Oedipus The King Reading Response
Sophocles's Oedipus is perhaps the most famous tragedy ever written. It follows the principles of Aristotle's unities of time, place, and action and most of the story unfolds through the dialogue of the characters. Oedipus is king of Thebes which has been succumbed in sickness and death. Creon, the brother of the queen Jocasta, travels to the oracle Apollo to seek remedy to the plague. Upon his return, it is revealed that in order for health and prosperity to return to Thebes, the murderer of the previous king and Jocasta's first husband Laius must in turn be murdered. Oedipus curses the man who brought this on his people and sets out to determine his identity. He first calls upon Tiresias, a blind prophet, who accused Oedipus himself of being the one he seeks. Oedipus, in his rage, throws the old ma
Jocasta, in her upset state, runs into the castle, and Oedipus continues to realize that he did indeed kill his father Laius and marry his mother Jocasta. n out and is convinced that Creon has conspired with the old man in an attempt to take the crown. Remembering that the oracle had once foretold that Oedipus was destined to kill his father and marry his mother, he finds comfort in his father's death, for he did not inflict it so the prophecy must have been false and the oracle as well as the blind prophet not reliable. The story is well known and studied through society and it is extremely rare to read Oedipus with a blind eye and to experience the realizations right along with the character of Oedipus. In reading Oedipus, it is interesting to think about the effect that the prior knowledge of the basic plot line has upon itself. Oedipus then receives news from Corinth that his father, the King, has died. To write a story so tragic, it would become instantly infamous for the downfall of its hero, so that in later generations, when the audience or the reader knows more than the characters, the story becomes all the ultimate tragedy. There is a moment when Oedipus is talking with the messenger from Corinth when he hears of the King's death and he is sure all the accusations and uncertainties have been cleared, but at this point, the reader knows he is falsely calmed, as all is to be revealed eventually. In his disgust, he runs into the castle, finds Jocasta dead, and gouges out his eyes with broaches from her dressing gown. I wonder if this is not a bad situation, though. Knowing the story before it unfolds, knowing what Oedipus' eventual fate is makes the story as it happens even more tragic. However, as Oedipus and Jocasta get deeper into conversation with the messenger from Corinth, it comes to the surface that the King had not been Oedipus' true father and the story of the child Jocasta and Laius is presented. When Creon hears of these accusations, he comes to reason with Oedipus, as does Jocasta, and the three determine that the old man and the oracle Apollo are wrong. It seems as if Sophocles may have had this intent.
Common topics in this essay:
Laius Jocasta,
Sophocles's Oedipus,
Oedipus Jocasta,
King Oedipus',
blind prophet,
oracle apollo,
runs castle,
story unfolds,
kill father,
messenger corinth,
marry mother,
oedipus jocasta,
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Acceptance Essays
