Essay On Oedipus Rex

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
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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

Essay about Oedipus Rex
With its popularity equivalent to the modern day version of the tale of Snow White, the title
character of the Greek tragedy of Sophocles' Oedipus the King can turn iron–fists into timorous
wimps. As an honorable king and a miracle worker, the positive attributes of Oedipus would have
been worthy of taking into account had he not committed one of the greatest sins of human life –
and yes, this was even worse than a verbal sin. Portrayed as the protagonist and villain, Oedipus'
situation was destined by the supreme will of the gods and any attempt to escape the evil that the
gods intimidate him with would eventually fail, because his hubris towards his power and position
would instigate more castigation from the gods. Although he was...show more content...
This is where dramatic irony comes to play. Oedipus thinks that he has killed a stranger, a king,
the former husband of his wife and that he has escaped the impasse of his fate, since he is far
away from his parents. The audience knows that Oedipus' biological parents are Laius and
Jocasta and that his oracle came all too soon; he kills his father during his running away and
marries his mother after becoming a hero of Thebes. Had Polybus and Merope been Oedipus'
biological parent, Oedipus would have made a successful effort in averting his fate. However, the
gods gave him ignorance so that he would not be exposed to the truth, and therefore, he would go
wrong in his attempts of running from them. Ever since he became King of Thebes, Oedipus
regards his power and position honorably. There are some instances where he shows too much pride,
especially in his intelligence. At times he takes his heroic act – saving the Thebans from the riddling
Sphinx – for granted. Take for example the argument between Teresias and Oedipus when the blind
prophet was unwilling to give out any information and Oedipus said, "There was a riddle, not for
some passer–by to solve – it cried out for a prophet. Where were you? Did you rise to the crisis?
Not a word...No, but I came by...I stopped the Sphinx! With no

Psychoanalysis And Psychoanalysis Of Oedipus Rex
It is in great storytelling that men begin to question the merits behind humanity and perhaps even
the existence of life itself. With great storytelling comes, inevitably, great tragedy; tragedy that
spikes a sense of dread into every living man as if he's been blind all along, and to a great degree
feels even more blind after having questioned such things. One story to lose oneself in, via deep
question, is that of Oedipus Rex by Sophocles. Of the 120 or more plays by Sophocles, even though
history only retains seven of them, the story of Oedipus is one that was and continues to be of great
investigation. Although the reasoning behind this may always be up for debate, it is worthy to note
the two main perspectives of how to analyze Oedipus Rex; through psychoanalysis and through the
viewpoint of tragic heroes. Sigmund Freud is the man of whom created the perspective of
psychoanalytic criticism; a great and yet confusing way to analyze people and their actions. In
the story of Oedipus Rex, many believe that Oedipus himself is to blame for the tragedy as he is
the one who had the Oedipal Complex, a concept by Freud. However, an Oedipal Complex, which
is simply where a child desires to be with his mother and threatens his father as to obtain such a
thought, is not even showcased in the plot. Even though the Oedipal Complex is named after
Oedipus himself, it doesn't mean a single thing in regards to the actions of Oedipus in the story.
Oedipus intentionally tried to run away

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 Analysis Of Oedipus Rex
In the film adaptation of the play Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, Pasolini displays many attributes of a
tragic impact in Edipo Re. According to Aristotle's definition of a tragedy, "Tragedy, then, is the
imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude...in the form of action,
not narrative; through pity and fear effecting the proper purgation of these emotions", Pasolini uses
many elements of film to convey the pity and fear intended in Aristotle's play. Aristotle believes
that in order to create the perfect tragedy, the audience should feel bad for the protagonist. In order
to create pity and fear, Pasolini's film incorporates elements of cinematography to create the tragic
effect. Through Pasolini's use of costume, makeup, spectacle, and colors in his film direction, Edipo
Re allows him to meet Aristotle's definition of arousing pity and fear and enhances the tragic effect
of his piece.
Costume and makeup is an important aspect of the film because it contributes to the mood during a
specific scene. In Edipo Re, Pasolini requires a specific costume design so that the character's
motives are clear. Whenever a character is blindsided by the truth of Oedipus's fate, they are seen
with dark lighting around their eyes. Usually, the dark appearance of the eyes are created by hats or
makeup. This effect emerges when Oedipus and Jocasta encounter parts of the truth but refuse to
believe the statements. When Oedipus leaves for his journey to find the

