In lines 305-405 of the fifth century Greek tragedy, Oedipus Rex, Sophocles exemplifies that hubris will cause one to ignore fate. In the beginning of the passage, Sophocles uses Oedipus' begging, respectful tone combined with dramatic irony to portray Oedipus's beguiling nature, showing that he pridefully assumes he can trick Tiresias. Sophocles then shifts Oedipus' tone to a harsh one coupled with dramatic and situational irony to reference that Oedipus’s hubris will be his downfall. In the middle of the passage, while Oedipus is talking to Tiresias, Sophocles uses a shift in Oedipus’s tone from a respectful tone to an accusing one to accentuate that Oedipus's hubris would cause him to ignore his own fate because his pridefulness hinders …show more content…
At the end of the passage, Sophocles uses dramatic irony, juxtaposition and Oedipus' accusing, spiteful tone toward Tiresias to insinuate that hubris blinds all to their fate. Sophocles, using Oedipus, suggests that hubris causes obliviousness to one’s destiny.
In the beginning of the passage, Sophocles uses Oedipus' begging, respectful tone coupled with dramatic irony to portray Oedipus' beguiling nature; Sophocles then shifts Oedipus's tone to a harsh one, condemning Laius’s killer. Sophocles uses these shifts in tone coupled with dramatic irony and situational irony to reference that Oedipus, obstinately ignoring his fate, would be his own downfall. Sophocles begins the passage with Oedipus attempting to please Tiresias by using flattering diction coupled with a beguiling tone as he calls Tiresias the "'master of all omens,"' Sophocles is alluding to the fact that Oedipus, like all
…show more content…
The middle of the passage begins with Sophocles using dramatic irony when Tiresias’s refused to explicitly answer who killed Laius by asserting that he will not talk about his "'grief"' nor "'will [he] speak of [Oedipus’s]"', (ln. 334), foreshadowing Tiresias’s reluctance to argue with Oedipus. With that statement, however, Tiresias indirectly gives Oedipus the answer to who killed Laius but Oedipus’s prideful nature caused him to quickly reply in an accusing tone that Tiresias’s intention is to "'betray [Thebes] and destroy [them], "' exemplifying that his hubris, causing arrogance, prohibited him from understanding that Tiresias’s indirectly told Oedipus that he was Laius’s killer. Sophocles uses Oedipus’s continual arrogant behavior in an accusing tone as he asserts that Tiresias committed the "'deed...alone,"' epitomizing that Oedipus’s hubris causes enough arrogance that he would accuse a blind prophet of killing Laius, when he himself refused to entertain the idea that he is Laius’s murderer (ln. 354). Sophocles uses an infuriated tone as Tiresias, who is frustrated by the accusations, directly exclaims that Oedipus was "'the vile polluter of [Thebes]"' (ln.358) and is the "'murderer [he] seeks"' (ln. 367); however, Oedipus still asserts
Sophocles’ use of irony displays to the reader that Oedipus is not as much of a visionary as he is made out to be. One of the more iconic portrayals of this would be the scene where Tiresias frames Oedipus for the murder of Laius. In the scene, Tiresias states, “I have said what I came here to say not fearing your countenance; there is no way you can hurt me. I tell you, king, this man, this murderer (whom you have long declared you are in search of, indicting him in threatening proclamation as
This is a very significant passage as it makes the readers to pity Oedipus and truly reflects Oedipus as a tragic figure.
To begin, Oedipus had a fatal flaw that Sophocles made clear throughout the play. This flaw is hubris, which means excessive pride. His over inflated pride makes people less fond of him. People such as Tiresias tried to help him by telling him the truth, but he refused to listen. He turned a deaf ea...
The purpose of this essay is to demonstrate that the events in Oedipus the King, written by Sophocles, are the result of the hero’s self determination and restless attempt to escape a terrifying destiny predicted for him by the oracle of Apollo at Delphi. My intention is to prove that although the Fates play a crucial part in the story, it is Oedipus'choices and wrong doing that ultimately lead to his downfall.
In “Oedipus the King” by Sophocles, Oedipus, the king of Thebes finds out that he kills his father and that his wife is his mother. Oedipus is very concerned for his kingdom and his people. He wants to “drive the corruption from the land” (Sophocles 109) by finding Laius’s murderer and killing him. Through his curiosity, Oedipus finds out that the man he kills long ago is Laius, who is his father, and that his wife is his mother—all in accordance with Oedipus’ prophecy. After coming on this realization as well, Jocasta, Oedipus’ wife, commits suicide, and Oedipus gouges out his eyes as a result of this. In his search for the murderer, Oedipus strives to be a fair king. Ironically, he often is not fair to the people he sees or things that are essential to him. This play demonstrates the theme of justice through Oedipus’ denial of justice in three situations—Oedipus’ meeting with Tiresias, Oedipus’ gouging out of his eyes, and Creon’s asking of Oedipus to adjudicate fairly
Oedipus displays an attitude of recklessness and disrespect throughout the play. When he makes his proclamation and no one confesses to the murder of Laius, Oedipus loses patience immediately and rushes into his curse. Later, he displays a short temper to Tiresias: "You, you scum of the earth . . . out with it, once and for all!," (ll. 381, 383) and "Enough! Such filth from him? Insufferable--what, still alive? Get out--faster, back where you came from--vanish!" (ll. 490-492)
In Sophocles’ Oedipus the King, the reader finds Oedipus as an overzealous king, but one that cares deeply for the people who are under his rule. After solving the mystery of the Sphinx and under the belief that he has escaped the prophecy of killing his father and marrying his mother, Oedipus’ self-confidence goes into over drive. His compassion, for the pain and suffering his people are under, causes him to pronounce a curse on the murderer of Laius. Unknown to the king, he is condemning himself for the crime he committed years ago.
