A person’s outlook on a subject depends merely on the perspective of which they are viewing that subject from. One has the capability of changing their opinion by simply converting to various views on the matter. This can be seen in Sophocles’ Oedipus trilogy. The series is instigated by the actions of Oedipus himself, a king forsaken by the gods before his conception. Abandoned at birth by his parents, the oblivious boy grows up to kill his biological father, and marry his mother as a gift for rescuing Thebes from the Sphinx. The events that develop in the plays can be analyzed from differing viewpoints. One might say that Oedipus led himself to commit those blasphemous actions, while another is convinced that it was his destiny brought upon …show more content…
Abel imposes the idea that in Oedipus the King, Oedipus’ personality and course in life was dictated by his father’s intoxication during conception, rather than destiny. The author explains that the play was performed in Ancient Greece as a religious practice devoted to Dionysus, the god of fertility, wine, and drama. He made the connection between the indirect worship of wine, to Oedipus, which Abel claims to have suffered from fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). Sophocles incorporated wine in this sense, to symbolize the importance of Dionysus at the time. Additionally, the article states that Oedipus has physical features that resemble those that a person suffering from FAS may have. Abel provides some examples of these features, and states that Oedipus’ weak ankles which in the play were caused by them being pinned at a young age, was actually a symptom of the alleged FAS that he may suffer from. The author states that Sophocles tried to portray the dangers of procreation while drunk by describing these side effects. Moreover, greater than the physical resemblance, Abel writes that Oedipus shares a great deal of mental deviations with a person who has FAS. In fact, the author blames this illness for Oedipus’ irrational actions. He states that his impulsive and aggressive nature caused by the disease, led to him killing his father. Also, Abel associates how quickly Oedipus accuses the oracle Tiresias, and his brother-in-law/ uncle of attempting to commit mutiny to something that people suffering from fetal alcohol syndrome may do. Abel’s points attempt to prove his argument that fate was not the prime catalyst for Oedipus’ actions, but may have been a result of his potential
The fulfillment of prophesies has enthralled ancient people since the beginning of time. Greek culture, in particular, relied predominately on Athenian religion and credited their actions to the work of gods. In Sophocles’ work, Oedipus the King, Sophocles defines an indication that men may not have accountability for their own moral sanctity because their lives are determined through fate. In fact, within Oedipus the King, Oedipus has to complete an investigation of his own self and determine his punishment regardless of who it hurts because of his willingness to comply to a god. In response to this, many believe that the title of this particular tragedy is Oedipus the King because it illustrates the conflict Oedipus has with his family and state. Although this is true, the title, Oedipus the King, also exemplifies Oedipus’ response to the idea that everything that has ever happened and ever will happen is necessary. The title and evidence that supports the title in this play comprise logic that enables one to understand how the law of necessity drives Oedipus’ decisions. It eventually claims that Oedipus does not act at random but rather in response to causality, and he ultimately does so in a dignified nature.
"Rather fail with honor than succeed by fraud" were the inspirational words spoke by the great Greek playwright Sophocles. This inspiring quote sets the controversial atmosphere of Sophocles ' women in the Greek tragedy "Oedipus The King". However to fully understand this controversy, you must first look at how compassion and selfishness flooded the lives of Sophocles ' women.
Many people believe that fate has planned out their lives and despite efforts on their part what was meant to happen, will eventually happen. This belief has been handed down over the centuries from some of the first civilizations, such as the Greeks. However, not all Greek citizens wanted destiny to take control of their lives. Some decided to choose freewill over the will of the gods. In Oedipus the King, Sophocles writes a cautionary tale meant to warn the doubters in Greek society that regardless of their beliefs in gods and prophecies, it is necessary to heed their warnings. Oedipus, Jocasta, and Laius are Sophocles’ characters that prove that escaping one’s fate is not possible, as each of their predicted fates is realized despite extensive efforts to thwart them.
In the trilogy of Oedipus, Sophocles constructed an enthralling family dynamic that induces central themes throughout the play. In numerous works of literature, family relationships engage in the central message of a piece of work. In Sophocles three plays, specifically interconnection between siblings and parent relationships create, refines, and complicates themes of power, love family, pride, and extreme fate.
Sophocles was well-known as a master of tragedy. Sophocles was born at Colonus, not far from Athens. Sophocles wrote over 100 different dramatic stories. “Oedipus the King” is one of his great stories that has a mix of heroics to it and yet, we feel sorry for Oedipus and his fate. We ask ourselves after reading “Oedipus the King” who was this man and why did he think he could run from his destiny of fate? Was Oedipus responsible for his final fate and could he have changed his fate? We are going to talk about Oedipus and how his life unfolds from his birth. Then you, the reader will decide if you feel empathy for Oedipus if this story was about a tragic hero.
Sophocles was born about 496 B.C. at Colonus, which is a village outside of Athens. Sophocles’ father was a very rich man who made weapons. Sophocles was basically someone who would be great in Athenian society. He was a great tragedian. Only seven of his plays remained stable and alive, those plays were Ajax, Antigone, and The Women of Trachis, Oedipus the King, Electra, Philoctetes and Oedipus of Colonus. For over 40 years, Sophocles was the most celebrated playwright in the competitions of city state Athens.