Analysis Of On Misunderstanding The Oedipus Rex
The British classical scholar and lecturer in ancient Greek and Greek history A. W Gomme said,
"the gods know the future, but they do not order it". Gomme is implying that the gods are able to
know what will happen, but they cannot enforce it. Oedipus Rex is a play that is filled with a lot of
controversy and an origin for many arguments. One of which being if Oedipus' fate is one of free will
or determinism. In "On Misunderstanding the Oedipus Rex" author E.R Dodds refutes the over
powering belief that Oedipus Rex is a play that follows a path of determinism. E.R. Dodds does not
believe Oedipus' fate was controlled; therefore, in his text he supports his strong belief that Oedipus
is in charge of his own fate.
In Dodds' first paragraph he is presenting the main idea which is to refute the view of determinism.
Dodds wants the reader to know that Oedipus is not a tragedy of destiny, is not a puppet and is in
control of his own fate. He begins his argument by assuring the reader that oracles are prediction but
they are not enforced by anything or anyone. Dodds states that, "Neither in Homer nor in Sophocles
does divine foreknowledge of certain events imply that all human actions are predetermined" (223).
In other words, Dobbs is saying that having the foreknowledge does not clearly state that the
person will be forced to do as the foresight has told. In Homer and Sophocles, the gods may have
known what was going to happen in advance but it did not mean that the one receiving

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...show more content...
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

Essay On Oedipus Rex
Plagues are beyond man's control; therefore, they believed that someone with higher power created
tragedies, human suffering, trials, and tribulations due to man's sinful acts or to test the nature of
man. Oedipus Rex downfall according to the play is by the god called Apollo. According to Opina
states, In Roman Mythology, Apollo, was the arch–god of medicine and healing light, truth, archery
and the bringer of death dealing plague" (Opina, n.d., slide 19). The plague fell on Thebes after the
actions of Jocasta and Laius. Also after the actions of Oedipus killing a person on a road to Thebes.
The presence of an oracle which is the communicator between man and the gods make the
audience believe that all the terrible things happen to Oedipus was from his own actions not the
gods. Oedipus, who cursed from the time he was born; therefore, the gods may have cursed him,
but it was his chose to commit murder and all the other decisions that made the oracle prophetic
words happened. The curse started with his father, King Laius of Thebes who learned from an
oracle that the hand of his own son killed him, and so ordered his wife Jocasta to kill the Oedipus.
There actions set off a chain of events that cause the tragedy. Othello downfall coerced by someone
the thought he knows so well, and self–inflicted because he did not trust his true love. Iago dislikes
Othello because of the promotion of Cassio and other factors. He used Othello's love for his wife
drove him in sane to

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 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

Oedipus Rex Analysis Essay
The chorus play an important role throughout the play, they not only set up various scenes, but they
represent the collective moods and feelings that are supposed to be felt at the time. When the chorus
mourns, the audience mourn. They are also the voice of reason, clarity and sense, attributes to which
we cannot associate with Oedipus. And so they play a vital role, connecting his actions back to the
play. A way to describe the chorus, would be that they're the collective conscious of В‘the people' of
Thebes, but they also act as guardians. For although they are seen appealing to Oedipus to help them,
they in turn have to help the king, they represent the faith that the city has in him.
The chorus appears mainly in sections of the play in...show more content...
A man, who believes himself to be in total control and on the edge of supreme knowledge, doesn't
know the one thing that defines him. And yet he seeks it so eagerly so to reveal the problems that
elude him, even though they will lead to his downfall. With each step he takes towards the truth he
buries himself deeper into the mystery while at the same time burying himself into a metaphorical
grave.
Creon enters and questions the people around him if it is true that Oedipus had slanderously accused
him. The Chorus tries to act as mediator, but Oedipus emerges and charges Creon with treason.
Creon argues for his innocence but Oedipus refuses to listen. This highlights Oedipus' obstinate
behaviour, he refuses to contemplate fallibility, as he assumes his own absolute knowledge, and that
he knows that Creon is wrong even without evidence.
They continue to fight until Jocasta emerges. They explain the nature of their argument to Jocasta,
who begs Oedipus to believe Creon. The Chorus also begs Oedipus to be flexible, and Oedipus
reluctantly concedes and allows Creon to continue. Jocasta asks Oedipus why he is so upset and
he explains to her what Teiresias prophesied. Jocasta consoles him by telling him that there is no
truth in soothsaying, and she has proof. She tells that an oracle told Laius that his own son would
kill him, so as a preventative he and Jocasta gave their infant son to a shepherd, to leave out on a
hillside to die with its feet

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 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

