The Role of Teiresias in Sophocles'Oedipus Rex (the King)
Teiresias uses his psychic abilities to foreshadow the anguish and destruction that Oedipus will encounter after he learns the truths of his life. Teiresias is also responsible for further developing the theme of blindness by using his own physical blindness to reveal to Oedipus his mental blindness. Lastly, Teiresias is ultimately responsible for imposing dramatic irony because of his great knowledge of the truth of Oedipus. In the play, Oedipus Rex, by Sophocles, the minor character of Teiresias is responsible for foreshadowing Oedipus’ fate, developing the theme of blindness, and also illustrating dramatic irony.
In Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex, the character of Teiresias is developed in such a way that he utilizes many dramatic devices in order to reveal information and move the play along. As a fortuneteller, Teiresias is able to see the fate and destruction of Oedipus’ life. Teiresias uses his great ability to reveal to the reader the downfalls in Oedipus’ life that will soon occur because of his quest to know his fate. The character of Teiresias demonstrates the use of foreshadowing in order for the reader to be aware of Oedipus’ fate.
You can not see the wretchedness of your life, Nor in whose house you live, no, nor with whom. Where are your father and mother? Can you tell me? You do not even know the blind wrongs that you have done them, on earth and in the world below. But the double lash of your parents’ curse will whip you out of this land some day, with only night upon your precious eyes. Your cries then—where will they not be heard (Sophocles, 403-410)?
This passage foreshadows the destruction and misery that will be a part of Oedipus’ life...
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Professors Comments:
When quoting, the final punctuation should come after the parentheses not inside the quote. “I say that you live in shame with those most dear to you. You can not see the evil” (Sophocles, 353-354).
You have a strong thesis statement and you thoroughly discuss your thesis points within your paper. Your first two paragraphs should be made into one paragraph for a better introduction.
With this improvement, Dr. Willem J. Kolff, the head of the artificial developmental program at the University of Utah, and Dr. William DeVries, the head cardiac surgeon at the University of Utah, decided to take this device further. They wanted to develop a heart based on the heart tested in farm animals, to place into a human. This was done with the help of Dr. Robert Jarvik who developed the Jarvik-7. This device was made of plastic and aluminum. With all that they had accomplished, the staff at the University of Utah’s artificial development program still had to wait 2 years before they found the right candidate for the project.
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Until this century, it was rare that brain-dead patients could be kept alive for long periods of time. However, as technological prowess has increased, it has recently become possible to keep a patient alive without higher brain functioning for years and even decades. But, as is always the case with new technology and knowledge, previously unknown ethical issues arise, and thus we have the difficult ethical problems of the Karen Ann Quinlan case.
Many ethical, moral, and legal ramifications influence and affect how this type of care is provided. Unfortunately, death is an inevitable part of life; however, death does not come without its own rights. The right to die, refuse medical treatment, and the rights to choose how end-of-life care can be given, or withheld, are significant individual rights which influence and effect the medical and legal professions. For years, these rights have been upheld through either the legislature, judicial opinion, or ethical committees. In the present case, it is not the intent, nor desire of the committee to rewrite the existing policies which dictate how to handle a situation such as this one. As already stated, the committee strongly urges the primary care physician to review the patient’s records, and find that the patient meets the criteria required to implement her pre-existing Living Will. The primary care physician should take into consideration the ethical and legal ramifications as defined and analyzed in the above opinion prior to drawing a conclusion. Death is a natural part of life, and with death, should come dignity. The patient has demonstrated her wishes, and it is now up to the primary physician to uphold the patient’s
...d how these determinations effect a physician’s approach to various types of critically ill patients? These types of questions come in to play when one attempts to critically analyze the differences between the types of terminally ill patients and the subtle ethical/legal nuances between withholding and withdrawing treatment. According to a review by Larry Gostin and Robert Weir about Nancy Cruzan, “…courts examine the physician’s respect for the desires of the patient and the level of care administered. A rule forbidding physicians from discontinuing a treatment that could have been withheld initially will discourage doctors from attempting certain types of care and force them prematurely to allow a patient to die. Physicians must be free to exercise their best professional judgment, especially when facing the sensitive question of whether to administer treatment.”
“Sophocles” In Literature of the Western World, edited by Brian Wilkie and James Hurt. NewYork: Macmillan Publishing Co., 1984.
“The Life & Times of J.R.R. Tolkien.” Lili. Christian History, 2003. Web. 13 March 2014
Within these two passages, Teiresias is explaining to Oedipus that the Prophecy admitted he killed his father. Oedipus is denying the fact that he killed his father and looking passed the problem. In the play Oedipus the King, written by Sophocles, Sophocles uses rhetorical devices to explain to the readers that Teiresias may be blind, but is seeing through the lie that Oedipus is living, while striking him the truth; this is explained through imagery, metaphors, an allusion, and ethos appeal.
The similarities and differences between school failure and delinquency according to Siegel and Welsh include the following.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. "The Minimum Legal Drinking Age Should Not Be Lowered." Teens at Risk. Ed. Christine Watkins. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2009. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Underage Drinking: Why Do Adolescents Drink, What Are the Risks, and How Can Underage Drinking Be Prevented?" 2006. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 16 Mar. 2014.
Woodard, Thomas. Introduction. In Sophocles: A Collection of Critical Essays, edited by Thomas Woodard. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1966.
Oedipus Rex (the King), written by Sophocles, is the tragic play depicting the disastrous existence to which Oedipus, an Athenian, is 'fated' to endure. With a little help from the gods and the 'fated' actions and decisions of Oedipus, an almost unthinkable misfortune unfolds. Athenian perfection can consist of intelligence, self-confidence, and a strong will. Oedipus, the embodiment of such perfection, and his tragedy are common place to Athenians. Ironically, the very same exact characteristics that bring about the ominous discovery of Oedipus' fate: to kill his father and marry his mother. Oedipus' 'fated' decisions entangle everyone whom is of any significance to him within a quagmire of spiraling tragedy. Sophocles uses the riddle of the Sphinx as a metaphor for the three phases of Oedipus' entangled life, the three phases of human life, and to describe how every life-changing action or decision can influence other lives.
Around the turn of the millennium Ireland had a small housing stock, with the figure being the smallest in Europe. With income growing and the population increasing the EMU allowed Irish financial lenders to offer mortgages to customers ...
Over thousands of year’s people of various nations have become part of the Philippines and have added to its rich heritage. It is now one of the most highly populated countries in the world. The Republic of the Philippines is a democratic island nation made up of over 7,000 islands with over 80 million people. Geography and climate play a large part in how people live on the island. It is a country with an interesting cultural background. It is a culture influenced by many diverse ethnic groups, who have settled on the island and now call it home.