Sophocles 'Oedipus The King'

Amy Kirk

Period 2

Ms.Cross

Oedipus Rex written by Sophocles, translated by Dudley Fitts and Robert Fitzgerald

1.

The title simply shows the reader that Oedipus is in control if power and is the king.

The play is most often known by the title in Latin, “Oedipus Rex” or in English “Oedipus the King”, however the original greek title is “Oedipus Tyrannus”, which refers to possession of power through unlawful and repugnant means.

2. tragedy Style: Dramatic irony, foreshadowing, repetition, and lyric and iambic trimeters.

Oedipus Rex illustrates a story of Oedipus who killed his father, Laius and marries his mother, Jocasta.

Sophocles was born on 496 BC in Athens and died on 406 BC . He received a good education. He is one of three great tragic

He ruled Thebes jointly together with Jocasta and Oedipus. Creon may be referred to as the “true” servant of the state. He is a man who expresses the Basis of true Knowledge.Creon makes two remarks that impact the interview of Oedipus in an important way. The first remark stated that Creon doesn’t nourish in idle hypothesis or observations. the second remark showed that Creon will not withhold his knowledge. Both these characteristic traits uplift him in our. evaluation.Creon is now the King in replace of Oedipus.

Teiresias is a round dynamic antagonist. He is a blind seer of Thebes. His literal blindness stands in contrast to the metaphorical blindness of those who refuse to believe in the truth about themselves as individuals. he also was the one who first accused Oedipus of the murder of Laius, the former king of Thebes and Oedipus birth father.

Jocasta is a round character. Jocasta is not only Oedipus’s wife but mother, Queen of Thebes and Creon’s sister. She Rules Thebes togerther with Oedipus and Creon. Jocasta represents a wide variety of many different ideas corresponding to different people. Jocasta is bluntly doubtful of prophecy, therefore, according to religious ideas of the time, she is guilty of disrespect towards the gods. She doesn't believe in either oracles or the interpretation of oracles. She is viewed that chance rules human live and that everybody's future is unknown.

Oedipus: “I thought it wrong, my children, to hear the truth from others, messengers. Here I am myself you all know me, the world knows my fame: I am Oedipus”(6-9).

Oedipus speaks to the people of Thebes in this beginning passage, which conveys dramatic irony, Oedipus is known not only for defeating the Sphinx but by the theater audience because of his horrible fate, which has been known through the recycling of myths.

Tiresias :“This day will bring your birth and your destruction”(499).

Spoken to Oedipus, this acts as a riddle to Oedipus. Tiresias aggravates Oedipus by testing his ability to figure out riddles. This also foreshadows the birth of Oedipus, the death of Jocasta, loss of his “sight”, and the act Laius's murderer carried out on Oedipus. Tiresias is clearly referring to Oedipus's junction.

Oedipus: “What good were eyes to me? Nothing I could see could bring me joy”(1471-1472).

Oedipus strongly believes it is better to not be able to see things and people around him.This shows his character and how he is willing to give himself harsh punishments and accept it. Oedipus spoke calmly towards the end and this part of the play.