Oedipus Rex
Essay on Oedipus Rex
4–3–97
In Sophocles' Oedipus Rex, the theme of irony plays an important part through the play. What
Oedipus does, what he says, and even who he is can sometimes be ironic. This irony can help us to
see the character of Oedipus as truly a 'blind' man, or a wholly 'public' man.
A great irony is found in Oedipus's decree condemning the murderer. Oedipus says, "To avenge
the city and the city's god, / And not as though it were for some distant friend, / But for my own
sake, to be rid of evil. / Whoever killed King Laios might – who knows? – / Decide at any moment
to kill me as well." Later he says, "As for the criminal, I pray to God – / Whether it be a lurking
thief, or one of a number – / I pray that that man's life be...show more content...
In her ignorant quest to defy the inevitable, to achieve the impossible, she raises the fears and anger
of the chorus, who know that the prophesies must come true.
There are two prophesies in the play. One, that the child of Laios would murder him, and two, that
Oedipus would kill his father and marry his mother. Both Laios and Oedipus went to great lengths
to avoid these fates and defy the gods. Laios sent his son to die on a mountain, and Oedipus left his
'homeland' forever. In their actions to defy the prophesy, they set in motion the events which would
fulfill them. The Prophesy is truth; it cannot be avoided. However, this does not mean that the fate
controls the actions of the man. The Prophesy must be looked at as being out of time, seeing the
past, the present and the future all at once. Although the individual controls completely his or her
actions, the Prophesy sees these actions in the past, the present and in the future, and reports only
the truth. Maybe if Laios did not question the Oracle, the prophesy would have been different
because he would not have sent his child away. However one could never know this, because the
prophesy would be an untold tale.
Commentary
It would be hard to find a play that has been more universally praised than Oedipus Rex ("King
Oedipus"). Aristotle considered it the model tragedy, and that opinion has been widely held to the
present day. No drama

Essay on Oedipus Rex's Moral Responsibility
Conscience, in modern usage, term denoting various factors in moral experience. Thus, the
recognition and acceptance of a principle of conduct as binding is called conscience. In theology
and ethics, the term refers to the inner sense of right and wrong in moral choices, as well as to the
satisfaction that follows action regarded as right and the dissatisfaction and remorse resulting from
conduct that is considered wrong. In earlier ethical theories, conscience was regarded as a separate
faculty of the mind having moral jurisdiction, either absolute or as a representative of God in the
human soul.
Various syntheses of traditional theology with the existential view that knowledge is more emotional
than scientific have been developed in...show more content...
Lonely and homeless, Oedipus arrived at Thebes, which was beset by a dreadful monster called
the Sphinx. The frightful creature frequented the roads to the city, killing and devouring all
travelers who could not answer the riddle that she put to them: What walks on four legs in the
morning, on two legs at noon, and on three legs in the evening? The answer was a human being,
who in infancy crawls on all fours, in adulthood walks upright on two legs, and in old age uses a
cane. When Oedipus solved her riddle, the Sphinx killed herself. Believing that King Laius had
been slain by unknown robbers, and grateful to Oedipus for ridding them of the Sphinx, the
Thebans rewarded Oedipus by making him their king and giving him Queen Jocasta as his wife. For
many years the couple lived in happiness, not knowing that they were really mother and son.
Then a terrible plague descended on the land, and the oracle proclaimed that Laius's murderer must
be punished. After he made king, Oedipus takes it upon himself to rid Thebes of the plague by
finding Laius' murder.(p311/ln.104) Oedipus soon discovered that he had unknowingly killed his
father. In grief and despair at her incestuous life, Jocasta killed herself, and when Oedipus realized
that she was dead and that their children were accursed, he put out his eyes and relinquished the
throne. He lived in Thebes for

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

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...show more content...
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 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

A POSITION PAPER ON SOPHOCLESвЂ™ OEDIPUS REX
THE KING WEARS A SHADES AS THE SUN SHINES BRIGHT WHICH MAKES HIS
DAYS DARKER AND DARKER EVERY SINGLE DAY
(with some relations to the Philippine Government and setting as a whole)
A POSITION PAPER ON SOPHOCLES'
OEDIPUS REX
REGULANO, Jean Paula Bermudez
2011–05787
HUM 1 X
Oedipus Rex' knowledge, which served as his gut against the others to be the King of
Thebes, is only limited to the information on his people and his environment, excluding the
information about himself due to his blindness and innocence on his own identity.
In the midst of the downfall of the City of Thebes, is the entrance of a great leader who will dare to
make a change, held the city up despite its fall, which will do his best for his term to be progressive
and be...show more content...
This describes, simply, a cause and effect relation in variables.
The free will and determinism concepts in the play in one way can be projected in the part where
in Oedipus' leadership was carefully examined. What is really, a hidden agenda of a man to be a
King of such a place? All politicians who run for a position, saying or hiding this, have their own
agendum of doing so. It would be so scripted for the people or for the mass to say that their only
reason for asking a position is to have a better avenue to serve them, provide their basic social
needs, to return back to them what they do for their nation as part of the nationbuilding, to offer
his life as to bring progress and unite the people of a specific land. Though there are really some
whose objective is this, but I wonder if they are placed in position right now. Oedipus' is fortunate
enough to be able to be the King of the City of Thebes, but, how about his tragic reversal of fortune
as the story starts to end? Is it attributed to his own conduct?
Or will it more reflect on his fate, which means that what happened is merely because it was
planned, that is it was really meant to happen, and that it was not caused by the conduct of
Oedipus?
In an audience point of view, what happened towards the end is mainly because of his conduct. The
death of Laius is really a big issue and as the one

Essay On Oedipus Rex

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