Abstract This paper examines the protagonist/antagonist, major themes, conflict and the protagonist's role in the plot of "OedipusRex" by Sophocles. It also looks at the primary theme of fate and the theme of self-knowledge.
From the Paper "The protagonist in the play Oedipus Rex, is the title character Oedipus. Oedipus lives most of his life as a just man who seeks to avoid fulfilling the prophecy that he will kill his father and marry his mother. Indeed when he learns ..."
Abstract This paper illustrates the role of social, family and individual influence in the three plays by focusing on how influence changed the lives of the protagonists of Aristophanes? "Lysistrata", Sophocles? "OedipusRex" and Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun". The paper examines how the influence on an individual or society may have radical effects. The paper comments separately on each play and then describes the common theme and ideas throughout the three plays. The writer looks at the influence of society on the individual and the influence of the individual on society.
From the Paper "Every individual is at some point of his life influenced either by someone or by society. This influence totally changes him for the better or for the worse. The impact totally transforms the individual to such an extent that he is a completely different person. The inspiration is so great and effective that there is a revolutionary change in the individual and he becomes a new individual altogether. However, the change could be for the better or for the worse. The influence could be negative in which case the person will be completely destroyed emotionally or physically and the impact could be so devastating that this destruction could even be self inflicted. On the other hand, a positive influence could make a better individual in character or in strength and enable him to achieve the impossible."
Tags: individual, society, revolutionary, change, impact, aristophranes, lysistrata, sophocles, oedipus, rex, hansberrys, a, raisin, in, the, sun
Abstract This paper examines Sophocles' tragedy with an eye towards reviewing what the play says about human nature, particularly as it pertains to secret guilt and psychological imperatives. It explains that Sophocles' OedipusRex is such an object of enduring interest to this writer because it focuses attention upon the destructive power of truth and calls into question the premise that truth is always better than falsehood.
From the Paper "Oedipus Rex has emerged as one of the most remarkable and enduring literary works in the Western canon. The tale of patricide, deception and incest has captivated audiences and spawned investigations into the human psyche (Freud being the most obvious example of the latter). The following paper examines Sophocles' tragedy with an eye towards reviewing what the play says about human nature - particularly as it pertains to secret guilt and psychological imperatives. Quite simply, Sophocles' Oedipus Rex is such an object of enduring interest to this writer because it focuses attention upon the destructive power of truth and calls into question the premise that truth is always better than false-hood. In a related vein, I am intrigued by how our instinctive, human need to uncover our own etiology may actually lead us towards answers we would be better off not knowing. To put it ..."
Abstract This paper outlines why the downfall of Oedipus in Sophocles' play "OedipusRex" is so tragic. It discusses whether or not he was accountable for his own downfall and what Sophocles was trying to say to the people of Athens.
From the Paper "There is an old saying that says pride goes before a fall which means that when someone thinks and behaves in an over confident manner sooner or later something will happen usually brought upon themselves insome way to humiliate them. The more grand the ..."
Abstract This paper analyzes the story of "OedipusRex" by looking at the movie by Pier Paolo Pasolini and the original Greek play by Sophocles. It highlights and explains the reasons for the discrepancies between the movie and the play. The writer discusses irony which is a constant theme that runs throughout both the play and the movie. The writer also looks at the psychoanalytic concept introduced by Freud - the "Oedipus Complex" and its importance in the story. The writer concludes that even though Pasolini adds a epilogue to the end of his version of the story, the audience leaves with the same feeling from both works of art.
From the Paper "In Pasolini's 1967 film adaptation of "Oedipus the King", the filmmaker mostly stays faithful to the main plot of the story. The differences in the movie, "Oedipus Rex" and the play "Oedipus the King" mostly have to do with the way the story is presented visually and a few tweaks with theme. Sophocles used far more dialogue in his version of the story. That was an important aspect of the ancient Grecian plays. In the movie, Pasolini is able to use more modern set designs, scenery, and facial expression to tell the storyIn Pasolini's 1967 film adaptation of "Oedipus the King", the filmmaker mostly stays faithful to the main plot of the story. The differences in the movie, "Oedipus Rex" and the play "Oedipus the King" mostly have to do with the way the story is presented visually and a few tweaks with theme. Sophocles used far more dialogue in his version of the story. That was an important aspect of the ancient Grecian plays. In the movie, Pasolini is able to use more modern set designs, scenery, and facial expression to tell the story."
Abstract This paper tries to find links between the myth of "OedipusRex" and the recent film "Memento." It explores human nature, mythology, philosophy and other films like "Fight Club." Continuing in the tradition of the myth film, the author finds that "Memento" (2001) is one with archetypal themes of a hero played out but modernized to make it applicable to a culture whose awareness of psychology, philosophy, extreme introversion and consciousness are second nature. The author explains how Lenny, the film's main character, does not conform to this particularly important aspect of being a mythological hero, but rather is the true modern myth hero who.
From the Paper "In modern society the transmission of myths is no longer through words on a page but light on a screen, a somewhat removed and technically advanced form of storytelling. Failure to acknowledge the value of films as myths is a great injustice. Continuing in the tradition of the myth film, Memento (2001) is one where the archetypical themes of a hero (i.e. His separation from society, his maintaining of companions who will betray him and his eventual freedom to live in his two worlds with a skewed sense of mastery) are played out but modernized to make it applicable to a culture whose awareness of psychology, philosophy, extreme introversion and consciousness are second nature. Strangely humans always seem to be incongruous when dealing with their nature and this film brings together ties from antiquity to French enlightenment to modernity, from ideals of fate to reality, but all giving a glimpse into human nature."
Tags: club, descartes, fight, memento, mythology, oedipus, philosophy, Oedipus, Rex
Abstract The paper provides answers to five questions about the play "OedipusRex," by Sophocles. The paper discusses the issues of hubris, fate, free will and also touches upon Freud's "On the Interpretation of Dreams."
From the Paper "Hubris is defined in The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language as over bearing pride or presumption arrogance. This term aptly applies to the character of Oedipus in the play "Oedipus Rex" because Oedipus is so full of pride that he is blind to the reality of his true identity and what he has done. Oedipus boldly declares that he will find his father's murderer, completely unaware that he himself murdered his father."
Abstract The paper briefly summarizes the play "OedipusRex" and focuses on how it is seen as a play about human beings' inability to escape a prophecy, or destiny. The paper also shows how Oedipus himself is the enigma which he solves when he pursues the truth, even when he is pretty certain that it will be horrific. The paper asserts that while "OedipusRex" has been described as a play about the 'terror of coincidence', if it was simply a play about coincidence, it would not have gained the fame it enjoys. The paper believes that it is the complex motives which drive Oedipus to seek out the truth and the fact that he is a genuine Greek hero that has made Sophocles's play last for thousands of years.
Outline:
Introduction
Destiny in OedipusRex Enigma in OedipusRex Conclusion
From the Paper "To sum up the play briefly; a king who has reigned in Thebes for many years seeks his predecessor's murderers as the answer to a Delphic pronouncement; the anger of the Gods has left his people dying in handfuls. Gradually, he comes to realize that he has slain this former King (whose widow he has married), and also reveals that he left his home country in order to escape a terrible prophecy that he would kill his father and marry his mother. It is then, very slowly and painfully, revealed to King Oedipus that the man whom he killed at the crossroads (King Laius), was his true father, and Jocasta, now Oedipus's wife, is also his mother."
Abstract This paper discusses the Greek tragedy, written by Sophocles, "OedipusRex." The paper questions whether Oedipus is the puppet of fate or the creator of his own fate or if he can be a combination of the two. The paper then contrasts the characters, Oedipus with Teiresias. It discusses how Oedipus at the beginning of the play contrasts with the Oedipus at the end. It also looks at the theme of seeing and blindness.
Table of Contents:
The Puppet of Fate or the Creator of His Own Fate
Oedipus Contrasted with Teiresias. Seeing and Blindness in the Play.
