Oedipus The King Irony

Oedipus The King Irony
The key to having a perfect Greek tragedy is to make it as realistic as possible which is exactly what Sophocles does in Oedipus Rex. He takes
Oedipus who is better than anyone else which is proven through his intelligence by the fact he was the only one who answered the Sphinx's riddle
correctly making him a hero to the people of Thebes. Oedipus is also imperfect by the fact he cannot make good judgments. "Creon is no threat. You
weave your own doom. " (Sophocles 20), when Tiresias speaks to Oedipus about his doom he defends himself by saying, "Wealth, power, craft of
statesmanship! Kingly position, everywhere admired! What savage envy is stored up against these," (Sophocles 20). He ignores the truths told to him
and what Tiresias tells him about the prophecy....show more content...
The story is all about the efforts Oedipus takes to change his prophecy: Iocaste and Laios getting rid of Oedipus as an infant and Oedipus leaving
Corinth. No matter what happens the prophecy comes true and tragedy strikes the stubborn King. Iocaste gets rid of Oedipus as an infant only to
have him come back to Thebes healthy, strong, and married to her. Oedipus's decision to leave Corinth only leads him to meet his biological parents
and thus completing his fate said by the oracle. Oedipus and Iocaste celebrate the oracle being wrong about Oedipus's fate until the messenger comes
and they go on a search for the real truth that is later confirming that the oracles were correct. Every time someone tries to change their fate the oracles
provide, the audience has the knowledge of knowing that every effort is pointless creating the dramatic irony in Oedipus
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Oedipus Essay
Oedipus, from the play Oedipus the King, is a very unique character whose different aspects are revealed throughout the play. As he talks with
characters such as Creon, Jocasta, and Tiresias, we get a well painted portrait of the aspects of Oedipus' character.
The ambitious aspect of Oedipus' character is revealed through his conversations with the Leader and the Chorus. When the Leader steps up at the
beginning of the play to offer suggestions, Oedipus gladly accepts; he asks no one to "hold back" (323) and for everyone to just say whatever
information they had on the killing of Laius. Oedipus is very open–minded to the Leaders suggestions. He promises the citizens of his town, the
Chorus, that he will find the murderer of King Laius....show more content...
When Creon asks Oedipus to listen to him, Oedipus refuses Creon and insults him in public. Even the arrogant King Oedipus can be kind and
compassionate Oedipus is very kind and compassionate to Jocasta. He shows deep love and compassion towards her. When Jocasta asks something
from Oedipus, "she receives from [Oedipus] whatever she desires". (648). An example of this is when Jocasta requested him to stop arguing with
Creon, Oedipus complied. While Jocasta is around, Oedipus seems to be another person; he is affectionate, instead of "haunting" as he normally
is; even to Creon, he seemed to have calmed down and accepted some of Creon's attempts at proving his innocence. Oedipus is not as kind as he is
to Jocasta to everyone, especially towards Tiresias. Oedipus may be a foul mouthed character, but Tiresias is just as absurd. Oedipus' short temper
and stubbornness is exploited when he talks to Tiresias. Another trait that is revealed is impatience. When Oedipus insulted Tiresias in public,
questioned his power to foresee, and accused him of lying to his fellow citizens, he replied back promptly and accused Oedipus of "scourging his
own flesh and blood"(474), and said he will be "rooted from the earth brutally." (489). Oedipus does not take this in well and kicks Tiresias out of his
castle. Even though Tiresias wasn't trying to accuse Oedipus of murder, Oedipus insulted

