Oedipus the King

analytical Essay

461 words

Title In the play, Oedipus the King, blindness is used metaphorically and physically to characterize several personas , and the images of clarity and vision are used as symbols for knowledge and insight. Enlightenment and darkness are used in much the same manner, to demonstrate the darkness of ignorance, and the irony of vision without sight. “…they will never see the crime I have committed or had done upon me!” These are the words Oedipus shouted as he blinds himself upon learning the truth of his past. It is ironic how a person blessed with perfect physical vision could in reality be blind to to matters of life and conscience. During his prime as King of Thebes, Oedipus is renowned for his lucidity and his ability to rule with a clear concept of justice and equality. The people loved him for his skill and wit, as he saved Thebes from the curse of the Sphinx. As a result, Oedipus became overly confident, and refuses to see that he may be the cause of the malady that is plaguing his kingdom. Although physically Oedipus has full use of his eyes, Sophocles uses sight to demonstrate how Oedipus is blind to the truth about his past what it might me for both him and his kingdom. Upon learning the truth, Oedipus gouges out his eyes, so he won’t have to look upon his children, or the misfortune that is his life. Once physically unable to see, Oedipus has clear vision as to his fate, and what must be done for his kingdom and his family Conversely, the soothsayer Teiresias is blind from the beginning of the story, but has full use of his prophetic vision. He knows the truth of Oedipus and his family, but at first doesn’t want to tell him, as he knows what it will mean for Oedipus and the kingdom. When he does explain his knowledge, Oedipus doesn’t believe any of it, due to his own over confidence. Teirseias says “You have your eyes but see not where you are in sin, nor where you live, nor whom you live with.” He is telling Oedipus the truth, but Oedipus refuses acknowledge that he may, in fact, be living in darkness.

In this essay, the author

Analyzes how oedipus' blindness is used metaphorically and physically to characterize several personas.
Analyzes how the soothsayer teiresias is blind from the beginning of the story, but has full use of his prophetic vision.

Analyzes how oedipus' blindness is used metaphorically and physically to characterize several personas.
Analyzes how the soothsayer teiresias is blind from the beginning of the story, but has full use of his prophetic vision.

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Theme Of Blindness In Oedipus Rex
analytical essay
One of the best examples of blindness throughout this story is Oedipus himself, the main character. He is a rather prideful man, and king of the land of Thebes that is infected with a murderous plague. At the heart of the plague is a cursed man, whom Oedipus sets out to find and murder. One of the first things Oedipus does in his quest to discover the cursed man is to have a blind prophet brought to him to reveal the facts. This blind man, Teresias, may be blind to his physical surroundings, but he sees the truth more clearly than other men. This is shown when Teresias refuses to talk to Oedipus about the curse, telling him, “I will not bring this pain upon us both, neither on you nor on myself. Why is it you question me and waste your labor? I will tell you nothing” (lines 358-360). Teresias sees not only the
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes the theme of physical blindness in sophocles' oedipus rex, where fate always finds a way regardless of how much one blinds themselves to it.
- Analyzes how oedipus sets out to find and murder a cursed man, teresias, who is blind to his surroundings, but he sees the truth more clearly than other men.
- Analyzes how teresias shares with oedipus the prophecy of a cursed man whose fate has been sealed.
- Analyzes the theme of physical blindness in sophocles' oedipus rex, where fate always finds a way regardless of how much one blinds themselves to it.
- Analyzes how oedipus sets out to find and murder a cursed man, teresias, who is blind to his surroundings, but he sees the truth more clearly than other men.
- Analyzes how teresias shares with oedipus the prophecy of a cursed man whose fate has been sealed.
- Analyzes how oedipus is angered by the revelation that he interprets as the ramblings of a crazy old man. he blindly accuses creon, his brother-in-law, of trying to steal the crown from him.
- Analyzes how jocasta, queen of thebes, enters the play to settle the quarrel between her brother and husband. she is blinded by denial, and brushes off the revelation of teresias as a funny coincidence.
- Opines that humans have no part in the craft of prophecy. an oracle told laius that it was fate that he should die a victim at the hands of his own.
- Analyzes how jocasta and her husband at the time, laius, took the precautions necessary to ensure the prophecy was never fulfilled.
- Analyzes how oedipus decides that jocasta hasn't answered his questions or quelled his concerns. a herdman appears from his hometown to share the news that the man who raised him, polybus, has passed.
