Research Paper On Oedipus Tyranus
analytical Essay
556 words
Krystal M Perry-Harris Professor McCollum Literature 201 23 November, 2017 Oedipus Tyrannus Oedipus Tyrannus is a king with seemly normal king like ways yet he faced problems where at times he had extreme fights with himself, which left him tragically flawed within his own personal morals and values. This fight leads Oedipus to the doom he struggles constantly to escape . Trouble Loves Company Oedipus’s parents had to throw him away on the third day of his life, because it was told that he would kill his father and marry his mother. His fate seemed to be doomed his first week of life, given to a shepherd to be thrown in the mountains of Kithairon, the shepherd saved him instead of him "dying that fortunate little death." His name which means “swell foot” in Greek is a constant reminder of the evil that he fought with being marked by the skewers his parents used to bind his feet. he ran away from Corinth after growing up there because of rumors of his evil fate the …show more content…
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how oedipus tyrannus is a king with seemingly normal ways yet faced extreme fights with himself, which left him tragically flawed within his own personal morals and values.
- Analyzes how oedipus was a great king, he was good, and every bad situation showed his humbleness. he sent creon to find out more about the matter.
- Explains that oedipus can be deemed a tragic hero because he isn't perfect, has flaws being his pride and his self righteousness gets the best of him. he was an influential figure that had an error in judgement, suffered from those actions, and chose to do better.
- Analyzes how oedipus tyrannus was a tragic hero through his gains and triumphs. the murder investigation was an inner fight, and jocasta led him down the wrong road knowing the truth.
Oedipus was a great king, he was good and every bad situation Oedipus tried to be humble and find good from everything he did even at first while the people of “Thebes beg their king, Oedipus, to lift the plague that threatens to destroy the city.” Oedipus sent Creon to find out more about the matter showed he was for the people and cared, yet fate always had a plan and ironically,. The Bad. Oedipus went to Thebes, and irony kicks in hard when he kills his father and marries his mother, thee exact thing he was running from his entire life. Oedipus went to great measures to expose, track down, and punish a killer who is in reality himself. Oedipus can be deemed as a tragic hero because he is not perfect, he has flaws being his pride and his own self righteousness gets the best of him. Oedipus learned the ultimate lesson from what he went through, and he was an influential figure that had an error in judgement , suffered from those actions, and chose to do better and be an example for
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- Oedipus Tragic Hero Research Paperanalytical essayA hero is one that has the qualities to achieve greatness. But, what is a tragic hero? Aristotle said that a tragic hero is, “A hero that is not a superman; he is fallible” (Kennedy 945). A tragic hero is a protagonist of a tragedy. A tragedy is “an imitation of action high of importance, complete and of some amplitude; in language enhanced by distinct and varying beauties; acted not narrated; by means of pity and fear effecting its purgation of these emotions. ” (Aristotle, Poetics, Chapter VI). Sophocles’ Oedipus, King of Thebes, fits the image of a perfect Athenian, one that is confident, strong, and intelligent. Oedipus portrays Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero because of his determination to unfolding the truth of his fate, but it is his flaws that keeps him from doing so.
In this essay, the author
- Explains aristotle's definition of a tragic hero, which is an imitation of action high of importance, complete and of some amplitude, in language enhanced by distinct and varying beauties, acted not narrated; pity and fear effecting its purgation of emotions.
- Analyzes how oedipus fits aristotle's many qualities of a tragic hero, namely his temper and blindness of the truth.
- Analyzes how oedipus exemplifies aristotle's tragic hero by his constant pursuit of finding out the truth.
- Concludes that sophocles' "oedipus the king" is the true athenian tragedy. sight and blindness, tragic flaw, fate, and free will play a huge part in the play.
650 wordsRead More - Tragic Hero Oedipusanalytical essayThere are many tales of people’s lives that don’t end well. Some are better than others, while some are worse. There are no tales more tragic than that of Oedipus. Fated to kill his own father and bed his own mother, Oedipus’s fate is one of tragedy and ill fortune. All the good that happened to him was a façade for what his true fate was to be. His actions while alive were not heroic, rather they were a means to push him ever closer to his true end.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how oedipus tyrannus' tragic fate is one of tragedy and ill fortune. his actions while alive were a means to push him ever closer to his true end.
