ipl-logo

Oedipus Guilt

574 Words3 Pages

The tragedy of Oedipus Rex by Sophocles is one of the most important and influential works in literature and culture. It was a model for other tragedies written since, and it comprises complex themes and questions still difficult to answer in today’s world. Fate and knowledge are some of them, but this essay will discuss the guilt or/and innocence of Oedipus, which is difficult to determine since there are a lot of factors that interfere in declaring Oedipus’ innocence or guilt: his actions, other characters’ actions, the will of gods and fate. Nevertheless, this essay will tackle it from an ethic point of view.
The story revolves around Oedipus who runs away from Corinth to escape his fate: killing his father and marrying his mother. As the

Show More
Related

  • Rationalism And Religion In Sophocles Play Summary

    840 Words  | 4 Pages

    He points out that in Oedipus the Tyrant Sophocles tries to show political rationalism that terminates religion and in Oedipus at Colonus - piety that throwaways reason. He also analysis how Nietzsche, Socrates and Aristotle defines philosophy and tragedy. This book is very useful to explore Sophocles from social, political and religious view. Segal, Charles. Sophocles’ Tragic World: Divinity, Nature, Society.

    Read More

  • The Guilt Of Odysseus In Homer's Odyssey

    422 Words  | 2 Pages

    When Odysseus first came to my island of Aeolia I was a bit skeptical of him, but to please the gods I welcomed him in and followed the rituals of xenia. I also was very curious to hear of the news he brought from Troy. I allowed Odysseus to stay with me while he told me his great story. To me, it sounded a little bit fictitious as he seemed to be exaggerating to flaunt his accomplishments. However who am I to judge as I had just met the guy.

    Read More

  • Guilt In The Kite Runner And Oedipus Rex

    414 Words  | 2 Pages

    One of the most prevalent themes in both The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini and Oedipus Rex by Sophocles is the potent feeling of guilt that resonates throughout the stories. Although each story is told in their own way, be it a novel or a play, they communicate the guilt to the audience very well and one can easily pick up the feelings of the characters while reading. For The Kite Runner, the guilt is felt after Amir watches his lifelong friend and family servant Hassan get molested in an alleyway and does nothing to help. As for Oedipus Rex, the guilt is felt after he figures out that he ended up killing his father and having intercourse with his mother. Also, both stories have very different ways the main character deals with the guilt,

    Read More

  • How Does Oedipus Deserve His Fate

    711 Words  | 3 Pages

    Oedipus Rex essay Final draft Oedipus certainly deserved his fate. Oedipus and his actions are clearly disrespect to the gods , he faces the fate he deserves. He was doing things that would eventually lead up to the unfortunate event of his death , he was even warned by the great and wise Teiresias , but he being himself was to stubborn and did not listen. All the things Teiresias said would happen became the truth. He killed his father, married his mother, yet he tempted his fate , he deserved everything that came his way .

    Read More

  • Oedipus Hero's Journey Analysis

    614 Words  | 3 Pages

    From the beginning Oedipus was destined to fulfill a terrible prophecy, but through particular events that follow the steps of the Hero’s Journey, Oedipus becomes a powerful king of Thebes, only to be destroyed by the prophecy that should have ended his life as a child. The Hero’s Journey typically leads to self-confidence and power, however; the Hero’s Journey of Oedipus leads to his tragic demise. The Hero’s Journey lays out the steps of Oedipus’s future actions, which create suspense, fear, pity, and other emotions that captivates the audience. Similar to many famous stories, Oedipus the King, written by Sophocles in 430 B.C., follows the Hero’s Journey path, which is evident in Oedipus’s departure, initiation, and return.