Oedipus The King
Many events that lead to the tragedy of Oedipus Rex proved that his life was troubling defined by Aristotle. Oedipus high ranking birth lead him to
a eventful life because of what his parents decision was at birth. "An Oracle came to laius one fine day and it declared that down at the hands of a
son, our son, to be born of our own flesh and blood" (Aristotle 201). This oracle was the telling of this whole family's future and that it was going to
lead them to some sticky situations. Oedipus found out that someone in that kingdom killed laius and he wanted him dead so when he hears the story
he does not want to believe it. "My son he wasn't three days old and the boys father fastened his ankles, had a henchman fling him away on a barren,
trackless...show more content...
"But Laius so the report goes at least, was killed by strangers, thieves, at a place where three roads meet..." (Aristotle 201). Jocasta's side of the story of
what she heard from the shepherd that was there that day he saw Oedipus kill his dad Laius. "You are fated to couple with your mother, you will bring
a breadth of children into the light no man can bear to see–you will kill your father, the one who gave you life" (Aristotle 205). This quote was what
Oedipus heard from Apollo and that this lead him to filling the prophecy for his family. Due to the fact of Oedipus ignorance that has caused him to be
his biggest downfall. "Enough! Such filth from him? Insufferable–what, still alive? Get–out–faster, back where you came from–Vanish!" (Aristotle
183). He does not want to believe what Teiresias says and explain to him that he had children with his mom. "That day you learn the truth about your
marriage the wedding–march that sang you into your halls, the lusty voyage home to the fatal harbor!" (Aristotle 183). Tiresias is desperately trying to
explain to Oedipus what he had done and he is not listening or taking his information to

Oedipus the King: The Innocence of Oedipus Essay
Sophocles' Oedipus Rex Is Innocent
Because Oedipus knows nothing about the past of Thebes, he is not an assassin. Oedipus committed murder but unknowingly of who King Laius was.
Oedipus' honor was his claim against the murder. Had it been the other way around and Oedipus had lost the battle, King Laius' alibi would have also
been for reasons of honor: for reasons of royalty. Oedipus was royalty and knew it as well did King Laius. The main idea behind Oedipus' innocence is
this "royalty." Regardless of either of their class standings a fight occurred and the one to start had been King Laius? men, or group, the fact that they
lost is not the fault of Oedipus. In other words, King Laius and his men wanted to discipline Oedipus for not...show more content...
murder. He tells Creon "you will find me a firm ally, and together we shall exact vengeance for our land and for the god?And with the help of God,
we shall find success ? or ruin" (5) He knew what his duty was and that was what he wanted to follow. He needed to save thousands of people and
Oedipus would go to any means to save them. This is an innocent person and a trustworthy King. "My words are uttered as a stranger to the act, a
stranger to its tale"(7). He tells us that he cannot solve the "riddle the very skill that proved him great" (11). He cannot do it alone. Why is this? If
he is so guilty of this crime and he is the "murderer that he seeks" then why does he go on with the search? (10). The reason is that he does not
know that he has caused the grief for his people. He does not know that he is the murderer. "Ask what you wish. I am not the murderer.", is what he
uttered to Creon because he believed that he was not the murderer (14). The fault behind Oedipus? fate lies partly on Apollo and on the prophecy
that he was told. Had he been blind to that prophecy he would have remained in Corinth and ruled as a true ruler. He would not have wed his mother
nor murdered his father. But why do these things happen to Oedipus? Why when he tries to be the best does he get the worst? His fate led him there.
He was doomed to follow the prophecy at

