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fate i greek myth
an essay on Sophocles' Oedipus Rex
sight and blindness in the play oedipus the king
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Predestination in Oedipus Rex
Some people say that there is no way to control your own life, that your life has been planned out for you ahead of time and there is nothing you can do to escape this fate. Others believe that your life is a matter of choice, and what happens to you during your life is a result of your actions. The story of Oedipus Rex by Sophocles seems to prove truth in both of these statements, that there is a life predetermined for you yet you can alter your life, but you can not escape your prophecy. The quote "I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul," by William Henley states just the opposite of what seems to be proven in Oedipus Rex. Because of the references in the story of Oedipus, I disagree with the quote made by William Henley.
In the quote made by William Henley he is saying that your life is a matter of choice, you control your life and what happens in it due to your actions. When using the perspective of Oedipus Rex when reading this quote, it seems to be proven untrue. Through the plot of the story of Oedipus, you can come to the conclusion that there is no way to escape your fate, so therefore I disagree with this quote. There are many references in the novel that leads the quote to be untrue. Specifically proving this quote untrue is the theme of the novel. The theme is "do not deny or try to alter your fate." Just this statement completely contradicts the interpretation of the quote by William Henley. An example in the story that supports my opinion of the quote is when Tieresias identifies the murderer of Laios as Oedipus. Also Tieresias foreshadows when saying "A revelation that will fail to please. A blind man who has eyes now; a penniless man, who is rich now." This prophecy is saying that in the future there will be a man that is blind and poor, opposite of what he is now. He is talking about Oedipus. The plot of the story leads up to show also that when Oedipus tries to run away from his prophecy, he actually runs into it.
Both writers show the horror and pity of the war and they views on the
friends and family who lived there. Eventually, my parents decided to move to Canada and have
soon as she appears on the stage, 'If it be love indeed tell me how
Oedipus the King, a tale of one man’s hubris, paranoia, and willingness to sacrifice his own happiness for the happiness of others. Does one man’s fate designate who he will become? Is it possible to change the fate we are given? Or no matter how hard we try, deep down, it is our qualities that force us to make our fates a reality? In Sophocles’s play Oedipus the King we see a man who tried his hardest to change his own fate at all cost, but because of his human qualities he actually forced his fate upon himself.
A Comparison Of Differing Views/Attitudes To War With Reference To Regeneration, Strange Meeting, Selected Poetry and A Journeys End
Even though "fate" seems to determine Oedipus' life, he does, in fact, have a free will.
English Coursework- Antony and Cleopatra “Compare Shakespeare’s presentation of Antony in the Egyptian scenes with his presentation of Antony in the Roman scenes” Shakespeare presents Antony in Egypt and Antony in Rome, in a very contrasting way. We see a man who almost contradicts his own self, dependant upon the company he is in. A great leader, yet he falls before Cleopatra. Antony is presented as the epitome of Roman masculinity, Philo describing Antony in the opening- “…those his goodly eyes, that o’er the files and musters of the war have glow’d like Mars…his captain’s heart, which in the scuffles of great fights hath burst the buckles on his breast…”-These words conjuring up imagery of war, machismo, and strength. Ideals that are most reputable in a Roman.
way they do things due to the message they are trying to get across or
and unsure about what he really wants. He is seen by Romans, not as a
In Oedipus the King, one of Sophocles’ most popular plays, Sophocles clearly depicts the Greek’s popular belief that fate will control a man’s life despite of man’s free will. Man was free to choose and was ultimately held responsible for his own actions. Throughout Oedipus the King, the concept of fate and free will plays an integral part in Oedipus' destruction.
...u. What does this mean exactly? Do you control your fate by accepting it? Or do you just live your life without trying to learn what your fate will be? Or is he just saying that no matter what you do, your fate will fulfill itself with or without your help? It seems likely that the point would be to just live your life and do not worry what fate will bring you because when you try to control the uncontrollable, you end up virtually painting yourself into a corner. Throughout the play Oedipus is seen to get broken from fate and trying to escape it. It would seem that he would lose all hope because no matter what he does, the prophecies laid out for him keep coming true. Sophocles was probably trying to say to just live your life. You cannot change your fate, so why not just keep it a surprise? Do not waste your time with oracles and do not try to control your fate.
William Shakespeare's Presentation of Octavius Caesar in Antony and Cleopatra Shakespeare portrays Octavius Caesar as a very complex character in 'Antony and Cleopatra.' Shakespeare shows the audience how he has very strong feelings about War, leadership, the relationship between Antony and Cleopatra, and his sister Octavia. These attitudes can be seen as being too rational, too ambitious, and too efficient. However it is these characteristics which in some ways, form the particular contrast with Antony, which shows us his complex character, which also contributes to the conflicts which arise in the play. Shakespeare is very clever in the portrayal of Caesar; he uses Caesar as a foil for Antony, however he is a character in his own right.
Free will is abound in Oedipus the King; any character who makes a decision of their own accord is a testament to that. Even Oedipus, whose life was fated from the start, made many decisions, ranging from how to fulfill his destiny to how to punish himself after finding out he had indeed murdered his father and married his mother, and most of which were shaped largely by his personality.
In Oedipus Rex, fate is something that unavoidably befalls two characters. The gods decide Oedipus and Jocasta’s fate even before they know it. Trying to avoid destiny is pointless because no matter what, it will catch up to you where ever you are. It is often thought that you can change your destiny, but in reality our fate was put into action the day we were born.
Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra Antony bears the guilt. Shakespeare writes'Antony and Cleopatra'in a way where the reader places the blame on Cleopatra. Cleopatra brings the downfall of Mark.