... the Queen of Thebes, who his own mother. Many years later after bearing children with Jocasta, a plague kills many of the inhabitants of Thebes. Oedipus is told by the gods to find the killer of King Laius. He is very diligent in the inquiry and finally comes to the horrible truth that ... he himself is the murderer. Jocasta kills herself at the horrible realization that she has laid with her son. As Oedipus puts out his eyes at finally seeing the truth he says "You, you"ll see no more the pain I suffered, all the pain I caused Blind ... from a loving wife to a resentful mother who kill...

• Word Count: 1375
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... him an honored king. In addition to a successful king, he possesses the capabilities of investigating as well-swiftness, perseverance, and wisdom. However it is also these great traits that curse Oedipus and lead him to the ultimate truth which he strives for and, ironically, he fatefully suffers from. He saves the Thebans from the Sphinx but fails to do so from ... by his rage, quickly comes up with a very likely wrong conclusion. As the leader says, "a mind like lightning stumbles" (808). When Teiresias accuses Oedipus of murdering Laios, his calmness stumbles because Oedipus regards ...

• Word Count: 1352
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... the truth more than what the truth might reveal (Johnston). From the exchange with the blind prophet, the story begins to weave an image of Oedipus's blindness. A different man in the King's place might not have been spurred to anger when accused of being a murderer. Instead, that person ... may have entertained the idea internally before acting so rashly and lashing out defensively. From this, the reader begins to understand that Oedipus is blind to his past and his fate despite many indications that the truth is what has been discerned. After these first few scenes the ... who Tiresia...

• Word Count: 2005
• Approx Pages: 8
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... as he refuses to acknowledge the possibility of him actually being the murderer of Laius, the former King of Thebes. Coincidentally, he is also Oedipus's biological father. The use of light and dark in the play is strategically applied in order to better understand the emotion that lies within ... actually has seen nothing for everything around him has been no more then just a lie. Although not physically blind until the very end, Oedipus is blind to the truth throughout the entire play. Because of this he unknowingly promotes himself as a tragic hero. Everything he accepts as true ... ...

• Word Count: 1365
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... information out of Tiresias, which leads to Tiresias telling him, and eventually to his downfall. Therefore, Laius" hamartia is much more tragic than Oedipus", and therefore there were more tragic consequences such as suffering and calamity. The consequences of the hero's fall can sometimes be even more devastating ... than the downfall itself. The consequences of Laius" death is much more tragic than Oedipus" downfall. When Laius died, he left behind many people that were dependant on him, and loved him. After his own son murdered Laius, ... much hubris. Jocasta, his wife and mother di...

• Word Count: 1338
• Approx Pages: 5

... he meets his real father at a crossroad and refuses to let his father and his men pass before him, and Laius" herald killed one of Oedipus" horses. Oedipus" anger him to murder Laius" men and Laius himself. This was done out of fury and simply because he could. His youth and agility gave ... lady ruler, which happened to be his mother Jocasta, thus fulfilling the prophecy. Yet the gods were not satisfied with the prophecy merely being fulfilled, Oedipus must discover that he has wronged and go through gruelling mental torture. So they place a terrible plague upon Thebes, the crops begin t...

• Word Count: 1252
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... that it encompasses the common conventions of a Greek Tragedy, with ones life being controlled by fate and the gods. The gods inflict ate on Oedipus which leads to serious characteristic flaws including hubris, and the tragedy ends with a nemesis worse than death. The tragic nature of the play and ... the themes are conveyed not only through these features, but also through the role of the chorus and dramatic techniques including irony. Oedipus is seen as a tragic hero in the play, a principal character, in a position of social importance being the King of Thebes. His downfall ... resul...

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

... their fate would have been much different. They wouldn't have been punished because of what they were born into, very similar to the tragic story of Oedipus the King. The King and his wife, Jocasta, received punishments that I believe did not fit their "crimes " that they committed. Jocasta played the role ... with herself anymore. Jocasta ends up taking her own life as a form of punishment upon herself. What the most tragic part about the suicide was, Oedipus witnessed the whole thing, losing his wife and his mother. As most can imagine, this had an affect on him. After reading this pl...

• Word Count: 1469
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... to leave him alone to die. Instead, the servant gives the child to a shepherd to take to a far away land where no one knows who he is. Oedipus asks the servant, "Then why did you give him up to this old man?" The servant then replies, In pity, master - so he would take him home, ... fate to transpire. On the road leading away from what he believed was his home, he met King Laius and slew him in a sudden quarrel (Freud 102). Oedipus is on his way to Thebes where a sphinx's riddle has plagued the city. The sphinx has already taken the lives of many men who unsuccessfully tried to solve ......

• Word Count: 1505
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School