Sigmund Freud's Oedipus Complex Essay
Oedipus Complex "It is the fate of all of us, perhaps, to direct our first sexual impulse towards our mother and our first hatred and our first murderous
wish against our father." – Sigmund Freud(Clark, 122) The Oedipus conflict or complex is a concept developed by Sigmund Freud to explain the
origin of certain psychological disorders in childhood. It is defined as a child's unconscious desire for the exclusive love of the parent of the opposite
sex. This desire includes jealousy toward the parent of the same sex and the unconscious wish for that parent's death. Horney states that it is not a
"biologically given phenomenon" but rather a response to the "provocation's" of the outside world.(Horney) The "Oedipus Complex" was started...show
more content...
Oedipus, outraged at the accusation, denounces it as a plot of Creon to gain the throne. Jocasta appears just in time to avoid a battle between the
two men. Seers, she assures Oedipus, are not infallible. To prove her point she cites the old prophecy that her son should kill his father and have
children by his mother. She prevented its fulfillment, she confesses, by abandoning their infant son in the mountains. As for Laius, he had been
killed by robber's years later at the junction of three roads on the route to Delphi. This information makes Oedipus uneasy. He recalls having killed a
man answering Laius' description at this very spot when he was fleeing from his home in Corinth to avoid fulfillment of a similar prophecy. An aged
messenger arrives from Corinth, at this point, to announce the death of King Polybus, supposed father of Oedipus, and the election of Oedipus as
king in his stead. On account of the old prophecy Oedipus refuses to return to Corinth until his mother, too, is dead. To calm his fears the messenger
assures him that he is not the blood son of Polybus and Merope, but a foundling from the house of Laius deserted in the mountains. This statement is
confirmed by the old shepherd whom Jocasta had charged with the task of exposing her babe. Thus the ancient prophecy has been fulfilled in each
dreadful detail. Jocasta in her horror hangs herself and Oedipus stabs out his eyes. Then he imposes on himself the

Analysis of Oedipus the King Essays
The tale of Oedipus and his prophecy has intrigued not only the citizens of Greece in the ancient times, but also people all over the world for several
generations. Most notable about the play was its peculiar structure, causing the audience to think analytically about the outcomes of Oedipus' actions
and how it compares with Aristotle's beliefs. Another way that the people have examined the drama is by looking at the paradoxes (such as the
confrontation of Tiresias and Oedipus), symbols (such as the Sphinx), and morals that has affected their perceptions by the end of the play.
Nonetheless, the most important aspect is how relevant the story is and how it has influenced modern ideas like that of Freud and other people of
today. As...show more content...
Oedipus displayed his faulty character throughout the play by showing how he is filled with ill–temper and pride, especially during his confrontation
with Apollo's blind prophet, Tiresias. He allowed his own hubris to take over him, eventually leading to his disaster at the end of the story. Now,
some critics may argue that Oedipus did not actually go through a downfall in the play, but when looking back at the definition of a tragic hero, it
can be seen that there are evidence to prove that Oedipus is a tragic hero. For Aristotle, a tragic hero has a hamartia (or tragic flaw) that leads to his
own downfall, and so there is no argue that Oedipus undergoes a downfall in the play. But was he to be blamed for the circumstances he encountered
in his life? The answer could go either way. As argued by Jocasta, "It's all chance/ chance rules our lives. Not a man on earth/ can see a day
ahead...Better to live at random, best we can" (Oedipus the King, 1068–1071). Drawing from the quotation about chances, Oedipus might have ended
up in his situation not because of a future prediction, but rather as a result of coincidence. Moreover, what was important to acknowledge about
Jocasta's statement is that she said how it is better to live the "best we can", which was something that Oedipus ended up ignoring. Even though he
knows that the truth would ruin him, he

There are many facets of personality of a minor character that authors may utilize to supply contrast to the main character of their work. Some of these
contrasts are extremely noticeable and some are not. One such facet is with the use of a neutral character; to not only showcase the main character's
flaws, but so not to detract from the moral of the story. Creon, from the play "Oedipus the King" by Sophocles is used for both of these reasons.
Sophocles wished to show that one cannot escape fate, yet did not want to cloud this issue with a possible coupe against his main character Oedipus.
He also showed how, at times one character can act completely irrational, while one remains calm in the face of serious accusations.
Creon is the...show more content...
Creon in an astonishing display of "sound common sense and executive ability" (Peterkin 265), offered marriage to Iocasta, as well as the position of
king, to anyone who could solve this riddle and free the country of the suffering inflicted by the Sphinx. Oedipus bested the Sphinx, and claimed the
kingdom and his spouse. Although Creon could have remained in power, he proved to be a man of his word. He relinquished the dominant authority in
Thebes to Oedipus and seemed to "have ac–cepted the situation with good grace" (Peterkin 265). After a long established rule as king, a plague
afflicted the land. Over the years, Oedipus had "delegated much of his authority, in complete reliance on his efficiency and dependa–bility" (Peterkin
265) to Creon. In trying to relieve his subjects suffering, Oedipus sends his valued right hand man, Creon, to consult the oracle. Oedipus was hoping to
receive some revelation as to why his kingdom was suffering so. Upon his return, Creon prudently wanted to speak privately with Oedipus. During this
exchange, Creon is presented as a cautious, yet matter–of–fact kind of person. The King would not hear of a private conversation as he wanted
everything to be in the public's eye, so as not to hide the truth. Creon reveals, as tactfully as possible, that the Gods were angry that King Laios murder
went unpunished. This is what was causing the plague to besiege

