Abstract
This paper evaluates the influential aspects of the Sophoclean Grecian tragedy on the latter forms of Shakespearean tragedy used within the Elizabethan period. It discusses the various psychological and political issues that abound in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles and how Oedipus acts as a clear role model for the insanity that Hamlet exhibits within Shakespeare's "Hamlet, The Prince of Denmark".

From the Paper
"In conclusion, the reemergence of the Greek tragedy in the Elizabethan era can be readily seen through the works of William Shakespeare through the influence of Sophocles. The plays Hamlet: The Prince of Denmark and Oedipus rex provide textual examples of the psychological and political disposition of the heroic character that is doomed to death due to errors in judgment. By understanding the principle aspects of the tragic hero in the work of Sophocles, one can realize why Shakespeare uses many of the literary devices that define tragedy along the Greek model. This inevitably appears in Hamlet and Oedipus through the presence of insanity in their thought process, but also in their lack of control over the political forces that seek to destroy them. This is how William Shakespeare readily provides an example of the reemergence of Greek tragedy in the Elizabethan era through the tragic works of Sophocles."

Tags:tragic, hero, Elizabethan, era, insanity

Abstract
This paper discusses and compares Oedipus and Hamlet, the title characters of two of the most timeless tragedies ever written. The writer focuses on the question of what each may have believed and how their faith may have impacted the outcome of their lives. Both men were either predestined or encouraged to kill their fathers or father figures. Oedipus appears to be the victim of inevitability and his tragedy is the imbalance of fate versus one's own responsibility for one's life. Hamlet, on the other hand, is made aware of Claudius' crime and has choices to make. The paper concludes that Hamlet, supposedly a Christian who might have been expected to know better, far more than the unknowing Oedipus, was his own worst enemy.

From the Paper
"Oedipus was meant to encounter the dire fate that was forecast. However, the tragedy of Oedipus really has another meaning: Choices must be made and carefully weighed. On one hand, it is a stubborn willingness to let the fates decide one's destiny. On the other, the continuing search for "truth" and denying the forces that have predicted that "truth." We know from historians the ancients did not doubt that men could choose, and, through choice, exercise some control over the disposition of their lives. Pit this against what Sophocles has Oedipus claim about man's inability to change the minds of the gods. He is a victim, therefore, because he was unable or unwilling to take responsibility for his own life and uses his search for the ultimate truth as a sort of "smokescreen" to retain and build his power."

Tags:Christianity, destiny, truth, denial, hero, subconscious, Freud, tragic

Abstract
This paper examines the protagonist/antagonist, major themes, conflict and the protagonist's role in the plot of "Oedipus Rex" 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 ..."

Tags:Oedipus Rex, Oedipus the King, Sophocles

Abstract
This paper discusses the role of the chorus in Greek tragedy, focusing on Sophocles' plays "Antigone" and "Oedipus Rex." The chorus as a literary device is explained, and its use to enhance dramatic irony is elucidated. The paper also discusses several reasons for the chorus's existence.

From the Paper
"In Greek tragedies the chorus was considered a character unto itself with its own lines and function. Originally composed of individuals in early tragedies and later in the time of Thespis reduced, the chorus consisted simply of Athenian citizens who were not professional actors. The Classical Greek Chorus Scholars have suggested several reasons for the chorus's existence including to offer a sense of rich spectacle to the drama and to allow time for scene changes and permit the..."

Tags:Antigone, Oedipus Rex, tragedy, Greek, literary device, Sophocles, dramatic irony

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' 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 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 ..."

Tags:oedipus, rex, influence

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," "Oedipus Rex" 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
The paper examines how Oedipus Rex reveals a series of metaphors that imply the greed for power that human nature dictates when King Oedipus is threatened by the oracle's tragic message. The paper examines the strong metaphors for kingly power and glory Oedipus had once known, and shows how the struggle for power becomes the main denial of the doomed king to realize his own downfall.

Tags:rex, philosophy, power

Abstract
This paper analyzes the story of "Oedipus Rex" 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."

Tags:Grecian, plays, Oedipus, Complex, irony, of, fate, Freud

Abstract
This paper outlines why the downfall of Oedipus in Sophocles' play "Oedipus Rex" 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 ..."

Tags:Oedipus, Sophocles, tragedy

Abstract
This essay explains metaphoric and literal blindness in the play "Oedipus Rex". Additionally, light and dark imagery in the play are discussed. The focus is on the evolution of Oedipus' own self-realization and transformation from metaphorically blind to literally blind. His biological parents and those who tried to warn him of upcoming danger are also discussed.

From the Paper
"Sophocles uses the images of darkness and light as well as symbolic (and literal) blindness throughout the play "Oedipus Rex". Light is a representation that refers to the truth in this work where dark refers to the absence of knowledge or purposely avoiding the truth. Also in the play, blindness means not only the absence of sight, but mostly the refusal to accept the truth. Oedipus himself characterizes the implied blindness by rejecting common sense and not listening to anyone's advice throughout the play. His self-absorbed failure to recognize reason comes to a climax when he realizes just how wrong he has been and how his..."

Tags:oedipus, light, blind