Sophocles’s dramatic play Oedipus the King takes place in ancient Greece. It focuses on Oedipus, the king of Thebes. As the plot unfolds, Sophocles reveals that Oedipus, Jacosta his wife/mother, and his father Laius have tried to change the course of events that have been foretold to them. The oracles make it clear to Laius, and later to Oedipus, that he will kill his father and marry his mother. Regardless of their attempts to alter the future, the foretold events develop outside of their control. These events lead to an unhappy ending for each of them. Mythical creatures, oracles, prophets, and gods all have a hand in shaping Oedipus’s life. Although the prophecies of Apollo’s oracles set key events into motion, it is Oedipus’s tragic flaw of excessive pride that leads to the eventual fulfillment of the prophecies. …show more content…
In this scene, Oedipus addresses a priest with a group of children. Oedipus’s extreme opinion of his own status is displayed in lines five thru seven: OEDIPUS. I did not think it fit that I should hear of this from messengers but came myself, — I Oedipus whom all men call the Great. (5-7)
Sophocles uses an em dash to place emphasis on the conclusion of this sentence. In so doing, Sophocles reveals Oedipus’s excessive pride by displaying his arrogance.
Oedipus summons Teiresias the blind prophet to answer questions regarding the murder of Laius. During their conversation Teiresias tries to avoid answering the questions, and warns Oedipus that the answers will cause Oedipus pain. Oedipus’s excessive pride leads him to become angry with Teiresias. This happens because Oedipus cannot tolerate someone he views as inferior to himself refusing to comply with his commands:
TEIRESIAS. I will say nothing further. Against this answer let your temper rage as wildly as you
...” In Twentieth Century Interpretations of Oedipus Rex, edited by Michael J. O’Brien. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1968.
Considered by Aristotle as the perfect example of tragedy, Sophocles’ Oedipus the King is an Athenian play that follows the undoing of a Theban king by the name of Oedipus. The play presents a question Oedipus himself cannot answer: is it the man’s actions or is it the gods’ decisions that control the man’s destiny? Perhaps the answer is both man and god, but it is the man’s imperfections that determine what fate the gods will give him. While there is no direct proof that gods control everything in a man, from his dreams to his choices, Oedipus still proves that no matter how renowned a man is, that man’s weaknesses will determine his success or his failure. Oedipus fits the convention of a tragic hero as he is a man of high estate who suffers
Oedipus is further censured for his overweening pride in his intellectual abilities. In his encounter with Teiresias, he reminds the blind prophet that it was he, of all involved, who solved the riddle of the Sphinx; he challenges Teiresias
Murray, Robert D. Jr. ?Sophocles? Moral Themes.? In Readings on Sophocles, edited by Don Nardo. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press, 1997.
A first glimpse of Oedipus’ pride is seen when he is speaking to the prophet Teiresias and refuses to believe he is actually responsible for killing the previous king of Thebes who happens to be his father. Teiresias tells Oedipus multiple times that his fate has been fulfilled and that Oedipus really did murder Laïos, however Oedipus is unbelieving of what Teiresias has to say.
An allusion is being used in the play to explain that Oedipus has just sinned by saying “I tell you, you have sinned/ And do not know it-against your own earth/ And in your grave. This is an allusion to the bible. This relates to the bible because the sin is acting as a god. If you are wrong to the gods then the wrath Tuataras will come down on you. Oedipus has just sinned and sooner or later the wrath will comes down on him. He knows he has just made the wrong decision, but does not want to admit it. He states this because his ego is bigger than the Gods, so he will eventually have to suffer for
Ehrenberg, Victor. “Sophoclean Rulers: Oedipus.” In Twentieth Century Interpretations of Oedipus Rex, edited by Michael J.