Oedipus The King Archetype
Oedipus Rex is one of three plays created by tragedian Sophocles. The story opens with a plague, threatening the lives of many in the city of Thebes,
Oedipus' kingdom. Oedipus, the next heir to the throne, addresses this to the people, Creon, also states the suffering crops, As Oedipus says that he is
sick too, this shows his hubris. Oedipus is one of Sophocles' most notable characters due to the fact that he depicts the "tragic hero" archetype. Oedipus'
"hubris" or pride was the cause of his own undoing, that was part of his initial character. The forces of change happen whenever Oedipus' situation gets
even worse throughout the play, and the character's change occurs through the end.
King Oedipus has the qualities of a good character for...show more content...
When Oedipus reached the end of his "quest" for the truth, he is appalled, overwhelmed by the revelations, in addition he questions himself, saying,
"Where do I go? How can the wings of air sweep up my voice? Oh my destiny, how far have you sprung now!"(Sophocles–65). Oedipus also became
aware of his mistakes and accepting is shame taking in the fact that his wife/mother killed himself and he willingly took his own eyes out in
response to the revelations. In addition, he was also grateful and admitting to his own flaws, in the exodus he said "By all the gods, since you are
acting now so differently from what I would expect and have come here to treat me graciously, the very worst of men, do what I ask. I will speak for
your own element, not mine" (Sophocles–69), and yet he still sounded proud at that moment. As he laments his ignorance, he states that the God of
Plagues, Apollo was the cause of all of this. Oedipus finally respects the power of fate and the gods, he understood and knew what he was doing
when he said "Cast me out quickly as you can, away from Thebes, to a place where no one, no living human being, will cross my path"
(Sophocles–70), this is going to a point where Oedipus is seeking atonement, seeking for exile. accepting what is coming to

Oedipous Rex vs. the Odyssey Essay
Heroism and Hell
Oedipus and Odysseus are two of many widely recognized characters known for their outstanding, and, at times, tragic stories. The Odyssey, by
Homer, is an Epic poem about the great journey of Odysseus and his perilous journey home to Ithaca. Oedipus the King, by Sophocles, is a Greek play
about Oedipus' self–discovery and fulfillment of a prophecy in which he hopes to avoid. While the stories share many similarities and qualities, they
also reveal significant differences in their journeys and outcome. Oedipus and Odysseus share many similarities; they are both respected leaders and
known for great triumphs. Throughout the story of Oedipus, we learn that he is a great king of Thebes. He has promised the...show more content...
Similarly, Odysseus begins his tale explaining how his journey is to return home. Having finished fighting in the Trojan war he begins journeying
home when he is held captive by Calypso, a nymph for a number of years. Odysseus faces many obstacles and problems trying to reach Ithaca, "...the
voyage fraught with hardship...homeward bound from Troy..." (ll 43–44, p357). Not only was he captured by Calypso, but he face troubles with the
Lotus–eaters, the Sirens, the cyclops and much more. Coupled with the constant setbacks, Odysseus must also deal with suitors that have taken over
his palace. Oedipus and Odysseus are both faced with large underlying conflict in addition to the significant presence and influence of the Greek Gods.
The Greek Gods have a large influence in both the stories of Oedipus the King and The Odyssey. At the beginning of Oedipus' journey, the god Apollo
has brought a curse upon Thebes and wants it rid of Laius' murderer, "what I heard, from the God King Phoebus in plain words commanded us to
drive out a pollution from our land" (ll 108–109, p 621). Oedipus and the citizens of Thebes are highly concerned with the wrath of the Gods.
Odysseus shares similar concerns. Odysseus articulates every obstacle of his journey– each one with a reference or direct influence of a god "What
pains– the gods have given me my share" (ll 16, p 37) . When Odysseus blinds

