Play Analysis Oedipus the King - 1353 Words

Oedipus the King is one of the most representative plays of ancient Greek theater and has contributed greatly to the development of the theatrical concept and influenced the writing techniques to this day. Sophocles made use of a story that was well known for the Greek audience in the 4th century BC. The subject is rather complex for the time and focuses on the tragedy of a man from Thebes, a Greek city, who becomes king after a series of events that lead to the salvation of the city from the curse of Sphinx. The tragedy however unfolds once Oedipus finds out that it was he who had murdered the previous king who was his father and in fact marrying the queen meant marrying his own mother. As a result he inflicts injuries to himself and leaves the city in shame and despair. The elements used by Sophocles in the play to develop the subject and his characters underline that fate is inevitable. Sophocles in his depiction of the story makes use of several techniques and means of expression s that provide the audience with the sense of drama and despair being felt by the main characters of the play. Ancient Greece was always considered the cradle of the theatrical creation particularly because of the writing techniques that were developed by playwrights such as Sophocles, Euripides, or Seneca. However, in the case of Oedipus Rex, the plot together with the techniques of foreshadowing, tragic flaw, or irony, regardless of their type, provide consistency and strength to the subjectShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Play Oedipus The King 963 Words   |  4 Pagesoptions, Knowledge enables bigger and better weapons. A sense of higher status. Very often will you find knowledge allows one to recognize opportunity. One character in the play Oedipus the King, Tiresias carries a great sense of knowledge. That he knows how to stay humble with. Which does not lead to his downfall unlike Oedipus the King.†¨ Knowledge means one has the resources to obtain and be flexible with useful and informative information in order to become well informed citizens who can make intelligentRead MoreAnalysis Of Oedipus The King 1127 Words   |  5 Pages For A Life Of Regrets Oedipus the King is a play written by Sophocles. Oedipus is the main figure and legend of Sophocles play. After Oedipus birth into the world, his father King Laius of Thebes heard from a prophet that his own child was destined to kill him. Sophocles play begins from past to present and starts to unravel the journeys Oedipus goes through. Oedipus isn t an evil character as one would think while reading the story. He neverRead MoreOedipus the King by Sophocles1393 Words   |  6 Pages Sophocles’ play, Oedipus the King, has risen many questions concerning the main character and whether or not he acts on free will or if his future is predestined by the gods. I am going to test the theory that although Oedipus believes he is acting on his own free will, he is in fact a victim of the gods. I will analyze several different sources that discuss fate and human agency in Oedipus the King and then proceed to build my original argument on the archaic debate. There has been a great dealRead MoreHamlet vs. Oedipus Essay898 Words   |  4 PagesCharacter Analysis of Prince Hamlet in Hamlet by William Shakespeare and Oedipus in Oedipus King by Sophocles In Aristotles literary discourse, Poetics, he discusses his theory of tragedy, wherein he introduces the concepts of tragic flaw or hamartia, which serves as the catalyst for the protagonists downfall or the tragedy of the story to happen. He determines a tragedy as a drama that brings about a sorrowful conclusion, arousing fear and pity in the audience (Roberts and JacobsRead MoreSexism In Oedipus The King1395 Words   |  6 Pagestragedy, Oedipus the King, is not sexist. The prominent play portrays both men and women justly. The events presented by Sophocles exemplifies a level of admiration and respect for women that was not ordinary in ancient Greece. This is predominantly achieved through the dialogue of Jocasta and Oedipus, illustrating a corresponding relationship. In addition, the behavior of Jocasta, analysis of other literature, as well as the bad fortune of the male characters reaffirm that the Oedipus the King is notRead MoreCritical Analysis Of Oedipus The King1025 Wo rds   |  5 PagesCritical Analysis: Oedipus the King Oedipus the King is a tragic play showing a shift from the belief of fate to freedom of choice. Therefore, Oedipus the king is a great example of those who run from fate ends up fulfilling their fate After reading this type of tragic play â€Å"Oedipus the King† written by Sophocles you can see that the author did a very outstanding form of presenting a tragedy that has the characteristics of mimesis and a tragic hero. Specifically, the writer written the play thatRead MoreOedipus Essay734 Words   |  3 PagesThis analysis of Oedipus’s character shows how Oedipus, the protagonist and the antagonist against himself, dealt with unfortunate situations which sealed his fate. Oedipus was a strange round character that was really interesting and mysterious. Oedipus’s life was a good example of a true Greek tragedy; he worked himself up to be a great king and ultimately in the end he died with only his perception on life. Oedipus was once a man of power who falls impoverished. He goes from having much respectRead MoreOedipus The King As A Tragic Hero Essay1491 Words   |  6 Pagesgreatest dramas of all time, Sophocles’ play Oedipus the King follows the t ragic life of Oedipus, king of Thebes. Considered a Satyr play, the Oedipus trilogy is perhaps the most famous of Sophocles’ plays. Oedipus the King, is an Athenian tragedy that was first performed somewhere around 429 BC in Athens, Greece. Originally, the Greeks referred to the play as simply â€Å"Oedipus,† as that was what Aristotle referred to it as in the Poetics. Perhaps what makes this play so memorable, is Sophocles’ uses ofRead MoreReligion In Oedipus The King1012 Words   |  5 PagesIn Oedipus, the King, the main character, Oedipus, starts the play in the highest prestige, he is the King of Thebes and is held in high regard to almost all citizens for his prosperous reign. By the end of the play, Oedipus is vilified by his citizens and almost all the people of Thebes. I argue that Oedipus’ downfall is directly linked to his rejection of religious guidance and omens; namely, the Gods and the oracle. One could argue that no divine entity openly a cts out toward Oedipus, howeverRead MoreCharacter Analysis Of Oedipus The King1419 Words   |  6 Pages26 September, 2017 Ignorance Can Lead to Great Agony Plays were of great importance in early Greek culture. Plays were the main source of entertainment, and one of the most prominent examples is Oedipus the King written by Sophocles. The drama is uplifted by the character development and excellent structure Sophocles has put forward. Interactions between characters and each character’s motivations generate brilliant themes throughout the play. Sophocles uses a technique called recognition, which