Rejecting the truth and being oblivious to all of the apparent signs will lead to his disastrous end. Sophocles expresses the next chronological action of Oedipus’ mistakes that tragically ruins him. Denial is the act of proclaiming that something is not true. Ironically, Oedipus often does this when the truth is presented to him. He lets his pride get in the way and builds a wall to protect his ego. For example, Oedipus says “much as you want. Your words mean nothing-futile” (lines 416). This is the scene where Tiresias finally revealed the truth to Oedipus because of his persistent desire to know. Tiresias told Oedipus that he was the one responsible for Laius’ death. Oedipus quickly dismissed the acquisition, once again letting his pride blind him from the truth. While at the same time, his stubbornness is getting in the way of listening to Tiresias. By Oedipus making this statement, it is clear that he is too stubborn to hear what anyone else has to say, especially if it is negative. It is also very ironic how in the beginning, Oedipus badly wanted Tiresias to tell him what information he knew about Laius’ killing, but when Tiresias was forced to say it, Oedipus immediately silenced Tiresias. Oedipus did not want to listen to him nor did he give him a chance to explain. He also accuses other people and puts the blame on them whenever he is uneasy
Tiresias, from “Oedipus the King” by the Ancient Greek playwright Sophocles, is a blind prophet and whilst he is only on the stage for a little time he plays a major role by what he does and what he represents. Tiresias enters the play after being summoned by Oedipus to tell him of the murderer of Laius, the recent King. Tiresias for the sake of Oedipus does not tell him the truth at the start saying that “what will come will come. Even if I shroud it all in silence”. In is conversation, Sophocles, uses Tiresias as a turning point in the plot as it is the beginning of Oedipus’ downfall. As well as that Sophocles uses Tiresias to represent many of the key ideas in the play. Tiresias represents the idea of fate and how
Sophocles’ use of symbolism and irony is shown in Oedipus Tyrannus through his use of the notion of seeing and blindness. This common motif is extended throughout the play and takes on a great significance in the development of the plot. In an effort to escape his god given prophecy, Oedipus tragically falls into the depths of unthinkable crimes as a result of the mental blindness of his character; thus never escaping his lot.
In Oedipus the King, Sophocles suggests that the impact of seeing the truth is harmful rather than enlightening. Whenever Oedipus strives to discover more to strengthen Thebes’ perspective of him, it leads him closer to his fate as determined by prophesy. Tiresias stands as a model in the play for the individual who is able to see the meaning beyond plot of events although his is blind, and Oedipus represents the oblivious arrogant individual who is never content because they need to be the unsurpassed individual. In the play, Sophocles illustrates the downside of a personality like Oedipus who desires to see the truth by ending the play with the brutality of gouging out his own eyes. Ultimately, the play reinforces that seeing the truth is harmful and being content with what you have, without greedily striving for more, can help avoid fate and a related deposition.
Benardete, Seth. “Sophocles’ Oedipus Tyrannus.” In Sophocles: A Collection of Critical Essays, edited by Thomas Woodard. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1966.
Oedipus’ epiphany is truthful in his current state, but his decision in failing to recognize his sin before his realization ultimately makes his epiphany invalid, and its sole purpose is to only assist him in receiving sympathy from the citizens of Thebes. Sophocles uses the phrase “this evil is mine” to suggest how Oedipus has matured through the course of his life, taking responsibility for his own sinful actions and behaviors. Certainly, Oedipus is filled with regret, and Sophocles even uses repetition on the word “guilt” to symbolize how this emotion has devoured his entire life into despair, where “sorrow” and “guilt” intertwine by force. Truly, as Sophocles comments, the ramification of making a sinful decision prompts an act of retribution from the gods in deciding the miserable fate of an individual through his rebellion towards evil against the supernatural. Thus, in the tale of Oedipus and his jinxed fate, Sophocles expresses Oedipus’ prideful attitude that is rooted towards hubris and the overconfidence it buys to illustrate the vicious cycle of the sinful decisions we make and the sudden awareness of how our own tragic flaw would lead us into impending trouble and overwhelming
Irony used from beginning to end and with each statement made by Oedipus about finding the killer of Laius. Although the audience is familiar with the story they are fully invested in Oedipus. Because Sophocles uses irony in his play it makes the audience empathize with the protagonist. Oedipus becomes human, a tangible character that experiences the same emotions as everyday people. The thing that makes Oedipus even more human is that he is a victim of a fate assigned to him before he was born. He unknowingly carries out the prophecy destined for him which leads to the discovery that he was abandoned at birth by his biological parents; with this discovery a sense of his identity is taken from him. A character so arrogant normally does not receive empathy from the audience, however, he is still very much an innocent fragile human being punished for his father’s defiance. Sophocles used irony to bring a new twist to a familiar story. The use of irony keeps the audience ahead of the protagonist yet still eagerly awaiting his reaction to the obstacles before him; even though they know his fate the audience wants to see how he deals with his unfortunate
Oedipus is self-confident, intelligent and strong willed. Ironically these are the very traits which bring about his demise. Sophocles makes liberal use of irony throughout “Oedipus the King”. He creates various situations in which dramatic and verbal irony play key roles in the downfall of Oedipus. Dramatic irony depends on the audience’s knowing something that the character does not and verbal irony is presented when there is a contradiction between what a character says and what they mean. Both of these elements are used effectively to develop the tale of Oedipus.