Steve Maraboli, an author, once wrote, “The universe doesn't give you what you ask for with your thoughts; it gives you what you demand with your actions.” In other words, one’s actions will always reflect on themselves, even if they were smart or plain ignorant. Odysseus, an epic hero, made it back to the land of Ithaca, unlike his men. Even though Odysseus was the leader of his crew, he had no part of any of their demise. Odysseus’ crew members are responsible for their own death and there’s three major events which supports this: Aeolus’ wind bag, the Cyclops, and Helios’ cows.
First his denial of being the source of the plague. Second, his egotistical abilities that will form his plot to change his fate. And lastly, the consequences of his denial that will lead him to his physical and emotional destruction. It would seem that in this case, Oedipus’s fate is his own enemy.
Famous Greek philosopher, Aristotle once stated that the golden mean is “the best means of living is with the moderation of all things” (The Golden Mean). Sophcoles’ Greek tragedy Oedipus Rex portrays the golden mean using Oedipus’ otherworldly hubris. Oedipus’ hubris from evading fate causes him to run off course away from the golden mean, making him the one cursed and shamed. Oedipus’ extraordinary hubris from doing numerous heroic acts and from “escaping” his fate as predicted by the oracle of Delphi deviates him from the golden mean and shines him in the spotlight of shame.
Although he was ashamed of the life he had been living, he realized that the mistakes were his own, and no one can bear the weight but him. He even said it himself “No one but me can bear this weight.” The grave consequences which Oedipus suffered in the end consisted of the loss of his mother/ wife by suicide, as well as his grief becoming a threat to himself, as he stabbed his own eyes out, blinding him permanently. After suffering dreadful pain from these actions in grief, Oedipus went on to face the other consequences given by the gods and Creon. He cursed himself many times in the book saying that whoever killed Laius should be banished or killed, and he would even go on to be cursed by his wrongful actions of incest.
In Ovid’s Metamorphoses and Oedipus the King by Sophocles, change is a recurring theme that directs the plot of the stories completely. In the Metamorphoses, the stories of Jove and Io and of Daphne and Apollo have changes that are related to those of Oedipus in Oedipus the King. The changes in these stories are not the choice of the character but happen because of fate or other outside forces. The common ground with these three examples of change is the fact they are all unexpected and they could not have easily been avoided.
Oedipus Rex essay Final draft Oedipus certainly deserved his fate. Oedipus and his actions are clearly disrespect to the gods , he faces the fate he deserves. He was doing things that would eventually lead up to the unfortunate event of his death , he was even warned by the great and wise Teiresias , but he being himself was to stubborn and did not listen. All the things Teiresias said would happen became the truth. He killed his father, married his mother, yet he tempted his fate , he deserved everything that came his way .
The 1989 film, known as the New York Stories, consists of three short movies centered around New York. The last installment of the short, which is around forty minutes, is named Oedipus Wrecks. Oedipus Wrecks is about a man identified as Sheldon Mills, who is a lawyer, and his overbearing mother, Sadie Millstein. Always seeming to complain about his mother to his therapist, he states, in one session, that he wishes she would just disappear. Ironically, when he, his mother, his fiancé, and his fiancé’s children go to a magic show, she does just that after being placed in a box, disappearing as she is supposed to, but not reappearing.
This excessive hubris and denial of actions that Sophocles has included as an element of characterization creates the basis for his self-destruction towards the end of the play. Not only has Oedipus’ pride making him recognizable as a murderer, but it pushes away those who look out for him and attempt to prevent his downfall. Jocasta tries to beg Oedipus to ignore the Shepherd who knows the truth, but his pride forces her to give up when he explains himself as “a child of Luck” who “cannot be dishonored. ”(58) His tragic flaw of pride results in him being blind
In ancient Greek literature, diseases and afflictions often play key roles within the story. In Sophocles 's tragedy Oedipus Rex, the presence and recurrence of afflictions are central elements to the plot. Oedipus and his city both possess conditions that determine the outcome of the play. The motif of ailments, like the plague and blindness, highlight the hubris and failures of Oedipus to demonstrate his reliance on the gods.
Oedipus the King, by Sophocles, is really a story about the necessity of placing more faith in others and their counsel than in oneself and one’s own beliefs. Repeatedly the titular character is pleaded with to listen to and accept the advice of those around him and each time he refuses to obey. Ultimately, Oedipus’ tendency to do perform the actions he would prefer to do rather than to allow his family to help guide him leads to his downfall and loss of the throne. A common characteristic of Greek tragedy is the “fatal flaw” of the main character and how this flaw leads to the character’s misfortune.
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.
Could one's own act of pride and anger be the result of their downfall? Throughout the play Oedipus is seen as a great hero and savior to the people of Thebes however, we soon start to learn that Oedipus has a tragic flaw. Oedipus’s tragic flaw lies in his pride and anger which blinds and leads him to his demise. From the start of his journey to the end of it Oedipus was always blinded by both his pride and his anger. During a feast at Corinth a man taunted him for not being the son of Polybus and blinded by his pride he could not think of anything else.
Every character in stories or in plays has their flaws and strengths; Oedipus is no exception to this. Oedipus has his strengths and weaknesses that shape him into the character he is perceived to be in the play. He is intellectual which is why the city looks up to him, he is caring, and tenacious. Like any other character Oedipus also has his flaws, he jumps to conclusions and makes rash decisions, he has anger issues, and hubris which eventually leads to his downfall. Intelligence is something that is highly respected in individuals, especially in leaders.
Oedipus’s selfishness and temper eventually lead to his downfall. Oedipus selfishness made everyone else mad at him for him not believing them. He kept digging and digging himself into a deeper hole. This eventually made his punishment at the end worse for him. He also could not handle the truth so this made him disrespect the gods.
Greek theatre was formed back in 500 BC by the Greek civilisation that used performing, miming and dancing as ways and means to tell stories, imitate others and for their rituals. They were two forms of plays that were showcased in the City of Dionysia; tragedy and satyr. The City of Dionysia was the festival celebrating the God Dionysus. Throughout this essay I will be describing the characteristics of Greek tragedy while using Sophocles’ ‘ Oedipus the King’ as a reference.