Essay on Oedipus the King: The Hubris of Oedipus
"Oedipus the King" written by Sophocles, is a powerful Greek tragedy story. The protagonist, Oedipus is a heroic mythical king who had it all.
Oedipus pursues to find the true answers to his identity and destiny, while at the same time trying to avoid fulfilling his destiny.
"Oedipus the King" was introduced around 429 B.C.E. in Athens. This was Sophocles' most celebrated play. It is recognized by many titles, such as its
Latin title "Oedipus Rex" and "Oedipus Tyrannus." Sophocles' performed this play at the annual festival of Dionysus––a religious festival, which
celebrated Dionysus, the god of intoxication, death, and fertility. Sophocles was one of the dramatists that reigned supreme at these festivals. Most of the
...show more content...
A dramatic conflict occurs when Oedipus gets into a fight with a group of men where three roads meet; one of those men is his father King Laius.
He kills all the men except for one who flees from the scene and then notifies the Thebians of the tragic news. Oblivious to Oedipus, the first half of
his fate (that he was trying so hard to avoid) is fulfilled. Usually crossroads signify a decision point. If Oedipus made the choice of being civil toward
the strangers and not letting his temper get the best of him, he could have avoided his fate. Oedipus ends up in Thebes were he is granted the honor of
being the King––he solves the Sphinx's riddle which results in the city being free from captivity. In addition, Oedipus marries his predecessor's wife,
Queen Jocasta––the women who gave birth to him. Once again Oedipus has crossed paths with his fate and is still blind to it.
Hubris is Oedipus's tragic flaw. He is now overly full of himself because: he rescued the city of Thebes from the Sphinx, people admire him, the
citizens worship him as if he were an idol, the citizens think of him as their hero, and the Thebans have such a high esteem for him, that they made
him King. One instance that proves he is filled with overbearing pride is when he proclaims, "I, Oedipus, a name that all men know." (8) This
statement also brings about irony. It is ironic because his name will be remembered and well–known everywhere––as a polluter, the

Reflection Paper On Oedipus
Oedipus Response Paper
The play Oedipus, written by Sophocles is about a man and the production of Oedipus directed by Don Taylor, unfolds a story of a man, Oedipus,
who is a king of Thebes. The city of Thebes has been threatened with the plague and in order to defeat the plague, Oedipus has to find the killer of his
predecessor, Laius. Oedipus then realizes he was the one who killed Laius, not knowing it was him. An oracle once told Oedipus that he would kill
his father and marry his mother and Oedipus realizes his fate from the oracle came true. He then realizes his wife, Jocasta is actually his mother.
Oedipus then stabs his own eyes after realizing the horrendous things he has caused and would rather never see the misery he created.
After viewing the production of Oedipus, I first noticed the costumes and how many people were wearing costumes that didn't coincide with the time
period. The attire of Oedipus, played by Michael Pennington is more modern than anyone else in the film. Oedipus wears an all– white suit that looked
likes 70s attire. This differed for the play because while reading, I never pictured anyone to be dressed in a more modern costume. Also, I noticed
the verbiage of the production was very much different than the original play and they used words that would be more understood than what
Sophocles wrote. I found this this technique to be brilliant because Taylor used everyday language to convey what Sophocles said but more
understandable and enjoyable for the modern age. During the film, Jocasta is played by a women, which I was surprised by since men usually
played all roles. When reading the play, I didn't imagine the amount of background music that was played during a lot of the film. The music
sometimes seemed to not make sense with what was happening in the scene. The production did clarify both the meaning and theme of the play
because even though Taylor changed some aspects of the play, he still understood the importance of sticking with the play's theme as it is an
important part of the play. While reading the play I never thought of Thebes to be so somber and gloomy as the production perceived it. The
production of Oedipus had minor characters in greys and black, somber music, and

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

The Pride of Oedipus the King Essay
The Pride of Oedipus the King
Oedipus the King is perhaps one of the most famous and influential of Sophocles' plays. It is a tragic play which focuses on the discovery by Oedipus
that he has killed his father and married his mother. On the surface of this drama there is, without a doubt, a tone of disillusionment.
Throughout the play we find that Oedipus, the protagonist of this Greek tragedy, is tested by life in a number of ways. To those in Athens who watched
the performance of Oedipus the King, Oedipus appeared to be the embodiment of a perfect Athenian. He is self–confident, intelligent, and
strong–willed. Ironically, these are the very traits which bring about his tragic discovery. He is portrayed as a character of...show more content...
Oedipus' pride derives from his own heroic qualities and, ironically, ruins him.
A hero prizes above all else his honor and the excellence of his life. When his honor is at stake, all other considerations become irrelevant. A hero
values strength and skill, courage and determination, for these attributes enable the person who possesses them to achieve glory and honor, both in his
lifetime and after he dies. Oedipus was certainly a hero who was exceptionally intelligent though one can argue that killing four men single–handedly,
on his way to Delphi, more than qualified him as a physical force of reckoning.
He obviously knew his heroic status when he greeted the citizens of Thebes before the palace doors saying, "I thought it wrong, my children, to hear
the truth / from others, messengers. Here I am myself– / you all know me, the world knows of my fame: / I am Oedipus." (ll. 6–9) In this such passage,
Oedipus proves that he is guilty of hubris, being too sure of himself, too confident in his own powers, and a little under mindful of the gods.
If we examine his quest for identity, it becomes quite apparent that the sequence of events are quite coincidental. First, he summons Tiresias to name
the killer, whom Oedipus does not at the time believe to be himself. Second, the tragic hero emerges as anything but a

Essay on Oedipus The King: Role Of Gods
"Gods can be evil sometimes." In the play "Oedipus the King", Sophocles defamed the gods' reputation, and lowered their status by making them look
harmful and evil. It is known that all gods should be perfect and infallible, and should represent justice and equity, but with Oedipus, the gods decided
to destroy him and his family for no reason. It might be hard to believe that gods can have humanistic traits, but in fact they do. The gods, especially
Apollo, are considered evil by the reader because they destroyed an innocent man's life and his family. They destroyed Oedipus by controlling his fate,
granting people the power of prophecy, telling Oedipus about his fate through the oracle of Apollo, and finally afflicting the people of...show more
content...
If there is any evil worse than the worst that a man can suffer–Oedipus has drawn it for his lot." (p. 98)
Oedipus is ashamed of himself and unsatisfied with his situation, even though it is not his fault. The gods wouldn't have made the prophecies come
true without the help of the oracle, which delivered the prophecies to Oedipus' parents. It is obvious that the gods were planning to this fate before
Oedipus' birth, because through the oracle, they announced the two prophecies while Jocasta was pregnant. Above that, the gods didn't mention
Oedipus' blindness in their prophecies; but instead, they mentioned only Oedipus' shameful crimes that involved both the father and the mother. The
purpose of this was to make both parents agree to kill their child, for Laius didn't want to be murdered by his son, and Jocasta didn't want to marry
her son. This fear of terrible destiny led the parents to kill their child. On the other hand, if Laius and Jocasta hadn't known about the prophecies, they
would've kept the child, and thus he would know his parents, which makes it impossible for the prophecies to come true.
One major aspect that caused the destruction of Oedipus and his family is Apollo's oracle at Delphi. When Apollo's oracle told Oedipus about the two
prophecies, Oedipus tried to avoid them by moving to another city, and walked to meet his fate in Thebes. This shows Apollo's advantage