- Narrates how oedipus learned from the oracle at delphi of the prophecy that he would end up killing his father and marrying his mother.
- Analyzes how the people of thebes are suffering from a plague, and are begging oedipus to find the root of their suffering and to end it.
- Analyzes how jocasta mentions out of hand that laius was slain at a place where three roads meet, which stirs something in oedipus' memory. he realizes, horrified, that he might be the man
- Analyzes how oedipus is relieved when a messenger arrives from corinth to tell him that king polybus is dead. the messenger knows that it is not true.
- Analyzes how oedipus rushes into the palace where he finds his mother-wife, dead by her own hand. he begs his uncle and brother-in-law creon to exile him forever from thebes.
821 wordsRead More - Dramatic Irony In Oedipusanalytical essaySophocles’ Oedipus is arguably one of the best tragic heroes in ancient literature, but does he conform to the Aristotelian criteria of tragic heroes? In his work Poetics, Aristotle details the characteristics that must comprise such a character, providing playwrights a strict criterion to follow when writing dramas. One character that is consistently mentioned along with this definition is the notorious Oedipus. Oedipus was the king of Thebes who slowly learned that he was responsible for the death of his father and was married to his own mother. This brief analysis of the text will attempt to argue that Oedipus does indeed meet his standards, specifically through his great flaw, change of fortune, code of ethics and the dramatic irony that
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how aristotle defines the tragic hero in his work poetics. oedipus was the king of thebes who learned he was responsible for the death of his father and was married to his mother.
- Analyzes how aristotle's poetics is highly esteemed in the realm of theatrical theory.
- Analyzes how oedipus' paranoia and constant declination of the facts presented to him by tiresias is a character fault.
- Analyzes how oedipus' luck changes dramatically in the play. he is the king of thebes and is married to the former queen.
- Analyzes how oedipus' moral position is emphasized in many parts of the play. he attacks laius, effectively dethroning him and leaving the people of thebes without a king.
- Analyzes the use of irony in sophocles' play. oedipus begs for the punishment that the killer should receive, exile.
- Concludes that sophocles' oedipus fulfills the concept of the tragic hero, as defined by aristotle.
1410 wordsRead More - In order to describe Oedipus as a tragic hero, one must begin by describing a tragedy. A tragedy must consist of a variety of elements in order to truly fulfill its purpose. According to Aristotle, the most important element is plot (175). Without the events that unify all aspects, the story would not be held together. It is the actions of the tragic hero that lead to his downfall, and that define his characteristics and set into motion all other aspects of the work. In Oedipus the King, it is Oedipus's attempt to avoid his destiny, an overt act of hubris, that leads to his rise in power and ultimate fall. In this aspect, he completely fulfills the job of a tragic hero.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how sophocles defines a tragic hero as one who behaves admirably but is tripped up by forces beyond his control and understanding. oedipus's actions set the events into motion, but ultimately his fate, and his attempted aversion, bring about his downfall.
- Explains that oedipus is a tragic hero because of his hubris, which leads to his rise in power and ultimate fall.
- Explains the importance of character in a tragedy. characters must have admirable traits, or readers wouldn't care what happened to them.
- Explains that word choice produces desired effects, and a spectacle in oedipus the king draws the reader's attention.
- Explains that oedipus the king is a tragic hero, but there are legitimate reasons for his selection. he has intelligence, honor, and strength.
- Explains that tragedy is an imitation of events inspiring fear or pity. the identity of oedipus's parents and the revelation of a fulfilled destiny are surprising to the reader.
- Analyzes how shock prompts the reader to ask what oedipus did to deserve his fate. it seems unwarranted by his previously heroic actions.
- Analyzes how aristotle's definition of a good tragedy is narrow in focus and realistic. the naiveté of oedipus allows the audience to foresee what is to happen to him, even when he doesn't.
- Explains that oedipus embodies all of the traits that pertain to the ideal tragic hero. he is strong, honorable, intelligent, and benevolent, but his one tragic flaw is hubris.
- Cites bloom, harold, ed. sophocles. philadelphia: chelsea house publishers, 2003.
