Free Oedipus Rex Essays: The Role of Characters

654 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Character of king Oedipus

The Role of Characters in Oedipus the King

Characters play a very important role in the play "Oedipus the King" by Sophocles. Without characters, the play would lack a certain dimension and be very difficult to read. The presence of characters in the play make it more easily understood. If characters did not appear in the play it would be close to impossible to understand it since everything that takes place is through the words of the characters. Also if there were no characters the outcome of the play would be different. The significance of characters in the play is very obvious. Without them the play would be much shorter and much more boring. The role of characters is very important to the play.

Characters make the play possible just by the virtue of existing. If they did not exist the play would not either. If the play did not exist then the characters would not either. The characters and the play are codependent and need to have a symbiotic relationship to ensure their mutual survival. A lack of characters in the play would make very difficult reading and perhaps more difficult viewing. A lack of characters would necessitate some other device to be used and a substitute has not been found that replaces the role characters play in a play. An example from the play is when Oedipus was speaking to Teiresias: "I did not know then you would talk like a fool­or it would have been long before I called you". If there had not been any characters in this play, this could not have happened.

If the play did not have characters the outcome would be much different. All the actions and conversations could not have taken place without the use of characters. Characters made the play and its tragedy possible. Without characters nothing could have taken place. They made it possible for Oedipus to kill his father and have sex with his mother and for everything that was bad to happen. If Jocasta or better Oedipus did not exist within the context of the play everyone would have been much happier and the tragedy could have been avoided. Even if the herdsman who saved Oedipus as a child did not exist or the messenger from Cithaeron the tragedy of the play would have been avoided and made for a much happier ending.

Show More
Related

  • Pride In The Count Of Monte Cristo

    915 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Humble yourself or life will do it for you.” Having too much pride can cause karma to hit you very hard in life. The Count of Monte Cristo and Ozymandias are very common because they have very similar themes of being humble instead of having too much ego. In The Count of Monte Cristo Edmond Dantes, the main character, is in love with a beautiful young lady, Mercedes. His life is going very good to begin with anyway. He was promoted to captain of the Pharaon and was now making much more money than he used to be making. Although Edmond was a very happy and sympathetic person, some people were very envious of him. So Ferdinand, Danglars, and Caderousse, which were envious for very diverse reasons, decided to write a letter to the public prosecutor stating edmond’s visit to The Isle of Elba actually did indeed happen. The public prosecutor, Villefort, sees that the letter was intended to be

    Read More

  • The Count of Montecristo by Alexander Dumas

    642 Words  | 2 Pages

    The novel the count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas is a story of happiness, despair, and revenge. Edmond Dantes is a man who has faced a lot in his life including the love of his life leaving him, having his father die while he is in jail, and having to waist 14 years of his life in jail even though he is an innocent man who committed no crimes. Edmond Dantes goes through many changes in The Count of Monte Cristo, He begins the story a happy man with little worries in life, Edmond is then sent to jail where he faces despair and even thinks about suicide, once Edmond escapes jail he truly begins his anger filed spree of revenge.

    Read More

  • The Role of Minor Characters in Shakespeare's Hamlet

    655 Words  | 2 Pages

    Minor characters play a very crucial role in Shakespear's Hamlet. They serve as narrators for events that occurred outside the immediate play: the Dane's ghost. Distinct contrasts are created through the usage of the play's minor characters. The reader gains new perspective on Hamlet's character when he is compared with Laertes. The presence of these minor characters can also have a direct effect on the action of the play. The actors in the play within the play are used to expose the guilt of Claudius; Hamlet then has proof of the King's crimes. The expertise use of these characters - either to exemplify good and purity, or to spread the vile corruption which permeates Elsinore - is one of the main reasons for Hamlet's success as one of the greatest plays ever written.

    Read More

  • Edmond Dantes Reborn As The Count Of Monte Cristo

    1120 Words  | 3 Pages

    Everyday people seem change themselves in one way or another, but sometimes people change their appearance and personality to the point where those who were close to them, can not even recognize them in a crowd. The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas, is a story of a sailor, Edmond Dantes, who was betrayed during his prime time of his life by the jealousy of his friends. Dantes is sent to prison where he spends countless years planning an escape with the help of a fellow prisoner. The prisoner informs Dantes that he knows where a treasure is that one man can not even dream about. Dantes friend then happens to die, leaving Dantes with the information of where the treasure is. After escaping, and cheating death, Dantes strikes it rich when he discovers the treasure of which his friend talked about. From here on, the Count of Monte Cristo is born, and he sets off to seek revenge at those who put him in prison. Many people believe that Edmond abandoned his former self and tried to became the Count of Monte Cristo however, there are still some traces of Edmond Dantes locked up inside the Count.

    Read More

  • Revenge Does nNot Bring Happiness in The Count of Monte Cristo

    2184 Words  | 5 Pages

    It is believed by many that it is human nature to deem themselves to be a tantamount to God. Such is the case when one decides to take revenge against those who wrong him. Though vengeance seems like the perfect way to achieve justice, a sense of equity, in actuality it is merely an unsatisfactory hypocritical action. This is the definitive realization of the protagonist, Edmond Dantès in Alexandre Dumas’ “The Count of Monte Cristo”. The protagonist comes to understand that after a lifetime of searching for justice, he really only yearns justice from himself. Akin to many of Alexandre Dumas’ other masterpieces, “The Count of Monte Cristo” is a dramatic tale of mystery and intrigue that paints a dazzling, dueling, exuberant vision of the Napoleonic era in France. In this thrilling adventure, Edmond Dantès is toiling with the endeavor of attaining ultimate revenge, after being punished by his enemies and thrown into a secret dungeon in the Chateau d’If. He reluctantly learns that his long intolerable years in captivity, miraculous escape and carefully wrought revenge are all merely vital parts in his journey of awakening to the notion that there is no such thing as happiness or unhappiness, there is merely the comparison between the two. Ultimately, the irony that Dumas is presenting through this novel suggests that the inability to attain happiness through the hypocrisy that is revenge is because one is really avenging their own self. This becomes evident through his dramatic transformations from a naïve, young sailor, to a cold, cynical mastermind of vengeance, and finally to a remorseful, humble man who is simply content.

