Oedipus
The play Oedipus the king, written by Sophocles, was written in the era of classical Greek tragedy. It involves a king, who promises a lot to his people, yet through trying fight his destiny, meets an ironic fate. The main character, Oedipus, is a protagonist. He has very little control over what his fate will decide for him. Oedipus is constructed as a character which impacts us deeply, not because we admire his character, but the way in which the reader is positioned to feel involved in his struggle. The way in which Oedipus is constructed relates a lot to the context of the time. These themes such as fate and destiny, allow us to know more about the context of the time period, but also helps us to understand what Oedipus is going through. Fate is defined as, "a power beyond human control that is believed to determine course of events, a person's destiny". Fate is referred to a lot in the play Oedipus the King. The word fate isn't often used, but words involving the fate of the city, and the fate of its people are often used. The way in which Oedipus talks about his authority, and the way he puts himself above the gods, automatically shows that he is trying to decide his own fat
He is trying to say to his people that he will fight for them because he is Apollo's champion. This positions us to feel sorry for him, or think he is an arrogant fool, for not accepting the fact that he might be the cursed one, a mortal among his people, nothing more than a criminal. In the prologue on line 155 "and Apollo's champion". The way in which Tiresias is harassed with Oedipus's comments, so he will reveal a truth which he would rather not tell, line 381 "you scum of the earth". Imagery throughout the story also adds emphasis to the character of Oedipus and how he feels, and what he is going through. The audience often feels a lot more powerful than Oedipus in the way, that we know that he doesn't know about his disturbing truth, that he killed his father, and had children with his mother. aren't you appalled to start up with such a story? You think you can get away with this". The fact that we are told that through his fate, he solved the riddle of the Sphinx, and ruled the people, helps us to understand that Oedipus must have an ego about his efforts. The play of Oedipus from start to finish is full of irony. Tiresias provides the audience with the truth about Oedipus but, at the same time, emphasises the fact that Oedipus will remain in complete denial, until the very end. Whether we feel sorry for Oedipus that he doesn't see his fate, or we feel angry towards Oedipus, because he is trying to go against his fate. When he cuts out his eyes, and curses himself, this is the climax, when he finds out his fate. All through this, even if we don't know the end of the play, we feel sorry for Oedipus.
Common topics in this essay:
Hybris Oedipus,
Essay- Oedipus,
Oedipus King,
Oedipus Fate,
Oedipus God's,
dramatic irony,
own fate,
play oedipus,
feel sorry,
feeling involved,
positioned feel,
involved struggle,
feel involved,
character oedipus,
themes fate destiny,
truth oedipus,
play dramatic irony,
constantly feeling involved,
feel helpless lead,
helps understand oedipus,
|
Acceptance Essays