Is Oedipus Guilty Essay
In the book Oedipus the King by Sophocles, there are many controversies on whether Oedipus is guilty of his actions or innocent. Oedipus is a guilty
man and his action proved so in the play. Oedipus should be held liable for his crimes of patricide (killing his father) and marrying and having a sexual
relationship his mother. Oedipus knew nothing about the past of Thebes however, what was done cannot be taken back. His actions were wrong
because incest is unethical, and murdering someone is a crime. He guilty because guilt lies in the act of doing, not in intention. In addition to the
prophecy, Oedipus is also guilty of hubris because he displayed excessive pride. The choice was his, and this accounts for some of his guilt. Oedipus is
...show more content...
Oedipus killed a person that just so happens to be his father and that makes him guilty. "Crimes worse than deadly done against them both", says
Oedipus, as he realizes the extent of his actions. He knew what he has done was way out of his control even though he fought hard to avoid his fate.
Oedipus knew wrong was wrong, agreeing that his actions were indeed a crime.
Oedipus did not know that his mother was going to be his wife. He was told from when he was only the prince of Corinth that he will end up
sleeping with his mother. During the investigation of King Laius, the blind prophet is providing a detailed crime scene and interviewing the only
eyewitness to his murder. In curiosity, Oedipus asks about who his biological parents are so he can finally know the truth and settle the rumors. The
Theban Shepherd confirms that his parents are in fact Laius and Jocasta. Oedipus and Jocasta have not seen each other since the day he was born.
Many years ago, she gave her three–day–old infant to her servant to be killed because she knew about the prophecy. Behind her back, the servant
gives Oedipus to a childless royal couple living their separate lives without knowing each other. Jocasta tried to change their destiny, but their fate was
already chosen for them. Regardless of Oedipus knowing that his wife was his mother, he still committed incest. "But now all god–deserted, born in
sins, in incest joined with her who gave

Oedipus Essay
This analysis of Oedipus's character shows how Oedipus, the protagonist and the antagonist against himself, dealt with unfortunate situations which
sealed his fate. Oedipus was a strange round character that was really interesting and mysterious. Oedipus's life was a good example of a true Greek
tragedy; he worked himself up to be a great king and ultimately in the end he died with only his perception on life. Oedipus was once a man of power
who falls impoverished. He goes from having much respect in his great position to being impure, blind, and expelled from the land that he once ruled.
At the beginning of Oedipus the King, Oedipus's wisdom and actions as a king are very effective. To his subjects he is respected and very well...show
more content...
His pride in himself is even greater than what the people propose it to be. However, Oedipus pride can be backed up by the fact that he did save the
city from disaster while virtually becoming king almost immediately after his knowledge was known. Oedipus seems to use his pride to embellish his
power. "Here I am myself– / you all know me, the world knows my fame: / I am Oedipus" (Oedipus the King, 7–9). Unfortunately Oedipus's initial
attribute of pride and confidence soon dwindled throughout the play. From the time that Oedipus's fate comes into action, when he hears the
perception of Tiresias, Oedipus is in due course in losing his fulsome nature. We see the round nature of Oedipus go a full circle throughout the play;
first he is flattering of himself and self–governing, yet later we see him as impoverished and dependent on others. Oedipus's fate seems to always win
even though he tries tirelessly to beat it. His doesn't allow him to lose due to his cockiness, but in the closing stages the story seems to show that
Oedipus is starting to accept the fact that he will never win. Towards the conclusion of the play when Oedipus gives his trust to Theseus over his
fortune giving burial he seems to find a peace again even though his life is still not impressive. Oedipus's reflection towards the end of the play can be
summed up by Jocasta's statement, "Fear? What should a man fear? It's all chance, chance rules our lives. Not a man on earth

