By the end of the story the name of Oedipus is a curse. ... The cause of Oedipus's downfall is his impulsiveness. ... When he does not say what Oedipus wants him to say Oedipus reacts, "Ah God! ... I, Oedipus, Oedipus, damned in his birth, in his marrige Damned, Damned in the blood he shed with his own hand!" ... He blames everyone but himself (the shepherd who saved him, his adopted parents) for his misfortune, exemplifying even further his irrationality. ...

• Word Count: 1053
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

"To bring light to the killer of Laius," (L 264, pg 33), "No matter who it may be- (L 239, pg 32). ... The punishment Oedipus then handed down to himself when he discovers it was he who committed the acts was one of arrogant thought. ... If the two had been cautious, they would have found that Oedipus was not dead. ... Maybe realizing that the defiant man who questioned his authority looked much like himself. ... It seems clear that because the characters who suffered a tragic end brought upon this ruinous conclusion themselves. ...

• Word Count: 1145
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

According to Aristotle, a tragic hero is someone who creates his or her own downfall, whose fate is not deserved, and whose punishment exceeds the crime. In the play "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles, the main character Oedipus is a perfect example of Aristotle's tragic hero. ... Throughout Oedipus" journey of life he encounters all three themes. ... Destiny played a vital part in the destruction of Oedipus. The destiny of Oedipus is given to his parents, who were King Laios and Queen Iokaste, by the prophecy of Apollo at Delphi. ...

• Word Count: 647
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

The shepherd who is called upon by the court for questioning introduces the turning point of the play by revealing the truth. ... The shepherd who hadn't the heart to do so gave the child to a messenger, saving Oedipus" life. ... One may say that this is a sign of mysticism for, without knowing, by sparing the old man's life, Oedipus repayed the shepherd who had once saved his life. Yet at the same time Oedipus spared the life of the man who would eventually come back to reveal the truth about his doomed past. ... This move thereby involves Jocasta in the affair, who until then had r...

• Word Count: 483
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

As Oedipus got older he began to hear rumors that he was adopted and consulted with the Delphic Oracle who told him he was fated to kill his father and marry his mother. ... But the only way to save the city is to find who killed the former king of Thebes, Laius, and bring him to justice. Oedipus seeks Tiresias, a blind prophet who knows who the killer is. ... The prophets in Oedipus the King played a role in the outcome by simply informing Oedipus of the prophecy. ... Jocasta, Laius, the Oracles, the shepherd who served Jocasta and Laius, and the actions Oedipus took to avoid a prophecy act...

• Word Count: 785
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

Sophocles" "Oedipus Rex" is an ancient Greek play that explores the life of Oedipus, the King of Thebes, and his horrifying discovery that he has killed his father and married his mother. ... Unfortunately his brilliant mind led him to realize that it was he who killed his father. ... "I"ll fight for him, I"ll leave no means untried, to catch the one who did it with his hand -(line 270-271). Another of King Oedipus" character traits was self-confidence. ... I feel that Oedipus" most impressive trait is his strong will. ...

• Word Count: 858
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

We all know the story of Oedipus from the Greek myths as they portray him as the one who married his mother. ... Why did Freud use Oedipus to describe this stage? ... Upon arriving at Thebes, Oedipus solves a riddle from the Sphinx who had been tormenting the town and causing chaos. ... Later down the road, Oedipus and Jocasta figured out what happened and Jocasta kills herself and Oedipus blinds himself (Powell, 462.) ... The main use of the name "Oedipus Complex" is due to the cultural prevalence and because most everyone knows the story of Oedipus (Dowden, 32). ...

• Word Count: 822
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

When Oedipus discovers his parents are not who they seem to be and later discovers the prophecy, in a similar way to which Laius tried to manipulate fate by sending Oedipus away, Oedipus also tries to change his destiny, by leaving Corinth "At this I fled away, putting the stars between me and Corinth, never to see home again." ... The role of fate and destiny, and the impact of the 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 pe...

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

Some may define justice as the quality of fairness, but who defines fairness? Others may define justice as conformity to a certain standard, but who defines this standard? In Sophocles" King Oedipus, civil justice, poetic justice, and rough justice all exist in the world of the play to the extent that divine justice is served in the end, and ultimately, the wishes of the gods, who are wary of individuals with the most fortune and power, are fulfilled. ... At the outset, in fear of killing King Polybus, the man who he believes is his father, Oedipus self-exiles himself from Corinth. ... OE...

• Word Count: 1019
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

Oedipus here thinks of himself as a king seeking to save Thebes but confronted by Teiresias, Apollo's dignified servant who deserves respect. ... Unlike Holmes who always underscores the importance of meditation which enables him to relate clues together, Oedipus, dominated by his rage, quickly comes up with a very likely wrong conclusion. ... When Teiresias accuses Oedipus of murdering Laios, his calmness stumbles because Oedipus regards himself as the exalted savior of Thebes who would never kill the king and bring this plague to his children. ... No matter how the witness cries out des...

