Sophocles's "Oedipus the King"

Paper Summary:

This paper describes the plot of "Oedipus the King" and analyzes the main character of the tragedy, Oedipus. The paper looks at the effect that Oedipus's pride had on his life and whether it was ultimately the cause of the tragedies in his life.

From the Paper:

"In Sophocles' tragedy Oedipus the King (Barnet et al. 986-1027), the title character Oedipus, cannot seem to catch a break in life. As the play opens, the kingdom he has married into and rules, Thebes, is ravaged by a terrible plague, and Oedipus despairs of being able to help his people. Later Oedipus receives the unwelcome knowledge from the blind prophet Tiresias that as a baby he was abandoned by his parents and left to die, since his father, Laius, had heard prophesy that his son would otherwise kill him (lines 508-26). When the baby Oedipus is handed over to a kindly shepherd, to do with him as he pleases, the infant's ankles have been bound so tightly that he develops swollen feet (the literal Greek meaning of the word "Oedipus"), and walks, forever after, with a limp."

More papers on Sophocles's "Oedipus the King":

• Argumentative Essay # 123071 : "Sophocles' "Oedipus The King"
• Analytical Essay # 72377 : "Irony in Sophocles' "Oedipus the King"
• Analytical Essay # 7906 : "Sophocles' "Oedipus the King"
• Comparison Essay # 71248 : "Oedipus the King" and "Fences"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: