Oedipus the King Essay

Audiences connect more with a hero that goes through hardship, especially when the audience know the outcome of said hero. This is enthralling for many, and this was amplified in the Greek theatre, where the Chorus helped bridge the fourth wall. Dramatic irony is arguably the best plot device used in King Oedipus and is what separates it from the others. Where we, as viewers, know the outcome, Oedipus merely knows the prophecy, not the “process” nor the final outcome of his life. The fact that he knew his fate but pushed on, no matter how bitter shows his greatness and agrees with the essay statement: “Strength to pursue the truth at any whatever personal cost…”. In another example, at the very beginning while Oedipus was the young prince of Corinth, he heard of his own prophecy. He then decided to leave his adopted parents to protect them, unknowingly helping to seal his own fate . He knew his prophecy but didn’t know how it will carry out and end. Sophocles employs dramatic irony with masterful skill, sealing an audience’s

Tragedies are events that cause great suffering, distress, and destruction, such as a serious accident, crime or natural catastrophe. One example of a tragedy is Oedipus The King, written by Sophocles around 441 B.C. Many events in this tragedy take place and cause the main character, Oedipus, to reach his downfall. Oedipus’ intelligence, pursuit of truth, and hot temper all contribute to his downfall. Oedipus’ intelligence is one thing that leads to his downfall.

Let’s start out with Oedipus, according to our text book, Living Theatre, it states, “Sophocles’s King Oedipus, which was first presented around 430 B.C.E. There are structural similarities among all extant Greek tragedies.” (Wilson 38). If there ever was a story that epitomized the definition of a Greek Tragedy. Granted yes, it was a very powerful and depressing, it has many themes that are relatable for today’s world and society. For example, at the end of the play, Oedipus is down on his luck, Oedipus found out who is father and mother was from the Oracle. Lo and behold, the oracle was right, he said that he would murder his father, who was Laius, former king of Thebes and the gods said in order to bring back the once prosperous kingdom of Thebes, they must banish the murderer of the former king. The other prophecy was that he would marry his mother. Well, he speaks to the

Born into a royal family, Oedipus was one of the bearers of a disastrous generational curse. He had no idea what he was born into, or what he would become. Poor Oedipus was put into to the world to serve as an example from the gods. Although Oedipus was said to be a victim of fate, he contributed to his own fate more than the gods. He was placed into the world to with a prophecy that he will kill his father and married his mother and conceive children with her, but that was just a prophecy not his destiny. Oedipus could have determined a new destiny for himself, but instead he did more things to make the prophecy true rather than false. The life of Oedipus was a great tragedy, not only for him but for his entire family. Although the gods

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

In Sophocles's play Oedipus Rex, Oedipus is what is known in a tragedy as the tragic hero. Oedipus is the tragic hero because his fate goes from having the fortune to ending up in misfortune. Usually, the tragic hero is given a "tragic flaw" that sets the character up for his own downfall. The tragic flaw is intentionally an excessive positive trait causes the character fortune to turn to misfortune. In these Greek tragedies, fate plays another role in the outcome of the characters. The Gods trust that in the path they give a person, it would play out as it should. The fate the Gods choose to give them can also add to the character's downfall. In Oedipus Rex, the tragic result of Oedipus's down fall is the fault of fate and Oedipus's decisions because of the God's Prophecy, Oedipus's tragic flaw, and his parents' dishonesty.

The tragedy of Oedipus Rex exemplifies the corruption of the higher classes and the differing values of the Athenian society. The play represents the enduring themes of the flawed nature of humanity as well as the limits of free will. Oedipus, the new king sought to prevent the disturbing prophecy from occurring, in the processes accidently fulfilling the inevitable; murdering his father and marrying his mother. Through the twisting plot of the play emerged with themes that defined the era, the beliefs and ideas of the Athenians are shown in the ideas of corruption, knowledge, and fate.

