ipl-logo

Theme Of Irreverence In Oedipus The King

221 Words1 Page

In Oedipus Rex, Sophocles showed his feelings of irreverence towards the Gods. He was living in a time when people were starting to turn away from the gods, and this play shows his feeling’s of agreement. Oedipus Rex also demonstrates his feelings of how the gods thoughts can change on whim, destroying the lives of nobles and those around them. This is demonstrated by his showing of how the gods being spontaneous and non caring, in how the cure of oedipus’ family traveled down many generations before finally being fulfilled by oedipus. Irreverence towards the gods is a heavily implied undertone appearing in the text. “Where are your oracles now” is said by Jocasta on line 935. this shows how her character was questioning where the gods

Show More
Related

  • Free Will In The Odyssey

    1250 Words  | 5 Pages

    By contrast, in Sophocles’ Oedipus the King, gods and goddesses are depicted more abstractly. If they rule specific powerful forces that impact human lives, or if they have disputes with one another, this is largely unknown. Divine influence is present in human lives as humans believe that their actions will either please or anger the gods and that they may be rewarded or punished accordingly, but humans must seek their fate through oracles and prophets who can tell the future. Humans may try to escape fate with cunning wit or strength, or by trying to earn the favor of the gods by extraordinary acts of bravery or

    Read More

  • Odysseus Use Of Dramatic Irony In Book 14

    163 Words  | 1 Pages

    Dramatic irony is used in book 14 to intensify the element of Nostos, by showing how dire Eumaeus’ want for Odysseus to be home is, when Odysseus is present, but not fully returned. His love for his master is so intense that he can not stop thinking about him and his well being. From the emotion, it is evident how much Eumaeus cares about Odysseus. When he says “so deeply he loved me, cared for me” (171), it shows how he felt when he served Odysseus. He refers to Odysseus as an “old friend” (169) displaying his longing and remembrance of companionship with Odysseus.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Foreshadowing In Oedipus The King

    62 Words  | 1 Pages

    There are plenty examples of foreshadowing in Oedipus the King. One example of foreshadowing is the motif of disease and death. This foreshadows the curse that Oedipus puts on himself. Death and disease tell us that something bad is about to happen or terrible news. this is the same with the birds.

    Read More

  • Human Condition In Oedipus The King

    698 Words  | 3 Pages

    Sophocles’ mythical play of Oedipus the King describes a Greek king that has taken the rule of Thebes from its former king who had been murdered. Oedipus is seen as a famous character which was sought after for the king of Thebes due to his victory over the Sphinx. In Greek legend, the Sphinx devoured all travelers who could not answer the riddle it posed: "What is the creature that walks on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon and three in the evening? "

    Read More

  • Odysseus 'Use Of Dramatic Irony In Homer's Odyssey'

    190 Words  | 1 Pages

    1. What does Telemachus tell Penelope in regards to the news he heard from Menelaus and Nestor in regards to Odysseus? He tells her the little news he received about Odysseus, but doesn’t tell her he meet Odysseus at the swineherd’s hut. 2. How are Eumaeus and Odysseus (disguised as an old beggar) treated upon their entrance to the palace?

    Read More

  • Oedipus The King Research Paper

    1224 Words  | 5 Pages

    Oedipus the King is one of the most ironic plays ever written. Sophocles, the author, is a famous philosopher of the ancient times The Play is about Oedipus, the king of Thebes, who kills his father and marries his mother. An oracle warned Laius, the king of Thebes prior to Oedipus, that his son would murder him. Accordingly, when his wife, Jocasta, had a son, he exposed the baby by first pinning his ankles together. The infant, who was adopted by King Polybus of Corinth and his wife was then brought up as their very own.

    Read More

  • Oedipus Rex Argumentative Essay

    1378 Words  | 6 Pages

    P.13 Oedipus questions Teiresias, curious to know what he knows. “Oh gruesomely clear it has all unraveled… I was bonded with the people I should have never killed.” P.40 Oedipus sees what he has done wrong and feels vulnerable and horror. The audience clearly sees that heroes are very human and how real their limitations. Most people would have felt that same vulnerability if the gods had made us their plaything and tormented us, writing a prophecy of our doom.

