Subjects:
In the story of King Oedipus, written by Sophocles, to judge Oedipus one must look at the events in the play as they occurred and look at how Oedipus reacts and takes action according to the turn of events. Doing this will show that the character, Oedipus, is only partially responsible for bringing about the disastrous fate that was predicted for him at birth. The following paragraphs will only further persuade the reader that Oedipus was destined from the beginning to be cursed and all he did to contribute was to be himself and to be unaware. At the beginning of the story Oedipus is viewed as a hero, the solver of all problems and "all-around good guy". This perception of him slowly changes over the course of the play to the situation where Oedipus is ridiculed and exiled. This fall from grace is solely due to circumstances rather than any fault of Oedipus himself. The body of the argument will explain the circumstances which Oedipus lived through and that all he was responsible for was being human and having character flaws.
Firstly, it is known by all readers or viewers before the play that the final outcome of the play is prophesied before the main character,
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Secondly, at the beginning of the play, Oedipus is approached by his faithful subjects for help as they are suffering horribly due to the plague that has set itself upon Thebes.
"Sons and daughter of Thebes, behold: this was Oedipus, Greatest of men; he held the key to the deepest mysteries; Was envied by all his fellow-men for his great prosperity; Behold, what a full tide of misfortune swept over his head. "His life is clouded with the presage of disaster; he was destined to one day kill his father and to become his own mother's husband". The fact that they tried to escape the inevitable is true.
Finally, the other fault that Oedipus had was curiosity. Therefore, Oedipus' main contribution to his own downfall was his blind, courageous search for this truth for the benefit of his subjects. All that Oedipus did to help the prophecy come true was to live his life the best he could and to be unaware.
Thirdly, one might think that Oedipus' downfall occurred because of his and his parents' efforts to avoid the inevitable. Both acts were in defiance of the gods. As the play continues and Oedipus' character faults come to view the audience starts to judge him on these and begin to realise the truth that Oedipus is just a man, not a god, which is what he once believed Once such event where his character is brought out is when Oedipus meets Teiresias, the blind prophet and is rude to the point of almost blasphemy because of his overwhelming pride and arrogance. His way of speaking to the people supports this theory " I would willingly do anything to help you; indeed I should be heartless were I to stop my ears to a general petition such as this". Oedipus' destiny was pre-determined. " Alas! All out! All known, no more concealment! O Light! May I never look on you again, Revealed as I am, sinful in my begetting, Sinful in marriage, sinful in shedding of blood!". The only variables appear to have been how the prophecy was fulfilled.
Essay's Topics
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