... respected men of his day, Sophocles uniquely combined Greek mythology with tragedy into the two of his most known plays: Antigone and Oedipus Rex. At the beginning of Oedipus the King, Oedipus is highly confident, and with good reason. He has saved Thebes from the curse of the Sphinx and becomes the king of ... on four feet in the morning, on two at noon, and on three in the evening? With his eminent mastery of riddles and having an open mind, Oedipus replied, "It is Man". As a child he crawls on four. When he grows up he walks upright on his two feet, and in old age he ... understandin...

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• Grade Level: High School

... the plays, as they commemorated great events or explained religion. However, audiences delighted in different dramatists twists, interpretations and moral focuses of these similar stories. In Oedipus at Colonus, Oedipus" banishment and wandering would be taboo to an Athens citizen. One would understand Oedipus" dire need to not only find a home, but also ensure proper execution of his burial rites. II. Characters: A. In ... win the civil conflict in his own Thebes. Polynices is also a conflicting force. In attempts to regain power of Thebes, he tries to persuade Oedipus to return. His m...

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... man. His personality and behavior changes in Antigone as he becomes sparingly disrespectful. His actions should make you wonder if he has learned anything from Oedipus the King. Accusations and false judgment play a huge role in how Creon's life changed dramatically at the end of Antigone. All the major flaws ... disgusted that he also sentences Ismene to death, although she did not have anything to do with Antigone's decision. Creon is accusing Ismene just like Oedipus accused him. Creon's tyrannical rule, turns to a climax when Haemon tries to talk to him and explain to him that he sho...

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• Grade Level: High School

... he has a certain character flaw, or tragic flaw, and he suffers so that the audience may learn from that suffering without having to experience the pain themselves. Oedipus" tragic flaw led to his downfall and suffering. This flaw had an important and intriguing effect on the story. As the play progressed, a zealous desire to ... said was actually true. He then asked Jocasta's advice on the situation. Jocasta was his wife and, unbeknownst to him, his mother. She told Oedipus that she did not believe the prophet and for him to simply let it pass. He could not settle for this. He sent for t...

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... side with Zeus in ancient and eternal sway, I consign to perdition your sanctimonious supplications and your precious throne." Keep in mind what the gods have put Oedipus through. They placed a course on him that will haunt him and his entire bloodline throughout the plays. In the play "Antigone," Creon forbid the burial ... is evident through good and evil characters, sometimes the characters may even come through as good in one play and bad in the other. In "Oedipus the King," Oedipus is portrayed as a relatively bad person. He could be characterized as a very arrogant ruler. He denie...

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• Grade Level: High School

... he has a certain character flaw, or tragic flaw, and he suffers so that the audience may learn from that suffering without having to experience the pain themselves. Oedipus" tragic flaw led to his downfall and suffering. This flaw had an important and intriguing effect on the story. As the play progressed, a zealous desire to ... said was actually true. He then asked Jocasta's advice on the situation. Jocasta was his wife and, unbeknownst to him, his mother. She told Oedipus that she did not believe the prophet and for him to simply let it pass. He could not settle for this. He sent for t...

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... . I am also going to compare and contrast their characters. In regards to the heroic code, they both fulfill the requirements that would make them heroes. Oedipus was the king of Thebes, whose world was turned upside down with the revelation of a few certain events. His daughter, Antigone, also went through a ... string of events that led to her untimely demise as well. Oedipus was a confident king who was revered for solving the riddle of the Sphinx. After he saved his land from the curse of the Sphinx, there was ... Antigone also lived up to the heroic code because she took her own li...

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... a king who lost everything he had because of what he thought he was right. Likewise Antigone gave her life because of what she felt was right. Both Antigone and Oedipus have many characteristics of a tragic hero, because they are courageous and have a fatal flaw of pride. But no two people are the same, and they have there ... differences too. In both of the plays Antigone and Oedipus are very noble people and do what's right. Antigone feels that all people even her brother deserved a proper burial; "with all honorable observances due to the dead". (127 ... to her because the most import...