- Compares jocasta's discouragement of oedipus with teresias' warning of getting too involved in the prophecy.
- Analyzes how oedipus and jocasta realize that they can no longer hide behind their pride, fear, or denial, and realize the incestuous nature of their relationship.
- Concludes that oedipus rex is a prime example of the dangers of pride and denial.
1197 words
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Qedipus. a Blind King
analytical essay
The most obvious form of blindness that Oedipus initially undertook was that of being mentally blind. It is clear to the reader from the beginning of the play that Oedipus only sees what he wants to see. Oedipus is quick to blame Creon for the plague on the city of Thebes, as he assumes that Creon, along with Teiresias, is plotting against him, in order to strip him from his crown. Oedipus worries too much about his position as being the king of Thebes, as he does not realize his mental blindness of the truth. He refuses to look at his own past, where instead he goes and blames others for his own crimes. Oedipus knows that he had killed man/men in the past but due to his blindness, refuses to accept the possibility that just maybe, that man could have been his father. The fact t...
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how sophocles uses physical and intellectual blindness to illustrate oedipus' status as a tragic hero.
- Analyzes how oedipus' mental blindness is evident from the beginning of the play. he is quick to blame creon for the plague on the city of thebes.
- Explains that oedipus' physical blindness led to him piercing his eyeballs until bloody tears ran down his beard. he had too much pride and was mentally weak.
- Analyzes how sophocles uses physical and intellectual blindness to illustrate oedipus' status as a tragic hero.
- Analyzes how oedipus' mental blindness is evident from the beginning of the play. he is quick to blame creon for the plague on the city of thebes.
- Explains that oedipus' physical blindness led to him piercing his eyeballs until bloody tears ran down his beard. he had too much pride and was mentally weak.
- Analyzes how oedipus exhibits the illusory feeling that he is "ranked with the gods" or an "ally of the gods," and that his actions are geared to benefit thebes.
- Analyzes how oedipus exhibits hubris through suspicion. he believes he can't be the source of any mishap or misery; it must be someone else's doing wrong.
- Analyzes how irony is present in the theme of blindness throughout the play. oedipus is too blind to see that you cant escape your fate.
- Analyzes how oedipus, a king, son, and husband, is blind to see that he is the one who is looking for. okonkwo's self-driven quest to take charge and shape his village shows his lack of heroism.
1091 words
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Realizing Identity, Realizing Flaws
analytical essay
Initially Oedipus appears blind to the knowledge of his heritage, but, by the end of the play he gains the horrifying knowledge of his true identity and the information he has indeed fulfilled the prophecy. Once Oedipus realizes that he has fulfilled the oracle, he panics and cries out, "LIGHT LIGHT LIGHT / never again flood these eyes with your white radiance, oh gods, my eyes. All, all / the oracles have proven true" (ll. 1492-1494). Oedipus finally comes out of figurative blindness and into the "light," or knowledge, that he has indeed killed his father and married his mother. He essentially curses he new-found wisdom and begs that "light never again" reach his eyes because of its horrifying consequences. In addition, Oedipus recognizes the fact that he "knew nothing until now, saw nothing until now, and became / the husband of the woman who gave him birth" (ll. 1926-1927). He admits that that until his conversation with shepherd he "knew nothing until now," as he believed that he would not complete the prophecy by fleeing to Corinth. Unfortunately, this new i...
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how oedipus cannot stop searching for his identity despite the fateful consequences of his search.
- Analyzes how oedipus' story evokes pity because of his huge downfall. he believes that he alone saved corinth from the sphinx and "destroyed her."
- Analyzes how sir gawain admits to submitting to his "fear" and "cowardice" which cause him to act less than nobly.
- Analyzes how oedipus cannot stop searching for his identity despite the fateful consequences of his search.
- Analyzes how oedipus' story evokes pity because of his huge downfall. he believes that he alone saved corinth from the sphinx and "destroyed her."
- Analyzes how sir gawain admits to submitting to his "fear" and "cowardice" which cause him to act less than nobly.
- Compares sophocles' oedipus with sir gawain and the green knight. both characters have different endings.
- Analyzes how sir gawain, like oedipus, discovers his flaws as a member of king arthur's court.
- Analyzes how sir gawain uses the girdle as a reminder of his "fault" and "remorse" so that he will not act arrogantly in the future.