    Read More

  • Oedipus the King: A Painful Path to Truth

    742 Words  | 2 Pages

    The play "Oedipus Rex" is a very full and lively one to say the least. Everything a reader could ask for is included in this play. There is excitement, suspense, happiness, sorrow, and much more. Truth is the main theme of the play. Oedipus cannot accept the truth as it comes to him or even where it comes from. He is blinded in his own life, trying to ignore the truth of his life. Oedipus will find out that truth is rock solid. The story is mainly about a young man named Oedipus who is trying to find out more knowledge than he can handle. The story starts off by telling us that Oedipus has seen his moira, his fate, and finds out that in the future he will end up killing his father and marrying his mother. Thinking that his mother and father were Polybos and Merope, the only parents he knew, he ran away from home and went far away so he could change his fate and not end up harming his family. Oedipus will later find out that he cannot change fate because he has no control over it, only the God's can control what happens. Oedipus is a very healthy person with a strong willed mind who will never give up until he gets what he wants. Unfortunately, in this story these will not be good trait to have.

    Read More

  • The Decision to Purchase a Car

    831 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...ary constraints. In order to get the payments lowered without having to come up with more money down, some lenders stretch the loan out to a longer term. Auto loans can last up to five or six years! Also, the longer the loan term, the more interest that ends up being paid in the end. Worst case scenario, when the car is finally all yours and the lender is paid in full, you’ve paid a ton of interest, have a seven year old used car with over 100k miles, and quite possibly repair bills.

    Read More

  • The Count Of Monte Cristo

    1019 Words  | 3 Pages

    	Edmond Dantes imprisonment made a huge impact on his life. He spent 14 years in the dark and quiet Chateau d’If. During those 14 years he met a priest, Abbe Faria, which they met each other through a secret tunnel in which they both have created while in prison. An amazing transformation takes place in Edmond Dantes as he learns about his enemies and a large hidden treasure that contains a large sum of money. Abbe Faria is a very smart man, while in prison he taught Dantes many useful knowledge including the whereabouts of a large treasure located on the Isle of Monte Cristo.

    Read More

  • What Car Should I buy? New or Used Car

    755 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...reas an old car might not because it is unsecured. A new car is much more expensive, but an old car is less expensive and can easily be purchased even with low credit score in auction. When you have a new car, you will be in control of a situation. Investing in a new car is also a wise decision. The owner of a new car might incur a higher initial cost, but benefit from the investment will justify the cost. If you decide that you want to buy a car, you have a different choice to make: Should you buy new or used car? For some people, it might be an easy choice to choose to purchase a used car because of their income or credit scores. Others might be compelled to buy a new car because they are capable of meeting every standard to buy the car. When making a choice to buy a new or old car, it all comes down to making sure you understand the advantages and disadvantages.

    Read More

  • Free Essays - The Themes of Oedipus the King (Rex)

    719 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the play Oedipus the King, by Sophocles, two themes appear; one that humans have little control of their lives because fate always catches up with them and the theme that when someone makes a mistake, they will have to pay for it.

    Read More

  • Jocasta as the Victim of Oedipus the King

    1028 Words  | 3 Pages

    The play Oedipus the King by Sophocles has often been described as the story of a “tragic hero.” This story is indeed tragic; however, Oedipus is not the only character stricken by tragedy. Equally stricken may be the character of Jocasta. She, as well as Oedipus, suffers many tragedies throughout the story. Shifting the story to a different perspective quite possibly may increase how we view it. The point is not to denounce Oedipus’ role as a tragic hero, but to denounce his role as the only tragic character.

    Read More

  • Why Is Oedipus A Tragic Hero

    1193 Words  | 3 Pages

    Actions and words can easily be the backbone of character building. Oedipus aids to his description

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Death In Shakespeare's Othello

    1215 Words  | 3 Pages

    The play Othello, written by William Shakespeare, is a tragic play that goes over a variety of topics, from love to death. Othello is a tragic play due to its many aspects of death throughout it. One character that falls to the hands of death is one of the main characters, Othello, and another being his wife Desdemona. Each of these deaths are a direct cause of another character’s actions, Iago. Within the play there are scenes of manipulation, betrayal, jealousy, lust, deceit, and murder. This play, Othello, contains many characters that have important roles to the development of the play and the plots that occur. These characters are the ones that make the play what it is and create the various moods and themes throughout the play. The characters

    Read More

  • Greed In The Count Of Monte Cristo

    417 Words  | 1 Pages

    Greed is blind. For Baron Danglars, an antagonist of Alexandre Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo, his greed is generated by the overflow of his wealth and fortune. Although being wealthy has numerous benefits and can occasionally act as the key to a woman’s heart, whatever ascents must descend. The Baron’s greed manipulating him to fall into distorted information or traps exhibits that a passion for one’s fortune often prevents him from foreseeing the unexpected future.

    Read More

  • The Role of Fate in Oedipus Rex

    809 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...s you wonder if Jocasta and Oedipus had not run from their fate, what other way Sophocles would have made it happen. Also, just when the characters think they have nothing to worry about, just when they think they avoided their fate, it comes back to bite them. Sophocles makes it interesting in this way. This approach definitely keeps the reader interested because we wonder what other way he will use this writing technique in his play.

    Read More

More about Free Oedipus Rex Essays: The Role of Characters

Open Document