When you think of Sophocles' Oedipus the King, you tend to think of how the tragedy and prophecy could have easily been avoided, the events that led to the tragedy, and how the characters unwittingly played a role in the unfolding of the prophecy. ... By doing this, he was elected King of Thebes and married the widow of Laius, Jocasta. ... But the only way to save the city is to find who killed the former king of Thebes, Laius, and bring him to justice. ... The prophets in Oedipus the King played a role in the outcome by simply informing Oedipus of the prophecy. ... He saved a city by sol...

• Word Count: 785
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

Oedipus Rex follows the clear nature of a tragedy, in that it encompasses the common conventions of a Greek Tragedy, with ones life being controlled by fate and the gods. ... Oedipus is seen as a tragic hero in the play, a principal character, in a position of social importance being the King of Thebes. ... He is blind to the truth, irrelevant of how hard he seeks it. ... Using irony allows Sophocles to tantalize the audience into wanting to see how the events occurring mentally affect Oedipus regardless of whether they are already aware of the story. ... The tragedy of Oedipus Rex is convey...

• Word Count: 1270
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Sophocles's play, Oedipus Rex is possibly one of the greatest tragedies ever written. ... When the play begins, Oedipus is an honored king, respected and admired by his people. ... It is adopted as a son by the king and queen of Corinth, Polybus and Merope. ... Oedipus divulges the story of how he killed a group of men at a crossroads, in doing so, he realizes that he was responsible for Laius's murder. ... Oedipus states, "Why "murderers" you said, killed the King, according to this man's story. ...

• Word Count: 1053
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

Sigmund Freud suggests that Oedipus the King is known as a tragedy of destiny. ... The lesson which the deeply moved spectator should learn from the tragedy is submission to the divine will and realization of his own impotence. (102) Oedipus's fall is a result of fate because of the events that occur when Oedipus is an infant, a young man, and the king of Thebes. ... While Oedipus is an infant, the last incident that shows how uncontrollable fate can be is the servant's decision not to kill Oedipus. ... Oedipus's next action also demonstrates how humans cannot control fat...

• Word Count: 1505
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

He encounters Untapishtim, who is immortal, and inquires how he may also gain eternal life. ... However, no matter how hard a man may try to avoid it, he was always bound by his fate. An excellent example of this is the tragedy of Oedipus the King by Sophocles. During the course of this tragedy just about every character attempts to escape their fate. ... Another prophecy presented in Oedipus the King is the oracle as Delphi says that the plague on Thebes will be lifted if the man who killed Laius is banished. ...

• Word Count: 675
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School