Essay On Oedipus

Essay On Oedipus The King
Greta Oulman Windish English II 3 December 2017 Oedipus: An Apparent "Hero" Did you ever
think that a man who killed his father and married his mother would ever be considered a hero?
NOBODY DID. (Except the Greeks...) The story of our tragic "hero," Oedipus, depicts him in the
midst of his life, just learning about his adoption and, years later, the birth of his four kids (with his
mother) that – apparently – inspired so many people. Oedipus' Story Oedipus' story is about how he
became an apparent "hero". In the beginning, Oedipus' father, King Laius, and mother, Queen
Jocasta of Thebes wanted to know if they would someday have kids. Laius went to the Oracle of
Delphi and asked the burning question. The Oracle replied that their first...show more content...
She asked him the same riddle as she did everybody else: "What walks on four feet in the morning,
two in the afternoon, and three at night?" Oedipus thought long and hard until he finally answered
with "Man, who crawls on all fours as a baby, he walks on two legs as an adult, and needs a walking
stick when old." The Sphinx – never bested at her own game – was so angry at Oedipus, she fell off
the rock she was sitting on and killed herself. He was then greeted by Creon, the uncle he didn't
know he had. Creon said that whoever killed the Sphinx would become king. Oedipus met Jocasta
and they were married, unknowingly completely fulfilling the prophecy. The new king had
fathered four kids with his mother: Eteocles, Polynices, Antigone and Ismene. Years later, a
plagued smothered the land. Oedipus sent Creon to the Oracle to find out why. The Oracle told
Creon it was because Laius' killer (his first son) hadn't been caught. Oedipus ordered a search for
everyone to help find the killer. A messenger came in (at that exact moment) to tell the king that he,
in fact killed the previous king. Creon and Oedipus argued, and Jocasta added that her first son was
dead. Then, another messenger came in and said that King Polybus was dead. Oedipus was relieved
and said he would not attend the funeral anyway, just to prevent the second part of the prophecy
from possibly coming true. The messenger then said Oedipus was
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Essay about Oedipus the King
Oedipus the King, written by Sophocles, is a tragic drama that portrays a great deal of irony.
Oedipus, the protagonist, suffers serious misfortune that is significant in that the "misfortune is
logically connected with the hero's actions" (AbleMedia LLC). When the reader learns about the
background of Greek culture and the life of Sophocles, this tragic drama is able to become more
alive and valuable. It is important to familiarize oneself with the author because it allows for a
greater connection to the dialogue presented. Through the character development of Oedipus, one
can see how ironic circumstances can turn a prideful king into a tragic figure.
Knowing the background of Greek culture and theater will help one to better understand...show more
content...
It was an open–air auditorium. Due to the lack of adequate artificial lighting, performances would
take place during the day (AbleMedia LLC). The audience, then, had to use their imagination
when a scene was taking place at night. This outdoor theater was "built into the slope of the
southern hillside of Athens' acropolis" (Perseus Digital Library). This theater could hold between
14,000 and 15,000 spectators in the audience. There are two mechanical devices, which were
important parts to the ancient Greek theater that deserve mention: the ekkyklema and a mechane
(AbleMedia LLC). The ekkyklema was the theatrical "truck." This was an essential piece that
assisted in shifting heavy props or scenic elements. The Greek theater used the ekkyklema to
move actors (Meineck, p. 455). The other device, the mechane, was "a crane to which a cable with
a harness for an actor was attached" (AbleMedia LLC). This enabled actors to perform as a god or
a character that flies. These characteristics of the Greek theater allowed for enjoyable productions.
To ensure the fairness of the competition, the playwrights were given three main actors and fifteen
chorus members for their dramas (Perseus Digital Library). Greece was a male–dominated society.
The women were often segregated and expected to be the nurturers of the household. Men, on the
other hand, were raised to fight in war, conduct business, or run the government (Hanson, p. 43). Not

Essay On Oedipus Ignorance
In Sophocles' Oedipus the King, Oedipus' ignorance becomes his downfall throughout his life as
he sinks deeper into knowing about his past and the prophecies laid out before him. He is blinded
by his ignorance, which creates a situation where he kills his father and beds his mother. From this
epiphany, he gouges his eyes out after the worst befalls him and from this, he is finally able to see
even though he becomes blind. Therefore, Sophocles uses Oedipus' struggle between the truths of
the world to outline how individuals must journey to see the world in its true light after being
blinded for so long, even if it causes them great agony.
In the beginning of the play, Oedipus chooses to remain in ignorance due to his yearning to save
his people, which are juxtaposed with his desire to protect his own pride. During one of Oedipus'
speeches to find the culprit of Laius' murder, he proclaims, I curse myself as well... if by any
chance he proves to be an intimate of our house, here at my hearth, with my full knowledge, may the
curse I just called down on him strike me! (284–287)
Through these lines, it is evident Oedipus' true intentions. Even though Oedipus is speaking to his
people about how he will take the curse he just cast on the Laius' murderer also onto himself, his
main target apart from helping out the city is to keep up his reputation as Oedipus. Oedipus is the
hero who saved Thebes by solving the Sphinx's riddle and was then crowned as the new king of
Thebes. He