1213 wordsRead More - Elements Of The Perfect Tragedyanalytical essayAccording to the classical definition of tragedy, “The tragic hero should be a ruler or leader whose character is good and whose misfortune is brought about by some error or frailty” (Butcher). Oedipus perfectly fits this role. He is the king of Thebes who saved the city from the riddle of the Sphinx. This confirms that Oedipus’ character is good. As for Oedipus’ tragic flaw; he is prideful, and will not yield in an argument even when he has no facts to support himself with. Creon knows this and in and argument with Oedipus states, “You are sullen in your yielding mood/ As in your anger you were savage./ Your anger justly plagues you the most” (Sophocles). Creon describes Oedipus perfectly here. When Oedipus refuses to yield, he is often hit by further tragedy. This a perfect example of this comes when Oedipus refuses to listen to Jocasta’s advice and pursues the shepherd that witnessed Laius’ murder. This shepherd bears the awful news of Oedipus’ true identity, a tragedy that is a direct result of Oedipus’ tragic
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how aristotle outlines the fifteen elements that create the perfect tragedy in his work, poetics. in sophocles' play, oedipus rex, he sets the benchmark for future tragedies
- Explains that aristotle's definition of tragedy is based on a believable plot. if the plot is unbelievable, the audience will feel disconnected from the play, ruining the purpose of the tragedy.
- Describes the reasons why sophocles created a complete action from this decree by writing oedipus into the role of the murderer.
- Analyzes how sophocles carefully placed oedipus' tragic events in the play. teiresias correctly accuses him of killing the laius, creon is trying to take his throne, and jocasta commits suicide.
- Analyzes how oedipus rex is a complex tragedy because it includes reversals and recognition.
- Analyzes how oedipus fits the classical definition of tragedy, which states that the tragic hero should be a ruler whose character is good and misfortune is brought about by error or frailty.
- Analyzes how the characters contribute to tragedy by fulfilling separate roles that vary ethically. this is crucial to the development of the play because when one character is falling there must be another character to compare.
- Explains the importance of pathos in aristotle's perfect tragedy, which is portrayed in the form of action, not narrative, through pity and fear effecting the proper purgation of emotions.
1025 wordsRead More - Sophocles´ Oedipus Rex: A Tragic Heroanalytical essayBecause of his high status in society and his high morals, Oedipus can be considered a tragic hero. When the priest first addresses Oedipus, he says, “Oedipus, you who rule my land…” (11). The priest directly states that Oedipus is the king, reflecting Oedipus’ high status. Besides his high rank, Oedipus also shows that he has high ethical characteristics. When addressing the people of Thebes about the poor status of the city, Oedipus states, “…my soul groans for the city, for me and you/together” (13). He feels more pain than the people individually do because he pains for all of them. Oedipus genuinely cares about the well-being o...
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how oedipus rex, by sophocles, tells the tale of a tragic hero who sets out to rid thebes of the plague by finding the murderer of laius.
- Analyzes how oedipus can be considered a tragic hero because of his high status in society and high morals.
- Analyzes how oedipus shows that he is flawed and a tragic hero. tiresias claims that the man killed laius and poisoned the city.
- Analyzes how reversals in the play make it a tragedy and make oedipus the tragic hero.
- Analyzes how oedipus realizes that the prophecy he was trying to avoid has come true. he killed his father, laius, and married his mother, jocasta.
- Analyzes how oedipus' catharsis makes him a tragic hero. he wishes that he would have died so that the audience sympathizes with him.
- Explains that oedipus is classified as an aristotelian tragic hero because of his high rank, ethical standards, evidence of flaw, reversals, recognition, and catharsis.
587 wordsRead More - Tragedy in Oedipus the King by Sophoclesanalytical essayThe play, “Oedipus the King” by Sophocles will show the tragic destiny of Oedipus; the King of Thebes. In the beginning, the play slowly starts to unfold until Oedipus realizes a mistake, and downwards spiral begins. The play will convey how “tragic power resides in human failing” (Walton). Although Oedipus did not intentional kill, his father and marry his mother. The author’s view of a tragic hero as seen in the play, “Oedipus the King” will exemplify Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero. Because Oedipus is of elevated estate the King of Thebes, with a fallible flaw resulting in a high to low fall.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the tragic destiny of oedipus, the king of thebes, will exemplify aristotle's definition of a tragic hero.
- Analyzes how oedipus informs iocaste creon and teiresias of the oracle's prophecy given to laios.
- Analyzes how king oedipus is the protagonist considered the noblest of men and sometimes "a self-serving and violent" man.
