... strong willed. Ironically these are the very traits which bring about his tragic discovery. Oedipus gained the rule of Thebes by answering the riddle of Sphinx. Sophocles used the riddle of the sphinx as a metaphor for the 3 phases of Oedipus' life and to futher characterized him as a tragic man. The Sphinx posed the following riddle to all who came to obtain the rule of thebes ... that he himself is the murderer. Jocasta kills herself at the horrible realization that she has layed with her son and Oedipus puts out his eyes at finally seeing the truth. This fulfills the final part of th...

• Word Count: 3235
• Approx Pages: 13
• Grade Level: High School

... knows the truth, by saying, "For I am sick in my daily life, sick in my origin." It is ironic also that Oedipus saves the city from the plague of the Sphinx and in doing so, he brings on another plague some years later by his very presence. The theme of sight, 'true' sight, ... in defying cosmic and priestly authority, fate and prophecy) is the same quality that enabled him to earlier confront and defeat the Sphinx and to save an oppressed city. Oedipus, then, is a hero who pits his pride against both gods and fate in the mold of Prometheus (whose downfall was caused ... was cursed wit...

• Word Count: 2522
• Approx Pages: 10
• Grade Level: High School

... was "what is it that goes on four feet in the morning, two feet at midday, and three feet in the evening?" Oedipus was the only person able to chase the Sphinx away with the correct answer of "man". This led to him becoming the king of Thebes which in turn led to his ... oracle and sealed his destiny by leaving Corinth and killing King Lauis, answering the Sphinx's riddle correctly and thus becoming the king of Thebes and also through his pursuit of the truth of King Lauis" death. Like all Greeks, Oedipus also had no freewill. He had absolutely no say in the end result, but ... out that ...

• Word Count: 1426
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... far beyond the hero. One of the most important elements of a tragic hero is that he must not be perfectly good, as seen with both Oedipus and Laius. In Oedipus and the Sphinx Oedipus" bravery and courageousness is shown by how he saves the town by killing the Sphinx, "Oedipus pledged to rid the country of the terror, and so he set out to find the ... Sphinx" (Sophocles 1), therefore setting him up to be the town hero and King. Oedipus becomes King, and hero of Thebes; he demonstrates characteristics of being a perfectly good man. From the beginning of the ... characteristics of a bad p...

• Word Count: 1338
• Approx Pages: 5

... one living in darkness; his past and his future both shrouded in obscurity. These images are mirrored in Oedipus" relationship with the city of Thebes itself. Oedipus comes to Thebes a hero; solving the Sphinx's riddle and setting Thebes free from her curse. In dealing with the Sphinx, Oedipus shows his mind's capacity for brightness. "From you, bird-lore and god-craft were silent. Until I ... came- I, ignorant Oedipus, came- and stopped the riddler's mouth, guessing the truth by mother-wit, not bird-lore." Oedipus takes pride in his ... intelligence, bragging about the cleverness with ...

• Word Count: 678
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... intelligence. These traits allows him to solve the riddle of the Sphinx that led to him becoming king. Ironically, it is these traits that cause Oedipus" downfall. Which eventually leads to Iokaste's suicide and Oedipus" self-inflicted blindness. Oedipus was without doubt a wise man, for he had solved the riddle of the Sphinx and saved Thebes. The priest verbalizes his and the citizens of Thebes ... " respect of Oedipus" intellect with his request, "You are not one of the immortal ... me and never doubt that I will help you in every way I can ..." (974). Oedipus believes that he can do ...

• Word Count: 716
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... a plague. The image of darkness is represented by this plague. In line 143 of the play Oedipus saysthen once more must I bring what is light to dark?. He saysonce more? referring to the Sphinx. The Sphinx is also another representation of darkness. Oedipus brought Thebes back to light when he solved the Sphinx riddle. The image of light and darkness can also be seen when ... Oedipus was born. The birth of a new life is an image of light. However Jocasta knew the prophecy ... the truth about himself he physically blinds himself in order for him not tosee? the truth. Knowledge and ignora...

• Word Count: 550
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... one man who ran away. Little did Oedipus know he just killed his biological father, King Laius of Thebes. After this all took place, Oedipus carried on his way into Thebes where he ran into a sphinx who had the whole place captured and the sphinx told Oedipus if you can solve this riddle I will let everyone free. Oedipus listened to the riddle and gave his answer ... which was correct. The sphinx let the people of Thebes free and named ... Oedipus the new King of Thebes. The people told Oedipus that he needed to find a woman ... ...