Sophocles’ tragic heroes are those of noble birth with heroic potential, but this character is fated by the Gods to doom and destruction through great suffering. With their prophecy, the tragic hero typically fights against the fate, which creates suffering and through this suffering, the hero learns about their true self and place in the universe. Throughout the drama of Oedipus the King, Sophocles retells the downfall of the Theban king and questions his guilt and innocence. The tragedy is typically read as the unraveling of Oedipus’s true origins through his transition from ignorance to knowledge and the change in his moral standing from innocent to guilt as the plot proceeds. However, Sophocles gives multiple instances were Oedipus could be seen as guilty or innocent based on his ignorance or pride.

Tragic fates and the downfalls of others have always seemed to interest a crowd. Audiences will travel from afar and pay to witness such performances. They listen and sit at the edge of their seats wondering when and how the catastrophe will occur in the protagonist’s doomed life. The reason for this is because almost all of the spectators can relate to the protagonist due to the fact that the protagonists of these tragedies are tragic heroes. These tragic heroes have qualities that render them both tragic and heroic, and they display five key characteristics according to Aristotle’s definition. The criteria of a tragic hero is that they must suffer throughout the play, have a tragic flaw, eventually recognize their tragic flaw and take responsibility for their actions, be neither completely good nor completely bad, and arouse pity and fear in the audience. These traits allow the people in the audience to relate to the tragic hero because no one is completely good, no one is completely bad, many have felt suffering, fear having a tragic flaw of their own, and long to recognize their own tragic flaw and take responsibility for their actions. This reliability has helped tragedies, specifically Greek tragedies, become some of the most influential pieces in theatre and literature. In the play Oedipus the King, the protagonist Oedipus is an excellent example of a tragic hero.

Blindness is the downfall of the hero Oedipus in the play “King Oedipus” by Sophocles. Not only does the blindness appear physically, but also egotistically as he refuses to acknowledge

As the play proceeds, Oedipus goes from being a well respected and prosperous king to finding himself in a tragic situation which according to Aristotle is the circumstance which brings the hero’s tragic flaw into play. The audience feels pity for this character because he has been blind to what was in front of him. Although Teiresais told him “But

For many centuries, the tragedy continues to be perceived as the most heartwarming arrangement of drama because it incorporates the capability of transporting the spectator into the drama as well as allowing them to apprehend the characters, particularly the tragic hero. The tragedy was shaped by the Greek philosopher, Aristotle, in a book called, The Poetics. It was composed fifty years after the death of Sophocles. Sophocles is the writer of the tragedy, Oedipus the King. Aristotle was a great admirer of Oedipus the King, considering it is the perfect tragedy. Not surprisingly, Aristotle’s analysis of tragedy in The Poetics fits

Throughout history there have been many diverse works of true literary brilliance. Many of these scholarly texts have withstood the test of time and have been evaluated and critiqued over the centuries. One such example is the tragedies that originated from Ancient Greece. Greek historians have preserved the manuscripts of numerous and now famous tragedies, which have been taught for generations in English classes around the world. Through the tragedies, the readers or observers learn from the emotions evoked by the story being told. In feeling these emotions and witnessing the plight of the protagonists, the audience will gain knowledge from personifying these plights and reflecting into themselves. The tragedy of Oedipus exemplifies

The Greek drama Oedipus Rex by Sophocles is a play about the king of Thebes who eventually falls from his pedestal after unconsciously destroying his own reputation. Oedipus was a powerful man who was envied by many people. However, they did not know of his personal situations and problems yet glorified him anyway. But after all was revealed, the townspeople realized that “The greatest grieves are those we cause ourselves.” Many obstacles we face in our lives are because of our own doing. Oedipus is a good example of this because the actions he takes in the play bring about his own downfall.

In the play Oedipus the King by Sophocles, the main character, Oedipus is given the task to stop a plague that is taking over the city of Thebes. At the time, Oedipus was not aware that this task would reveal many secrets, many of which would leave without anything or anyone. In the article “Aristotle’s Ideas About Tragedy” he explains all the necessary components for a tragedy. This play has many of the characteristics that Aristotle thought categorized a story or play as a tragedy. Oedipus’ tragic hero-like characteristics led him to his downfall. Due to his terrible mistake, ignorance about his past, and tragic flaw, Oedipus fulfills all the characteristics of a tragic hero.