...Irony in Sight Throughout Sophacles’ play Oedipus Rex, he uses sight and blindness to demonstrate irony and the hubris of Oedipus. This is marked by Oedipus’ unwillingness or inability to understand that which is clear to the audience. His hubris (extreme pride) is his tragic flaw, truly blinding him from the truth. Oedipus eventually blinds himself, and it is then that he can finally “see”. From the very beginning, Oedipus was blinded by pride. Throughout the play, it is the one greatest irony that those with physical sight are blind, yet those who cannot actually see can see the truth. With the city of Thebes dying, Creon, having been sent to do so by Oedipus, comes from Delphi and the Oracle to deliver the message that the "the pollution of this land" (Sophocles 232), the murderer, be killed to bring an end to their strife.. Oedipus shows hubris when he demands Creon talk with him publicly, so convinced is he that he can solve any problem. Oedipus Has already solved the riddle of the Sphinx, that which had thwarted so many before him; "Oedipus knew the famous riddles. He was a mighty king, he was the envy of everyone who say how lucky he'd been. Now he's struck a wave of terrible ruin" (276) The chorus wishes for Oedipus to appeal to the gods to find the killer, Oedipus asserts that "to force the gods to act against their will- no man has the power."(320) Here, at least, he seems to humble himself before at least Apollo. Oedipus calls for Tiresius, the blind prophet. Here...
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...3. ‘In Oedipus the King, Oedipus suffers because of a fate he cannot avoid rather than because of any errors he has committed.’ How far do you think this is true? (20) Within ‘Oedipus the King’, Oedipus is shown to be a character who suffers from an amalgamation of many different factors which ultimately, drives him to his insanity and his fall from grace. Sophocles presents Oedipus as a character who is essentially, not entirely good but not entirely bad either; he is like many other characters that are faced with a hard-hitting truth in a difficult situation, with a hard decision to make in order to resolve it – and like other characters, Oedipus’ situation was created by past events and fate (divine intervention). However, it could be argued that Oedipus is simply a dramatic tool used by Sophocles to give the audience a cathartic ending (in order for them to think about their lives, the events of the play and the circumstances within Athens at the time) – Oedipus could be seen as a political device used by Sophocles to present his ideas and feelings towards to contemporary Athens and its political situation at the time that the play was being performed. The character of Oedipus could be seen to suffer simply due to that fact that the gods have fated this to happen. Throughout the play, there are several references to fate and divine intervention by the gods which could be seen to influence to outcome of the story; there are many instances in which gods are reference by...
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...and destiny, and those who believe in their own free will. The struggle to prove or disprove the existence of fate is one that has been present along with the idea of fate since its beginning. In Oedipus the King, Sophocles not only clearly shows his own opinion on the existence of fate, but also demonstrates the struggle humans encounter when trying to determine whether they have control over their destiny. Ancient societies, such as the Ancient Greeks, strongly believed in religious ideals to a greater extent than many modern societies; however, Oedipus’s story is one of few from Ancient Greece that openly questions the existence of fate, and dares to entertain the idea of free will. The time described in the play is one where the truthfulness of religion was being heavily questioned, and at its core, Oedipus the King is about the existence of fate. Throughout its pages, the play shows characters who both believe in destiny like Tiresias, and also characters like Oedipus, who transition from believing in fate to believing in free will, and back again. In Oedipus the King, the difference in opinions between Oedipus and Tiresias regarding the existence of fate, clearly show the nature of fate in the play, and Sophocles’s opinion on the existence of destiny and free will as well. Oedipus is a character held in high esteem by most others in the play, and throughout is referred to as the great leader, a savior, and more. Even after his eventual downfall, the citizens of Thebes choose...
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...The Critique of Oepidus “A boy leads in the blind prophet Tiresias. Oedipus begs him to reveal who Laius’s murderer is, but Tiresias answers only that he knows the truth but wishes he did not. Puzzled at first, then angry, Oedipus insists that Tiresias tell Thebes what he knows. Provoked by the anger and insults of Oedipus, Tiresias begins to hint at his knowledge. Finally, when Oedipus furiously accuses Tiresias of the murder, Tiresias tells Oedipus that Oedipus himself is the curse.” In this section, the characteristic swiftness of Oedipus’s thought, words, and action begins to work against him. When Tiresias arrives at line 340, Oedipus praises him as an all-powerful seer who has shielded Thebes from many a plague. Only forty lines later, he refers to Tiresias as “scum” and soon after that accuses him of treason. Oedipus sizes up a situation, makes a judgment, and acts all in an instant. While this confident expedience was laudable in the first section, it is exaggerated to a point of near absurdity in the second. Oedipus asks Tiresias and Creon questions are his typical mode of address and frequently a sign of his quick and intelligent mind but they are merely rhetorical, for they accuse and presume rather than seek answers. Though Tiresias has laid the truth out plainly before Oedipus, the only way Oedipus can interpret the prophet’s words is as an attack, and his quest for information only seeks to confirm what he already believes. Antigone’s major conflict is between...
