Oedipus Rex Research Paper

In the early beginning before King Oedipus’s reign of Thebes lived Cadmus. Cadmus was the first Greek hero to be advised and mentored by the oracle at Delphi and was assigned to build a city called Thebes. Cadmus constructed the city of Thebes and was the first King to reign over the city. However, Cadmus encountered a dragon who guarded the well outside of the cities walls and killed it, little did he know, the dragon happened to be Apollo's favorite dragon. For his unfortunate actions, Apollo cursed Cadmus and his family for many generations to come, in which, the queen and king of Thebes would bear a child who would kill his father and marry his mother. A few generations later King Laius and Queen Jocasta of Thebes bore a baby. King

4. What attitude toward the gods does Oedipus exhibit after learning of Polybos' death? Again in light of ode 2, what is foreshadowed by Oedipus' statement? What effect upon the audience might the similarity of reactions of Oedipus and Jocasta have?

Do you think our fate is predetermined or do we have some control over it? Many people now think that we have some control in our destiny, depending on the actions and steps that we take during our life time. On the other hand some people think that you have no control over your fate, and have to follow the destiny of your family members. In Oedipus the King, Sophocles seems to argue that man has no real control over his or her destiny. Throughout the whole story he shows us how people try to run away from their fate and no matter how hard they try to change the outcome, they can’t.

“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

“How dare you disrespect the king of Corinth,” the servant shouted at Oedipus. If the servant never pushed Oedipus out of the way for Laius, Oedipus wouldn’t have killed laius leaving the group of servants at fault. Oedipus ran away from home because of what the Oracle had told him. The servant, not knowing who Oedipus is, caused the anger and started the tragedy.

Oedipus the King conveys the moral lesson of the catastrophe that results when human determination struggles to change fate. Humans are mortals, not always strong, and are fallible; the gods are not mortal, always strong, and are infallible. These differences plainly collide when Jocasta and Oedipus attempt to avoid their fates- what the “gods themselves have decreed.” Oedipus and Jocasta should have just submitted and not have had so much confidence in themselves; but, they are human, and could not change that which is predetermined. Thus, to the people of Thebes, their actions were blasphemous and offensive to the gods.

Do people believe in destiny? Nowadays, some people will laugh at the type of questions like it. However, destiny plays an significant role in the Greek mythology. Especially in Oedipus the king, this is a story about how human try to fight against the destiny and gods. Oedipus became the king of Thebes after answered the monster’s riddle correctly, he then married his mother Jocasta, which was the dead king’s widow. However, even though he escaped from the country where he grew up, but he could not avoid the terrible curse happened. Laius, the father of Oedipus, tired to avoid have any children, and later told his servant to abandon Oedipus in the mountains in order to stop the curse by the death of his child. What Laius did not think of was,

A Greek tragedy usually consist of a tragic hero, the main character, or protagonist that is of high rank who accepts his or her downfall with dignity. A flaw in judgment or weakness in a character such as pride, which intern helps to bring the downfall of the hero. A catastrophe, a scene that usually involves a lot of deaths, and if the protagonist does not die, then he or she usually suffers in some way. Also, there is usually a chorus involved through the tragedy that observe and comment on the actions through song. And finally, a belief, A.K.A “Fate”. Greeks believed in the idea of fate/ destiny. No matter what action a person takes it always leads back to his or her destiny. Written around 430 BCE, "Oedipus the King" has long thrilled

The consequences of Oedipus’ prideful actions are causing Thebes to be destroyed. Oedipus is talking to the Priest

Can we assure ourselves that we know what fate really is? The question of whether fate was predetermined by the Greek gods when one was born, or could the individual choose their fate, is debateable. In both tragedy plays, Agamemnon and Oedipus the King, the oracles indicated that the fate of Agamemnon and Oedipus was ordained. However, we cannot put all liability on the gods. The path that they have decided to take with the decisions that they made, partially led to their downfall. Therefore, they should’ve personally taken responsibility for fulfilling their prophecy.

In classical Greek theatre, the Chorus is an instrumental stage character comprising of a collective of twelve to fifty actors who aid in bridging the gap between the stage performers and audience members. The role of the Chorus is beneficial to the thousands of spectators in large-scale amphitheaters by leading audience reactions with the use of rhythmic song and dance. Specific to Sophocles’ tragic play Oedipus the King, the Chorus represents a band of Theban Elders, who provide three literary roles: provide the audience a summary of background information near the onset of the drama, perform as an interactive group of actors within the drama, and serve as a commentary to important developments during the performance.

“Oedipus Rex”, written by Sophocles, is a Greek Tragedy about Oedipus, who born to King Laius and Queen Jocasta in Thebes. He was brought into this world with a prophecy that he was bound to kill his father. Laius, hearing this, ordered a shepherd to have his son killed. However, Oedipus was saved. He was passed from shepherd to shepherd until one brought him to Cithaeron. There, Oedipus was raised as royalty with his adoptive parents, King Polybus and Queen Merope. Once Oedipus was informed of his prophecy, he fled to Thebes, in order avoid killing his father. “Oedipus Rex” demonstrates the nature of innocence and guilt. This is shown by Oedipus unknowingly killing his father, realizing that he married his birth mother and had children with

In the play, Oedipus unknowingly has cursed the entire town of Thebes. He was cursed to kill his father and marry his mother but never knew who his true parents were. In result of him escaping from the town he was sent off to, he did exactly that without knowing who his parents were. This cursed the city because the killer of the

Characterized as a noble figure who the audience admires and respects, Oedipus is the determined and caring king of Thebes. Oedipus’ noble characteristics are shown through “my spirit within me mourns for the city, and myself, and all of you”(7), which dictates that he is sympathetic and human as he shows concern for his people’s wellbeing. Oedipus’ determination as his “search has found one way to treat [the city’s ] disease - and [he had] acted already”(7), illustrates his thoughtful and forward thinking as he thinks ahead of his people. Oedipus is characterized as genuine and honest as he proclaims for Creon to “speak out, before all of us”(9), having consideration for his people and not wanting any information withheld from them. His resolute personality as he announces, “I shall shrink from nothing in my search to find the murderer of Laius”(16), dictates his determination in search for justice .

Esi Edugyan once said, “Ain’t no man can outrun his fate” ("Esi Edugyan Quotes." Esi Edugyan Quotes (Author of Half Blood Blues). N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2017). In the play Oedipus Rex, written by Sophocles, Oedipus tries to outrun his fate, ending tragically. His parents threw him into the forest after hearing a prophecy that we would one day kill his father and sleep with his mother. Oedipus, having survived, later ran from his parents not knowing he was adopted and did end up fulfilling the prophecy years later unknowingly. Oedipus displays the classic components of a tragic hero’s journey through hamartia, a tragic mistake, peripeteia, the reversal of fortune, and catharsis by restoring peace to Thebes, ultimately leaving a legacy that questions true identity.