In “Oedipus,” Sophocles writes about a man who is hunted down by his cruel fate, and whose life is ruined in attempt to run away from it. The ancient Greek perspective reflects on the matter of the story and how the god’s highly influence the lives of humans. This viewpoint basically shows the unbounded power the Greek gods have; by being the gods of destiny, and leaving man at a helpless position. Fate plays a massive role in the lives of humans and as was believed by the ancient Greeks, their lives were simply directed by a decision of gods and goddesses. Oedipus knew his fate set by a curse cast on him; however, even when being aware it is impossible to escape fate, he still attempted to run away from it. As the play progresses Oedipus begins to understand the unbearable truth as he states “I’ve called down a dreadful curse upon myself,” followed by a response “I simply didn’t know!” (1103). It is the will of the man to realize what is inevitable and what choice is. In the Ancient Greece, Gods were praised and worshiped and any command stated by them is the undecided future. Oedipus acting as a blinded man who did not know of such fact led him to his fate and ironically is what later led him to blind himself (Gould). When Oedipus stabs his eyes out with the
Through the interactive oral presentations, our class learned about the Greek religion and culture surrounding the life of Sophocles when he wrote Oedipus The King. Before the interactive oral assignments were presented, I understood the themes of hubris and sight on a low level. The interactive oral presentations really strengthened my understanding of why Sophocles used these themes in his story about a king who falls from power. Now I know that hubris was a hated characteristic in this time period and that is why Sophocles wanted to demonstrate how bad it was to his audience.
In Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex, the protagonist named Oedipus falls to his ruin. Throughout the story, Oedipus struggles against the fate prophesied by the gods, his pride not allowing him to accept the horrible future of sin that was decided for him the moment he was born. In an attempt to avoid his inevitable future, Oedipus makes a series of unwise decisions, pushing himself further onto the path of misery and ultimately causing the pain he was trying to escape. In this way, Oedipus is also the antagonist of the story, constantly getting in the way of his own happiness in his search for the truth.
Oedipus Rex is a Greek literary example that proves “…family is a strong and important cultural value which remains undiminished in value throughout Greek history” (Bernholc.) By causing Oedipus’ family to sin and commit crimes throughout the play, Sophocles uses the value of family to create a tragedy. The immoral acts that Oedipus and his family commit caused the Ancient Greek audience to feel terror. Oedipus accusing Creon, his uncle and brother-in-law, of betraying him is another example of the value and trust of family being broken in the play. The value of family to the Ancient Greeks can be seen through the play, Oedipus Rex.
In this essay the role of blindness is very ironic to me because Oedipus picked on a blind character named Teiresias when in the end he becomes blind. The play says “You sightless, witless, senseless, mad old man” (Sophocles Scene One line 154). Oedipus is a king and in the beginning some people would think he has everything going for himself but in reality Oedipus is just a lost man. Oedipus is lost because he really doesn’t know who he is, he doesn’t know his parents he’s just lost in the world. The play says, “My parents again! Wait; who are my parents” (Sophocles Scene One line 221). Also in Scene One Teiresias says, “How dreadful knowledge of the truth can be when there’s no help in truth! I know this well, but did not act on it; else I should not have come” (Sophocles Scene One lines 101-103). With that being said he knew all the painful things that were going to happen to Oedipus but he kept quiet. I mean who could blame him if I knew anything about
Oedipus the King contains many different characters. The main character and protagonist is Oedipus who is also the king of Thebes. Oedipus has a wife, Jocasta, who is also his mother and Creon’s sister whom is Oedipus’s brother-in-law. Antigone and Ismene are Oedipus’s and Jocasta’s daughters which also means they are Oedipus’s sister. There is also Tiresias who is the blind soothsayer of Thebes. Oddly, the antagonist is not a person, it is actually Oedipus’ own fate. Oedipus struggles with his fate throughout the play in many ways. For example, when he is told that he is going to kill his father and sleep with his mother, Oedipus moves away to avoid
Over the extensive history of the theatre arts, most of the many plays and productions fall into unique categories in regards to structure. The two most simplest of the structural categories are climactic and episodic. A climactic structure, or alternatively known as an intensive structure, contains a play in which all components are restricted as the main conflict in the story commences late into the play and only a little time passes until the story occurs. Everything is restricted to a few components. There are not as many characters, scenery change and very limited amounts of action. climactic structures focuses heavily on the climax in contrast to other structures. One notable example of a climactic performance is Oedipus Rex by Sophocles. The story of Oedipus is that of tragedy and despair as Oedipus and his family are unable to escape the fate that Oedipus has had since birth. The exposition and starting action (in this case, the events that led up to him to being king of Thebes) occur before the play and is only ever talked about. The play only takes place in the castle and has only four primary characters. Ultimately, Oedipus Rex only takes place within a day and primarily focuses on the realization and aftermath of the story of Oedipus and his sins, or the climax. All these components that define a climactic structure of production are found in the aforementioned play by Sophocles, strengthening what a climactic structure is and the vast potential a climactic play
A good leader is defined as a person who is good with others and sees clearly. A true leader must have empathy, decisiveness, clarity, and honesty. In Oedipus Rex, written by Sophocles, is a story about a man who was sent away by his king because a prophecy foretold he would kill his father. Oedipus ends up killing his father and marries his mother and has kids. Oedipus then learns the truth of his life, which he then stabs his eyes out. A man who acts like that would be a debatable leader
Oedipus play (c. 430 B.C.) by Sophocles pictures an Ancient Greek tragedy in which the main character usually dies and there is intervention towards the main character 's destiny; or the main character is presented as a good person in the play, but oracles caused them to do bad things. A classic Greek play such as Oedipus can be perceived not only as an art in literary work but also as an analysis of Foucault 's theory of power and power relations between the king and the seer of the kingdom.