Oedipus Rex2

The play Oedipus Rex may show mankind’s search for a better society. The Greeks in the 5th century B.C. tried to make the most out of life. They wanted to know, what was the best way to live in that society at the time? The Greeks then began to study mankind. They began to determine between the rights and wrongs of the society. He who violated the social norms suffered throughout their life. For example, Oedipus Rex showed mainly three types of “unmoral acts” that deified the social norms of society. The main three were his Intellectual Pride, Three types of Hubris, and his anger and rash judgment towards Creon.

Prior to the birth of Oedipus Rex, a prophecy was spoken over Laius and his wife, Jocasta. They were told that their son would one day be his father’s killer and would then marry his mother. In fear, kind Lauis and queen Jocasta sent the baby off with a slave to be killed. He was never killed, but rather was given to a childless king and queen, which lovingly raised him. Later in his life, several unknown men traveling confronted him. Upon confrontation, Oedipus Rex killed all but one of the men in self-defense. Unknowingly, Oedipus had begun to fulfill the prophecy for one of the men had been his fathe

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He thinks 5 or 6 men killed the king because of money (bribery). While traveling, Oedipus had come to the city of Thebes. He was so sure that he knew who the murderer was, but he was too ignorant. In response, Creon comes back to defend himself by reasoning. The Greeks believed that there were powers higher than themselves. He did things so evil that outraged the entire laws of the human race. In addition, anyone who questions him will be killed. His failure to listen to the god’s warnings resulted by making his life a living nightmare. He was a savior to the city, and was made king and married Jocasta (his mother). He speaks out against Teiresias, stating that he was a wicked old man. In a sense, he looked down on the gods.

Approximate Word count = 931
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

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