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How Does Sophocles Present Oedipus's Actions

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How does Sophocles present Oedipus so memorably in lines 1048-1078 and lines 1351-1421 of Oedipus the King? The play Oedipus the King, written by Greek playwright Sophocles, centres around Oedipus’ life as the king of Thebes and what is to come of his tragic downfall. In lines 1048-1078 and lines 1351-1421, Sophocles creates thought-provoking and memorable scenes for the audience by using symbols of birds and flight, exploring the theme of Greek tragedy and its different aspects, and relating characters to imagery of light and darkness. Oedipus’ retaliation against the prophecy is made memorable through the use of rhetorical language and the symbolism of birds and flight in lines 1055–1057. As the messenger reveals the death of Oedipus’ supposed father, Polybus, he is quickly drawn to believe that the prophecy has been proven false, and in return, he rejoices: “So! Jocasta, why, why scan the birds that scream above our heads? They winged me on to the murder of my father,” which utilises exclamation and repetition of rhetorical questions to express Oedipus’ exaggerated feelings of arrogance …show more content…

Followed by the stage direction, the Messenger enters from the palace to report: “it soon will bring to light– terrible things, and none done blindly now, all done with a will.” Sophocles uses the metaphor of bringing the uncovered truth “to light” to reveal the result of Oedipus’ persistent efforts to prove the prophecy wrong, which emphasises the power of fate over the action he takes. By focusing on the inevitability of fate, Sophocles elicits sympathy and pity from the audience by emphasising Oedipus’ lack of autonomy over his own life; that his fate had been predetermined by not only Tiresias, the oracle, but also the paramount choices of superior Greek gods right from the very

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