- Analyzes how the court diminishes sir gawain's shame, making it appear as a light matter, or joke, rather than serious disgrace on king arthur.
1387 words
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King Oedipus Rex by Sophocles
analytical essay
Winston Churchill once said “It is a mistake to look too far ahead. Only one link of the chain of destiny can be handled at a time.” Throughout the story of Oedipus Rex we see continuing theme of sight and blindness, not only in a physical aspect but in a more universal theme of trying to see and navigate one’s own destiny. King Oedipus Rex is a man that has be told of his future of killing his father and sleeping with his mother. In “seeing” this he makes an attempt to change what he thinks is true, when in reality he knows nothing and his blindness to this inevitably succumbs him to what is foretold. Through the story we find that Oedipus is not only blind to what is happening around him but also to the ambition of finding King Laius’s killer and also his own involvement in it.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes the theme of sight and blindness in the story of king oedipus rex, a man who has been told of his future of killing his father and sleeping with his mother.
- Analyzes how sophocles plays with blindness and sight vividly throughout the story line.
- Analyzes iodate's blindness of truth through what a servant told her had happened to king laius and oedipus acted alone the day he killed those people.
- Analyzes the theme of sight and blindness in the story of king oedipus rex, a man who has been told of his future of killing his father and sleeping with his mother.
- Analyzes how sophocles plays with blindness and sight vividly throughout the story line.
- Analyzes iodate's blindness of truth through what a servant told her had happened to king laius and oedipus acted alone the day he killed those people.
- Analyzes how sophocles makes oedipus pitiable by the act of self-mutilation of his sight. apollo governs the truth.
- Analyzes how the story of oedipus rex portrays that men can show great abilities in insight and have a strong drive to acquire knowledge, but even the most intellectual person can be wrong.
884 words
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Theory Of Forms: Sophocles 'Allegory Of The Cave'
analytical essay
Trying to solve the mystery of who killed the previous King, Oedipus does not look at the facts around him. As a prophet, Teiresias explains to Oedipus that he is at fault for the death of Laius but Oedipus does not accept this as true, he embraces the darkness and his view of the truth. Teiresias goes further to convince Oedipus of his fault by saying, “Your clear eyes flooded with darkness. That day will come.” Oedipus has placed himself in a world that is suitable as the truth for him. He is not prepared for change or the opinions of others although he is directly seeking the answer to who killed Laius. This connects to Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” because Oedipus is very similar to the prisoners. He is set in his way and the light of knowledge does not immediately impact him. Teiresias bluntly says to Oedipus, “You have eyes to see with, but you do not see yourself” (Sophocles, 42). He pushes and pushes Oedipus to understand that he killed Laius but with no luck. Once Oedipus learns more about how Laius was killed and figures out that he killed a man that way he goes into the light. His reality has now changed just as it did for the prisoner who was released from the cave. But for Oedipus, facing the truth is something he is not able to do with ease. Teiresias says to Oedipus that “wisdom is a curse when [it] does nothing for the man who has it” (37).
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how plato's theory of forms defines multiple realms including the forms and the material world. change is inevitable as characters learn more about themselves.
- Analyzes how plato's "allegory of the cave" shows how the shadows in the cave are fake images that the prisoners have grown to understand as their reality.
- Analyzes how plato's "allegory of the cave" and the light of knowledge help readers understand oedipus.
- Analyzes how plato's theory of forms defines multiple realms including the forms and the material world. change is inevitable as characters learn more about themselves.
- Analyzes how plato's "allegory of the cave" shows how the shadows in the cave are fake images that the prisoners have grown to understand as their reality.
- Analyzes how plato's "allegory of the cave" and the light of knowledge help readers understand oedipus.
- Analyzes how sophocles' oedipus is more easily understood by its relevance to plato's "allegory of the cave" because of his connection to the released prisoner.
