Fate In Oedipus The King Essay

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When you think of a tragedy, what comes to mind? A sad story? A terrible fate? Oedipus the King, by Sophocles, is a Greek play that Aristotle regards as “the perfect example of tragedy”. The play follows the fall of a man running from a terrible destiny. However, due to his pride and arrogance, he blindly rejects the truth that could have prevented his terrible fate from occuring. Once all details are uncovered, everyone, including Oedipus, struggles to come to terms with what has passed. As a result of Oedipus’s unyielding pride, he eventually resorts to the attention-seeking act of blinding himself as an attempt at atonement for his actions and as a way to gain pity from the people. After fully understanding what he has done, Oedipus frantically searches for an act of atonement he could carry out as punishment for his actions. In devastation at the sight of his dead mother/wife, he murmurs to himself “You will not see… the horrors I have suffered and done” (73), as he strikes his eyes “again, and again.” (73). After all details of his fate and story, Oedipus …show more content…

With this statement, the villagers pronounce the excess with which Oedipus needed to be punished with. Additionally, Oedipus calls out to his subject “Pity Me!” (74), to which is replied with “I am moved to pity by your misfortunes and your understanding of them, too” (75). Within these quotes, Oedipus’s motive becomes clearer. He wishes to obtain pity from his people so that they might feel obligated to help the man that plagued their land. He hopes to obtain pity to use for the protection of his children, whom he could bear to see no more. In the longer run, the burden of blindness effecively moves the people while also presenting an appropriate atonement for his terrible

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