A POSITION PAPER ON SOPHOCLES’ OEDIPUS REX

The choices he and the people around him make affect his fate. They are what makes him who he is. They both

his own life. On the other hand, some details pertaining to the characters are in

The personal pathos is shown through personal experience and the way he felt during the time that inspired his

Oedipus says, “It does but not for you, old man. You’ve lost your power, stone-blind, stone-deaf-senses, eyes blind as stone!” to which Tiresias replies, “ I pity you, flinging at me the very insults each man will fling at you so soon.” (Sophocles 422-425). This is one section of the play that the reader begins to question about the gods true role in the lives of the people. After advancing further into the play, you find out that Tiresias was right after all and Oedipus’ fate was sealed from the beginning all the way down to the senses that he loses.

In order to compare the light strokes of Sophocles to Seneca, we first observe the display of Oedipus confronting the troubles that devastate his fatherland. The words given to his people who have gathered at the altar of Zeus, “My children, scions of the ancient Cadmean line/what is the meaning of this thronging round my feet/this holding out of olive boughs all wreathed in woe?”(5). It is not Oedipus who cries out for his of land, but the priest who takes on the task of reciting their miseries. Seneca introduces us to a king who speaks woes by internal reflection, “Can any man enjoy being a King? /A blessing? What a cheat! Behind the smile, the smooth front, agony!”

about his business in such a realistic way (as compared to the rest of the fictional

When the city of Thebes is cursed by Apollo, everyone is panicstricken. Crops, cattle, and people are dying. The kingdom is depending on its king, Oedipus. Oedipus puts himself on such a high pedestal he makes

Because he had deciphered the Sphinx’s riddle, the intelligent Oedipus was classified as “the best at guessing riddles,” yet he could not see the truth that was staring him in the face (Sophocles 30). He had killed the previous king. Although Tiresias had told him plainly that he was the murderer, Oedipus did not believe him and went even further to blame Creon for the murder. How could he have been so blind? When the king began to finally realize his misconception, he exclaimed, “Oh God! I think I have just called down on myself a dreadful curse-not knowing what I did” (Sophocles 53). The ruler of Thebes enjoyed an abundance of knowledge; however he experienced a severe deficit in his ability to understand the reality right in front of

Oedipus is doing what a good king would do and trying to make the best decision for his

Determined to discover who killed the former king of Thebes, Laius, Oedipus threatened the people of Thebes who knew or sheltered the criminal. He let his pride and status get in the way. Oedipus stated “Listen to me now and you will get your wish” (249-250) and “I am acting as an ally of God”(283) This shows that he defines himself as someone who is above the people of Thebes and

We, the citizens of Thebes, would like to thank you for taking the time out of your day and trying to educate us more about our Lord Oedipus. We, the people, have slowly learned more and more about Lord Oedipus, and his prophecy. Our lord has been ignorant, and not listened to his own citizens, and friends. Someone that can not listen to others, and are open to what they say can not be a Thebes ruler. The gods have punished us by giving us this king that has killed his father and has married his own mother. We have done nothing wrong, but have still encountered so much pain, and agony with Oedipus focusing on his personal life rather than focusing on the lives of his citizens. As you have said Oedipus needs to be rid

Initially, Oedipus remains in a state of ignorance throughout the establishment of the tragedy by virtue of his strong characteristics that include pride, ego, and obliviousness. In the drama, Oedipus speaks about what would happen if the killer was a royal member of Thebes. The play reads, “If by any chance / he proves to be an inmate of our house, / here at my hearth, with my full knowledge, / may the curse i just called down strike me” (284-287). Oedipus placed a cure throughout the distinguished city of Thebes in hopes to lead it back to its once former glory. This shows his ignorance in view of the fact that he is the one who killed the former King Laius, which means Oedipus cursed himself. His ego of trying to be the savior once again put Oedipus in a terrible position for the continuation of his life. Furthermore, Oedipus sent for a prophet to help discover who the mysterious

During his flight, he Oedipus kills a caravan of presumed low-class travelers. Oedipus comes into Thebes a stranger and hero who solved the riddle of the sphinx. Believing that he is blessed with great luck, Oedipus marries the recently widowed Iokaste and becomes King of Thebes. After many years, a plague vexes the city and Kreon, brother of Iokaste, comes to Oedipus with news from the oracle. He states that the plague will be lifted when the murder of Laios is avenged. Oedipus claims that he sees and understands the terrible fate of Thebes and vows to find the murderer. Since the criminal is said to still be in Thebes, Oedipus believes that a man of his intelligence should have no difficulty in finding the perpetrator. When Oedipus is confronted by Teiresias with truth, perhaps it is Oedipus’ own hubris, which blinds him to the unthinkable truth.

In the tragic play, Oedipus Rex, the Gods and religion greatly influence the social structure which in turn has a profound effect upon how the events unfold. Oedipus is the head of the state. There is a direct parallel in the demise of his household and city state which eventually comes to a full circle to destroy him. Even though Oedipus is praised by his people for being a responsible and honest king, he possesses a major character flaw in his attitude towards the gods which causes the tragic torture he faces in the end. Over the duration of the play, there is a strong sense of contamination towards the state, because it is facing a time of plague, and towards the leader Oedipus, because he is unknowingly in a relationship with his own

every single one of his actions until the very end of the story. This connection with art