1010 words
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Oedipus Tragedy Analysis
analytical essay
He is blind from the truth even though he has physical insight. A fellow Theban, Tiresias knows the truth, but even when he told Oedipus that he was the murderer of his King Laius, he refused to believe it. Oedipus refuses to believe anything he was told because he believes that he ran away from his true fate. Without knowing anything about his real father or mother, he ends up fulfilling the prophecy. He kills his father, Laius and married his mother, Jocasta. Oedipus displays his arrogance many times throughout the story. In the beginning of the story, he says “Yes, I whom men call Oedipus the great” (Sophocles 23), showing a sign of his arrogance. Oedipus shows off his arrogance again by saying that everyone should know him because of the deed he has done (Sophocles 33). He saved them the Sphinx and gained an enormous amount of confidence because of it and also because he was rewarded the Queens hand in marriage. Oedipus once again shows his arrogance when he tells the people of the Thebes that he can find the murderer of Laius on his own without any help (Sophocles 28). The irony of Oedipus’s hubris is that he even determines what his downfall will look like: “That man, whoever that man be, I, this country’s reigning king, cut off from every fellowship of speech and contact, sacrifice and sacrament, even ritual touch of water, in this realm” (Sophocles 32). Oedipus’s downfall can only be blamed on him because of his
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how oedipus hears from the oracle at delphi that he was destined to murder his father and marry his mother. laius and jocasta tried to defy the gods’ prophecy and gave their son to a shepherd to be killed.
- Analyzes how oedipus's downfall is blamed on his hubris. he is blind from the truth even though he has physical insight.
- Analyzes how oedipus presents himself as a man who values control and self-determination, taking his destiny into his hands only underlines more emphatically the power of the gods and fate.
- Analyzes how oedipus hears from the oracle at delphi that he was destined to murder his father and marry his mother. laius and jocasta tried to defy the gods’ prophecy and gave their son to a shepherd to be killed.
- Analyzes how oedipus's downfall is blamed on his hubris. he is blind from the truth even though he has physical insight.
- Analyzes how oedipus presents himself as a man who values control and self-determination, taking his destiny into his hands only underlines more emphatically the power of the gods and fate.
- Analyzes how sophocles' oedipus is one of the most famous classical dramas. aristotle stated his opinions in his book poetics, which made it popular.
- Analyzes sophocles' dramatic irony of oedipus killing his father at a three-way crossroads. the thebans have two major plagues that are affecting the people of thebes, the first being the riddle of the sphinx.
1976 words
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Oedipus Rex: Sight Not Needed For Knowledge
analytical essay
Teiresias, a blind clairvoyant, is ideal for proving the thesis. Even though he is blind, when brought to the palace on Oedipus’s request, he shows that he has full knowledge of the entire situation. He says, “Your parents thought me sane enough” (423). He reveals that he knows who Oedipus’s real parents are. Teiresias also openly states that he knows of the horrendous deed that Oedipus committed at the crossroads when he says, “I say that you are the murderer whom you seek” (347). And the final quote, “Whether I speak or not, it is bound to come” (327). This shows that Teiresias is aware of the final part of the puzzle: what will happen to Oedipus when he finds out the truth about the sins he committed unknowingly. This proves the thesis that sight is not a prerequisite for knowledge.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the greek writer sophocles proves that sight is not a prerequisite for knowledge in the play oedipus rex.
- Analyzes how teiresias, a blind clairvoyant, proves the thesis that sight is not prerequisite for knowledge.
- Analyzes how the shepherd is a perfect example of the thesis since he has limited knowledge despite his sight.
- Analyzes how the greek writer sophocles proves that sight is not a prerequisite for knowledge in the play oedipus rex.
- Analyzes how teiresias, a blind clairvoyant, proves the thesis that sight is not prerequisite for knowledge.
- Analyzes how the shepherd is a perfect example of the thesis since he has limited knowledge despite his sight.
- Explains that oedipus is the third and best character that can be used to prove the thesis because his sight does not grant him knowledge the majority of his life.
- Concludes that sight is not a prerequisite for knowledge. three characters were used to prove the thesis: teiresias, oedipus, and the shepherd.
743 words
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Oedipus
analytical essay
In the play Oedipus Rex, the author Sophocles uses the dualities of sight and blindness and, light and darkness in order to foreshadow Oedipus’ hamartia, in order to enhance his theme against arrogance. Arrogance is displayed as wrong and overall ignorant, and eventually worsens Oedipus’ downfall for the audience, and in the end this play was made specifically for the audience to enjoy. The audience already knew the story of Oedipus, but Sophocles put the story into a play, so powerful we still appreciate his techniques today.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how sophocles uses the duality of light and darkness to foreshadow oedipus' downfall and create a sense of dramatic irony.
- Analyzes how the duality of sight and blindness foreshadows oedipus' main flaw, or hamartia, in the play.