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

Oedipus, the main character in Sophocles' play "Oedipus the King," is a very popular man. ... Since the gods gave Oedipus the prophecy, he knew what he needed to do to make it untrue. ... Oedipus refers to Teiresias as a "sightless, witless, senseless, mad old man!" ... The gods told Oedipus that he would breed with his own mother and kill his father. ... This was again, a personal choice of Oedipus who could have chosen a different way to go about this confrontation. ...

• Word Count: 754
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

As a blind prophet, Tiresias is asked by Oedipus, the king of Thebes, to announce the murderer of former King Laius; the murder dwells in the city of Thebes, and it is he who is causing the dreadful plague. ... But King Oedipus insists. ... Tiresias inputs that Oedipus doesn't even know who his birth parets are. ... Her mistakes are similar to Oedipus. ... She is the only character who will never live the truth anymore. ...

• Word Count: 707
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

What Was Oedipus's Crime? Oedipus, ruler of Thebes, murdered his father and married his mother. ... A person who has committed these illegal acts of murder and incest would be considered a criminal, yet Sophocles's character, Oedipus, is not guilty of either crime. ... Oedipus was never factually told about his lineage. ... While still traveling, Oedipus had come to the city of Thebes. ...

• Word Count: 429
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

Oedipus Rex The play Oedipus Rex, written by Sophocles, is a tragedy of fate. ... Oedipus was also unaware that Jocasta was his mother. ... Consequently, Oedipus attempts to isolate himself from who he believes are his parents, as a result, fate brings him to his real parents, king Laius and Jocasta. ... Oedipus" tragic destiny was brought upon his tragic fate. ... Oedipus" fate gave him opportunities to develop his arrogance. ...

• Word Count: 707
• Approx Pages: 3

The characters who live in the city of Thebes are the people who have a problem that they cannot solve on their own. ... In Oedipus Tyrannus, Oedipus was the main character and was the King of the suppliants and the one who had saved the people from such things as the Sphinx. ... After Creon went to the Oracle Oedipus with the agreement of the chorus sought out Teiresias, the blind seer, who was a knowledgeable man from outside the city. ... Iocasta is Oedipus' wife but later in the story we learn that Iocasta is also Oedipus' mother. ... One of these characters is Laius who is the r...

• Word Count: 1069
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This ancient quote applies directly to Oedipus's life. ... The Gods control Oedipus. ... Oedipus could not avoid his fate because the Gods, who also determined his fate, gave his qualities and flaws to him. ... Oedipus's tragic flaws lead him to his downfall. ... To which we hear Oedipus reply, "There is nothing to fear- . ...

• Word Count: 965
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

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. ... The reversal of the situation occurs when Creon returns with a message stating the plague will end when the murderer, who is within the city, of Laius, former king of Thebes, is caught and banned. Through Oedipus" determination to seek the murderer, the shepherd who "rescued" Oedipus the baby comes forth, revealing his story, which leads to the downfall of Oedipus. ... Oedipus then proceeds to ask Creon, who is happy to oblige, to look after his daugh...

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

The play Oedipus Rex, written by Sophocles, is a tragedy of fate. ... Oedipus was unaware of these sinful actions and would commit them without intent. ... Oedipus was also unaware that Jocasta was his mother. ... Unfortunately, Oedipus fails to succeed, since his fate is inescapable. Consequently Oedipus attempts to isolate himself from who he believes are his parents, however, as a result, fate brings him to his real parents, king Laius and Jocasta....

• Word Count: 476
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The truth is that Oedipus's and others" actions are what caused Oedipus's "fate" to come true, not "fate" itself. ... Instead, the shepherd gave Oedipus to another shepherd, who in turn gave him to a foreign King and Queen. ... Secondly, Oedipus acted too carelessly while on his way to Thebes in hopes of escaping the people in Corinth who he believed were his parents. ... Also, after he killed the man, Oedipus could have investigated who the man was. He would have discovered that he had just killed his real father and in turn would discover who his real mother was, which would ha...

• Word Count: 729
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

Oedipus tells Jocasta, "This: at a feast a man who"d drunk too much denied, at the wine, I was my father's son" (OR 783-784). ... When he questions his mother and father, they become enraged at the man who told Oedipus the lie. ... Out of all the men who previously tried, Oedipus is the only one able to solve the riddle proving that fate cannot be controlled (OR). ... Oedipus cannot see who King Laius's killer is because he is blind to the truth. ... Because Oedipus is such a proud man, he is determined to find out who murdered King Laius, and his fate is eventually fully realiz...

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

He encounters Untapishtim, who is immortal, and inquires how he may also gain eternal life. ... An excellent example of this is the tragedy of Oedipus the King by Sophocles. ... When Laius tries to run Oedipus off the road, Oedipus kills Laius and his men in self defense; unaware of course that he is fulfilling his prophecy by killing his own father. ... Another prophecy presented in Oedipus the King is the oracle as Delphi says that the plague on Thebes will be lifted if the man who killed Laius is banished. ... Sophocles demonstrates the Greek's belief in the power of Gods and fate...

• Word Count: 675
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School