Discuss the ways in which the character of Oedipus in...

Discuss the ways in which the character of Oedipus in Oedipus the King conforms to the conventions of the tragic hero. In your discussion refer to how the issues explored in the play have a wider significance than the tragedy of Oedipus as an individual. Assessment 9: Short Essay – Drama Discuss the ways in which the character of Oedipus in Oedipus the King conforms to the conventions of the tragic hero. In your discussion refer to how the issues explored in the play have a wider significance than the tragedy of Oedipus as an individual. Oedipus the King is one of the Three Theban Plays written by Sophocles in around 400 B.C. It is a prime example of tragedy, and through the use of a tragic hero, conforms to the typical†¦show more content†¦At the same time, a tragic hero must evoke both pity and fear, and Aristotle claims that the best way to do this is if he is imperfect. A character with a mixture of good and evil comes across as more compelling than a character that is merely good. The fact that these qualities are so accepted means that they continue to connect with audiences of every generation. At the beginning of Oedipus the King, Oedipus is held in very high esteem after saving Thebes from the curse of the Sphinx and becoming king virtually overnight. Oedipus is a man of swift action and great insight. He is always anticipating his subjects’ needs and it is clear that he possesses many qualities which make him an excellent leader. For example, when the priest hints that he should send to Delphi for help with the plague, he has already done so; when the chorus suggests sending for Tiresias, the prophet has already been summoned and in on the way. Later in the play, however, we see that Oedipus’ habit of acting quickly can also have negative implications. When he tells the story of killing the band of travelers who he met at the crossroads, Oedipus shows that he has the capacity to behave rashly. In his search for the truth, Oedipus shows himself to be a thinker, a man good at unraveling mysteries. This is the same characteristic that brought him to Thebes; heShow MoreRelatedOedipus the King by Sophocles1393 Words   |  6 Pages Sophocles’ play, Oedipus the King, has risen many questions concerning the main character and whether or not he acts on free will or if his future is predestined by the gods. I am going to test the theory that although Oedipus believes he is acting on his own free will, he is in fact a victim of the gods. I will analyze several different sources that discuss fate and human agency in Oedipus the King and then proceed to build my original argument on the archaic debate. There has been a great dealRead MoreOld Tragedy Versus New Tragedy1386 Words   |  6 Pagesevents that have a negative effect on the characters until a major disaster occurs. 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Sophocles himself believed Oedipus to be the innocentRead More The Role of Teiresias in Sophocles Oedipus Rex Essay1410 Words   |  6 PagesSophoclesOedipus Rex (the King) Teiresias uses his psychic abilities to foreshadow the anguish and destruction that Oedipus will encounter after he learns the truths of his life. Teiresias is also responsible for further developing the theme of blindness by using his own physical blindness to reveal to Oedipus his mental blindness. Lastly, Teiresias is ultimately responsible for imposing dramatic irony because of his great knowledge of the truth of Oedipus. In the play, Oedipus Rex, by SophoclesRead More Destiny, Fate, Free Will and Free Choice in Oedipus the King - Driven by Fate1105 Words   |  5 Pagesof Fate in Oedipus Rex Before we approach this complex question inductively, we are at first obliged to contemplate what definitions and assumptions are being made. This essay, perhaps more so than others, requires a more extensive look at this aspect of the question, because of the sheer variety of possible responses. However, I now have reduced them to three possibilities. Firstly, we could make the assumption that perhaps as destiny controls all fates, then Oedipus character was createdRead MoreParallels of Fate in Crash and Oedipus the King Essay1046 Words   |  5 Pagesapart of our everyday lives have been going on since the ancient greeks to today. The movie Crash parallels to the play, Oedipus the King, in that both of the characters experience some form of fate in their lives. Henceforth, this essay will discuss the medias portrayal of fate and how it is indeed, a part of our everyday lives. In the novel, Oedipus The King, Oedipus father, Laius, met with the Oracle of Delphi who foretells him that his son will inevitably kill him and marry his wifeRead MoreAutonomy in Hamlet and Oedipus952 Words   |  4 PagesFor their injustices, Oedipus must be exiled from Thebes: Socrates must drink hemlock and die. Discuss the extent to which Oedipus’ and Socrates’ final moments are determined by past acts of autonomy. Socrates is a character who is seen as person who dies for his ideals. He sees himself as a public servant who has lived his life helping the people of the city with his practice of philosophy and by living his life within the boundaries of the laws and justices of society. Socrates sees this