    Read More

  • Essay On Oedipus Complex

    1167 Words  | 5 Pages

    Oedipal Oedipus? One of the greatest playwrights in Greek history was Sophocles with his renowned play Oedipus Rex, which has been the central topic of innumerous psychological debates. Sigmund Freud, also called the father of psychology and the founder of psychoanalysis constructed a theory called the Oedipus complex, eponymous of Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex. These aforementioned debates largely surround whether or not the play and theory are directly related. It is fair to state that the basis of Freud’s complex can be detected in the story.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Atonement In Oedipus The King

    625 Words  | 3 Pages

    Oedipus’s Atonement In Sophocles's play Oedipus the Rex, he develops a tragic story of Oedipus, who had slain his own father and married his own mother without any knowledge of his own birth background. Oedipus’s story reflects the powerlessness of man against the inevitable power of fate determined by higher beings, which all of his actions were driven by fate and he couldn’t do anything to prevent tragedies from happening. In the end of the story, Oedipus realized he was the one that brought misfortune and disasters into the country because of the human taboo that “he” had violated. He then atones for his “sins and crimes” by blinding himself and asking for deportation from the country Thebes that he was ruling.

    Read More

  • Oedipus Duty

    698 Words  | 3 Pages

    Prologue Summary The play begins with the citizens of Thebes gathered around a shrine to plead with Oedipus the King, who established his position as King just a few days ago. Oedipus’ status is due to the recent death of Laius, the previous King of Thebes. The Elder priest informs Oedipus that there has been a curse placed upon Thebes.

    Read More

  • Human Suffering In Oedipus The King

    52 Words  | 1 Pages

    Lastly, Oedipus the King serves to explain the causes of human suffering. Though Oedipus' fate is determined, the reader still feels sympathy for the tragic hero, believing that somehow he doesn't deserve what ultimately comes to him. Here, Sophocles attributes, at least partially, human suffering to the mere will of the

    Read More

  • Moral Ambiguity In Oedipus Essay

    637 Words  | 3 Pages

    Upon discovering his crimes, Oedipus states, “Apollo, friends, Apollo has laid this agony upon me; not by his hand; I did it. What should I do with eyes where all is ugliness?” (62). His powerful emotional reaction to this revelation again brings up the question of his moral

    Read More

  • Arrogance In Oedipus The King

    1061 Words  | 5 Pages

    In Sophocles’ Oedipus the King, Oedipus’s suffering due to his excessive pride

    Read More

  • The Role Of Pride In Oedipus The King

    402 Words  | 2 Pages

    Pride often leads to someone’s downfall - this idea has been developed from the playwright “Oedipus the king” through Rey’s interactive oral presentation. He discussed that Oedipus’ excessive pride over his knowledge due to solving riddles allows him to not listen to others including the respected Prophet , his dear relative Kreon - he seldom pays heed to them and decides to pursue further for searching the predecessor’s murderer . His own path opens up hidden , dark truth about his life. From the presentation it has been evident that Oedipus was not smart enough to realize that the path he set for himself, will eventually bring nothing but pain.

    Read More

  • Disgrace In Oedipus

    693 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Oedipus and Jocasta’s family, there are people who died or lived with honor and some who died or still lived with disgrace to their name. Two of the family died with honor. The first one, Eteocles. Eteocles dies in a war that his brother brought to the city of Thebes. He is honored because he was courageous and fought his brother without hesitating because he knew what he was doing was right.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Free Will In Sophocles 'Oedipus'

    1597 Words  | 7 Pages

    Sophocles does not provide background information as it would have been common knowledge. Prior to the opening of Oedipus Tyrannus, Oedipus has left his home and adoptive parents in Corinth in an attempt to escape a prophecy which declares that Oedipus will murder his father and marry his mother. Not knowing that his true parents are Jocasta and Laius, King and Queen of Thebes, Oedipus makes his way towards their city. Along the way, he kills a man travelling with a group who are later revealed to be Laius and his subjects. Oedipus continues and arrives at the Sphinx who has terrorized Thebes until someone solves her riddle.

    Read More

  • Truth In Oedipus

    63 Words  | 1 Pages

    One detail in the story that I believe carries a lot of significance is the concept of truth. The character of Oedipus was one who I feel represented the symbol and meaning of the nature of discovering the truth. In the end of this story, this truth was a surprising and uncomfortable one, however, Oedipus pushed forward and felt the need to

    Read More

More about Oedipus Guilt

Open Document