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

Essay on Oedipus, The Tragic Hero
Born into a royal family, Oedipus was one of the bearers of a disastrous generational curse. He
had no idea what he was born into, or what he would become. Poor Oedipus was put into to the
world to serve as an example from the gods. Although Oedipus was said to be a victim of fate, he
contributed to his own fate more than the gods. He was placed into the world to with a prophecy
that he will kill his father and married his mother and conceive children with her, but that was just a
prophecy not his destiny. Oedipus could have determined a new destiny for himself, but instead he
did more things to make the prophecy true rather than false. The life of Oedipus was a great tragedy,
not only for him but for his entire family. Although the gods...show more content...
In my opinion if Oedipus did not believe his parents in Corinth were his real parent why kill
someone who is old enough to be your father. Why kill someone in general?
Oedipus also puzzled me when he married someone who was old enough to be his mother and
conceive children with her. It was not just a coincident that he killed a man that was old enough
to be his father and wedded a wife, a woman old enough to be his mother. "But I am the king now,
I hold the throne that he held then, possess his bed and a wife who shares our seed". Just by
Oedipus saying these word he is repeating the prophecy that was set out for him. If someone had
predicted that I would have married my mother, I would avoid marrying someone who is older than
me, I might try avoid being married at all. Oedipus although so brave, and strong ignored the small
signs that shouted "you are going in the wrong way son". If Oedipus had just put aside the thought
and ego that he saved Thebes and the queen and throne is now his, I think he might have figured out
that he was headed in the wrong direction.
Although Oedipus was a great leader, he still had a great flaw of having a bad temper. Oedipus
accused his own fellow right hand man of trying to kill him and of killing the former king. Creon,
the brother–in–law of Oedipus, was accused plotting to kill Oedipus because Tiresias accused

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

Essay about Oedipus: A Tragic Hero
Oedipus: A Tragic Hero
Oedipus Rex, or Oedipus the King is Sophocles's first play of "The Theban Cycle." It tells the story
of a king that tries to escape his fate, but by doing so he only brings about his downfall. Oedipus is a
classic example of the Aristotelian definition of a tragic hero. Aristotle defines a tragic hero as a
basically good and noble person who causes his own downfall due to a flaw in his character.
Oedipus is a man of noble blood; his parents, who raised him as a child, were King Polybus and
Queen Merope of Corinth. Oedipus also becomes a king himself when he solves the Sphinx's riddle,
thus saving Thebes and taking over the throne of the late King Laius. Oedipus then marries Jocasta,
Laius's widow,...show more content...
Oedipus was clever enough to solve the riddle, and then took on the throne of Thebes. When he
began ruling Thebes, Oedipus thought that he had beaten his fate; he thought that his father
would live and that he would not marry his mother. Instead, it is revealed to Oedipus that he is
really the son of King Laius and Queen Jocasta. When Oedipus was a baby, Laius went to the
oracle and his future was revealed to him; his son who would later marry his mother would kill
Laius. Perturbed by this, Laius ordered the death of his son, so a shepherd took the baby to a
mountain to dispose of the baby, but he couldn't do it. Instead he gave the baby to a messenger of
King Polybus. Oedipus, while trying to avoid his future kills King Laius in self–defense, and then
takes on the throne of Thebes. Inadvertently, Oedipus kills his father and marries his mother.
Oedipus causes his own downfall through his arrogance. He thinks that Teiresias is falsely
accusing him of murdering Laius when Teiresias says, "...you are the murderer whom you seek"
(Sophocles 1264). Teiresias then tells Oedipus that the man who he seeks will be brother and
father to his children and husband and son to his wife. Oedipus's hubris is also a major cause of
his downfall. Because he tries to escape what fate has in store for him, he ends up falling right into
what was planned

Essay On Oedipus
The story of Oedipus the king talks of a tail in which the city of Thebes has been plagued by Apollo
the God himself, Throughout the entire play Oedipus is trying to end the plague that has cursed the
city of Thebes. Reading this in highschool I thought that it was his fault for causing the unnecessary
tragedies occurring around him. However now I understand that it was not his fault but rather it was
fate that brought his demise. I think that all of the events that had led to Thebes being plagued
started from Oedipus's parents when they learned from the oracle that their son would kill his
father and marry his mother they tried to challenge fate and get rid of the Oedipus. The Irony
here is not lost on anyone as oedipus grows up in another neighboring city. And on his way to
Thebes he kills the king of thebes (his father) and defeats a sphynx giving him the right to marry
the queen of thebes (his mother) whom he falls in love with and has children with. Which brings
us up to point in which the plague strikes the town and oedipus is king. Oedipus sends his brother
in law creon to the Delphic Oracle to find out how to stop the plague. On creon's return he tells
Oedipus to speak in private, However Oedipus refuses and says to him to speak out so the people
can hear him. Creon then tells what he has learned from the god Apollo, who spoke through the
oracle: the murderer of Laius(former king and father of oedipus), who ruled Thebes before Oedipus,
is in Thebes. He must be driven