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...Instructor Course Institution Date Oedipus Oedipus is the protagonist of the play “Oedipus the King ”. Before the play commences, Oedipus is given the kingship of Thebes. He is acknowledged for been intelligent and possessing the capacity to solve puzzles. Most of his subjects at this scene appear to be optimistic in the future of the king (Griffith 95). His intelligence was influential in saving Thebes city. Consequently, he was made the king of Thebes after resolving the riddles from the supernatural being called Sphinx that had captured that city (Sophocles and Gilbert 56). The name of Oedipus means swollen root that generally offers some important information about his personal characters. Additionally, as a baby, Oedipus was drugged from Laius’s house to the mountains and left with his two legs tied together. He was later rescued by shepherds, took him to the house of the king. In the King’s house, he grew into powerful boy (Chase 54). When Oedipus commenced his journey to Thebes he came across his father but killed him unknowingly. He later proceeded to engage in marriage with Jocasta his biological mother without knowing. This paper will describe Oedipus and reveal how he interacts with the other characters in the play. Additionally, it will reflect the speeches and actions of Oedipus while analyzing how he changes throughout the play. Moreover, the paper will offer conclusion based on these discussion. Interactions with characters Oedipus is the main character in this...
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...Oedipus is the second of three Theban plays that Sophocles wrote. The play is set in Thebes, an ancient Egyptian city. There is a plague over the city and will not be lifted until the death of the former King Laius is solved. Throughout Oedipus there are four recurring characters: Jocasta, Creon, Tiresias, and Oedipus. These characters are the ones that get close to Oedipus and help him figure out the plague of Thebes. To better understand the story of Oedipus the characters, the theme and the plot need to be examined. The protagonist of the play is Oedipus. He is the king of Thebes and was made king by solving the riddle of the Sphinx. Jocasta is the wife of Oedipus and mother, who is later revealed in the play. She tries to make...
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...gather outside the palace of their king, Oedipus, asking him to take action. Oedipus replies that he already sent his brother-in-law, Creon, to the oracle at Delphi to learn how to help the city. Creon returns with a message from the oracle: the plague will end when the murderer of Laius, former king of Thebes, is caught and expelled; the murderer is within the city. Oedipus questions Creon about the murder of Laius, who was killed by thieves on his way to consult an oracle. Only one of his fellow travelers escaped alive. Oedipus promises to solve the mystery of Laius’s death, vowing to curse and drive out the murderer. Oedipus sends for Tiresias, the blind prophet, and asks him what he knows about the murder. Tiresias responds cryptically, lamenting his ability to see the truth when the truth brings nothing but pain. At first he refuses to tell Oedipus what he knows. Oedipus curses and insults the old man, going so far as to accuse him of the murder. These taunts provoke Tiresias into revealing that Oedipus himself is the murderer. Oedipus naturally refuses to believe Tiresias’s accusation. He accuses Creon and Tiresias of conspiring against his life, and charges Tiresias with insanity. He asks why Tiresias did nothing when Thebes suffered under a plague once before. At that time, a Sphinx held the city captive and refused to leave until someone answered her riddle. Oedipus brags that he alone was able to solve the puzzle. Tiresias defends his skills as a prophet, noting that...
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...Oedipus, the ruler of Thebes, approaches a group of unhappy citizens, represented by a priest, and asks them what is wrong. They answer that the city is dying and that they are sick and poor. Oedipus sympathizes and tells them that, as their ruler, he is also troubled by the sickness of the city, and has already taken steps to see that something be done about it. The first step he has taken was to send Creon to Apollo's shrine to see what the god recommends they do. As Creon appears, he tells them that the god, Apollo, said that there is bad blood in Thebes, and that until this blood is expelled Thebes will be a sick city. This bad blood is the blood of the person who killed Laios. When Oedipus asks why the case was not investigated, as he had not come to Thebes at that point, the people answer that they were too busy trying to solve the Sphinx's riddle. Oedipus says that no matter what the cost is, he will get to the bottom of it, both because it harms Thebes, and because Laios was noble and loyal. The elders say that they do not have any knowledge of the murder, and suggest that Oedipus call Tiresias, a blind prophet, to help and advise him. Oedipus says that he has already done this, and Tiresias arrives promptly. Although reluctant to speak, Oedipus forces Tiresias to reveal what he knows. Tiresias says that Oedipus is Thebes' pollution and that he killed his father and sleeps with his mother, and that this is the truth. Oedipus accuses Tiresias of lying on Creon's behalf...
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...Oedipus the King written by Philosopher Sophocles was regarded as an excellent play by Aristotle, so much he used it to illustrate the many principles of tragedy. Through Sophocles play, we can see the definition of the tragic hero which according to Aristotle tragedy arouses pity and fear from the audience towards the character. The plot and Oedipus character development along the play, causes readers to pity the King as a tragic hero. Sophocles skills have Oedipus recognizing his guilt and at the same time the shocking reversal of destiny. The king is not aware that he killed his father and wedded his mother. He is the reason for the plague that Thebes is going thru according to the gods. Thebes have been stroke by the plague and upon...
