The legend of King Oedipus has withstood the test of time in its existence through many centuries. Sophocles, an Ancient Greek Playwright, composed the most renowned version of this epic tale. Seneca published another version and although it is considered the lesser of the two, it is still a popular edition. Both of the recounts focus on the same story, but engender different interpretations. These differences were not inadvertent, however they were due to the different time periods the both of them had grown up in. It is believed that Seneca lived approximately four hundred years following Sophocles.
Every play told about Oedipus portrays similar themes and these two plays are no exception to the rule. The focal points of any Oedipus story are the sins committed by Oedipus. For example, the murder of his father and the intimacy he experiences with his mother are cardinal sins by almost all standards. The majority of the play is also centered on Fate. The idea that one cannot escape the predetermined plans of a divine being echo throughout both depictions of the story.
As a result of the same basic plot flowing through the play, they begin from the same point. The majority of the characters re
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In the latter scenes, Seneca severely shortens the description and thus hinders the effectiveness of the scenes. There was the matter of the actual method of the blinding of Oedipus. Also, in Sophocles’ version, Oedipus accused Creon of trying to usurp the thrown, while in Seneca’s version, he actually is threatened with incarceration. In Sophocles’ version, after Jocasta hangs herself, Oedipus uses her broach pins and stabs his eyes as opposed to Seneca’s version where Oedipus reaches into his sockets and rips out his eyes, and then Jocasta, after seeing him, stabs herself with his sword. Also, the lengthy beginning could have been shortened and the climactic scenes extended in order to create a more intriguing story. This comparison illustrates the importance of maintaining a certain favorable pace. A slight similarity can be extracted from Manto and Tiresias to Oedipus and Antigone in Oedipus at Colonus. In Seneca’s depiction, Creon is the one who delivers the news to Oedipus and on the other hand, in Sophocles’ version, Tiresias delivers the news. In the Sophocles version, Tiresias had a son who helped him see, while in Seneca’s version, he has a daughter assist him.
One of the main differences noticed, as the plays progress, is the varying pace. Seneca most likely grew up with knowledge of the Oedipus story and therefore purposely depicted his interpretation differently. main the same despite a few minor details amongst both versions. In Seneca’s version, however, the timing is altered. Sophocles’ version is considered to be one of the most brilliantly written plays.
Approximate Word count =
925
Approximate Pages =
4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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