Oedipus The King 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

The Greek myth of Oedipus is a story surrounding Oedipus, the king of Thebes in Ancient Egypt and his relationship with his family members, specifically his mother and father. There are many different versions of the myth written by Homer and other well-known writers from the Ancient world. Although Oedipus tried very hard not to, he ended up fulfilling a dangerous prophecy, that brought disaster to his family and the city.

Ever since the dawn of time, it appears that psychics and fortunetellers attempt to predict the future. Some people believe that these fortunetellers benefit people in allowing the freedom of choice when dealing with an important decision. The classic Greek play, “Oedipus the King,” by Sophocles, demonstrates this belief of predicting the future. Along with this argument comes the question of whether we truly have the freedom of choice. According to Bernard Knox, Oedipus had only one freedom throughout the play: the freedom of pursuing the truth. He believes that this sets up the tragedy and drama of the play. He further goes into saying how this freedom reveals his “courage, intelligence, perseverance, the qualities that make human beings

“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.

In Greek tragedy, it is said that as individuals we fail because of our actions. However, the gods play a major role in determining an individual’s fate. The play, Oedipus The King, is about an orphan who runs away from his adoptive parent’s home.

Why do people love life and hate death? I believe it is because life is a beautiful lie and death is a painful truth. Throughout Sophocles Oedipus the King, readers can explore this idea of life and death through Oedipus. Many different themes are expressed in Oedipus the King, but can sometimes be difficult to pinpoint. So, what exactly is a theme? To me, a theme is simply the subject in a piece of writing. Themes can transformation over the course of a novel as the focus shifts or subject changes. While analyzing Oedipus the King, I found that it is extremely important to relate with the characters as well as learn freedom really is not free because of the boundaries we create and how to be honest with ourselves.

Having already solved the riddle of the Sphinx, Oedipus, the king of Thebes, is struck with yet another formidably difficult riddle. A plague has struck Thebes and is devastating the entire city. Various oracles and bird entrails suggest that it is because the murderer of the previous king, Laius, still lives unpunished. In attempt to save his kingdom, Oedipus decided to investigate the murder only to discover that he is the one who killed Laius and married his queen, Jocasta. While solving the mystery, he also figures out that Laius was actually his father and Jocasta, whom he had wedded and raised four children with, is his mother, fulfilling an earlier prophecy. Aghast at the truth, Jocasta hangs herself to death and Oedipus gouges his

Oedipus was a great king to his city. He was devoted to helping find a cure from the people, he was a family man and he always stuck to the rules. All these great qualities about Oedipus, and yet he was still very flawed. Oedipus was very stubborn and hard headed, he mostly never listened to anyones opinion and believed he was always right. He was also prideful and had a temper. All of these qualities get the best of him as the play goes on.

Many ancient Greek dramas have similarity. The story begins with the prophecy from the Gods. And the end of the story always comes out in tragedy. In addition, all Greek drama also contain the chorus in between the scenes in the story. The chorus has many purposes that affect the main character and audience’s appreciation and perception of the play. One of the famous drama, Oedipus the King which is written by Sophocles. In between the scenes of the story Oedipus, there are the choruses. The chorus provides short information before the scene starts to audiences in order to make them understand the events that are going on the story. And the chorus giving an impression of the next scene to the audiences.

Irony is “incongruity between the actual results of a sequence of events and the normal or expected results (Merriam – Webster).” This means that a person may think that something is going to happen based on what they see or what they believe, when in reality the exact opposite happens. Irony can be further specified as dramatic or tragic irony. These types of irony often occur in plays, stories, and movies; where viewers or readers are led in one direction and director or author reveals different results than what is expected. The sudden twists and turns create drama and keep people interested thus, deserving the name dramatic irony.

When observing the play “Oedipus The King”, there is no doubt that it is a tragedy. However, it is quite hard for one to tell exactly what kind of tragedy it favors. I am stuck between two that I think could be fitting for this play. “Oedipus The King” could either be a medium or low tragedy. It is obvious that Oedipus is the hero and he fall, but which tragedy does the play fit? To answer this question one needs to weigh the options.

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.

IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY: During the Trojan war, Achilles was one of the main heros. His mother wanted to make him immortal so she dipped him the river Styx (a river in the underworld) but held him by the heel. Because of that, his whole body except for his heel was submerged in the water thus making his weak spot his heel.

Hamartia and blindness were the causes of the downfall for Oedipus. Hamartia is defined as a tragic flaw in a character. It is the source that causes the character’s downfall or his destruction. This was the downfall of Oedipus. However, not not only was it in that term of meaning.

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.