Essay about Oedipus, The Movie
Oedipus, The Movie
After reading the play Oedipus the King, I had various expectations related to how the movie
should be performed. The stage presentation of the story fulfilled some of my expectations but
failed to satisfy others. Most importantly, the performance was an accurate rendering of the play.
The characters in the movie were developed effectively and were portrayed precisely as I had
perceived them. I thought that the movie lacked qualities including stage design, clothing, and
background music. However, these facets of the performance are insignificant because the story is
so powerful that it does not need attractive costumes or ostentatious props to support it.
The foundation of the play is its intriguing story...show more content...
For example, the hubris of Oedipus could be recognized by his boldness and confidence. Creon's
callous nature was evidenced by his cold and unflinching expression after Oedipus gouged his eyes
out. The lighting of the film enhanced my understanding of the mood of the play at numerous
moments. Dim lights indicated lamentable or tragic occurrences whereas bright lights reflected an
elevated mood. For example, the lighting was gloomy and blood red during the scene following
Oedipus' self–mutilation. The movie provided the opportunity to visualize confusing scenes and to
listen attentively to prolonged discussions.
The movie also contained several inadequate elements that failed to satisfy my expectations. I was
disappointed with the stage that was designed for the play. The insipid set was sparsely decorated
and highly monotonous. Although the stage was similar to the description Sophocles provided in
the opening lines of the play, I believe that a more interesting stage would better capture the
audience's attention. I expected grand buildings and monuments since the play took place in the city
of Thebes; however, the set was devoid of any structures besides the king's castle. The costumes
worn by the actors had little semblance of authentic Greek garments. After

Essay On ' Oedipus The King '
How Not to Become Oedipus the King I have always been one to want to understand they why
behind any fact. It seems to be somewhere between curiosity and skepticism. I tell myself its not
simply a lack of trust but a desire to better understand the world around me but either way it does
lead me to ask questions and look for holes in ideas that are presented to me. I would would like
have the time and the wherewithal to take break things down to the level that Descartes does in
his Discourse on the Method. But rarely have I ever had the time to do this. What I have enjoyed
from childhood is finding out facts about the world around me. We watched PBS and Novas as a
standard affair growing up. I 'm not entirely sure where this came from. Neither of my parents had
an education that was heavy in the sciences. They did both wind up with a careers that had a
technical slant with my father starting out as a surveyor for the Department of Transportation and
my mother working for NASA, in payroll, during the late 1960 's. So maybe with that background
and some aptitude and interest myself, I very much enjoyed the natural sciences, math and later
computers. I think that early on this idea that there was a why behind almost everything and there
were people out there actively trying to find it out was of great interest. I am sure that growing up I
took whatever was given to me as fact. But as I got into high school, I started to see notice differing
opinions on what was

Oedipus Complex Essay
Ever heard of the Oedipus Complex? Thank Greek playwright Sophocles and Sigmund Freud. In
short, the Oedipus Complex, is when a male is born, a "fondness" or "lust" is created for his
mother and a hatred for his father. In due time, the idea became prevalent after the works of
Sophocles and was adapted for psychology. Nevertheless, Oedipus Rex was written around the 5th
century B.C.E. Later, to continue the story Sophocles wrote Antigone. Oedipus Rex follows the
character of Oedipus, the King of Thebes, and his journey to end the plague that inhabits the city.
Following most Greek myths, Oedipus Rex has a Roman equivalent. Written by Seneca in the 1st
century C.E, follows what seems to be the same character. To preserve Sophocles Oedipus,...show
more content...
As opposed to Seneca's version, Oedipus is a very proud King. He is convinced that the plague
infects the land for some other notion rather than his own sins. He sends his Jocasta's brother, Creon,
to Delphi to speak with the Oracle. He is told that the only way the plague will stop is if, "The god
bids us to expiate the king's murder with exile–to avenge the killing of Laius." (Seneca 35). Later
finding out from the prophet, Tiresias, that he himself is the murderer of his father. Creon is then
accused by the proud Oedipus, of treason and orders he be executed. Seneca's' version has Creon
imprisoned. This shows how he refuses to hear the truth and rather have another killed, than
accept that the plague is there by his doing. Secondly, Seneca's version has a violent and gory
tone. Many scenes that are detailed with intense gore. There is a sacrifice held for the summoning
of the previous King Laius. The blinding scene in both depicts the writing style of both writers. In
Seneca's version, Oedipus blinds himself by gouging out his own eyes as punishment for his sins.
When describing the act, "Let them be dug out straightway, these eyes of a married man!" (Seneca
103). Seneca goes into detail describing his emotions his emotions, his overall physical appearance
as such, "With hooked hands he greedily probed his eyes, and from their base, from their very roots
he wrenched the eyeballs and let them roll out together. His hands stayed embedded in the cavities,
their

Essay On Oedipus

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Essay On Oedipus