From the Paper "Oedipus chooses to flee his fate by leaving his parental home. This is an act of free will. However, it is dramatically ironic that by this very attempt to flee, he fulfills the prophesy. Therefore, while he chooses freely to leave his home, he does so without knowing that the people who raised him are not in fact his parents. They however have chosen not to tell him the story of his abandonment and survival as an infant. If they had, they might have averted the disaster. What his adoptive parents choose to do is beyond Oedipus' control, and can therefore be viewed as fate from his point of view - there was nothing that he could do that would change this. Furthermore, it appears that Oedipus' very free will moves him closer to the fate dictated by the prophesy."
Abstract This paper takes a look at the play 'OedipusRex' by Sophocles. According to the paper, 'OedipusRex' is based on a famous Greek myth about the king of Thebes, Oedipus, who fulfilled a prophecy that he would marry his mother and kill his father, despite a lifetime of trying to avoid it. This paper reviews the idea of faith and fate, both which are prevalent throughout this play.
From the Paper "Jocasta, Oedipus' biological mother, and Laius, his biological father, both had faith in the gods' prophecy that their son was going to destroy them both, and therefore they took action to remove that possibility by attempting to kill him. However, this act of faith cannot be undone later, when it turns out that Oedipus actually survived, and despite their belief that they were safe from the prophecy's predicted doom. After Oedipus has been revealed by Tiresias to be the killer, he goes to Jocasta and tells her that the blind prophet had accused him. Jocasta attempts to comfort him by telling him that all prophets are false, using her own experience with the oracle that prophesied that her husband would be killed by his own son as an example of this. However, Jocasta does not realize that this part of the prophesy has already come to pass. Although she is denouncing her belief in prophesies, she has already acted out of faith in them, or else she would not have attempted to kill her son in the first place, and when she realized the fault of her choice, she will again have faith in prophesies. Jocasta tells Oedipus, "Fear? What should a man fear? It's all chance, chance rules our lives. Not a man on earth can see a day ahead, groping through the dark. Better to live at random, best we can. And as for this marriage with your mother--have no fear. Many a man before you, in his dreams, has shared his mother's bed. Take such things for shadows, nothing at all-- Live, Oedipus, as if there's no tomorrow!" (Sophocles) The audience knows that her faith that Oedipus would not kill his father and marry his mother will be overcome by a tragic return to faith in the gods."
An analysis of the themes of predetermination, chance and free will in Sophocles' "OedipusRex" and Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius' "The Consolation of Philosophy".
Abstract This paper embarks on a comparative study between the works of two giants in their fields: Sophocles, one of the three ancient great tragedians in Greece and Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius, a Christian philosopher of the 6th Century in Rome. The purpose of the study of the two works, i.e., "OedipusRex" and "The Consolation of Philosophy", is to determine the differences, if any, in the reconciliation of the concepts of predetermination, chance and free will existing together at the same time in the universe.
Outline
Introduction
OedipusRex The Consolation of Philosophy
Predetermination, Chance and Free Will: Oedipus vs. The Consolation of Philosophy
Conclusion
From the Paper "The narrator of the story (which one can fairly presumed to be Boethius), was contemplating the hopelessness and anguish of his isolation. He was writing his desperate musings, hoping death will come to end his despair. He was despairing with the Muses of Poetry when suddenly appeared Philosophy, his old friend. Philosophy drives away the Muses of poetry and asks Boethius what is ailing him. To Philosophy, Boethius poured out his grief and anguish over his fate, the unjust accusations against him and his utter ruin. Philosophy condoles with Boethius and sets out to calm and sooth his spirit. But first she wanted to know why he has changed so much so she asked him several questions. She finds that Boethius has forgotten his own nature; that Boethius does not know the destiny or direction of the universe, and; third, that he was ignorant of how the world is being governed. "
Abstract The paper analyzes Max Ernst's artwork "OedipusRex" through the Freudian Oedipus complex and through the play "OedipusRex" by Sophocles. The paper considers how the surrealistic style of Ernst is used to depict the symbolic sexual tension between father, mother and son, especially in the case of the walnut and the arrow that penetrates it. The paper explains that this type of Freudian approach to painting is part of Ernst's desire to reflect his own inner conflicts.