    Read More

  • How Does Oedipus The King Reflect Greek Culture

    824 Words  | 4 Pages

    It can be seen as a trend throughout history that stories reflect a society’s culture and values. One of the most memorable and inspirational civilization that made a substantial contribution to literature was Greece. Sophocles, a renowned Greek playwright, is beloved for his dramatic and action-filled plays that effectively satisfied the ancient audience. In Sophocles’ tragic play, Oedipus the King, the main character, Oedipus finds difficulty proclaiming his purpose against the fate bestowed upon him by the gods. Alongside his struggling, the values and cultural aspects of the Greeks emerge, reflecting their views on society during that time period at which the play was produced.

    Read More

  • Oedipus Rex Tragic Hero Essay

    409 Words  | 2 Pages

    Critic Northrop Frye claims that tragic heroes “seem the inevitable conductors of the power about them… Conductors may of course be instruments as well as victims of the divisive lightning.” A perfect example of this assertion would be King Oedipus in the classical tragic play “Oedipus Rex,” written by Sophocles, where Oedipus, himself, becomes the victim of his doomed fate. As someone who was born and raised of royal blood, he becomes too proud and ignorant, believing that he was too powerful for his fate. Using the metaphor “great trees [are] more likely to be struck by lightning than a clump of grass,” Frye compares the heroic but unfortunate Oedipus to the great trees as they both are apt to experience victimization of tragic situations

    Read More

  • Theme Of Blindness In Oedipus The King

    1874 Words  | 8 Pages

    Oedipus The King by Sophocles Theme of Blindness Sophocles was a prolific writer and his long life enabled him to have a prodigious literary output. There is always a deep philosophic content at the back of Sophocles’ plays. Men suffer in the tragedies of Sophocles, characterisation always charged with emotion and poetry guesstimates the growth and development of his dramatic genius. One of the main underlying themes in Oedipus Rex is blindness.

    Read More

  • Tragic Flaws In Oedipus The King

    1159 Words  | 5 Pages

    Introduction The story of Oedipus the king is gloomy, yet captivating. Going from a child bond around the feet and abandon by the mountainside, to marrying his mother, his story is intriguing. In search of the truth about the prophecy and putting an end to a plague Oedipus, search for king Laius’s killer, did somethings inadvertently, making him a tragic hero. His search for truth in the death of Laius the king, as well as his birth led to the ultimate destruction and downfall of his life.

    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

  • Oedipus The King Essay

    1056 Words  | 5 Pages

    In ancient Greek society, the tragedy was a deeply spiritual and emotional art form integral to daily life. Perhaps one of the best examples of Greek tragedy is Sophocles’ Oedipus the King. The work is distinguished by the deep emotion and thought it elicits from the reader. This is in part due to Sophocles’ expert portrayal of Oedipus, who bears all the attributes of an Aristotelian tragic hero. A once powerful king turned blinded pariah, Oedipus is characterized by both his pride and his honorable character.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Hubris In Oedipus Rex

    1286 Words  | 6 Pages

    Sophocles uses dramatic irony to show the ignorance of Oedipus Rex as he cannot see the truth. Oedipus cannot see the truth because his hubris is encouraged by the people and himself. Oedipus’ ignorance is also clearly displayed after an effort to save his city. Although Oedipus is a fictional character created thousands of years ago, his actions can easily connect to many people in today 's society. The theme conveyed in Sophocles play Oedipus Rex is hubris often results in one 's ignorance.

    Read More

  • Tragedy In Oedipus The King

    848 Words  | 4 Pages

    Greek theatre was formed back in 500 BC by the Greek civilisation that used performing, miming and dancing as ways and means to tell stories, imitate others and for their rituals. They were two forms of plays that were showcased in the City of Dionysia; tragedy and satyr. The City of Dionysia was the festival celebrating the God Dionysus. Throughout this essay I will be describing the characteristics of Greek tragedy while using Sophocles’ ‘ Oedipus the King’ as a reference.

    Read More

More about Theme Of Irreverence In Oedipus The King

Open Document