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Similarities Between Oedipus And The Matrix

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In both, Oedipus by Sophocles, and The Matrix by Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski, and Joel Silver, there is an oracle that helps the main character go through their journey by either giving them wisdom or advice or telling the main character what is yet to come. Both Oracles tell the main character very important information that is hard to believe, but they give the information in different styles or ways demonstrating that the truth comes from the things that people try to deny most of the time. The Oracle in Oedipus gives Oedipus information that is very hard to believe but also tells Oedipus the information in a straightforward way. The Oracle of Delphi says that Oedipus would marry his mother, and kill his father. “I heard all that and ran. I abandoned Corinth, …show more content…

“As I fled I reached that very spot where the great king, you say, met his death”. This is dramatic irony because he knew that this was the exact spot that Laius had been killed, and the only reason he knows that is that he was the one who had killed Laius, but at that moment he didn’t know that he was his father. Every word that the oracle had said was starting to come together in Oedipus’s mind and he was starting to get scared of his own life and the actions that he had made. Just like in Oedipus, the Oracle in The Matrix gave Neo information that was also hard to believe, but Unlike the Oracle of Delphi, this Oracle is telling Neo what is to come in the future and that everything that will happen depends on the actions and decisions that he

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Critical Lens As said by Benjamin Disraeli in Contarini Fleming, “Circumstances are beyond the control of man; but his conduct is in his own power.” Although this quote originates from 1832, centuries before Oedipus the King was published, its logic can still be applied to Sophocles’ play. Disraeli is saying that no one can help the circumstances they are born in, but everyone has the capability to live how they want. At face-value, this may seem true; in the end everyone has the ability to make a decision. Yet, it is their circumstances that drive the choices people make.

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383 Words | 2 Pages

The novel, The Odyssey by Homer and the film, O’ Brother, Where Art Thou are very separate tales, yet they share many of the same factors. One of these factors is the main characters from each, Odysseus and Ulysses Everett McGill. Both are leaders, on an odyssey home to be reunited with their family, and reclaim their old lives. Despite their character resemblance, I believe Odysseus was the outstanding leader of the two. Odysseus managed the Cyclops predicament exceedingly better than Everett.

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Words from the Oracle are more helpful to Oedipus because it directly gives an answer to why there is a plague in Thebes. Unlike the Oracle, Tiresias implies the truth in the conversation between Oedipus. Tiresias implies the truth that Oedipus is the murderer of Laious, but Oedipus does not realize the truth. Both the Oracle and Tiresias aids Oedipus to search for the murderer and the truth. There is no meeting with the goddess for

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“An unexamined life is a life not worth living” - Socrates. Both ‘The Matrix’ and Plato’s allegory of ‘The Cave’ develops a question of reality and how the world is perceived. This can be closely connected to one of the great Greek philosopher’s sayings where an “unexamined life is a life not worth living”. Socrates states this due to the increasing number of citizens who lived their lives without questioning the world around them. ‘The Matrix’ and Plato’s allegory explore how when the world is properly examined the outcome is a new understanding and perception of life.

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1585 Words | 7 Pages

Another similarity is that both Oedipus and Caesar were caught in a series of situations, which eventually lead to their demise. Oedipus kills an old man without knowing that he had just fulfilled his fate by killing his father on his way away from his adopted parents. Caesar was driven by his ambition and arrogance that he ignored the warnings by the soothsayer and his wife, Calpurnia, to walk into his death at. They are both are led to their death because of

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Oedipus’ impetuous behavior is another trait that eventually leads him to his downfall. While having a rash and short-tempered manor it seemed to have caused him to make bad judgment calls. Including when he accused Tiresias of being a part of the murder. The reason why being because Tiresias would not answer the questions the Oedipus asked. Oedipus then goes on, over exaggerating his speech towards Tiresias saying, “Did you rise to the crisis?