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... Tiresias. He always had a little boy with him to guide him wherever he went. In Oedipus Rex there was a very interesting prophecy. Before the prophecy, Tiresias and Oedipus had an argument. Tiresias accused Oedipus of murdering Laius, who was the king of Thebes before he was murdered. Oedipus obviously rebutted that remark and accused Tiresias of murder. Then Tiresias gave him the prophecy. The ... and that his own flesh meaning his family would die in the near future. That played a vital role in the story. In Oedipus Rex the prophecy Tiresias gave Oedipus was a foreshadow of what was t...

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... State to follow her values and morals by burring her slain brother. The actual rank that I have chosen for these main characters blameworthiness is as follows: Creon, Oedipus, and last but not least Antigone. This was not any easy chose for they are all to blame for their actions as is any one, however Creon, ... and even making fun of the blind man. So after the old mans blood began to boil he told him that he is the one he seeks, and Oedipus did not believe him. King Laius, was the previous king and he was killed in a very interesting location, where three highways meet. He was suppos...

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... out laios is killed, threatening the killer to a severe punishment. He doesn't know, however, that is was actually him that killed him until later. Oedipus' unyielding desire to uncover the truth about Laius' murder and the mystery surrounding his own birth, led him to the tragic realization of his horrific deeds. ... Teiresias, Jocasta, and the herdsman tried to stop him from pursuing the truth. Take for example a part of the last conversation between Jocasta and Oedipus. After realizing that the prophecy had came true, Jocasta begs him to let the mystery go unsolved for once. "No! By t...

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... marry his mum. So in hopes of avoided this fate, the King has a servant take the baby away with an iron rod in his ankles. As Oedipus grows, he runs away from Corinth where he's grown up with the king and queen there, believing that those are his real parents, in hopes of ... running away from this terrible fate. When in actuality he's fulfilling his fate. While the epic is progressing and Oedipus marries Jocasta, his real mother, and once again he's adding to the fulfillment of this fate that he has been doomed to. This shows that you ... of this duty and the weight of the city has bar...

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Challenging authority is a main theme which emphasizes the justifications of many actions that are made in the plays "Oedipus the king" and "Antigone" and show how both make moral choices and suffer the consequences. Oedipus assumed that by moving away from his parents there would be a less of a chance of him killing his father and marrying his mother, as it turns out that ... of power he held meant nothing as then it becomes too late for him to recognize his wrongs before he is told that Antigone and his son lay dead. Likewise Oedipus could not fight his fate as he continued to make choices ...

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• Grade Level: High School

... and seem to be prophesizing. My reasoning falls in the fact that Teirasias arrives so immediately following the summons by Oedipus. Later, Oedipus accuses Creon of instigating Teiresias' words. It seems that Oedipus finally realizes Creon's nature, but when the prophecy proves to be valid and Creon's sister begs her husband to ... upon Creon's integrity and preventing his future chances at power. His words are nothing that the people cannot hear, unless he already knows that Oedipus is exactly who Apollo wishes to expel from Thebes because he is the murderer. This would mean that Creon...

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... kill his own father had not come true! ...All the oracles had been right: Laius had been murdered by his own son, Oedipus," (2-3, Bennett and Kerr). Oedipus was overjoyed that he evaded the fate of killing his own father, the king of Corinth. But he never knew that the king ... fell upon Thebes. Crops failed, and the people grew hungry; disease spread among the Thebans, and they could not be cured" (2, Bennett and Kerr). Oedipus had everything a king wanted; a wife, children, and the citizen loved him. But in an instant, his citizens are starving and sick. When his wife and ... mother ...

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... is a subject often rejected in society, as it is seen as too fanciful, too idealistic, and too ambiguous to comprehend. However, at the time of Oedipus, the concept was a terrifying reality for most ancient Greeks. Fate was an unstoppable force and it was assumed that any efforts to change one's future were ... However, soon this civil law is challenged when Tiresias, a Theban soothsayer warns the King that the gods disagree with his decision to defile the body of Oedipus's son. Offended by Creon's pride and by his refusal to bury Polynices, the gods threaten to take the life of Creon's ...

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... many of their family members are killed because they did not believe this. Kreon and Oedipus seem to have the same attitude towards their crown. This is what leads to their downfall In the story of Oedipus Rex, Oedipus is told from Teiresias that he was the one that killed the former king of Thebes ... , his father. Oedipus gets angry with Teiresias and forces him to tell him the whole story. He was the ... reveal that Kreon's son will be killed by the gods if he doesn't bury Antigone's brother, and release Antigone. Both Kreon and Oedipus refused to believe Teiresias, but found that his...

