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Comparing Exodus And Oedipus Rex

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Tradition is several shared customs passed from generation to generation. Customs can range from rituals, laws, holidays, food, and more. A specific custom in tradition is stories. Traditional stories can remind us how to carry ourselves in the present and share lessons from the past. Exodus, a story for the Jewish and Oedipus Rex, an important traditional play for the Greeks and Athenians, both serve as traditional stories for their culture and give them insight to pass on from generation to generation. While explaining an important part of the Hebrew’s history and the story of Moses, Exodus lays out certain traditions to influence how the Hebrews should behave. Exodus can be found in the Hebrew Bible, which can be passed on from generation …show more content…

For the Greeks and Athenians, Oedipus Rex displayed how both city-states should carry out their living. Oedipus Rex was a story about a king named Oedipus who discovered that his wife was his mother and he killed his father before becoming king. Traditions were highlighted in the play such as respect for the Gods. In Ancient times, the people looked towards the Gods for their way of living. In Oedipus Rex, Oedipus went against the Gods and the fate that was casted on him. He tried to beat fate when he discovered that he would soon kill his father and marry his mother. He disregarded what the Gods told him and still ran into his own fate by killing his real father while fleeing his town and marrying his biological mother in a new town. Oedipus stated, “Now I must fly into exile and there, 
a fugitive, never see my people, 
never set foot in my native land again— or else I must get married to my mother
and kill my father, Polybus, who raised me, 
the man who gave me life. If anyone claimed this came from some malevolent god, 
would he not is right? O you gods, 
you pure, blessed gods, may I not see that day! Let me rather vanish from the sight of men, 
before I see a fate like that engulf me.” Despite what the Gods said and Oedipus running away from his home, he still ended up killing his father and marrying his mother. Showing this, it gave the Greeks and Athenians a lesson to always believe in the Gods and to listen to the Gods. From then on, Greeks and Athenians knew to keep depending on the

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His parents chose to abandon him because of their fear of the oracle ’s foresight, he chose to leave because of his caution of it and he blinded himself because he’d driven himself to find the truth of his parentage. Oedipus’ situation caused him to do all

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776 Words | 4 Pages

Oedipus fails to overcome the fate that has been set out for him by the gods. Though the case was different for him, as unlike Hamlet, Oedipus really couldn’t have done anything to avoid his fate of killing his father and marrying his mother. He believed that his real parents were in Corinth and the best way to avoid his fate was to flee the city. Unfortunately for Oedipus, what he had not known was that he was adopted, and his real parents lived in Thebes, the city he fled to. It was nearly impossible for him to have avoided his fate.

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Because of this action it allowed for Oedipus to grow up to then become king and marry Jocasta thus setting the prophecy into motion to be fulfilled. This shows that no mortal can change the path that the gods have set for them. The God that Stated Oedipus’ fate was the son of Zeus, Apollo. This is found out through one of Oedipus’ messengers that read the oracle of the gods and when Oedipus found out he stated, “Apollo said though his prophet that I was the man who should marry his own mother, shed his father’s blood with his own hands” ( Sophocles 3. 945-947). Even when the prophet of a god tells Oedipus that he will do all these horrible acts he still denies it and continues to try and find out the truth of who his parents really are and who killed the late king Lausis while avoiding what the gods are saying will happen

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614 Words | 3 Pages

After Oedipus realizes that he fulfilled his fate of killing his father and marrying his mother, Oedipus declares,”I have been saved for something great and terrible, something strange. Well let destiny come and take me on its way”(323). Then Oedipus gouges out his own eyes so that he cannot look upon his parents in the underworld, his children, or the city he once ruled. He then asks Creon to return him to the place he should have died as a young child, the mountain. The statement reveals that Oedipus fulfilled his fate and that Oedipus truly believes destiny set him on the path of destruction.