- Explains that oedipus the king was a philosopher's work.
1319 wordsRead More - Oedipus, a Tragic Heroanalytical essayIn the prologue Oedipus is seen as a captain of the ship: “Ah, when years of kingship are remembered, let them not say we rose, but later fell. Keep the state from going down in the storm!” (P.961, line 51-53) Then Oedipus replies to the people letting them know that he has sent his brother-in-law to the Oracle to get help for the city. He is very overconfident at this point because he has already saved Thebes from the curse of Sphinx and taken great pride in his name: “I would not have you speak through messengers- I, Oedipus, who bear the famous name.” (P. 960, line 7-9) He is in even more of a good spirit when he hears that Creon has returned: “May his news be as fair as his face is Radiant!” (P.961, line 83) After getting the news about the King before him from Creon, Oedipus changes into an investigator: “Where shall we find a clue to solve that crime, after so many years?” (P.962, 112)
In this essay, the author
- Explains the definition of a tragic hero, stating that oedipus' tragic flaws start with his excessive pride which leads to overconfidence as the people in the city lift him up.
- Analyzes how a messenger from corinth arrives to let oedipus know that his father, polybos the king, is dead. the messenger tells him the truth about his birth and asks his wife if this is the one they have sent for.
- Analyzes how oedipus is at the lowest point of his life. the queen has killed herself and he blinds himself with her brooches.
- Analyzes how oedipus is seen as a captain of the ship. he has saved thebes from the curse of sphinx and takes pride in his name.
1026 wordsRead More - Oedipus Rex Tragic Hero Analysisanalytical essayIf one is familiar with Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero, one may consider King Oedipus, from Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, as a potential example of an ideal tragic hero. Sophocles exemplifies the definition of a tragic hero in his portrayal of King Oedipus, in addition to masterfully constructing a tragedy that has lasted the ages and continues to thrive as a classic work of literature to this day. A brief review of Oedipus Rex reveals key elements when defining a tragic hero. The first is the situation, as it unfolds, is complex in nature. The protagonist, King Oedipus, is of nobility and high respect; however, he is also troubled personally by unresolved questions of his past. The second element is his hamartia or error, a tragic flaw of sorts. The last element is his fall from his position of power and respect, after the climax of the story.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how oedipus learns that his past may be related to the current crisis facing the city.
- Concludes that king oedipus is an ideal tragic hero under the definitions set forth by aristotle.
- Analyzes how king oedipus is an ideal tragic hero because he is presented as a person of nobility, but his tragic flaw causes him to fall from grace as the play unfolds.
- Analyzes how sophocles exemplifies the definition of a tragic hero in his portrayal of king oedipus.
- Analyzes how oedipus begins to search for the truth of his past and to determine if he is the murderer.
1456 wordsRead More - The Strong Character and Unavoidable Destiny of Oedipus Rexanalytical essayOedipus the King, by Sophocles is about Oedipus, a man doomed by his fate. Like most tragedies, Oedipus the King contains a tragic hero, a heroic figure unable to escape his own doom. This tragic hero usually has a hamartia, a tragic flaw, which causes his downfall. The tragic flaw that Sophocles gives Oedipus is hubris (exaggerated pride or self-confidence), which is what caused Oedipus to walk right into the fate he sought to escape. Oedipus' pride pushes him toward his tragic end in the initial journey, when he kills his father, in the episode of the sphinx, and in his adamant search for truth.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how sophocles' "the strong character and unavoidable destiny of oedipus the king" is about a man doomed by his fate.
- Analyzes how pride like that of oedipus has been the downfall of many great leaders. his pride first affects him when he is told about what his fate has in-store for him.
- Analyzes how oedipus' pride caused him to kill his own father, king laius, on his trip away from corinth.
- Analyzes how oedipus showed his arrogance when he spoke to teiresias. the riddle's answer was no the province of a chance comer.
- Explains that oedipus knew that even the most intelligent men of thebes had been killed attempting to answer the riddle. he proved his intelligence was superior to theirs.
- Analyzes how oedipus let his arrogance make his decision and wouldn't let it go until he figured everything out.
- Analyzes how sophocles used oedipus' pride to characterize him as a tragic man. he used it to show that fate is only what might happen based on the person he was.
945 wordsRead More