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... that has three major themes. All three of these themes play a very important part in this play. The three major themes are fate, love, and pride. Oedipus had killed his father, king of Thebes, not knowing it was his father and then took over Thebes. He married Iocaste, queen of Thebes (his mother), and ... had four children; one was a girl named Antigone. When Oedipus had figured out who he was and what he had done he moved away and cut out his eyes. Iocaste's cousin, Creon, had taken over as king ... of Thebes. He had made Oedipus' two sons, Eteocles and Polyneices, enemies of each ot...

• Word Count: 529
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... that has three major themes. All three of these themes play a very important part in this play. The three major themes are fate, love, and pride. Oedipus had killed his father, king of Thebes, not knowing it was his father and then took over Thebes. He married Iocaste, queen of Thebes (his mother), and ... had four children; one was a girl named Antigone. When Oedipus had figured out who he was and what he had done he moved away and cut out his eyes. Iocaste's cousin, Creon, had taken over as king ... of Thebes. He had made Oedipus' two sons, Eteocles and Polyneices, enemies of each ot...

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... tragedy. During their recitation, the stage goes dark, a spotlight illuminates the faces of the Chorus, and the characters disappear through the left arch. Oedipus, Antigone and Ismene's father, also had two sons, Eteocles and Polynices. Upon his death, it was agreed that they would each take the throne ... a maid would have taken the edict seriously. Antigone replies that she has never doubted Creon would put her to death. Creon curses the pride of Oedipus. Like him, her death seem the "natural climax" to her life. For them, human happiness is meaningless and human misery unable to sat...

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... loyal to his city and wants good fortune for it. Creon relies on Tiresias to help make the decisions of Thebes. Tiresias was the one who told Oedipus of his prophet only because Oedipus insisted. Once Oedipus was banished from Thebes, Creon took over as King. Tiresias is Creon's advisor and has been ever since he became ruler of Thebes. Creon usually follows ... through if he follows through with Antigone's death. Creon will lose his family if he demands the punishment he has ordered for Antigone. Tiresias previously saw what the prophet of Oedipus brought to this family and he was tryi...

• Word Count: 1097
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• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... that has three major themes. All three of these themes play a very important part in this play. The three major themes are fate, love, and pride. Oedipus had killed his father, king of Thebes, not knowing it was his father and then took over Thebes. He married Iocaste, queen of Thebes (his mother), and ... had four children; one was a girl named Antigone. When Oedipus had figured out who he was and what he had done he moved away and cut out his eyes. Iocaste's cousin, Creon, had taken over as king ... of Thebes. He had made Oedipus' two sons, Eteocles and Polyneices, enemies of each ot...

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• Grade Level: High School

... it is important to study Antigone's early childhood, which displays the origins of the characteristics found in her that make her a feminist. In Oedipus of Colonus, Sophocles illustrates these qualities that Antigone possesses. During the first twenty years of her life, Antigone spends her time secluded from society with her ... blind, exiled father, Oedipus. Sophocles sums up her childhood in the following soliloquy by Oedipus:"Since her childhood ended and her body gained its power, has wandered ever with me, an old man's governess ... decent" (Hwang 15). "Decent" is in this case the...

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• Grade Level: High School

... but it was determined that no matter what advice he received from Haimon and Teiresias, he would inevitably choose to put her in the cave. As Oedipus showed us, you cannot escape fate no matter how you try. If you go back and find out you should have turned left when you turned right ... die, I say that this crime is holy: I shall lie down with him in death, and I shall be as dear to him as he to me"(493). Oedipus thought that by going away from his "mother" and "father" the chances of him killing his father and marrying his mother would be gone, but instead they increased. ... With eve...

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... theme. In the book of Job, he suffers unbearably and in return gains a closer relationship with God and twice his possessions. In The Theban Plays, Oedipus suffers greatly after finding out the truth. In The Last Days of Socrates, Socrates himself suffers when he is forced to choose between the law and what ... of Job, they shared the fact that all the suffering was merely the consequence of finding out the truth. From this we have to question ourselves about Oedipus" innocence. Are you innocent if you do something wrong and you didn't know it was wrong? Like a child stealing candy in a ...

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• Grade Level: High School