From the Paper "The painting Oedipus Rex (1922) by Max Ernst was a direct result of his fascination with birds and the idea of a deeper unconscious mind working beneath the veil of surface thoughts. Ernst believed fervently in the premise of the bird as a symbol of how mankind sought to be free through flight, which acts in accordance with the Freudian concept of condensation. The link between the play by Sophocles and the painting only invigorate this idea, since the premise of the son in Freud's theory is to free himself from fatherly constraints to bond with his mother in intercourse. The nut being portrayed in the painting is clearly a female symbol of the vulva with the male fingers vying to enter it."
Abstract The paper discusses ancient Greek playwright Sophocles' "OedipusRex" which contains not one but two tragic protagonists. This paper considers the claims of Oedipus and his mother Jocasta to the role of the play's most tragic figure. The paper shows that as a result of their actions, both suffer a drastic downfall from the throne; Oedipus to exile, Jocasta to death. It is therefore equally easy to make a case for either character as being the more tragically fallen, but the paper determines that in the end, Jocasta is the more tragic of the two.
From the Paper "Though Oedipus is one play, its tragedy is twofold. Although there is no argument that the main character of the story "Oedipus Rex" is Oedipus himself, it is a moot point as to whose tragedy is the more pathetic within the framework of the play, Oedipus' or his mother Jocasta's. Oedipus is guilty of incest; but so is Jocasta. He is both father and half brother to his children; Jocasta is both mother and grandmother to these same children. Oedipus murders his father; but in doing so, it is Jocasta he widows. Both suffer blows to their hubris: Oedipus in realizing that although he is the great riddle solver, he is ignorant of his own identity, and Jocasta in failing to thwart the prophecy."
Abstract Oedipus, the main character in Sophocles' play "OedipusRex", could not see the truth, but the blind man, Teiresias, "saw" it plainly. This paper discusses how Sophocles uses blindness as a motif in the play since Oedipus, known for his intelligence, is ignorant and therefore blind to the truth about himself and his past. It also shows that when Teiresias exposes the truth he is shunned and how Oedipus has to overcome his "blindness," realize the truth and accept fate.
From the Paper "Unwillingly, Teiresias the blind seer provides Oedipus with the hurtful truth. Although before the truth is announced, Oedipus describes Teiresias as a "seer: student of mysteries." Oedipus looks to Teiresias for help in finding the murderer of the former king. He is trusted and respected by everyone in the city as evidenced by his introduction as "the holy prophet In whom, alone of all men, truth was born." Yet, when Teiresias speaks, reluctantly but honestly to Oedipus, he is shunned and his credibility and motives are attacked. Oedipus accuses Teiresias of plotting against him and helping Kreon become king. He claims that Kreon " has brought this decrepit fortune-teller, this collector of dirty pennies, this prophet fraud" to him."
Abstract This paper summarizes the plot of "OedipusRex" and analyzes the theme of the tragedy, explaining that the tragic story of OedipusRex was meant to serve as a lesson to others. That lesson, the paper explains, was that the punishment visited on the ruler was a sort of proof that the gods did not give special favor to the noble people and that the rules applied to everyone.
From the Paper "In Greek tragedy, the hero is punished for some sin, made to pay the price even though in many cases what he will do has been foreordained. Aristotle surveyed the drama of his time and developed certain concepts regarding the nature of the tragic hero. The tragic hero must be an important person with a character flaw that causes him to make a great mistake leading to tremendous suffering and a fall from his high status. The tragedy derives from the fact that none of what occurs is the tragic hero's fault, for the tragic flaw predetermines his actions and seals his fate. Modern audiences may consider this inexplicable, for while viewers understand when someone is punished for a crime they commit intentionally, it is less clear how fault should be ascribed when the crime is not intentional."
