Through Sophocles’ use of foreshadowing in the play Oedipus Rex, certain truths
are revealed to the reader, such as the fact that a lack of respect for fate can eventually
bring on a person’s downfall, by driving them to delusion. Oedipus is looked up to by all
his kingdom at the opening of the play, only to be thwarted by his own lack of
intelligence-- and more by his lack of faith than even that. Oedipus, once the sanguine, yet
slightly overbearing ruler of the people, is reduced to less than a sliver of a human being.
When confronted by the prophet Teiresius, Oedipus feels most perplexed and even
exposed. And so he rejects any possibility of validity in Teiresius’ prognostication, and, in
doing this, signs his own sentence. Because of Oedipus’ failure to respect the insight of a
gifted seer, he is doomed to a blind and bloody end.
As I have said before, Oedipus was first revered by all his people. His earnest
patriotism for his adoptive land and people are well received by all in his kingdom. After
all, he is the most “glorious Oedipus” (p.13,ln.8). Oedipus perceives himself to be a
flawless champion for those surrounding him. These blind expectations that the most
exalted Oedipus has for himself are the very things that lead him to put little credence in
others and nearly all his faith in himself. And once he decides he is stronger than prophecy,
his mad, unseeing eyes are unable to pick up the warning signs lining his road to oblivion.
At one point in the play, the blind, hermaphroditic Teiresius enters to bring
Oedipus’ head out of the clouds and back to earth where things are a mite different. This
is one point of the play in which Oedipus is unbelievably close to finally buying into the
fact that some power higher than himself could be at work-- and yet his arrogance and
pride hinder him from accepting the legitimacy of fate. Oedipus finds the idea that
Teiresius could know more than he simply offensive. Teiresius, sensing Oedipus’ hostility
toward him, warns the king that when Oedipus berates him that “such taunts will... cast
the selfsame taunts on you,”(p.126,ln.73). One would assume that Oedipus, knowing
Teiresius’ reputation as a most unfailing and precise prophet would take heed in his
further dealings with fate. However, in a style most befitting his character, he ignores
these insights. Only when Teiresius mentions Oedipus’ parents does Oedipus listen. His
interest sparked, the king cautiously asks, “ What mortals gave me birth?”(p.28,ln.437).
Teiresius elaborates further by stating that the king shall “ At once be revealed as brother
Oedipus becomes a more admirable character by the end of the play then during the prologue of the play. This is because his history is reveled and his fate seems to be less of his fault and more of something that was doomed to happen to him, also by his drive to help the city of Thebes shows that he cares for the city and his ability to accept his fate but to try and help others from suffering.
The question has been raised as to whether Oedipus was a victim of fate or of his own actions. This essay will show that Oedipus was a victim of fate, but he was no puppet because he freely and actively sought his doom, although he was warned many times of the inevitable repercussions of his actions.
Systemic discrimination has been a part of Canada’s past. Women, racial and ethnic minorities as well as First Nations people have all faced discrimination in Canada. Policies such as, Charter of Rights and Freedoms, provincial and federal Human Rights Codes, as well has various employment equity programs have been placed in Canada’s constitution to fight and address discrimination issues. Despite these key documents placed for universal rights and freedoms Aboriginal and other minority populations in Canada continue to be discriminated against. Many believe there is no discrimination in Canada, and suggest any lack of success of these groups is a result of personal decisions and not systemic discrimination. While others feel that the legislation and equality policies have yet resulted in an equal society for all minorities. Racism is immersed in Canadian society; this is clearly shown by stories of racial profiling in law enforcement.
Canada is a nation known for its multicultural society. In such a diverse nation many would believe equality would exist. However it does not; and it is evident in the Criminal Justice System in Canada. The racial disparity in the Criminal Justice System is the result of bias treatment of certain individuals based on their race. The selective prosecution of visible minorities, immigrants and Aboriginals has been recognized as a racial inequality and corrupted the Criminal Justice System. The unequal treatment of immigrants and Aboriginals within the justice system has become evident through various forms. Canada`s colonial past has greatly influenced the judicial system and it seems obvious that race plays a factor in many of the facets of
They are influenced by their family of origin, their education, their work experience, and the people they interact with. For Ms. Eckert this has all brought her to her current career position and approach to leadership. She holds leadership not only as the challenge and difficult task that many people today see it as. She also views it as an amazing opportunity to influence others. Ms. Eckert also noted the importance of coaching others, both in their nursing development, and in their leadership potential. This is particularly important as we are facing rapid change within the nursing field. There should be a certain amount of mentorship to learn from those who have experience and to develop one’s own skill. For Ms. Eckert some of the main elements she discussed as contributing to a strong leader are the willingness to coach others, emotional intelligence, a sense of spirituality, valuing diversity, and openness to change and innovation. It should then be the hope of future nurses to emulate this idea of leadership and personal growth as members of the healthcare
In today's society we let our lives be led by a certain force that we believe in very strongly. Yet, a common debate that still rages today is whether we, as a species, have free will or if some divine source, some call it fate, controls our destiny. In the play, Oedipus the King, that special force is also used and is known and defined as fate. This played an important role in the lives of the characters just as it plays one in our daily lives.