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...Aeneid and Oedipus the King both divine intervention and communication play a prominent in their respective stories story. The events could range from prophecies, dreams, oracles, and direct communication with the characters. These events usually foreshadow a major event to come, but they are often in riddles. To the character just looking at it just for its face value it is useless but if the character can look at into the deeper meaning it can reveal untold truths. While in other works like the Illiad interventions can be so intense that they can save a characters life. Typically...
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...The two most prominent themes included in Sophocles’ play, Oedipus The King, that are also major themes throughout Greek tragedies are fate and sight. Fate, described as unescapable, and sight, described as blindness vs. knowledge, both are incorporated into Sophocles’ play. The main character, Oedipus, is the king of Thebes and viewed as their savior against the sphinx. Oedipus the king, is one of the best known Greek plays, in my opinion, mainly because of Oedipus’ blindness to how his actions were making his fate come true. This particular play gives insight on the Greek concepts of fate and sight with the different prophecies told by an insightful yet blind prophet, Tiresias. Through many examples in this play, fate and sight are intertwined...
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...Sight in Oedipus The phrase “ignorance is bliss” is a common one used in situations where a person is better off not knowing something. A similar phrase is used by Oedipus in Oedipus the King by Sophocles that says, “Oblivion – what a blessing… / for the mind to dwell a world away from pain.” (lines 1522-1523) Both of these statements explain how the absence of knowledge can shield a person from feeling pain. In this screwball, Greek tale, knowledge is attained by having sight of either the physical or the mystical world. Before Oedipus spears needles through his eyes, he further expresses his grievances by saying, “I, with my eyes, / how could I look my father in the eyes / when I go down to death? Or mother, so abused… / I have done such things to the two of them, / crimes too huge for hanging. / Worse yet, / the sight of my children, born as they were born, / how could I long to look into their eyes? / No, not with these eyes of mine, never. / ”( lines 1501-1507) Literally, Oedipus is saying he cannot look into his children’s’ eyes without remembering the horrendous things of which he has done. Diving even deeper, he is saying that he is blinded by guilt and shame for he...
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...truths will cause them more harm then it will good. In Sophocles Oedipus Rex readers are able to watch the main character Oedipus go through this process which can take people years of their lives happen in a span of a few short days. In this process, people discover that it is not necessarily beneficial to know every truth and that it is ok to stay blind to some issues. As people go through the aging process they are...
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...front of Oedipus. His flaws and the exposure of the truth bring about his downfall. Since he is of high rank, he believes things he wants to believe. In the play titled, “Oedipus the King,” by Sophocles, he uses physical blindness and mental blindness to show Oedipus' status as an unfortunate hero. While Oedipus is trying to find Laius’ murderer, Creon comes to him with news from Apollo. Creon says that Apollo wants them to clearly “drive the corruption from the land (620)…” With that, Oedipus sends for the blind prophet by the name of Tiresias who “… sees with the eyes of Lord Apollo…” to help him find the killer (625). When Tiresias tells Oedipus “[he is] the murderer that [he] hunt[s] (627), Oedipus still does not understand even though Tiresias has told him in three different ways. He cannot see himself as someone that would murder a king and bring a plague to the city. He thinks of himself as the one who came to Thebes’ rescue and drove the plague away. In addition, Oedipus knows that Tiresias cannot be wrong, because he is a psychic; he has no incentive to lie. Furthermore, when Tiresias tells Oedipus that “[He is] the curse, the corruption of the land (627),” he should have connected that statement with the words of Apollo that the leader had given him earlier, but he was only hearing them, he wasn’t listening. Since Tiresias could sees through the eyes of Apollo, then their views would be the same; and they are. Also, when Tiresias and Oedipus are speaking, Tiresias says...
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...is the very thing that happens to Oedipus in Sophocles’ tragedy, Oedipus Rex. Unfortunately, Oedipus possesses several character traits that cause him to fulfil the oracle and undergo great suffering. Oedipus’ pride, impetuous behaviour and lack of insight ultimately determine his fate. To begin, one of the main factors that lead to Oedipus’ fate is his excessive pride. After he solves the riddle of the Sphinx, his hubris swells to a new level. This leads him to believe that he is capable of solving any puzzle he might face, including the murder of Laius. After Creon tells Oedipus what the Gods require, Oedipus states to what extent he will go to avenge the previous king, Laius, as he proclaims, “No matter who he may be, he is forbidden shelter or intercourse with any man in all this country over which I rule; … Expelled from every house, unclean, accursed, in accordance with the word of the Pythian oracle” (32). This quote develops Oedipus as massively hubristic. It shows this as Oedipus takes this distinct, simple idea that Laius must be avenged and drags it out. He makes a huge presentation in front of the city and blows himself up as this hero that’s avenging the previous king. This also marks the beginning of Oedipus’ journey to discovering his fate and his downfall. Another example of how Oedipus’ pride led to his downfall can be found in the words of the chorus. After recounting the events that led up to Laius’ murder, and after Oedipus realizes that he may be Laius’ killer...
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