Essay about The Downfall of Oedipus - 550 Words

Oedipus Rex by Sophocles is regarded as a very highly studied Greek play. Even though it was written almost 2500 years ago, it is still widely studied by both students and scholars alike. Oedipus Rex has passed the test of time, because people today can still relate to the themes and feelings experienced by Oedipus in the play. One of the main themes is the downfall of Oedipus and what the cause of this downfall is. The main plot of Oedipus was well known to the Ancient Greeks before it was even written by Sophocles. When Oedipus was born, King Laius and Queen Jocasta received a prophecy about their son (Oedipus Rex 49). It was claimed that Oedipus would kill his father and marry his mother. To try to prevent this prophecy they gave†¦show more content†¦This man runs him off the road and Oedipus is outraged. As a result, Oedipus kills this unknown man and continues on his way. He arrives in Thebes where he is welcomed as a hero for destroying the Sphinx who was killin g travelers on the road. He learns the news that the king of Thebes has recently been killed by a band of thieves. He marries the Queen and raises a family of two sons and two daughters, until fifteen years later, a plague infects the city. As the King of the country the people of Thebes look to Oedipus to fix this terrible plague that is troubling them and their families (Oedipus Rex 52). Oedipus has no idea what is causing this outbreak. He goes to Creon to try to figure out why this plague is occurring and how to stop it. Creon comes with bad news, stating that there is murderer in their presence and they must banish him from the city to bring an end from this horrible epidemic (Oedipus Rex 56). Oedipus goes on a rampage trying to find the murderer and banish him and avenge Laius death. Ill fight for him, Ill leave no means untried, to catch the one who did it with his hand... (Oedipus Rex, Ln. 270-271, page 1081) He feels such a strong urge to find the truth, and ironical ly the truth leads to his downfall. Oedipus’ great pride gives him confidence that he will find the murderer and once again be the hero of Thebes. Oedipus’ hubris and confidence ultimately leads to his downfall. For example, he believesShow MoreRelatedOedipus Rex And The Downfall Of Oedipus951 Words   |  4 Pageseventual downfall. This concept could be directly related to the story Oedipus Rex. Aristotle once said something to the effect that the tragic hero falls into bad fortune because of some flaw in his character. Essentially, he is telling us those characters, like Oedipus, have flaws that, under normal circumstances, would be a beneficial characteristic. However in this case, his character caused his demise. The defining characteristics of pride and determination can be attributed to the downfall of OedipusRead MoreOedipus Downfall Essay example774 Words   |  4 PagesPrompt: In a well-developed essay, consider whether hubris, fate or both are the use of Oedipus’ downfall. Use evidence from the text to support your support. Hubris is defined as excessive pride or self-confidence, while fate is defined as the supposed force, principle, or power that predetermines events. Ancient Greeks believed in Hubris, or pride. Pride may have been seen as good or bad. Many people that exhibit pride may come off as being proud of their achievements or lives; however, prideRead MoreThe Downfall Of Sophocles Oedipus The King815 Words   |  4 Pages The Downfall of Oedipus In Sophocles Oedipus the King, the topics of fate and free will are exceptionally solid all through the play and. Both focuses could be contended to extraordinary impact. In old Greece, fate was thought to be a simple piece of everyday life. Each part of life depended and was based upon fate. It is nature conviction to accept that humankind does in reality have Free will and every individual can choose the result of his or her life. All Oedipus actions areRead MoreOedipus The King, Oedipus Downfall And Lack Of Divine Attributes1461 Words   |  6 PagesIn Sophocles Oedipus the King, Oedipus’ downfall was a result of the sin of hubris, as he believed that he obtained attributes of divinity, which blinded him from the truth. PURPOSE STATEMENT Through evaluation and analysis of literary criticisms on Oedipus the King, it is shown that the reason for Oedipus’ downfall was his hubris and lack of divine attributes. INTRODUCTION Oedipus assumed he acquired the divine attributes making him further from the truth and nearer to his downfall. He thoughtRead MoreThe Tragic Downfall Of Oedipus The King By Sophocles924 Words   |  4 Pagesliterature, characters often have flaws that lead to a tragic downfall. One of these tragic flaws is hubris, which is defined as â€Å"exaggerated pride or self-confidence† (Merriam-Webster). This trait is most commonly found in characters who come to power and allow themselves to be consumed by their newfound hierarchy. The play Oedipus the King by Sophocles embodies the trait and displays it in different ways throughout the story. Oedipus is a victim of hubris as seen when he disregards the prophecyRead MoreComparing the Downfalls of Sophocles Oedipus and Shakespeares Othello1262 Words   |  6 Pages Oedipus and Othello were both honorable and heroic men that became the victims of tragic downfalls that can be compared and contrasted with each other. Sophocles, the writer of Oedipus the King, and Williams Shakespeare, the writer of Othello, were both enormously influential playwrights of their respective generations and their legacy continues today. The two playwrights made their masterpieces during different eras; Sophocles life coincided with the Golden Age of Greek tragedy and ShakespeareRead MoreWho Is Responsible for the Downfall of Oedipus Fate or Free Will?1639 Words   |  7 PagesIS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DOWNFALL OF OEDIPUS, IS IT FATE OR FREE WILL? In Oedipus the King by Sophocles, Oedipus is responsible for the tragedy of his downfall. Oedipus is presented with a series of choices throughout the play, and his arrogant and stubborn nature push him to impulsively make the wrong decisions, the decisions that ultimately lead him to his downfall. While Oedipus and those around him consider fate the source of Oedipus problems, Oedipus decisions show the audienceRead MoreOedipus The King : A Tragic Hero987 Words   |  4 Pagesgreek tragedies, Oedipus the King had a tragic hero whose downfall was the result of a tragic flaw. Oedipus, like other greek characters, did not see his errors until his reign was coming to an end. Oedipus, the man who saved Thebes did not understand that every good thing must come to an end. A tragic hero defined by Aristotle has five characteristics that lead to their downfall and their understanding of why the situation happened. Oedipus is the ideal tragic hero because his downfall followe d theRead MoreA Comparative of Shakespeares Othello and Oedipus Rex1511 Words   |  6 PagesShakespeare’s Othello and Oedipus Rex In Shakespeare’s work Othello: The Moor of Venice, Othello’s over trusting nature was revealed when his trust in false accusations about his wife Desdemona’s unfaithfulness causes him to kill her and himself, conveying Othello as a tragic hero. Oedipus, the main character in Oedipus Rex, is characterized as a tragic hero when he tries to run away from his fate and finds out that the cause of his fate was his attempt to escape it. Oedipus Rex and Othello share aRead MoreThe Tragic Hero Of Oedipus The King1156 Words   |  5 Pagessee the main dimensions of the two figures. I preferred to work with the book by Sophocles Oedipus, the king, in order to portray the attributes of a tragic hero. The book contains adequate information concerning the attributes of a tragic hero and the manner in which the book brings it out is exquisite. The strengths of my essay are that I was able to perfectly portray the dimensions of a tragic hero. Oedipus being the protagonist of th e play plays a keys role in the exemplification of the tragic