- Analyzes how sophocles' tragedy oedipus rex creates a mood of dramatic irony using the dualities of sight and blindness, and light and darkness.
- Analyzes how sophocles uses the duality of light and darkness to foreshadow oedipus' downfall and create a sense of dramatic irony.
- Analyzes how the duality of sight and blindness foreshadows oedipus' main flaw, or hamartia, in the play.
- Analyzes how sophocles' tragedy oedipus rex creates a mood of dramatic irony using the dualities of sight and blindness, and light and darkness.
- Analyzes how tiresias' reversal of oedipus' mental blindness creates a sense of pity for the audience.
916 words
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Parthenon And Pantheon: A Comparative Analysis
comparative essay
After learning more about these two buildings, I discovered that the Romans were “inspired” by Greek architecture. The columns used in both are common to Greek architecture. Based on the photos that were viewed from online searches, it appears that the Romans were more ornate during the construction of their temple which can be seen by their choice of building materials, such as marble. The Parthenon seems to have had more simple lines. It was rectangular in shape as opposed to the Pantheon that was rounded in many areas, particularly where the sculptures of the gods were. This was to lend to the idea that they were on the same level and that no god was given more preferential treatment since the Pantheon was to honor all of them equally. The structures resemble one another in that they both have those ominous columns as a way to emphasize the dominion the gods had over the
In this essay, the author
- Explains that unit 2 assignment objective is to discuss similarities and differences in culture as seen via the parthenon and pantheon. both structures represented the spirituality of ancient greeks and romans.
- Explains that the romans were "inspired" by greek architecture. the parthenon was rectangular in shape, whereas the pantheon had rounded sculptures.
- Explains that the greeks and romans' cultures were similar in that they paid tribute to their gods, and were a devoted spiritual group of people. they were innovative in the construction of these buildings.
- Explains that unit 2 assignment objective is to discuss similarities and differences in culture as seen via the parthenon and pantheon. both structures represented the spirituality of ancient greeks and romans.
- Explains that the romans were "inspired" by greek architecture. the parthenon was rectangular in shape, whereas the pantheon had rounded sculptures.
- Explains that the greeks and romans' cultures were similar in that they paid tribute to their gods, and were a devoted spiritual group of people. they were innovative in the construction of these buildings.
- Concludes that the temples of ancient greek and roman times epitomize the similarities and differences of these two cultures.
481 words
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Oedipus the King
analytical essay
References to eyesight and vision, both literal and metaphorical, are very frequent in all three of the Theban plays. Quite often, the image of clear vision is used as a metaphor for knowledge and insight. In fact, this metaphor is so much a part of the Greek way of thinking that it is almost not a metaphor at all, just as in modern English: to say “I see the truth” or “I see the way things are” is a perfectly ordinary use of language. However, the references to eyesight and insight in these plays form a meaningful pattern in combination with the references to literal and metaphorical blindness. Oedipus is famed for his clear-sightedness and quick comprehension, but he discovers that he has been blind to the truth for many years, and then he blinds himself so as not to have to look on his own children/siblings. Creon is prone to a similar blindness to the truth in Antigone. Though blind, the aging Oedipus finally acquires a limited prophetic vision. Tiresias is blind, yet he sees farther than others. Overall, the plays seem to say that human beings can demonstrate remarkable powers of intellectual penetration and insight, and that they have a great capacity for knowledge, but that even the smartest human being is liable to error, that the human capability for knowledge is ultimately quite limited and unreliable.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the references to eyesight and vision, both literal and metaphorical, are frequent in all three of the theban plays.
- Analyzes how oedipus and jocasta debate the extent to which prophecies should be trusted at all. sophocles' aims are to justify the powers of gods and prophets.
- Analyzes how sophocles' audience would have known the story of oedipus, which only increases the sense of complete inevitability about how the play would end.
- Analyzes how the references to eyesight and vision, both literal and metaphorical, are frequent in all three of the theban plays.
- Analyzes how oedipus and jocasta debate the extent to which prophecies should be trusted at all. sophocles' aims are to justify the powers of gods and prophets.
- Analyzes how sophocles' audience would have known the story of oedipus, which only increases the sense of complete inevitability about how the play would end.
- Analyzes how oedipus and jocasta don't want to speak the obvious truth about laius's murder. they fasten onto a detail in the hope of exonerating themselves.