• Word Count: 1080
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... prophecy is further seen when the reward for the person who destroys the pestilence brought on by the riddling sphinx is Jocasta, Laius's wife and Oedipus's mothers, hand in marriage. Oedipus being the person who solves the riddle is clearly a result of the role of fate. Like in many ... tragedy, adding to his humiliation in end, as a result of his thoughtless accusations against Creon and Teiresias. Nemesis is inflicted upon Oedipus with his loss of sight, his banishment from Thebes, the death of Jocasta and through the degradation of his children. His loss ... dramatic irony is refle...

• Word Count: 1270
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... in Thebes believing their son to be dead. Unfortunately, Hera sends a drought associated with a sphinx to bedevil Thebes. A desperate Laios travels back to the Delphic Oracle for a reading. Meanwhile, back in Corinth, Oedipus grows to manhood believing Polybos and Merope (the King and Queen of Corinth) are his real ... a fit of rage. Thus, he has unwittingly fulfilled the first half of the prophecy. Traveling on to Thebes, Oedipus saves the city from the drought by solving the riddle of the sphinx. Declared the new King, he marries the widowed Queen (Locaste) - his mother. Thus, he has u...

• Word Count: 1118
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... however, and brought to Corinth where the royal family adopts him; again he becomes a Prince. After killing Laios and defeating the Sphinx he becomes the king of Thebes. After the king of Corinth dies, Oedipus becomes king of Corinth also. If Oedipus were any higher on the social ladder he would probably be mistaken for one of the Gods. Taking one step back ... , Oedipus makes two major mistakes, his hamartia. His first error in judgment is killing Laios. Oedipus is an exceedingly arrogant man, and this fatal flaw causes him to kill the king of Thebes. Because the king has been killed an...

• Word Count: 468
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... the way, he killed some guy that ended up being his dad and goes to Thebes. In Thebes, he met the sphinx that has a great power over Thebes. This power can only be broken if a tricky riddle is solved. Oedipus, of course, solves the riddle and saves the city. He is appointed king and is granted marriage to the former Queen of ... . Your fate is going to happen to you no matter what so just live with it. I think Oedipus was helpless and did not have anything to do to escape it. When Oedipus flees to Thebes, he is stuck with great luck actually. He solves the sphinx's riddle and becomes kin...

• Word Count: 743
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... magnitude when he kills a man, who was actually his father and king of Thebes, and arrogantly defeated the infamous Sphinx. After settling in Thebes and becoming king, Oedipus hired a prophet named Teiresias to find Laius's killer but became furious when he prophesies that Oedipus was the true murderer of his father, and that he is his wife's son and that he will leave ... develop the plot in the story and make it a complete tragedy. The main character, Oedipus, had some undesirable flaws as well as some good characteristics. Oedipus had a flaring temper that ruined his life. Oedipus wa...

• Word Count: 410
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... magnitude when he kills a man, who was actually his father and king of Thebes, and arrogantly defeated the infamous Sphinx. After settling in Thebes and becoming king, Oedipus hired a prophet named Teiresias to find Laius's killer but became furious when he prophesies that Oedipus was the true murderer of his father, and that he is his wife's son and that he will leave ... develop the plot in the story and make it a complete tragedy. The main character, Oedipus, had some undesirable flaws as well as some good characteristics. Oedipus had a flaring temper that ruined his life. Oedipus wa...

• Word Count: 410
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... feelings - and knows quite well that Oedipus is unaware of the sins he has committed. Oedipus, later on, says to Teiresias, "Oedipus, the simple man, who knows nothing " - in line 383. What Oedipus means to say is that he knows it all because he destroyed the sphinx and rules the city. It is ... ironic because he intentionally says the opposite of what he means, but is actually saying the truth. Teiresias responds to Oedipus with, "But I say that you, ... with both your eyes, are blind - in line 399. He does not mean that Oedipus is physically ... leads to physical blindness, but also...

• Word Count: 1490
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... and the standards of being in a tragic situation by his test and by the fact that in the end he suffers physical deterioration and mental enlightenment. Firstly, Oedipus" status meets that of a tragic hero. A tragic hero is defined as an exemplar, a paragon, and a light bearer. The tragic hero must be ... than the average character in the play. He must be above the community in some way. Oedipus passes this requirement with ease for he was a hero and held a revered position within his society. He sold the Sphinx's riddle and became the King of Thebes. He was not any ordinary king however...

• Word Count: 942
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... . Finding out that the only way to rid Thebes of the disease is to rid Thebes of the man who killed King Laius, the previous ruler, Oedipus promises to do this as the matter was never resolved. He is also afraid that the culprit (unknowingly being himself) might attack him next. As ... father and marry his mother was not true, but then the messenger also relates the story that Polybus and Merope are not Oedipus' true parents. Jocasta, Oedipus' mother and wife, sees that Oedipus is troubled. She tries to stop his misery with what she knows. But everything becomes more complicated. With he...