At the beginning of Oedipus the King, Oedipus’s wisdom and actions as a king are very effective. To his subjects he is respected and very well accepted. His intelligence is known to his people as a hero as a result of his correct answer to the riddle of the sphinx. Oedipus’s subject’s affection is shown by the chorus’s account, “People of Thebes, my countrymen, look on Oedipus. He solved the famous riddle with his brilliance, he rose to power, a man beyond all power. Who could behold his greatness without envy? (Oedipus the King, 1678–1682). His intelligence also corresponded with his swift nature. Oedipus was always looking towards the future which could be a product of his many prophecies which seemed to always haunt his nature. During the tenure when Oedipus was successful, his quick actions were useful. He was always trying to stay one step ahead, for example, he tries to save the city against the plague by sending Creon to the oracle of Delphi for a solution to the problem. After Oedipus’s reputation and successful lifestyle began to fall, his quick actions began to damage his status rather than assist it. His immediate perceptions began ...
The absence of adequate leadership is a challenge in nursing today. Many nurse leaders are with-in the generation of the baby boomers and will soon be retiring. Therefore, there will be an even greater shortage of nurse leaders. It is stated that by 2020 50%
Even though Oedipus is a hero, we should not admire him, as the intentions for his actions are self-centered. This distinction is necessary to help us better understand the difference between being a hero, and a hero worth of admiration. It is important to know that somebody’s admiration must ultimately stem from the intentions of their actions rather than the results of their actions alone, so we can act accordingly in the future.
While his intentions were well meaning in the beginning, Oedipus finds himself weighed down by his own flaws. Tragically his flaws cause him to lose focus of his true objectives and damn himself to a life of misery. The tale of Oedipus depicts his rapid descent from Oedipus, savior and king of Thebes to Oedipus Tyrannus the man who slew his father and married his mother. Since Oedipus has so many tragic flaws there is a plethora to choose from. However, if Oedipus’s tragic traits could be described with two words it would be arrogant and imperceptive. First, Oedipus is arrogant. Additionally, Oedipus is imperceptive.
Thesis Statement: In the story of Oedipus Rex, Sophocles concludes that fate is an all-powerful force which controls every action, and that every choice made by man’s free will, whether wise or foolish, all lead to the inevitable fate the gods have written for them.
When thinking about statistics on child abuse, it’s very helpful to know that the idea of “child abuse” is very controversial. Recently, in particular homes and cultures, child abuse has come to be seen as a major social problem and a main cause of many people’s suffering and personal problems. Some believe that we are beginning to face the true prevalence and significance of child abuse. There is more to child abuse than just the physical scars; children are affected socially, mentally, and emotionally. According to the American National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse, in 1997, neglect represented 54% of confirmed cases of child abuse, physical abuse 22%, sexual abuse 8%, emotional maltreatment 4%, and other forms of maltreatment 12%.
Oedipus’ errors in judgement are portrayed through his hubris, blindness, and foolishness throughout the play. The actions that Oedipus took were taken in haste leading him to a path of no return. Due to Oedipus’ blindness and ignorance, he is unable to see past the truth. His hamartia was his poor sense of judgement; he tried to go against his own fate by making decisions on his own. He was warned by many around him but did not seem to be more cautious or stop chasing a hurting truth. Oedipus was responsible for his own downfall, his constant persistence of going against wise people’s words and acting on the belief of his own intelligence ultimately led him to a path of destruction. In the end, he went from being known as the noble King of Thebes to a blinded man who has no point of living anymore.
The impetus for the downfall of Oedipus, "Known far and wide by name" (Sophocles, 1), is his anger. Enraged he slew King Laius and in anger he hastily pursued his own ruination. From the aforementioned recriminations of Tiresias to the conflict with his brother-in-law Creon (his ill temper again displayed - "Tempers such as yours most grievous to their own selves to bear,... .(Sophocles, 25); through the revealing exchanges with his wife/mother Jocasta and her slave (whose pity saved the infant Oedipus), damming insight grows in a logical sequence, all the while fueled by the Oedipal rage. Realizing the heinous nature of his actions, Oedipus blinds himself in a fit of anger and remorse - now, as Tiresias, he can see.
Oedipus had good intentions for his people and tries to save the city when death is at its doorstep even admitting that they mean more to him that is own life “I grieve for these, my people far more that I fear for my own life”(106-106). His determination to seek the truth and care for his people not only makes him an admirable man but respectable king. His quest for truth no matter