Oedipus The King Research Paper

“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

One major aspect that caused the destruction of Oedipus and his family is Apollo’s oracle at Delphi. When Apollo’s oracle told Oedipus about the two prophecies, Oedipus tried to avoid them by moving to another city, and walked to meet his fate in Thebes. This shows Apollo’s advantage

From the very beginning of Oedipus, it is made clear "that his destiny be one of fate and worse". The irony is that Oedipus unknowingly repeatedly predicts his own fate: "It was I who called down these curses on that man." Oedipus has unconsciously married his mother and killed his father, just as the Oracle predicted. Fate is proven to be unavoidable to Oedipus as the play

“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

Over the years, people have wondered whether their actions are their own or if they were predetermined by fate. In the story of Oedipus Rex, it is the same question that is asked. Was it his own choice to kill his father? I believe that Oedipus had free will but was influenced by those around him to make the choices he made.

For my Essay on Oedipus, he is not a God he is a king. He was the king of Thebes. He was best known for killing his father and marrying his mother and having 4 children. At an early age, he then was left to die by a river. Oedipus was abandoned and was taken by King Polybus and his wife Merope.

Mandalyn Humphrey Mrs. Ruiz Honors English January 5, 2016 What are the qualities of a good leader? Some may say good leaders are inspiring, or brave. Someone who is willing to put their lives on the line for the people that follow them. In the play Oedipus Rex, written by Sophocles, King Oedipus displays some of these qualities, but for the most part he reflected undesirable leadership traits. Oedipus did not qualify as a good leader because he had little experience when it came to being a King, placed the blame on others without considering himself, and had a short temper when someone challenged the fact that he was the previous King’s killer.

He was the visionary ruler with a moral compass and ruled his kingdom for 5 years. He was a noble man and appreciated by all the people of his kingdom as a caring and compassionate ruler. Married an year ago, he wed out of love rather than the customary arranged marriage prevalent then. Committed to his new Queen, the king was infatuated by her long, sexy legs, dark black hair, elegance, style and overall beauty and charm. They met at a royal celebration at a friend of his and within minutes, the king had become straight away mesmerized with her quick wit, smooth grace and overall gorgeousness. He was aroused by her intellect and wanted to marry her desparately. After a fast, dedicated and extreme romantic affair he achieved his dream. It took

An affair with mother, killing father? What imbecile would possibly do that. Oedipus did so, but it was a very terrible mistake. Oedipus Rex is a play written by the Greek playwright Sophocles. The play was told all throughout the generations, meaning that a lot of people have heard the play in the past. In order to understand the play knowledge about the background must be known. Oedipus was born into a royal family, but when they went to get his fortune told disturbing events occurred there. The oracle told the king that the baby was going to kill his father and marry his mother. In fear of this happening, the king and queen gave the baby to shepherds to slaughter. The shepherds refused to end the baby’s life and gave them to a noble family in Thebes. That baby’s name was Oedipus. Later in Oedipus’s life, he unwillingly kills his father and marries his mother just like the fortune foretold. The

Who has no eyes and lives alone wandering around on a mountain all day? Why, Oedipus Rex of course! However, Oedipus cannot be held accountable for this tragic fate. Oedipus is a prime example of a modern tragic hero, meaning that his downfall was out of his control and was the fault of others around him. Oedipus’s life has consisted of secrets, lies, and twisted tales, all of which were not revealed to him until well into his adulthood. Almost every bad thing in Oedipus's life can be accounted on other people's actions. Oedipus fate was out of his hands, nothing he could do could avoid it, thus making him a modern tragic hero.

Fate the inevitable. The tragedy of Oedipus Rex by Sophocles effectively depicts the wrath of fate as he’s portraying how Oedipus came face to face with fate without realizing it. Everything that occured was thoroughly planned out. The plague that took over Thebes and situated Oedipus in a condition where he must find the murderer to undo the plague. The theme throughout Oedipus Rex is depicted as that there is no escaping what is meant to be.

Internal conflict, or the psychological struggle within the mind of a literary or dramatic character, affects many characters all throughout literature. The play Oedipus Rex, written by Sophocles, exists as a tragedy that every other tragedy bases itself on, with Oedipus going through severe internal conflicts during the whole play. Through setting, hubris, and tragic flaw, Oedipus conveys the theme of internal conflict. In terms of setting, he makes the viewer know about his predicament. Sophocles uses Oedipus’ hubris, or excessive pride, to express the conflict that he faces even more.

When I was reading “Oedipus Rex” by Sophocles, the play effectively toyed with my emotions and gave me a new perspective on Greek cultures and plays. Before reading “Oedipus Rex,” I always thought the only job of the chorus was to sing their lines. I had no idea that the Greek chorus had three important roles during the play. They represented the common people, enhanced the mood, and advised the protagonist. After I realized that the Greek chorus was an important part in the telling of the play, I gained a better and new appreciation for chorus. My emotions seemed to be bi-polar throughout the play. For example, one moment I felt disgusted that Oedipus married his mother and killed his father, but the next moment I felt sorry that Oedipus

In ancient Greece, plays were more then simply a form of entertainment. "Athenian drama was supported and financed by the state. (...)Greek theater was directed at the moral and political education of the community." (Kennedy and Gioia, pgs 1357-1363) Sophocles understood this, and dissipated any pollyanic view of society by presenting us with plays that were intended to teach. Sophocles's Oedipus the King issued a warning for those who foolishly believed that they could challenge the forces of nature. Sophocles was known for presenting characters that are fluid not static. So it should come as no surprise that the Oedipus the reader encounters at the outset of the play, an extraordinary leader, but

One of the main themes of this Greek tragedy is that no one can change his or her fate that has been predetermined by the gods. One example of this is when Teiresias is summoned to help the kingdom identify the killer of Laius and save the city from the plague. In his conversation with Oedipus about this matter, he reveals to him that even if he speaks the truth, the events that are predetermined by the gods will still happen (Sophocles 16). Oedipus, like many others in the play, believes that he can change what the gods have set forth in his life before him, but the gods will strike that theory right out of the sky as he learns later that regardless of the steps he took to prevent his fate from being completed, he still ended with the same result. They made sure he knew that they were in complete and utter control of his life. The gods are acting liking tyrants in the way that they micromanage his life and make things