Oedipus is the main character in the play Oedipus the King. Oedipus is thought of as a tragic figure because he was doomed from birth. Tiresias, an old blind prophet, told Oedipus' parents about Oedipus' fate. He told them that Oedipus would kill his father and sleep with his mother. So, his parents decided to have him killed, only it did not happen that way. He was passed off by two shepherds and finally to the King and Queen of Corinth, Polybus and Merope to raise him as their own. Oedipus finds his way back to Thebes and on the way kills his father, but Oedipus did not know that one of the men he killed was his real father. This is the beginning of the prophecy coming true. In short Oedipus obtains the throne, Marries his mother and has kids with her. Oedipus' fate has come together without him even realizing what is going on. Eventually he is told what has happened and asks to be banished by his uncle/brother-in-law Creon. The tragedy in Oedipus' life began with his birth and the realization by his parents that his whole life was doomed.
Oedipus Rex is a Greek play written by Sophocles. The play is set in Thebes; Thebes is infected with a plague that is killing its crops and unborn children. This plague is caused by the prophecy. The prophecy states that Oedipus would kill his father and wed his mother. Laius threw out Oedipus when he was a baby to avoid this fate, but he failed because Oedipus was not killed. Oedipus was raised as a prince in Corinth. One day he was told the prophecy and feared that he would kill his father Polybus. While running away from Corinth to escape the prophecy, Oedipus killed Laius. When Oedipus arrived in Thebes, he freed the people from the sphinx. He was named king and married Jocasta. Towards the end of the play, Oedipus finds out that he had fulfilled the prophecy and is exiled from Thebes.
A man has many defining characteristics - some positive and some negative. At times, a potentially positive characteristic may cause his eventual downfall. This concept can be directly related to the story Oedipus Rex. Aristotle stated, “the tragic hero falls into bad fortune because of some flaw in his character of the kind found in men of high reputation and good fortune such as Oedipus.” Essentially, he is telling us that Oedipus has a flaw that, under normal circumstances, would be a beneficial characteristic, but in his case, causes his demise. The defining characteristics of pride and determination can be attributed to the downfall of Oedipus.
Oedipus The King, by Sophocles, is a play about how Oedipus lives up his fate that he will kill his father and marry his mother, both of which are extremely bad in the Greek society, even though he thinks he is getting away from it. Despite the Greek notions of supreme power of the gods and fate, Oedipus' downfall is primarily the result of King Laius' and his own actions and attempts to defy the gods, consequently Sophocles says that prophecies from the gods of someone's fate should not be ignored. Prophecies from the Oracle of Delphi are told to King Laius and Queen Jocasta, and to Oedipus.
Oedipus shows himself as being very pridefull when he leaves his adopted parents in Corinth. Oedipus leaves after he is told about his destiny from an old prophet. The prophet tells Oedipus that he will one day kill his father and marry his mother. Fearing this, Oedipus decides to leave Cornith. In doing this he is going against the gods, he is saying that he is not going to let this happen to him and he is going to control his own destiny.
(CD) Arrogance plays a key role in this depiction especially when Oedipus is still stubbornly keeping Teiresius in his palace to learn his true identity but then proceeds to accuse him of lying because “You taunt me and think because you are a prophet you will go scot-free” (684). (CM) According to the text, the prophet is enraged by Oedipus’ provocations so that he spews out the truth, but the main character refuses to understand nor believe it and even mocks him. (CM) Understandably, this act of ire will bring his doom, since there will be not many other warnings to soften this fall from fame. (CD) The protagonist also shows arrogance when he suspects others, like his brother-in-law, of treason and greed for his throne. (CM) To assume that one desires Oedipus’ position is a form of haughtiness , because it means that the protagonist is in a better position than the other and that the one who desires such power is a duplicitic man. CM) In this scenario, it also means that Oedipus is vainly assuming that others will act less humane to attain power. (CM) By accusing others of unjust crimes, the tragic hero will not gain any trust nor loyalty from them and may even be abandoned to fate due to a feeling of betrayal. (CS) Therefore, Oedipus’ ire is a flaw that dominates him and causes him to fall in a pit of
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)
Greek politician and playwright, Sophocles, in his play, Oedipus the King, depicts a series of chronological events of the consequences of Oedipus’ downfall caused by his excessive pride. Sophocles’ purpose is to instruct readers that too much pride can dismally lead to unfortunate events. Sophocles illustrates an effective tone in order to inform the readers of the negative outcomes of stubbornness and denial.