805 words
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Blindness In Oedipus The King
analytical essay
Teiresias, prophet of Phoebus, was stricken with blindness to the physical world, but, as a result, gained the gift of sight into the spiritual world. This great gift allowed him to become a superior prophet, praised by the people as “god like'; and as a person “in whom the truth lives.'; Therefore, it was no surprise that Oedipus asked the old prophet to come before the people to enlighten them as to who or what the cause of the plague decimating their country was. What Oedipus was not expecting, however, was that the sin he could not see himself was to blame for the judgement being poured out upon the country. The sin so hidden from Oedipus’ and the peoples’ eyes was quite visible to Teiresias. What Teiresias ...
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how blindness plays a two-fold role in sophocles' tragedy &#8220;oedipus the king.
- Analyzes how teiresias, the prophet of phoebus, was stricken with blindness to the physical world, but gained the gift of sight into the spiritual world.
- Analyzes how oedipus was gifted with an outward sense of sight, but lacked the knowledge of his sinful actions. the murder of laius and the subsequent marriage to jocasta further elucidate the extent of the blindness.
- Analyzes how blindness plays a two-fold role in sophocles' tragedy &#8220;oedipus the king.
- Analyzes how teiresias, the prophet of phoebus, was stricken with blindness to the physical world, but gained the gift of sight into the spiritual world.
- Analyzes how oedipus was gifted with an outward sense of sight, but lacked the knowledge of his sinful actions. the murder of laius and the subsequent marriage to jocasta further elucidate the extent of the blindness.
- Explains that the legendary sphinx successfully possessed and maintained both types of sight, which he used to wreck havoc on the people of thebes.
- Concludes that the theme of sight dominated sophocles' tragedy &#8220;oedipus the king.
717 words
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Oedipus the King
analytical essay
Oedipus’ fate caused him to isolate himself by blinding himself. Ironically, when Oedipus had his sight, he didn’t know the truth about the murder or even his life. He thought a group of bandits killed Laios and that his parents were from Corinth. Teiresias, a blind man, accused Oedipus of being blind “with both [his] eyes(p855, 196).'; Oedipus used his “blinded'; sight to discover the truth that brought him to his demise. Since he “had too long been blind to those for whom [he] was searching…from this hour [he would] go in darkness(p878, 49)!'; His strong reliance on his intellect unfortunately led him to see no more.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how sophocles advocates the definition in the tragic play oedipus rex. he develops the play with the great polarities of fame and shame, sight and blindness, and ignorance and insight.
- Analyzes how oedipus was a well-liked and trusted king among all his townspeople. when time came to save the town from laios' killer, he relied on his intellect.
- Analyzes how oedipus' fate caused him to isolate himself by blinding himself. he didn't know the truth about the murder or even his life.
- Analyzes how sophocles advocates the definition in the tragic play oedipus rex. he develops the play with the great polarities of fame and shame, sight and blindness, and ignorance and insight.
- Analyzes how oedipus was a well-liked and trusted king among all his townspeople. when time came to save the town from laios' killer, he relied on his intellect.
- Analyzes how oedipus' fate caused him to isolate himself by blinding himself. he didn't know the truth about the murder or even his life.
- Analyzes how oedipus blinded himself to the murder, relying on his intellect to find out the truth. only his quest for truth brought him insight to his entire life.
- Analyzes how oedipus' reliance on his knowledge served as his greatest strength and ultimate downfall. he pushed his need for truth and knowledge too far and ultimately lost everything he cherished.
547 words
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Oedipus the King: Light vs. Dark
analytical essay
Ironically, this causes the king to gouge out his eyes, which have been blind to the truth for so long. He screams, You, you'll see no more the pain I suffered, all the pain I caused! Too long you looked on the ones you never should have seen, blind to the ones you longed to see, to know! Blind from this hour on! Blind in the darkness—blind! Oedipus furthers Sophocles' sight metaphor when he defends his decision to humble himself through blindness: "What good were eyes to me?
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how sophocles employs a continuous metaphor in oedipus: light vs. darkness, and sight versus blindness. tiresias falsely accuses creon of conspiracy.
- Analyzes how tiresias mocks his blindness by saying that he's the scourge of his own flesh and blood, the dead below the earth and the living here above.
- Analyzes how tiresias comes out the winner, as oedipus learns his tragic fate. the metaphor of light, which represents truth and knowledge, is present.
