... Oedipus whom all men call great (line 8)," and referring to others as his suppliants. Here, he is not only expressing arrogance but also showing that he identifies himself with what other men think he is. The reason that he became King of Thebes was because he saved the city by solving the riddle of the sphinx ... . He is seen as a savior to the people of the city and constructs his identity around these character traits. Creating such an image of power and authority for himself alters his reality. He is exalted in the insular world of Thebes, but not nearly as powerful in a worldly persp...

• Word Count: 1741
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... consist of the tragic plot ("muthos"): the reversal of the situation, the recognition ("agnorisis"), and the scene of suffering ("pathos"). The story of Oedipus begins with Laius, King of Thebes, who learns from the oracle that his son will kill him and marry his wife Jocasta. When a son ... kills due to a quarrel, ignorant of the fact that Laius is his father. Continuing on his way he then passes a riddling sphinx and guesses the answer, lifting a curse on Thebes, allowing Oedipus to become King, win the hand of Jocasta, Queen of Thebes and have 4 children: Eteocles, Polynice, Antigone...

• Word Count: 696
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate