a conclusion as to who is the driving force behind each decision;
is it themselves or is a higher power commanding everything to happen? This debate allows students to expand their thought in order to engage a
metaphysical debate relevant to discussions of society. Sophocles uses the plot of the play to teach a lesson

Mythology in Oedipus Rex Essay examples
Mythology in Oedipus Rex
In "The Oedipus Legend" Bernard M. W. Knox talks of the advantages accruing to Sophocles as a user of myths in his dramas:
The myths he used gave to his plays, without any effort on his part, some of those larger dimensions of authority which the modern dramatist must
create out of nothing if his play is to be more than a passing entertainment. The myths had the authority of history, for myth is in one of its aspects the
only history of an age that kept no records. . . . the myths served as typical patterns of the conduct of man and the manifestation of the gods (85).
This essay seeks to explore the life of the flawed mythological person, Oedipus, as protagonist of...show more content...
The epic was most probably put into writing early in the seventh century before the present era. . . . "And I saw the mother of Oedipodes, fair
Epicste, who wrought a monstrous deed in ignorance of mind in that she wedded her own son, and he, when he had slain his own father, wedded her,
and straightway the gods made these things known among men. . . .She made fast a noose on high from a lofty beam, overpowered by her sorrow."
(Bowra 33).
From this we can deduce that the myth used by Sophocles in Oedipus Rex had to be older than the seventh century BC because Homer employed it at
that time. C. M. Bowra in "Sophocles' Use of Mythology" gives the rationale behind the Attic dramatists' preference for myths in their plays:
Myth provided the framework of drama, which illustrated in a highly concrete and cogent way some important crisis or problem, and that is why
Greek tragedy can be called symbolical. The old stories are indeed told again for their own sake, and there is no lack of dramatic tension and human
interest, but they also exemplify some far–reaching problem, which is admirably presented in this individual shape(31).
The Homeric myth provides the story of the fall of a man from prosperity to adversity. Sophocles takes the myth and dramatizes it in such a way that
every word and action makes an impact on the

Oedipus Rex
Hubris Goes Before a Fall
Greek literature is stocked full of characters that possess excessive pride. This is often referred to as hubris. Having too much pride is rarely seen as
a good thing, which is demonstrated in Sophocles' Oedipus Rex. Oedipus' land of Thebes falls under a terrible curse, and naturally as a king, he
wants to solve it, which is usually the sign of a great ruler, however, Oedipus' journey to alleviate the plague for his people brings about the
realization of his fate. Oedipus is a character deeply flawed because he believes that he is a great ruler for the city of Thebes and that he cannot be
the reason why the plague has befallen them, only the one who can solve the problem. Oedipus' plight in Sophocles' Oedipus Rex illustrates hubris,
specifically the realization that having excessive pride is damaging, which is a moral presented to the reader over the course of the play. At the start
of the play Oedipus is blissfully unaware of his fate, however, the more he digs for the truth, the more his hubris demonstrates that this is a tragic
flaw. During the beginning of the play, Oedipus is a man full of pride, denying that he could be a person affected by fate and prophecies. He boasts
about his accomplishments and how he is the one who had saved Thebes before. For example, Oedipus says, "But then I came, Oedipus, who knew
nothing. / yet I finished her off, using my wits / rather than relying on birds. That's the man / you want to overthrow, hoping, no

Oedipus Rex Translations
"A word is not a crystal, transparent and unchanged, it is the skin of a living thought and may vary greatly in the color and content according to the
circumstances and the time which it is used"(Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, 1918). In the two different versions of Oedipus Rex, the first version
translated by Fitts and Fitzgerald, and the second translated by Luci Berowitz and Theodore Brunner, the emotional appeal is quite different due to the
different diction of each of the translation versions. The different diction in the two versions seems to give Oedipus two different characters. The diction
that the four authors use in their translations of Oedipus Rex is very effective in conveying different emotional feelings about Oedipus and...show more
content...
In the Berkowitz/Brunner version, Oedipus directly questions his citizens about what they need. He questions quickly, wanting to get to the point, "has
something frightened you? What brings you here? Some need? Some want?" Oedipus wants to reach out in every possible subject of help they may
desire. The diction makes Oedipus seem more passionate about helping his people. In the other version, Oedipus does not seem passionate and seems
to want to help the Theban citizens because of obligation. However, in both versions, they want to help. As far as what Oedipus thinks about the
situation in Thebes and improving it, he wants to help in both translations. Wanting to help the Thebans is one of the major similarity in the two
passages. In the Fitts/Fitzgerald translation, Oedipus seems to be telling his people that he will have no problems in helping them, and that they
should not worry. He says, "never doubt that I will help you/ in every way that I can"(Fitts/Fitzgerald). This shows his over–confidence because he
personally thinks that there will never be a time in which he will not be able to help them. The other version portrays Oedipus a more humbler and
simpler of a man, as he just states, "I 'll help you all I can"(Berowitz/Brunner). This shows how he does not guarantee the Thebans that he definitely
will resolve the plague of Thebes, but he comforts them by saying that he will try his hardest to help them.

Oedipus Rex Essay
In Oedipus Rex, Sophocles explores the conflict between a man's intellectual reasoning and the universe beyond his grasp. This may seem like a
generalization, but the play's minor conflicts are arguably derivatives of the main struggle. As we would see, the fate or destiny that opposes Oedipus
does not act directly on him, but creates a domino effect that through other conflicts drive him to face his destiny by unearthing his true identity. Similar
to the Sphinx's riddle that gave power to Oedipus, he must travel the different stages of life in order to "know thy–self" (Rudnytsky 264). The play
opens with what may seem like a trivial conflict between Oedipus and the forces of nature, but the plague and other misfortunes that afflicted...show
more content...
Creon tells that "Apollo commands to take revenge upon whoever killed him [King Laius]", and Oedipus without any further reasoning proclaims that
the murderer must be exile, bringing to himself doom (DiYanni 1310). Nevertheless, is the oracle Teiresias by accusing Oedipus of committing the
murder who really sparks the conflict between Oedipus and Creon, the conflict of man versus man. Believing Creon is behind a plot to overthrow him
and lacking any concrete evidence, Oedipus fails to his proclaimed intellect and fearing the prophecy could be true, mocks Teiresias for his blindness
and charges Creon with treason. When the tension between both characters begins to build up Jocasta enters to give a solution by giving hopes to
Oedipus stating that the prophecies were wrong because a herdsman, witness to the murder, had different information. This only prolongs the inevitably
truth until the servant to which Jocasta gave up Oedipus dissipates any doubt of the "patricide and incest" Oedipus innocently committed (Letters).
Both Oedipus and Jocasta thought the truth was more powerful than the prophecies or the will of the gods. Even though, their biggest mistake was
based on the initial prophecy in which he would kill his father and marry his mother, which made Jocasta to give up Oedipus and Oedipus to wrongly
flee from Corinth. They both, unknowingly, trying to disprove the supernatural with

Mythology in Oedipus Rex Essays
Mythology in Oedipus Rex
E. T. Owen in "Drama in Sophocles' Oedipus Tyrannus" comments on the mythological beginnings of Oedipus Rex:
Professor Goodell says: "Given an old myth to be dramatized, Sophocles' primary question was, 'Just what sort of people were they, must they have
been, who naturally did and suffered what the tales say they did and suffered?" That was his method of analysis (38).
The Greek Sophoclean tragedy Oedipus Rex is based on a myth from the Homeric epic Odysseus. With his tragic flaw the protagonist, Oedipus, lives
out the main episodes of the Homeric myth.
In his essay "Sophoclean Tragedy" Friedrich Nietzsche searches out the mythology in this drama, and finds that the...show more content...
From this we can deduce that the myth used by Sophocles in Oedipus Rex had to be older than the seventh century BC because Homer employed it at
that time. C. M. Bowra in "Sophocles' Use of Mythology" gives the rationale behind the Attic dramatists' preference for myths in their plays:
Myth provided the framework of drama, which illustrated in a highly concrete and cogent way some important crisis or problem, and that is why
Greek tragedy can be called symbolical. The old stories are indeed told again for their own sake, and there is no lack of dramatic tension and human
interest, but they also exemplify some far–reaching problem, which is admirably presented in this individual shape(31).
The Homeric myth provides the story of the fall of a man from prosperity to adversity. Sophocles takes the myth and dramatizes it in such a way that
every word and action makes an impact on the audience. The audience can see the error that beset Oedipus, and see his living state of mind as reflected
in themselves; they empathize with him in his moral decline.
Aristotle's analysis admits that the tragic flaw in Oedipus could be either a moral misjudgment or an intellectual error on the part of the king. In his
essay "On Misunderstanding the Oedipus Rex," E. R. Dodds takes the reader back to Aristotle in his consideration of this question of the flaw:
I shall take Aristotle as my starting point. . . .

Film Adaptation of SophoclesвЂ™ Oedipus Rex Essay
"You are your own enemy" (Guthrie, Oedipus Rex, 22:43). In the film adaptation of Sophocles' "Oedipus Rex" (1957), Sir Tyrone Guthrie portrays the
characters as truth seekers that are ignorant when trying to find King Laius' murderer. On the other hand, Sigmund Freud's hypothesis of Sophocles'
work introduces us to "The Oedipus Complex" (1899) which states that as we're young we grow infatuated with our opposite sex parent and feel
resentment towards our same–sex parent. These two pieces have adapted mirror like meanings of Sophocles' tragic play. Sir Tyrone Guthrie and
Sigmund Freud explore this through the use of ethos, irony, social distance, and the visualization of state of mind in order to show the manifestation
Oedipus undergoes...show more content...
In the same way, Sigmund Freud hypothesizes that the reason Oedipus tends to be so ignorant and ignore the truth is because his unconscious is
trying to protect him from bringing up past feelings for his mother. Freud asserts this idea by studying his patients that lead him to believe that the
psyches urge to love the opposite sex parent "has not changed for many thousands of years" (Jacobus 477). Oedipus decisions to ignore the
accusations against him are just a defense mechanism of the unconscious because as human beings grow older we are conditioned to know that
loving the opposite sex parent is morally incorrect. Therefore, Oedipus' strong desire to seek the truth is what leads him to his ironic downfall. Sir
Tyrone Guthrie makes sure that everyone who has information belonging to the murder of King Laius or Oedipus true parents comes to Oedipus
rather than him seeking the information. This shows how all the answers are being fed to Oedipus but he does not make any sense of it. Creon
foreshadowed Oedipus downfall when he explained that "time alone shows a just man, though a day can show a name" which led to Oedipus gauging
out his eyes for the wrong doing he did (Guthrie, Oedipus Rex, 33:13). Sigmund Freud would recall this from his patients having unresolved feelings
for their parents that led them to get sick or self–inflict themselves, like Oedipus, as punishment. Though, Freud's patients have also "...imagined
themselves killing

oedipus rex
In Sophocles' play, Oedipus Rex, there are many themes that are woven through the life of King Oedipus, and revealed through the key points of the
plot. One of the most important themes is the inevitability of ones' fate. Although fate is considered the usual genre of the Greeks in playwriting there,
are specifics that Oedipus conducts unusual to our own way of thinking of a king during the Ancient Greek times. For example: Oedipus's ignorance of
believing what is said from his wife, Iocaste and others. Also there is the prophecy and tragedy portrayed in the story. The action and plot/structure of
the play is part of what makes it one of the most studied Greek, plays ever.
Even today one of the most famous themes is the idea that...show more content...
Yet, it is because of his character as a great discoverer of truth and a man determined to find out what he has decided to discover, that Oedipus meets
with tragic reversal. In the scene where he is cross–examining the shepherds, Iocaste begs him not to carry the investigation further, but he pays no
heed to her words, in page 1336 the shepherd says, "In God's name do not torture a old man. Unhappy king! What more do you wish for?" It is this
determination of Oedipus to find out the whole truth at any cost, which makes him tragic. According to Aristotle, thetragic hero must be a person of
noble birth and prosperity whose misfortune results, form depravity or vice but from some hamartia. Hamartia is translated as an error of
judgment by most critics, but interpreted as tragic flaw by some. Oedipus is clearly the intermediate kind of person stipulated by Aristotle.
However, it is difficult to say that his misfortune befalls him because of some flaw in his character, or some error of judgment committed by him.
There is no doubt that his character has several flaws, and that he commits some errors of judgment, but the question is whether these errors are the
cause of his tragedy. Oedipus is no doubt rash, impatient, irritable and passionate. He is also very proud of his intelligence, and believes that he can
find the answer to every problem. Yet, if we take his tragedy to be the basic actions of incest and parricide, then these flaws and errors of Oedipus are
quite

Oedipus Rex and Aristotle Essay example
The Six Elements of a Tragedy in "Oedipus Rex" Aristotle's "The Poetics" describes the process of a tragedy. It is not the guide per se of writing a
tragedy but is the idea's Aristotle collected while studying tragedies. A tragedy, according to Aristotle, consists of six major points. The first and most
important is the plot, which is what all the other points are based on. Such points are: character, language, thought, melody, and spectacle (Aristotle). A
prime example of the usage of these parts in a tragic drama is evident in Sophocles' "Oedipus Rex". The plot of a tragedy usually consists of a tragic
hero's fall from grace. Aristotle describes plot in two ways a simple plot and a complex one. In a simple plot a fall from...show more content...
Oedipus flaw is he does not know who he is this ignorance leads to him bringing about his own downfall. Next on the list of elements of a drama is
thought. The element thought is used to support character and is evident in the speeches' of the characters (Aristotle). These speeches reveal the
thoughts and feelings of the character; further allowing the reader to develop a relationship with the character. In "Oedipus Rex" thought is
illustrated in the speech Oedipus makes when he realizes the truth about his situations. Language, or diction, is fourth on the list of a tragedy major
points. Aristotle points out that metaphors are the most useful form of language in a tragedy. The main metaphor portrayed in "Oedipus Rex" is
that of sight and blindness. The king things he sees all but in reality he is blind to the truth. Ironically the only one who can see the truth is the blind
seer Teiresias. Oedipus begins the play able to see but is blind and ends the play blind but able to see. The fifth major point in a tragedy is melody.
Melody involves the chorus of the drama. Aristotle contends that the chorus should not be just be an intermission but should add to the plot and
character of the tragedy (Aristotle). This is exemplified in "Oedipus Rex" in lines INSERT BOOK QUOTE. The last and least important element of
tragedy is spectacle. Aristotle rates this last because it

Theme Of Decisions In Oedipus Rex
Decision making is a significant part of our lives, thus the element of 'decisions' is equally important in writing a play. Without 'decisions', a play, or
any other things, would be rendered almost impossible to construct. However, to exclude 'decisions' from a play would be an impossibility in itself.
Take King Oedipus for example, if Laius and Jocasta ignores the prophecy, they are actually deciding not to take action. I am not implying that here
that other mediums can be made possible without the element of 'decisions', I simply mean that King Oedipus relies heavily on it to give life to the
play. We can see from King Oedipus the decisions the characters make affects how the story progresses. The questions here are; do they make those
decisions simply because they the free will to do so? Or do they just seem to make those decisions but are actually outcomes caused by the events
previously happened and they actually have no control over what they choose to do?
Let us assume that prophecies do not exist in the universe of King Oedipus, it would be safe to say that the events can be avoided....show more content...
We must not forget that in King Oedipus Sophocles deals with the struggle that mankind has with fate. 'Fate' would imply that events are
predetermined and beyond the control of human beings. Sophocles cleverly showcased determinism in a form of a prophecy; the example from the
play, "That he should die by the hands of his own child, His child and mine." (Sophocles, trans. 1947, line 713–714), suggest that the prophecy is
unconditional and will be fulfilled no matter what actions are taken, in other words, predetermined. The prophecy itself is the cause of it coming
true. One would think that Laius' and Jocasta's decision in sending the baby away or King Oedipus' decision in leaving Corinth is a display of human
agency. But it appears not to be so as their decisions are caused by the knowledge of the

Oedipus Rex by Sophocles Essay
Oedipus Rex by Sophocles
In Sophocles' "Oedipus the King" which is a tragic play, which discusses the tragic discovery that Oedipus has killed his father and married his mother.
Oedipus is the embodiment of the perfect Athenian. He is self–confident, intelligent, and strong willed. Ironically these are the very traits which bring
about his tragic discovery. Oedipus gained the rule of Thebes by answering the riddle of The Sphinx. Sophocles used the riddle of The Sphinx as a
metaphor for the 3 phases of Oedipus' life and to further characterized him as a tragic hero.
The Sphinx posed the following riddle to all who came to obtain the rule over Thebes: "What is it that walks on 4 feet and 2 feet and 3 feet and has
only one voice,...show more content...
By becoming king of Thebes he marries Jocasta the Queen of Thebes and his own mother. Many years later after bearing children with Jocasta a
plague kills many of the inhabitants of Thebes. Oedipus is told by the gods to find the killer of Laius. He is very diligent in the inquiry and finally
comes to the horrible truth that he himself is the murderer. Jocasta kills herself at the horrible realization that she has laid with her son. Oedipus
puts out his eyes, at which time he finally sees the truth. This fulfills the final part of the Sphinx's riddle for Oedipus will have to walk with a cane
for the rest of his life because of his blindness. This will give him the walk on 3, which man walks with at the end of his years.
The Sphinx's riddle was used by Sophocles to characterize Oedipus as a tragic man and as a parallel to his life. The riddle describes the 3 stages,
which Oedipus went through in his life. Also in answering the riddle Oedipus inevitable brought about his own tragic ending by a horrible discovery.
The statement that Joseph Campbell makes that defines a hero as "someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself," I believe
very much that this applies to the story of Oedipus the King. He alone had to realize a life lesson and by doing so hurt himself and the ones he had
loved. Oedipus in his journey showed others that you must not physically open your eyes up, but as well open them in a fourth

Oedipus Reaction Paper
Reaction Paper on Oedipus The King
World Literature Oedipus the King, also known by the as Oedipus Rex, is an tragedy written by Sophocles. It was the second of Sophocles 's three
Theban plays to be produced, together with Oedipus at Colonus and then Antigone. Oedipus Rex chronicles the story of Oedipus, a man who becomes
the king of Thebes who 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 how Oedipus 's own faults contribute to the tragic hero 's downfall, as opposed having fate be the sole cause.
Oedipus the King shows us unity of time, place, and action. The play focuses on Oedipus 's search for the killer of King...show more content...
Oedipus ' pride and arrogance prevented him from being able to understand the truth, and he continued to blindly target others for the blame.
Anagnorisis refers to recognition oneself and what one stands for. The description fits Oedipus ' realization of his mistaken self–image and recognition
of his true self–identity. It comes at the end of the interview with the Theban shepherd about Oedipus ' true identity.
Peripeteia means a reversal of intention or a turning point. In Oedipus this happens when the Messenger shows up from Corinth. The man tries to ease
the King 's mind by telling him that he 's not really Polybos 's son. Though the Messenger intends only good things with this information, it ends up
being the thing that drives Oedipus toward his horrible fate.
Catharsis describes an emotional release that leads to cleansing and healing. The description fits Theban King Oedipus ' self–blinding. He released
many emotions upon discovering that he is the prophesied killer of his father and husband of his mother. He the emotional experience into healing by
taking away the sight that gets in the way of processing what is staring him directly in the face at every unfortunate turn in his life.
Oedipus Rex allows a person to witness the result of knowing one's destiny and strength of one's character. Oedipus Rex portrays human blindness and
the devastating effects it has not only on oneself but also

Oedipus Rex Research Paper
Dramatic Research Paper (Grade 92)
"Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles
Introduction/Thesis "Oedipus Rex" was a Greek Tragedy written by Sophocles in the fifth century BC. It was the first of a trilogy of plays surrounding
the life of Oedipus. Sophocles wrote over 120 plays approximately 100 years before Aristotle even defined a tragedy and the tragic hero. Aristotle's
definition of a tragedy is "... an imitation of an action of high importance, complete and of some amplitude; in language enhanced by distinct and
varying beauties; acted not narrated; by means of pity and fear effecting its purgation of these emotions" (Kennedy and Gioa 2010). According to
Aristotle there were six elements to a tragedy: the plot, the character, the...show more content...
Because of his commitment to his people and their suffering, he sent his brother–in–law, Creon, to Delphi to see the gods to find out why his city is
under such a great plague and what he can do to stop it. Creon returns and says, "... It was murder that brought the plague–wind on the city" and that it
was King Laios that was murdered years ago (Prologue, 104–105). Vowing to bring the murderer to justice and being a just King,Oedipus decrees that
if the murderer reveals himself he will not be killed, he will be exiled. This determination and tenaciousness was the beginning of the end of King
Oedipus. The first incidents of Oedipus' arrogance and pride were when he went to the Oracle of Delphi about his lineage. Even though the Oracle
did not answer the question about his lineage, the Oracle did give him a prophecy that he would kill his father and marry his mother. Thinking that
he was doing the right thing by putting as much distance between his parents and himself, it was arrogance and pride that ruled him. He believed
that he could out run the gods and defy prophecy. Another example of Oedipus' arrogance was when he was forced off the road by another chariot;
he lost his temper when the old man angered him causing the death of the old man and his aides. Because of his intelligence and his keen sense being
able to solve riddles; again, his arrogance was when he solved the riddle of the Sphinx. The Sphinx was so distraught that

Literary Criticism Of Oedipus Rex
Literary Analysis Essay on Oedipus Rex
Oedipus Rex, a tragedy the playwright Sophocles, unfolds an appalling storyline with the use of ironic instances. Oedipus comes into this tragedy
born as a prince of Thebes, but he is brought upon a horrible fate. Oedipus' parents, Queen Jocasta and King Laius, receive a prophecy that their son
would end Laius' life and marry Jocasta. Therefore, after Jocasta gives birth to Oedipus, Jocasta and Laius pin Oedipus' ankles together and place him
on a mountain to die alone. However, he is saved and adopted by the king and queen of Corinth, allowing the prophecy to also survive. When
Oedipus discovers the prophecy himself, he tries all he can to avoid the curse, which actually leads him to his own doom. This causes Oedipus to run
from his adoptive parents, only to kill a man, not knowing it was his own father. Subsequently, Oedipus winds up marrying Queen Jocasta–– his own
mother. Oedipus unfortunately does not even know the truth of who his spouse is, but when he does, his whole world comes crashing down. Sophocles
effectively employs situational irony in Oedipus Rex, when Jocasta tries to assure Oedipus that the prophecy is not real, which actually leads to
Oedipus' horrific realization of the truth.
Over time, Oedipus finds himself in quite a predicament and soon needs the comfort of Jocasta. A prophet by the name of Tiresias tells Oedipus the
truth about how he has killed Laius, but Oedipus refuses to believe it. Ignorant Oedipus does

Oedipus Rex Research Paper
Who has no eyes and lives alone wandering around on a mountain all day? Why, Oedipus Rex of course! However, Oedipus cannot be held
accountable for this tragic fate. Oedipus is a prime example of a modern tragic hero, meaning that his downfall was out of his control and was the fault
of others around him. Oedipus's life has consisted of secrets, lies, and twisted tales, all of which were not revealed to him until well into his adulthood.
Almost every bad thing in Oedipus's life can be accounted on other people's actions. Oedipus fate was out of his hands, nothing he could do could
avoid it, thus making him a modern tragic hero. Oedipus's fate has been decided for him since he was a babe. When his mother was carrying him, his
parents, Laius

Is Oedipus Responsible For His Own Downfall
In both the current era and the time of the ancient Greeks Sophocles' play Oedipus Tyrannus is seen as the quintessential model of Greek Tragedy. This
is due to the intricate questions of morality that are masterfully woven into the literature and the fact that "perhaps no classical Greek play that has
stimulated as much critical discussion" (Harris and Platzner Classical Mythology: Images and Insights, p.648). One of the dominant arguments the
tragedy generates is whether Oedipus is responsible for the abhorrent crimes of patricide and incest. The answer to which is yes. To be human is to
have choice and it is evident throughout the play that Oedipus's reckless decisions are to blame for the violations against his parents. Due to...show more
content...
Oedipus is incapable of clear thought and unfortunately it was of the utmost importance to criticize the oracle and act accordingly. Oedipus's
character suggests that he "believes all questions have answers and that humans can ascertain those answers by applying their wits and their
logic"(Harris and Platzner Classical Mythology: Images and Insights, p.656). This being the case, Oedipus should have been able to avoid making a
rash, senseless choice in his reaction to the oracle. Because of his complete faith in Apollo's oracle, he immediately leaves Corinth in an attempt to
avoid the despicable atrocity of killing his father and engaging in incest with his mother. Regrettably, it is this very action that charts his course
towards a violent path of destruction. One can see that as a result of Oedipus's recklessness he has allowed the prophecy to become "self–fulfilling"
and if had not heeded the oracle's forecast it would have never become a harsh reality (Harris and Platzner Classical Mythology: Images and Insights,
p.649). Near the end of Sopholcles's distinguished tragedy, Oedipus finally recognizes the truth and he insists his actions are the fault of Apollo. He
shrieks blame upon the god for the monstrous events and he violently cries, "Apollo it was, Apollo, friends who brought to pass these evil, evil woes
of mine" (Oedipus Tyrannus, 1274–1278). Oedipus is consumed by

Oedipus Rex : A Tragic Journey Of Self Discovery
Both wisdom and folly, truth and falsehood are different forms of the same thing: the relationship between light and darkness. To the ancient Greeks,
whether one is in darkness or light is determined by their ability to see spiritually, which they believed the physically blind were capable of. This
contrast between spiritual sight and mere physical sight is a major theme in Oedipus Rex, a Greek tragedy written by the legendary Sophocles, a Greek
playwright so skilled that he won at the Festival of Dionysus approximately twenty times with his masterfully crafted tragedies (Buller). Set in the
city–state of Thebes in Ancient Greece, Oedipus Rex is a tragic journey of self–discovery as King Oedipus uncovers his origins and how he unwittingly
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Upon learning the damning revelation that he himself is responsible for Laius' death, Oedipus adamantly refuses to accept the prophecy and boasts
about his credentials in a vain attempt to divert the accusation: There was a riddle too deep for common wits; A seer should have answered it; but
answer came there none From you; bird–lore and god–craft all were silent. Until I came – I, ignorant Oedipus, came – (36–37)
Oedipus' speech about his accomplishments exposes his arrogant nature and reveals the fact that Oedipus revels in the glory of his achievements;
blinding himself to his vices as a consequence. In addition, Oedipus' sudden flash of rage at Teiresias upon the seer's refusal to prophesy, despite the
seer's warnings of the pain and anguish the prophecy would bring demonstrates the very rash, quick–tempered nature that led Oedipus to kill his own
father Laius (48). Oedipus certainly is very knowledgeable, but he lacks wisdom as he refuses to see his faults and heed the warnings of others. For
this reason, even Oedipus calling himself "ignorant" can be seen as mere false humility, as his rash, arrogant nature reveals itself yet again when
Oedipus accuses Creon of being the "proved plotter" against his life and a "thief" trying to steal Oedipus' crown (40). Despite Creon handling such an
outrageous accusation with care and producing sound arguments as to why he would not be interested in the throne, Oedipus clings to his argument

Summary of Oedipus Rex Essay
Summary of Oedipus Rex Summary for "Oedipus Rex" The storytelling method that is employed in most classical writing, i.e. the Iliad and the
Odyssey as well as Greek tragedy, allows for the development of two stories. One is the story of the "now." The "now" is told through the actions
and events of the play or story. The other story that is told is the "past." The "past" is composed of stories that are told by characters and gives needed
background information about the main characters and events. In Oedipus Rex, the realization of Oedipus's tyrannous rise to power is the "now" story.
The story of Oedipus's birth and placement in the world is the "past" story. Both of these stories are woven into the play and each holds a place in
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Creon is confused because he has always been a supporter of Oedipus and has never had aspirations to overthrow Oedipus. Oedipus is blind to
rational thinking and proceeds to make unfounded accusations. Jocasta enters and breaks up the argument. She comforts Oedipus by suggesting that
Teiresias is wrong and that humans have no place in prophecy. As they are talking, a messenger comes to tell Oedipus that his father is dead. This
messenger also tells how Oedipus is not a son of Polybus by blood. The herdsman that had been sent for to be questioned about the death of Laius
enters. Through the discussion of these men, it becomes apparent that Oedipus was most likely the son of Jocasta and Laius and that he is indeed the
poison that has been plaguing the land.
All leave except the Chorus. A messenger arrives to tell the Chorus about Jocasta and Oedipus's reaction. Jocasta had returned to her home and
cursed the bed upon which she had slept with both Oedipus and Laius. She then hung herself. Oedipus returned. Finding Jocasta hung, he cut her
down and removed the broaches from her dress and thrust them into his eyes. The play ends with Oedipus asking that Creon take care of his
daughters and Thebes. Oedipus feels great shame. He has blinded himself because he does not want to see his father and mother in the after world.
With this shame he leaves Thebes to wander the world. The "past" story is places into the "now"

Oedipus Rex And Religion Essay

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Oedipus Rex And Religion Essay