Oedipus Rex Literary Synthesis - 1483 Words

Michael Patrick Mrs. McGill AP Literature and Composition / Period 7 24 October 2012 The Tragic Destiny of Oedipus Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex is one of the most well- known tragic plays in existence. Oedipus, the King of Thebes, is the victim of a curse in which he must suffer the tragedy of his own unchangeable fate. The tragic heroism of Oedipus befalls him because of his heroic qualities and his loyalty to his Thebans and to himself. His unchangeable destiny affects so many others throughout the play. These others’ subsequent suffering that Oedipus brings upon them helps contribute to the tragic vision of the work as a whole. Many provide insight on the fact that the gods or the fates destined Oedipus to kill his father and†¦show more content†¦Oedipus saved Thebes, but in the process became the scourge that striped its back. Teiresius is considered the foil to Oedipus—he dances the dance with Oedipus as fencers riposte. While he only appears shortly in a beginning scene of the play, Teiresius reveals his visions of the future and, i ronically, the murderer of Laios. The seer is blind but sees more than anyone else is able to. Teiresius can be likened to the Trojan princess Cassandra who was gifted with the power of prophecy, but later punished that nobody would believe her prophecies. Oedipus had good reason to be angry with him because he would not reveal the identity of the king’s killer. Teiresius reveals that it is pointless to reveal the truth because what is going to happen in the future is fated to happen and cannot be changed. Upon such a revelation, Oedipus is described as having a â€Å"wave of darkness† was over him when he discovers the truth, the very tsunamic happening that Teiresius warned him about. Here the soothsayer is revealed to be a symbol of the main enveloping theme in the play. Oedipus is responsible for his own actions but his fate is determined on a basis of his moral innocence and his tragic destiny. Creon was created to stand in stark contrast to all the other characters. He is good in every way and is a model that allows Oedipus to conveniently be based offShow MoreRelatedEssay on Antigone - The Tragic Flaw2238 Words   |  9 PagesCollection of Critical Essays: â€Å"The rending antitheses of the Antigone reach no â€Å"synthesis† or â€Å"resolution† unless through a fuller participation in the macrocosm which generates them†(9). WORKS CITED Abrams, M. H. A Glossary of Literary Terms, 7th ed. New York: Harcourt Brace College Publishers, 1999. Dodds, E. R. â€Å"On Misunderstanding the Oedipus Rex.† In Twentieth Century Interpretations of Oedipus Rex, edited by Michael J. O’Brien. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1968. Read MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 Pagesexploration of attitudes and values. 5. Student motivation is increased, especially in adult learners. xviii PREFACE 6. Students receive immediate feedback from their instructor and peers. 7. Students are involved in higher order thinking (analysis, synthesis, evaluation). Our goals in writing this book were to bridge the academic realm of theory and research and the organizational realm of effective practice, and to help students consistently translate proven principles from both realms into personal