Themes In Oedipus The King

2286 Words5 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Themes In The Text King Oedipus

The play Oedipus the King by Sophocles is a drama of a heroic archetype struggling to find answers which creates many conflicts in the story which include man vs. man, man vs. himself, and man vs. supernatural. Oedipus, who is the King of Thebes is under pressure searching for who murdered King Laois. During his search the king must overcome many conflicts in order to find answers to the murder of King Laois and in the process uncovers more information about himself. Man vs. Man The entire man to man confrontation comes down to friendship and trust. Oedipus does not trust Creon even though he tries to help him find the murderer of King Laois. In fact, Oedipus retaliates against him due to several incidences. First, Creon suggested Oedipus meet Teiresias, a holy prophet who may have information about the murder of King Laois. Oedipus becomes frustrated with Teiresias lack of cooperation and inability to share critical information. Thus causing Oedipus` lack of trust with Creon. Oedipus felt betrayed by Creon as to why he wanted him to meet with Tierias calling him “a wizard” (Sophocles 1220). It is detrimental to think Teiresias knew Oedipus …show more content…

man, man vs. self, and man vs. supernatural is apparent in through the analysis through the textual analysis and support of the articles. Thus the major themes when analyzing the text. In Oedipus’s attempt to avoid fate, he ends up through determination and many conflicts the outcome of his prophecy. This became apparent through the text because you can see the distinctive themes taking place. The actual text support allows you to realize how the conflicts are taking place in the story. The heroic archetype is unfortunately ostracized by those who know the truth but do not express their concern for the man’s well-being in society. The complexity of the protagonist’s actions lead to his innocence and eventually downfall when he learns his prophecy has been

Show More
Related

  • The Intention of Oedipus in Oedipus the King

    1161 Words  | 3 Pages

    Oedipus Rex, also known as Oedipus the King, is one of the most ironic plays ever written. Sophocles, the author, is a famous philosopher of the ancient times. The Play is about Oedipus, the king of Thebes, who unwittingly killed his father and married his mother. An oracle warned Laius, the king of Thebes prior to Oedipus, that his son would slay him. Accordingly, when his wife, Jocasta, bore a son, he exposed the baby on Mt. Cithaeron, first pinning his ankles together (hence the name Oedipus, meaning Swell-Foot). A shepherd took pity on the infant, who was adopted by King Polybus of Corinth and his wife and was brought up as their son. In early manhood Oedipus visited Delphi and upon learning that he was fated to kill his father and marry his mother, he resolved never to return to Corinth. Travelling toward Thebes, he encountered Laius, who provoked a quarrel in which Oedipus killed him.

    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

  • Sophocles' Oedipus the King as Nothing More Than a Detective Story

    1986 Words  | 4 Pages

    Sophocles' Oedipus the King as Nothing More Than a Detective Story. The play “Oedipus the King” is a Greek tragedy written by Sophocles in the early days of antiquity and is based upon an ancient story in Greek mythology. It was written around a time when Rome was in power. and Athens was the centre of the world.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Tragic Flaws In Oedipus

    1291 Words  | 3 Pages

    Despite earlier Teiresias being referred to as: “A lord clairvoyant to the lord Apollo” (Scene 1. 966). Teiresias is the one: “in whom, alone of all men, truth was born” (Scene 1. 967). Yet, when provided the divine wisdom, Oedipus rejects it and creates his own wisdom. He feels he is above the gods and anything foolish enough to get in his way. However, this incident is not the last time Oedipus’s arrogance rears its ugly head. For instance, he accuses Creon of plotting to kill him with no proof. After his violent argument with Teiresias, Oedipus summons Creon to confront him about his plot to over throw him. He has no proof in this accusation and even has the audacity to tell Creon: “You are evil incarnate” (Scene 2. 975). Oedipus assumes he has the power to rightfully accuse and judge Creon as an enemy of the gods as if he were a god himself. The chorus echoes this sentiment: “Prove his heroic mind! These evil words are lies” (Ode 1. 972). His illogical accusation is cautioned against others but still, he finds his truth to be absolute: “Let him go. And let me die, If I must. / Or be driven by him in shame from the land of Thebes” (Scene 2. 976). In a tactful choice of words, he both allows the ones who oppose his assumption that Creon is guilty and protects his

    Read More

  • tragoed Comparing Tragedy in Hamlet and Oedipus the King (Oedipus Rex)

    624 Words  | 2 Pages

    Oedipus is the main character in the play Oedipus the King. Oedipus is thought of as a tragic figure because he was doomed from birth. Tiresias, an old blind prophet, told Oedipus' parents about Oedipus' fate. He told them that Oedipus would kill his father and sleep with his mother. So, his parents decided to have him killed, only it did not happen that way. He was passed off by two shepherds and finally to the King and Queen of Corinth, Polybus and Merope to raise him as their own. Oedipus finds his way back to Thebes and on the way kills his father, but Oedipus did not know that one of the men he killed was his real father. This is the beginning of the prophecy coming true. In short Oedipus obtains the throne, Marries his mother and has kids with her. Oedipus' fate has come together without him even realizing what is going on. Eventually he is told what has happened and asks to be banished by his uncle/brother-in-law Creon. The tragedy in Oedipus' life began with his birth and the realization by his parents that his whole life was doomed.

    Read More

  • Oedipus Tragedy Analysis

    1976 Words  | 4 Pages

    He is blind from the truth even though he has physical insight. A fellow Theban, Tiresias knows the truth, but even when he told Oedipus that he was the murderer of his King Laius, he refused to believe it. Oedipus refuses to believe anything he was told because he believes that he ran away from his true fate. Without knowing anything about his real father or mother, he ends up fulfilling the prophecy. He kills his father, Laius and married his mother, Jocasta. Oedipus displays his arrogance many times throughout the story. In the beginning of the story, he says “Yes, I whom men call Oedipus the great” (Sophocles 23), showing a sign of his arrogance. Oedipus shows off his arrogance again by saying that everyone should know him because of the deed he has done (Sophocles 33). He saved them the Sphinx and gained an enormous amount of confidence because of it and also because he was rewarded the Queens hand in marriage. Oedipus once again shows his arrogance when he tells the people of the Thebes that he can find the murderer of Laius on his own without any help (Sophocles 28). The irony of Oedipus’s hubris is that he even determines what his downfall will look like: “That man, whoever that man be, I, this country’s reigning king, cut off from every fellowship of speech and contact, sacrifice and sacrament, even ritual touch of water, in this realm” (Sophocles 32). Oedipus’s downfall can only be blamed on him because of his

    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

  • Self-Discovery and the Pursuit of Truth in Sophocles' Oedipus

    1141 Words  | 3 Pages

    Sophocles’ Oedipus is the tragedy of tragedies. An honorable king is deceived and manipulated by the gods to the point of his ruination. In the face of ugly consequences Oedipus pursues the truth for the good of his city, finally exiling himself to restore order. Sophocles establishes emotional attachment between the king and the audience, holding them in captivated sympathy as Oedipus draws near his catastrophic discovery. Oedipus draws the audience into a world between a rock and a hard place, where sacrifice must be made for the greater good.

    Read More

  • Comparing the Oedipus of Sophocles and Senaca

    1290 Words  | 3 Pages

    The myth of Oedipus is one of a man brought down by forces aligning against him. Over the years, different playwrights have interpreted his character in various fashions. In Sophocles’ Oedipus the King, Oedipus is a man who is blind to the path on which his questions take him and exemplifies the typical tyrannical leader in ancient times; in Senaca’s Oedipus, it is the fear of his questions that give Oedipus a greater depth of character, a depth he must overcome if he is to survive his ordeal.

    Read More

  • Oedipus

    742 Words  | 2 Pages

    This analysis of Oedipus’s character shows how Oedipus, the protagonist and the antagonist against himself, dealt with unfortunate situations which sealed his fate. Oedipus was a strange round character that was really interesting and mysterious. Oedipus’s life was a good example of a true Greek tragedy; he worked himself up to be a great king and ultimately in the end he died with only his perception on life. Oedipus was once a man of power who falls impoverished. He goes from having much respect in his great position to being impure, blind, and expelled from the land that he once ruled.

    Read More

  • Common Themes Of Sight And Blindness In Oedipus The King

    1051 Words  | 3 Pages

    There is an old saying “There are none so blind as those who will not see.” What this is saying is that people are blind in what they see (ignorant) and what they are willing to see. Even some with the best vision can be blind. It is all about what we want to see, which can be very misleading and can cause issues like it did for Oedipus. We all can be blinded by the truth if we are ignorant and foolish. In Oedipus the King, we see two common themes, Sight vs. Blindness which is demonstrated both intellectually and physically. There are five instances that really stick out to me where we see Oedipus blinded physically and by his ignorance and hubris.

    Read More

  • Oedipus the King: Characterization

    2442 Words  | 5 Pages

    This essay will illustrate the types of characters depicted in Sophocles’ tragic drama, Oedipus Rex, whether static or dynamic, flat or round, and whether protrayed through the showing or telling technique.

    Read More

  • An Analysis of Oedipus the King

    465 Words  | 1 Pages

    Here is a story where Oedipus the King, who has accomplished great things in his life, discovers that the gods were only playing with him. He has everything a man of that time could want; he is king of Thebes, he has a wonderful wife and children, and great fame through out the lands. He has lived a good life, but in the end everything is taken from him.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Freedom In Oedipus

    858 Words  | 2 Pages

    Essay U3 Jaime Meiteen March 3, 2016 Essay Topic: #5. Oedipus is a freer man at the end of the play than he is at the beginning. [00:07:38] Then tell how enslaved he is and how his slavery ends when he is finally revealed as the criminal he's been seeking. It’s a painful journey to self-discovery that is nonetheless liberating.

    Read More

  • Oedipus The King Tragedy Analysis

    1733 Words  | 4 Pages

    Greek Drama had three main categories The Comedy, Satyr Plays, and The Tragedy. The most popular of the three is The Tragedy, its themes are often such as loss of love, complex relationships between men and the gods, and corruption of power. These dramas taught the people of the city the difference between good and bad behavior and the ramifications of going against the gods. According to Aristotle, the perfect tragedy consisted of the downfall of the hero through a great misunderstanding, causing suffering and awareness for the protagonist meanwhile making the audience feel pity and fear. The prominent writer who Aristotle based his perfect tragedy theory was Sophocles, his drama Oedipus the King had all the elements of a perfect tragedy.

    Read More

More about Themes In Oedipus The King

Open Document