- Analyzes how sophocles employs a continuous metaphor in oedipus: light vs. darkness, and sight versus blindness. tiresias falsely accuses creon of conspiracy.
- Analyzes how tiresias mocks his blindness by saying that he's the scourge of his own flesh and blood, the dead below the earth and the living here above.
- Analyzes how tiresias comes out the winner, as oedipus learns his tragic fate. the metaphor of light, which represents truth and knowledge, is present.
- Analyzes how oedipus furthers sophocles' sight metaphor when he defends his decision to humble himself through blindness.
- Analyzes how the idea of sight is critical in oedipus the king. tiresias is physically blind, but he sees the truth from the beginning, while o
411 words
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Comparing the Tragic Flaws in Oedipus Rex (the King) and Death of a Salesman
analytical essay
Blindness and vision are used as motifs in the play "Oedipus Rex," which are also the tragic flaws of the hero. Vision refers to both literal and metaphorical blindness. The frequent references to sight, light, eyes, and perception are used throughout the play. When Oedipus refuses to believe Tiersias, Tiersias responds by saying "have you eyes" and "do you not see your own damnation?" Tiersias also says "those now clear-seeing eyes shall then be darkened." The reference to sight has a double meaning. Oedipus is famed for his clear-sightedness and quick comprehension. He was able to "see" the answer to the Sphinx's riddle, yet ironically, he lacks the ability to see the truth about his own identity. Oedipus has become the very disease he wishes to remove from Thebes.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes the tragic flaws in oedipus rex and death of a salesman. blindness and vision are used as motifs in the play.
- Analyzes how willy loman in "death of a salesman" is the opposite of the classic tragic hero. he is an ordinary man whose dreams and expectations have been shattered by the false values of society.
- Analyzes how willy's blindness to reality is his tragic flaw like that of oedipus rex. he builds his life around the philosophy that if a person is well liked and good looking, he will be successful.
- Analyzes the tragic flaws in oedipus rex and death of a salesman. blindness and vision are used as motifs in the play.
- Analyzes how willy loman in "death of a salesman" is the opposite of the classic tragic hero. he is an ordinary man whose dreams and expectations have been shattered by the false values of society.
- Analyzes how willy's blindness to reality is his tragic flaw like that of oedipus rex. he builds his life around the philosophy that if a person is well liked and good looking, he will be successful.
- Explains that in both plays we have sympathy for both tragic heroes, but at the same time, we know that their downfall is brought about by their own tragic flaw. blindness is not always the loss of sight, it is also not being able to see.
408 words
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Oedipus the King
analytical essay
Throughout the play, Oedipus is faced with the truth and fails to acknowledge it. He is first told by the drunk at the party, but he dismisses it as just something said by an ignorant drunk. He then visits the oracle and is told his fate determined by the gods and believes he can escape it by fleeing to Thebes. On his way he carries out the first part of the fate by killing his father. He then makes it to Thebes and marries Jocasta, unknowingly fulfilling the fate. Teiresias finally tells Oedipus the horrible truth, but Oedipus calls him a liar and fails to recognize the truth again. When Oedipus finally figures that what the oracle, drunk, and Teiresias was all true, he cannot handle it and blinds himself while Jocasta kills herself.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how oedipus rex, by socrates, shows the fault of men and the ultimate power of the gods.
- Explains that oedipus believed that he could take on the sphinx and rid thebes of the plague. the plague showed that the mortality of being human is a death sentence.
- Analyzes how oedipus is faced with the truth and fails to acknowledge it. he is first told by the drunk at the party, but he dismisses it as just something said by an ignorant drunk.
- Analyzes how oedipus rex, by socrates, shows the fault of men and the ultimate power of the gods.
- Explains that oedipus believed that he could take on the sphinx and rid thebes of the plague. the plague showed that the mortality of being human is a death sentence.
- Analyzes how oedipus is faced with the truth and fails to acknowledge it. he is first told by the drunk at the party, but he dismisses it as just something said by an ignorant drunk.
- Analyzes how oedipus believes he can surpass what any man had ever achieved. he prides himself as the seeker of truth and will not stray from his mission of finding truth.
- Analyzes how oedipus is the example that socrates made for all people who fail to recognize their limits as human beings. he believes he escaped his fate but plays right into the gods' hands.
635 words
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