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From the beginning Oedipus was destined to fulfill a terrible prophecy, but through particular events that follow the steps of the Hero’s Journey, Oedipus becomes a powerful king of Thebes, only to be destroyed by the prophecy that should have ended his life as a child. The Hero’s Journey typically leads to self-confidence and power, however; the Hero’s Journey of Oedipus leads to his tragic demise. The Hero’s Journey lays out the steps of Oedipus’s future actions, which create suspense, fear, pity, and other emotions that captivates the audience. Similar to many famous stories, Oedipus the King, written by Sophocles in 430 B.C., follows the Hero’s Journey path, which is evident in Oedipus’s departure, initiation, and return.

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It is often said that pride comes before a down fall, but pride must first trip over the truth The downfall of Oedipus is due to flaws in his character. Throughout the play “Oedipus the King” by Sophocles, Oedipus’s character has led him to make judgements that were not in his best interest. These flaws are pride, leading to overconfidence and having poor judgement. Oedipus character also show determination which throughout the play also became a flaw as well. The character of Oedipus is ruled by fate.

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Who is Oedipus? Ignorance is bliss. However, in Oedipus the King, written by Sophocles, Oedipus is a complex character that seeks the truth but not the truth about himself. Throughout the story, his character’s behavior brings many conflicts and struggles between the characters. Each time the King is confronted by a challenge, his choice in behavior causes him more problems than it resolves.

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P.13 Oedipus questions Teiresias, curious to know what he knows. “Oh gruesomely clear it has all unraveled… I was bonded with the people I should have never killed.” P.40 Oedipus sees what he has done wrong and feels vulnerable and horror. The audience clearly sees that heroes are very human and how real their limitations. Most people would have felt that same vulnerability if the gods had made us their plaything and tormented us, writing a prophecy of our doom.

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It can be seen as a trend throughout history that stories reflect a society’s culture and values. One of the most memorable and inspirational civilization that made a substantial contribution to literature was Greece. Sophocles, a renowned Greek playwright, is beloved for his dramatic and action-filled plays that effectively satisfied the ancient audience. In Sophocles’ tragic play, Oedipus the King, the main character, Oedipus finds difficulty proclaiming his purpose against the fate bestowed upon him by the gods. Alongside his struggling, the values and cultural aspects of the Greeks emerge, reflecting their views on society during that time period at which the play was produced.

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624 Words | 3 Pages

Characterization is an essential literary element used in pieces of writing to develop themes and establish an overall understanding of the story. In the Greek tragedy, Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, the author uses both indirect and direct characterization to impact the audience and allow them to comprehend Oedipus` tragic flaw and how this impacts his downfall. The characterization within Oedipus Rex helps to establish Oedipus as a tragic hero whose tragic flaw is powered by his truth seeking, excessive pride, and self-righteousness. Oedipus is characterized by Sophocles throughout the play as someone who is constantly wanting to seek the truth.

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Killing Laius and his men is an overreaction to his anger. This violent outburst shows that he has no self control and he does not show any remorse for what he has done. He also looses his temper with Tiresias when he is trying to explain the oracle to him. It is because of his anger that the oracle becomes true and in the end he looses everything good around him including his children and his sight. Oedipus constantly pushes people away that are only trying to help him, as if accepting help makes him seem

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1224 Words | 5 Pages

Oedipus the King is one of the most ironic plays ever written. Sophocles, the author, is a famous philosopher of the ancient times The Play is about Oedipus, the king of Thebes, who kills his father and marries his mother. An oracle warned Laius, the king of Thebes prior to Oedipus, that his son would murder him. Accordingly, when his wife, Jocasta, had a son, he exposed the baby by first pinning his ankles together. The infant, who was adopted by King Polybus of Corinth and his wife was then brought up as their very own.

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796 Words | 4 Pages

Brilliantly conceived and written, Oedipus Rex is a drama of self-discovery. Achieved by amazing compression and force by limiting the dramatic action to the day on which Oedipus learns the truth of his birth and his destiny is quite the thriller. The fact that the audience knows the dark secret that Oedipus unwittingly slew his true father and married his mother does nothing to destroy the suspense. Oedipus’s search for the truth has all the tautness of a detective tale, and yet because audiences already know the truth they are aware of all the ironies in which Oedipus is enmeshed. That knowledge enables them to fear the final revelation at the same time that they pity the man whose past is gradually and relentlessly uncovered to him.

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