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1429 Words | 6 Pages

Similarly, in Sophocles' tragic play, "Oedipus Rex," Oedipus grapples with the challenge of uncovering the murderer of the late king, only to discover that the old king is his father whom he unknowingly killed years ago. During this journey, he discovers that he has married his mother and procreated with her. Despite these different trials, both characters navigate treacherous paths and demonstrate their resilience in the face of unimaginable circumstances. In "Hamlet," the character of Hamlet displays greater resilience compared to Oedipus in "Oedipus Rex" through his willingness to confront the truth, reliance on free will rather than fate, and unwavering determination to fight until his final

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2289 Words | 10 Pages

It was then revealed that they were not his real parents. He had also found out there was a prophecy that was ruining his life. This prophecy claims that Oedipus would kill his biological father and marry his mother. This all came to reality and from here his life went downhill. To start

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711 Words | 3 Pages

He did not want to believe any of it he didn't listen , he thought he knew what was correct , and being the way he was , got the worst part. Oedipus showed disrespect to the gods. His power was a part of his ignorance , being king. He tries to put himself in a god's position , thinking he is that powerful.

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Sacrifice is a major theme that occurs throughout the play as it acts as a catalyst. Sacrificing Oedipus as a baby leads to multiple tragic events. Fearing that a horrendous fate will fall upon them and their son, Oedipus 's biological parents abandoned him. Hence, fear makes it a selfish sacrifice. The thought of having their son committing immoral and humiliating acts upon them and bringing their kingdom to shame, will naturally cause them to cast their son away so as to avoid the horrid accidents.

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443 Words | 2 Pages

So, Oedipus consulted the oracle of Apollo, who told him he would sire children by his own mother and that he would kill his own father. So he left because he did not wish for it to happen. After he left Corinth, at a meeting place of three roads, Oedipus was offended by a man in a chariot. He killed the man and the others. From there he went on to Thebes, where he became the new king by answering the riddle of the Sphinx and won the hand of

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329 Words | 2 Pages

The audience that has the pleasure of witnessing a performance of Oedipus Rex may come to pity and fear the character of Oedipus. Oedipus lives his whole life believing Polybus is his father, as a native from Corinth, and upon learning his prophecy that he will kill his father and bare children with his mother, he leaves to protect his family and save himself. When hardships in Thebes abrew, Oedipus is told he is the problem and must leave because he has fulfilled his prophecy, because of this Oedipus is fearful that anyone such as Creon is out to get him for his power. The audience witnesses Oedipus lose his sanity as he grows closer to the source to be told Laois is his father that he did indeed murder, Jocasta is his mother that he married

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686 Words | 3 Pages

Oedipus the King is a tragedy that was written by Sophocles that emphasizes the irony of an irony of a man who was determined to trace down, expose and punish an assassin who in turn became him. Oedipus the King is also known as Oedipus Rex or Oedipus Tyrannus. The art is an Athenian play that was performed in ages approximated to be 429 BC. Oedipus the King would later in the play fulfill the prophecy that he would kill his father and later on marry his mother. There is a twist of an event in the play where Oedipus is looking for the murderer of his father to bring to a halt the series of plagues that are befalling Thebes but only to find he is in search of himself (Rado, 1956).

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1063 Words | 5 Pages

Truly, Oedipus sets out to change his destiny. His self determination proves he has pride in himself and confidence that he can somehow change the future. When Oedipus killed his father he allowed his pride and arrogance to control him. He was thinking with his pride and did not use self control. This hubris that is instilled in Oedipus is a serious flaw of his.

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1200 Words | 5 Pages

In the cause of Oedipus, Antigone’s father, his father learned that Oedipus was to kill him and marry his wife, Oedipus’ own mother, so he tried to avoid that fate by banishing Oedipus. He unknowingly put into play the events that led up to Oedipus killing him and marrying his wife. When Oedipus found out, he gouged out his eyes and prophesied that his own sons would kill each other in battle. This event ultimately comes to pass (Oedipus Rex). Sophocles’ stories generally revolve around the influence of fate and free will in ancient Greek life.

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739 Words | 3 Pages

Thinking his real parents were in Cornith. Oedipus headed to thebes, on his way over their he confronted a problem with an old man and his servants. He ended up killing all, but one

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Oedipus goes to a prophet to find out if he is adopted and who his real parents are, but learns about his curse instead. Frustrated and devastated, he leaves his adoptive parents whom he thinks are his real parents. On his journey, he bumps into an old man, who unbeknownst to him is his biological father. Describing the event, he says “The man out front and the old man himself began to crowd me off the road. The driver, who’s forcing me aside, I smash in anger.”

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