How Does Oedipus Affect Others
Most people say that life is not complicated that we make it complicated. However, to live life at its fullest sometimes it is necessary to avoid
attachment or to develop feelings towards others. But how cruel or meaningless would our existence be if we neither love nor be loved by anybody?
Moreover, what if we indirectly hurt the people that mean something to us without our acknowledgment? Well,Oedipus, a cursed baby, suffers in life
the worst pain that a human being could ever experience. He hurts severely the people that mean the most to him. Will he be able to overcome and
deal with the havoc of his actions or will he be dragged to dig his own grave? Oedipus was brought into this world out of a beautiful mistake, he is the

Thesis Statement For Oedipus
A man can only justify his actions if he regards his demeanor with deductive thinking. This man was not Oedipus mainly because he was a fu**ing
douchebag. One must know who Oedipus was to understand the period in which it was written. This is my thesis statement. The Greeks contributed
many things to our culture, such as olives, gyros, Lenny Kravitz, anal sex, and Oedipus. Oedipus will be remembered though out time because he
suffered from Lou Gehrig's disease, and that's why he couldn't play base ball in the first Olympic games. He will always be remembered for his
journeys and his love for the New York Yankees.
Laius and Jocasta were king and queen of Thebes, a town in Greece. They were fu**ing around and Laius forgot to strap his sh**. One day, they had
a baby boy. An oracle prophesied that the boy would grow up and kill his father and marry hismother. Laius was like fu** that sh**, that's gay. To
thwart the prophecy, Laius and Jocasta decided to kill their baby. They fingered his butt hole and sent him on his way. In those days, it was usual
to leave an unwanted or defective baby in the wilderness. Laius and Jocasta did this. To be extra sure, they pierced his little feet and tied them
together. (Don't worry about this detail, which makes no sense. It must have been introduced to explain the hero's name.) A kindly shepard found
the baby in a pool skimmer. He gave the baby to a friend, who took it to Corinth, another town. (Corinth reappears in the New Testament. Under the
category of DVDA, versus 63) The king and queen of Corinth couldn't have a baby of their own. The king had a bad case of the limp dick. So they
adopted the foundling. Nobody ever told little Oedipus that his mother was never pregnant. She aborted a kitten in a toilet in the back of a Denver
Denny's. One day, after he had grown up, a drunk mentioned his being adopted. Oedipus killed the bum. Oedipus questioned his parents, but they
denied it. Oedipus visited various oracles to find out whether he was really adopted. All the oracles told him instead he would kill father and marry
his mother. He told them that they were dissin' him so he grabbed his 12 sided double dildo and left town. (None of this makes much sense. Again,
don't worry

Character Traits of Oedipus in 'Oedipus the King'
Through history, everyone is trying to rise to the top. However, the ones at the top are not always the most suitable. This becomes evident in Sophocles'
Oedipus Rex, where Oedipus becomes the ruler of Thebes after defeating the Sphinx. Throughout the story, Oedipus fails to meet the characteristics of a
good leader, including: humbleness, selflessness and patience.
Humbleness is a trait that Oedipus lacks. Oedipus does not possess an ounce of humility in him and is very unaware of his surroundings, causing him
to make scenes. This is displayed in the play when Tiresias says to Oedipus, "You yourself are the pollution of this country" (Sophocles 19). Tiresias
is hinting at the fact that Oedipus is the actual killer of the King. Shortly after this has been said, Oedipus bursts into rage, claiming that Tiresias and
Creon were conspiring to overthrow him. By making a scene, he is admitting that he cannot be humble and shows his arrogant side. If Oedipus would
have continued to rule, he would be a king without any subjects since he would distance himself from those closest to him.
Another trait that Oedipus fails to show is selflessness. Oedipus does not show compassion and empathy to his subjects nor does he put them before
himself. When presented with the fact that his people were suffering at the hands of a plague, Oedipus remarks, All that you longed for in your coming
here. I know that you are deathly sick; and yet,
Sick as you are, not one is as sick as I.
Each of you

Oedipus The King Irony

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