• Word Count: 1132
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... back. He leaves and becomes a dweller on the hills, just as he was as a young child. Throughout the play there is a great deal of paradox because Oedipus is so determined to avenge the king's killer that it becomes a huge downfall for him. Although he is being extremely noble, he has no idea what is in ... and married his mother. Teiresias (the soothsayer) is literally blind. It is ironic that he uses the metaphor that Oedipus is being blind to the situation around him. The play also talks about the riddle of the sphinx. The riddle asks ," What is it that walks on four feet and two feet ...

• Word Count: 897
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... literature a tragedy. Set in the city of Thebes, Oedipus Rex begins with the cries and pains of citizens victimized by a plague. Baffled by the reluctance of the people to heal, Oedipus, who became the king after he solved the riddle of the Sphinx, sends his brother-in-law, Creon, at first ... a good natured, and rational being, to find the cure for the city's current disaster. Creon informs Oedipus that in order to save Thebes, ... he must solve the murder of the previous king, Lauis, who was killed at crossroads years ago. Teiresias, the blind prophet, enters, and informs restless Oed...

• Word Count: 1098
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... carriage, who happens to be Laius, king of Thebes and Oedipus" biological father. In turn the prophecy of Oedipus killing his father would not have been fulfilled. Oedipus" enthronement was granted by his answering of Creon's offer. He was the only one to answer the Sphinx's riddle, "What is it that walks on four legs at ... dawn, two legs at midday, and three legs in the evening, and has only one voice; when it walks on most legs, it is weakest." (434) The answer, as Oedipus came to find out, is a man. If Oedipus was female, ... the prophecy of killing his father and marring his mothe...

• Word Count: 602
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... likable. Their high status plays a big part in their hamartia and affects how they perform with others in their polis or tribe. Going back to Oedipus' exhibition of hubris, his high status as king engenders him to become very egotistic. He tells, "I would not have you speak through messengers and ... therefore I have come myself to hear you, "I, Oedipus, who bear the famous name"" (Sophocles 4). He relies on personal glory to attain fame and acts rashly when confronted with anything that degrades him or ... of his position when he lashes out at Tiresias and calls him a blind fool becau...

• Word Count: 1007
• Approx Pages: 4

... severe, and shows more remorse. On his way to the City of Thebes, Oedipus killed an old man unintentionally. After he arrives at Thebes, he becomes the new king because he killed Sphinx and marries with the Queen Jocasta. Eventually, he finds out the old man who ... can bear this guilt but I. It is true, I killed him. Lead me away, away. I live no longer " (Watling 16). Compare to Creon, Oedipus, who feels himself as "blind and sick at the soul", definitely took a higher degree of remorse. Nevertheless, their self-punishments also demonstrated a different degree of ... a relief for him,...

• Word Count: 837
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... fault, but his misfortune is not wholly deserved. As mentioned, a tragic hero must be highly renowned and prosperous. Oedipus, the King of Thebes is highly renowned and prosperous. Oedipus had saved the city of Thebes from Sphinx and because of this, people in Thebes looked up to him. They rely on and look to ... Oedipus for safety in times of need. When Thebes is suffering from the plague, people look to Oedipus to save the city from the ... disaster. From the play (line 43- 55), the speech of the priest to Oedipus, ... people and immediately takes his words into actions. He sends me...

• Word Count: 569
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... contrary. The story is one of a man who is struggling with destiny and every choice he makes effects the outcome of the story dramatically. Oedipus is undeniably strong willed and self-assured and it is these steadfast qualities that cause him to make the very decisions which will eventually leave him distraught ... from death and destruction. He, and his citizens have complete confidence in this one man who has saved them once before from the plague of the evil sphinx by solving her riddle of "what crawls on 4 legs in the morning, 2 in the afternoon, and 3 at night?" The answer, man cau...

• Word Count: 859
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... a man who is superior to the average man in someway."(Grade saver, Online) In Oedipus's case he is superior, not only because he is smart, but also because he is the only one who solved the Sphinx's riddle. Another major element of tragedy is the tragic situation. The tragic situation must ... have no solution and involves the characters in a tragedy. Another form of literature involved in "Oedipus Rex" is the role that fate plays in the play. Oedipus's fate is pre-determined by a ... may ask what is a dynamic character? A dynamic character is someone who undergoes significant developmen...

• Word Count: 423
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School