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Antigone Character Analysis Essay
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In this play, characters’ versions of the truth are very different.
One situation included Oedipus and Tiresias arguing over Laius’ murderer. Tiresias didn’t want to explain the horrible truth to Oedipus, but when Oedipus says “ In my mind, you are one of the men who killed Laius!”(7) ,he angrily replies by saying “It is YOU! You are the wound! You pollute this unfortunate city!”(7) He says this as he has been angered by Oedipus’ arguing, as he is too absorbed in the search to render that he could be the murderer.
Another situation affected each character’s point of view involves Oedipus and Jocasta arguing over Creon’s loyalty. After Tiresias accuses Oedipus of being the murderer, he thinks Creon is plotting against him and tells Jocasta “I caught him plotting against me, Jocasta! An evil mind spins evil webs for his own benefit.”(13) Jocasta then defends Creon by saying “By all the gods, Oedipus, Have some faith in him! At least have some faith in the gods by whom he swears; and then in me and in all these folk who stand before you!”(13) This shows that she wants to fairly argue and stop any false accusations from either side. This relates to the thesis because Oedipus has a much different view on the situation than Jocasta
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Oedipus starts by asking “Throw me out of this land quickly so that no other Theban eyes will see me.”(30) This shows he wants to be responsible for his fate. Creon responds to this by saying “I would have done so, but I find it necessary to seek godly advice on the matter.”(30) This shows that he would like the gods to decide Oedipus’ punishment so he doesn’t decide anything ethically wrong.
Another example of Oedipus’ presumptuous temperament is when he immediately assumes that Creon is trying to take his power from him. Creon sends Tiresias to Oedipus to help him solve the crime of the plague, and when Tiresias reveals that Oedipus must die in order to save the people of Thebes, Oedipus assumes Creon is trying to take his throne. Creon even tells Oedipus, “…if you think crude, mindless stubbornness such a gift, you’ve lost your sense of balance” (Meyer 1438). Oedipus’ impulsive nature leads him to discovering the truth and reveals that he has indeed fulfilled the prophecy he was running from.
won) fighting a war against the city of Troy and has been held captive by
In Oedipus, he wanted nothing more than to help Oedipus rid the city of whatever plague the gods were hurling at them. Creon goes to Apollo's shrine to find out why the gods are angry and then brings Tiresias to help Creon see what has the gods angry. Oedipus does not want to believe the truths Tiresias is telling him and falsely accuses Creon of plotting against him to become king of Thebes. Creon is so hurt by this that he tells the chorus, "This accusation against me by our ruler Oedipus, It's outrageous. (514)" By the end of the play, Creon tells Oedipus that "I'm always as good as my word; I don't speak before I think(1520)."
In Oedipus the King (OK) , the audience is introduced to a Creon who seems to put loyalty to the king above all. He sympathizes with the tragic plight of King Oedipus and asserts no apparent ambition himself. His attitude toward the king is one of yielding and fulfilling reverence. Creon's notion of justice in OK stems directly from the divine. That which the gods have decreed must become law. It pains Creon to have Oedipus exiled, but he must do so as the gods have willed it. Creon's respect for divinity and prophecy seems to be his defining trait in OK. His attitude is one of unquestioning reverence.
As the truth is getting revealed: "… You, Oedipus, are the desecrator, the polluter of this land." Oedipus does not believe (his choice). He (Oedipus) start to accuse Creon of truing to take his powers away (king). And still want to reveal whole truth. After talking to Jocasta Oedipus faces that he in fact might killed the king Laius. " There was s herald leading a carriage drawn by horses and the man riding in the carriage … The driver pushed.
A detective story is a genre of fiction in which a person attempts to solve a crime. The detective may be a professional or an amateur, and generally has nothing to gain from solving the crime. However in Sophocles’ “Oedipus the King”, the main character Oedipus is not only determined to solve a crime, but he is also in pursuit to find his own identity. This is similar to Arthur Conan Doyle’s “A Scandal in Bohemia” where Sherlock Holmes has been hired to work as a detective in return for monetary compensation. Both situations enable Oedipus and Sherlock to gain from unraveling the mysteries that sweep their towns hence making these stories different from most detective stories.
The Many Functions of Tiresias in Sophocles' Oedipus Rex The minor role of Tiresias fulfills several chief purposes in Sophocles' Oedipus Rex, all of which are necessary in guiding the play through to its tragic ending and the completion of the prophecies. Tiresias primarily functions as the catalyst ultimately responsible for the provocation of Oedipus' venomous jealousy, a vital factor in the play's progression. The calm and confident Tiresias also acts as a foil for Oedipus through his dramatic difference in character, which allows the reader to see Oedipus for who he really is and realize that it was he who brought about his own downfall. Lastly, the wise prophet who functions as an authoritative father figure to the authority-threatened king (Lesser 147-148) helps make the motif of fathers, all of whom Oedipus sees as threats, evident.
When Creon, brother in law of Oedipus accuses him of being a murder, Oedipus was really mad. He accuses Creon of betrayal and hypocrisy. In another speech, Oedipus accuses Creon for pointing him as guilty for the murder of Laius. We can see that when Oedipus says:
Oedipus the King is a drama full of incest, pride, and the wrath of the gods. It is a story that has been read and performed for centuries, and the compelling characters written by the dramatist, Sophocles, have a lot to do with that. One of those dynamic characters is Jocasta, Queen of Thebes, wife and mother to the play’s protagonist, King Oedipus of Thebes. She is persuasive, level-headed, protective of her family, and exemplifies the confident nobility of a royal woman; Jocasta has many layers to her personality, and her purpose is to be the common ground and voice of reason during hardships in her family.
When first examining the Greek plays Oedipus and Lysistrata, the first comparison we could make is that each of them are the main characters in their respective plays. The plays however are very different in context, with Oedipus being a tragedy, and Lysistrata being a comedy. Oedipus and Lysistrata are both revered as very high ranking people in their respective times. As Oedipus is a king, and Lysistrata helps lead the rebellion of the Greek women from the men who wish to have sex with them, which helps her gain not only the respect of the women, but also from the Greek men who they are rebelling from.
The play is divided into three parts. This is very logical. In The first part we have the problem and the accusation of Creon. In part two we have the discovery of the truth. At the end of the play we find the truth and the consequences of it. Oedipus admits his blindness, feels ashamed and is pious.
Jocasta’s first appearance and lines in the play are to interrupt an argument between her husband and Creon. She begs Oedipus to let the matter be, “Believe his words, for gods’ sake, Oedipus, in deference above all to his oath to the gods…” (Sophocles 1485). Her words drip in verbal Irony because the sequel to this play Antigone wherein Creon takes over the kingdom. Although this is only one small instance of verbal irony, the author continues to use Jocasta’s lines in this context, revealing truth to us through lie. In this instance, the reader can infer to Creon’s guilty nature despite not reading Antigone.
Oedipus loses all trust for Creon and thinks that he is plotting to kill him and steal the thrown. This, however, is not true at all. Creon even says that he would rather not be king. He is equal in all decision making with Oedipus and Jocasta. So why would he want the extra hassle of actually having to be the king. Oedipus doesn’t listen and wants to have Creon banished or killed.
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.
Oedipus and Tiresias, characters of Sophocles' play "Oedipus Tyrannus," are propelled to their individual destinies by their peculiar relationships with truth. Paranoid and quick to anger Oedipus, is markedly different from the confident and self-assured Tiresias. In the dialogue between the two men, Oedipus rapidly progresses from praise of Tiresias as a champion and protector of Thebes in line 304, to blatantly accusing the blind prophet of betraying the city in line 331, to angrily insulting him in line 334. Rather than be intimidated by the protagonist's title and temperament, Tiresias draws strength from what he knows is true and is able to stand his ground.