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The Similarities Between Plato's Apology And Oedipus The King

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In the readings, “Plato’s Apology” translated by Benjamin Jowett and “Oedipus the King” translated by Robert Bagg we notice many similarities. Deeper analyzation of these texts deeper will allow the reader to foresee Socratic wisdom. Socratic wisdom is best defined as accepting ignorance, no matter how wise or knowledgeable you may be. We learn in the beginning of Oedipus the King that an oracle has told his biological father, that it is in his son’s fate to kill him, and marry his mother – the knowing of his fate leads to failure. If you believe that you know everything, your intellect can lead to your downfall. It is hard to accept your faults, when the end outcome is to beneficial for everyone involved. “That’s your truth? Now hear mine: honor the curse your mouth spoke. From this day on, don’t speak to me or to your people here. You are the plague. You poison our land (Bagg 495).” Here we witness Tiresias – a blind prophet, informing Oedipus that he is the reason that their land is going through so much turmoil. Oedipus is in denial to Tiresias beliefs for many reasons: he has been welcomed in, been ruling Thebes for many years, received praise from the people of Thebes and the Priest of Zeus for restoring life to the city, and by solving Sphinx riddle. Sphinx, (a winged female half part human, part lion) terrorized the city of Thebes, by not allowing anyone to enter the city unless they were able to solve her riddle, if the riddle was answered incorrectly she would

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