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Oedipus the King

            Oedipus the King is a Greek tragedy by Sophocles about a man whose fate is stronger than his power. Dramatic irony is a major device used in this play. Attempting to end the plague by finding the murderer of Laius, former king of Thebes, Oedipus's destiny slowly drives him to his tragic death. Oedipus feared that he was destined to sleep with his mother and kill his own father, but his desire to avoid this prophecy led him to believe that he could avoid it because he knew something about it and could try to prevent it. Oedipus would later realize that his efforts to prevent the prophecy from fulfilling itself were hopeless; in fact what he did to avoid the prophecy ironically made it come true. This shows that certain events in life are simply inevitable.
             The primary conflict in the play begins when Oedipus decides to avenge the murderer of the Lauis. His search for justice ended up with him finding out the truth that was inconceivable to him. Oedipus was also in pursuit of the truth to find out what really happened with his birth and life. All this tied together led him to somewhat victory, but ironically his death. .
             Oedipus took great pride in saving people and being seen a hero. "I'll fight for him, I'll leave no means untried, to catch the one who did it with his hand." He wanted to maintain control and save the town from the plague. He was a prideful individual; his need-to-know characteristic was one of the things that also led to his ruin. If it had not been for Oedipus's determination and motivation to find the criminal, no one would have discovered the murderer. Oedipus fails in trying to pursue the truth.
             The fact that humans have little control of their lives because fate always catches up with them is a major theme in this story. Oedipus avoiding the truth and running away from what he thought was his family ironically led him closer to his destiny. Mistakes and wrongdoings toward other people will be paid is another theme seen in the play.


Essays Related to Oedipus the King

1. Oedipus The King

At the outset, in fear of killing King Polybus, the man who he believes is his father, Oedipus self-exiles himself from Corinth. ... He is called upon by Oedipus to provide information about the murder of King Laius. ... Despite Oedipus" status, Teiresias never feels obligated to serve him; he speaks by his own will and the will of the gods: TEIRESIAS: King though you are, one right - To answer - makes us equal; and I claim it. ... Oedipus soon ends up in Corinth, where he is raised by King Polybus and his wife, Merope. ... In King Oedipus, Oedipus, Laius, and Jocasta exercise freew...

  • Word Count: 1019
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

2. Oedipus The King

Oedipus The King; Did the prophecy cause his destiny? ... The story begins with Oedipus at the height of power as King of Thebes. ... Oedipus provokes Teirsias into telling him the prophecy, " Í tell you, king, this man, this murderer-he is here. ... King Oedipus is enraged and sends the seer away, not realizing that the prophecy was referring to him. ... His son, Oedipus was taken pity upon by a Shepard who secretly delivered him to the King in Corinth who was happy to raise Oedipus since he could not produce an heir of his own. ...

  • Word Count: 1065
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

3. Oedipus The King

Oedipus The King was originally written by Sophocles. ... The name Oedipus means swollen foot. ... I think that King Oedipus is dumb primarily because of these reasons. ... Oedipus then becomes irrational. ... Oedipus the king was an oustanding play, and deffinately a good example of a "perfect tradegy". ...

  • Word Count: 601
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

4. King oedipus long essay

King Oedipus Long Essay King Oedipus, a classic Greek play, was written almost 2500 years ago by a playwright named Sophocles. ... One of the first problems with Oedipus" temper happens fifteen years before he becomes king. ... Tiresias is asked by Oedipus to come to Thebes and tell him who was the murderer of the last king, Laius. ... As usual, King Oedipus explodes at the situation because he is being challenged for his position. ... But the shepherd is reluctant to speak because if he tells the king about what sins Oedipus has created, he feels Oedipus will kill him. ...

  • Word Count: 1090
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

5. Oedipus

The play starts in medias res with the noble King Oedipus comforting victims of a plague that has fallen on Thebes. ... In Oedipus the King by Sophocles, Oedipus is a man destined to fail because he is blind to the truth. ... As the play opens, Oedipus is a caring king who is deeply concerned about the citizens of Thebes. ... After defeating the Sphinx, Oedipus was presented the widowed Jocasta and was made king. ... Oedipus has three tragic flaws in Oedipus the King. ...

  • Word Count: 862
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

6. Oedipus The King

Oedipus correctly answered "Man" and became the king of Thebes. ... Oedipus then answers the riddle of the Sphinx and becomes king of Thebes. ... Oedipus is told by the gods to find the killer of King Laius. ... Secondly, King Lauis is Oedipus's birth father. ... Character changes play an important role in "Oedipus, the King." ...

  • Word Count: 1375
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

7. Oedipus The King

In Sophocles' tragedy Oedipus the King, King Oedipus does everything in his power to avoid his tragic fate; however, he soon realizes that he can't escape his destiny. ... Shortly before the birth of their son, King Laius and Queen Jocasta received word of a chilling prophecy. ... After a series of strange events, Oedipus ends up in Thebes, where he is crowned King after defeating the Sphinx. ... Oedipus' past slowly unfolds, and finally both Oedipus and Jocasta learn the horrible truth. ... Oedipus also made it his goal to find out who killed King Laius, not realizing that i...

  • Word Count: 1007
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

8. Oedipus

(Oedipus the King Prologue 43-46). ... Creon returns to tell Oedipus that Apollo has commanded he take revenge on whoever killed the former King Laios. As any good king should Oedipus promises, "You shall see how I stand by you, as I should, To avenge the city and the city's god By avenging the murdered king- (Oedipus the King Prologue 138-143). ... With Teiresias" true knowledge of Oedipus" origin and true identity he tries to advise Oedipus, "How dreadful knowledge of the truth can be- (Oedipus the King 1.101). ... (Oedipus the King 1.144-149, 1.222). ...

  • Word Count: 910
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

9. Oedipus

(Oedipus the King Prologue 43-46). ... Creon returns to tell Oedipus that Apollo has commanded he take revenge on whoever killed the former King Laios. As any good king should Oedipus promises, "You shall see how I stand by you, as I should, To avenge the city and the city's god By avenging the murdered king- (Oedipus the King Prologue 138-143). ... With Teiresias" true knowledge of Oedipus" origin and true identity he tries to advise Oedipus, "How dreadful knowledge of the truth can be- (Oedipus the King 1.101). ... (Oedipus the King 1.144-149, 1.222). ...

  • Word Count: 910
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

10. King Oedipus and Thebes

Oedipus was made king after solving the "Riddle of the Sphinx." ... Oedipus' prophecy was made true when the shepherd who was ordered to bring Oedipus to the mountains and kill him did not kill him but instead gave him to another shepherd. ... The basis of the story is revolved around this prophecy and started when the second shepherd gave young Oedipus to Polybus, king of Corinth, and Merope, queen of Corinth. ... Oedipus' first encounter with this riddle is when he argues with Tiresias thinking that Creon and he want to overthrow Oedipus so that they can claim the throne of Theb...

  • Word Count: 805
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

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