Oedipus, A Liar, By Sophocles - 839 Words

In the play Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, Oedipus remains blind throughout the play, both figuratively and literally. The play is about a man named Oedipus whose fate is to kill his father and marry his mother. His biological parents, knowing about the Oedipus’ prophecy, abandons him, and continue with their lives. However, Oedipus is saved, but spends his life running away from his adoptive parents (who he believed to be his biological parents), afraid that the prophecy may come true. As the audience knows, the prophecy has been fulfilled, however, Oedipus is oblivious to the truth. He often chooses to ignore the truth and remain figuratively blind to what everyone is trying to prove to him. He accuses Tiresias, the blind prophet, of being a liar, continuing to then unreasonably project his anger towards Creon . Once he finally opens his eyes to the truth, he decides to gouge out his eyes, becoming literally blind. Firstly, Oedipus accuses Tiresias of being a liar after trying to discuss the prophecy and tell Oedipus the truth. Tiresias is called in to help release the city from the plague. After some resistance, the prophet reveals that Oedipus is the murderer of Laius, angering Oedipus as Tiresias had predicted. Oedipus rejects Tiresias’ words, saying things such as â€Å"That obscenity, twice- by god, you’ll pay† (Pg.180, 414) as well as â€Å"Your words are nothing- futile† (Pg. 180, 416). His figurative blindness affects his judgement, causing him to not accept what Tiresias isShow MoreRelatedOedipus As A Tragic Hero1094 Words   |  5 PagesIn the play Oedipus the King, Oedipus struggles to accept the truth and lets his temper over power him. He can be displayed as a tragic hero. His refusal to accept the truth led to Oedipus’ down fall. A tragic hero, as defined by Aristotle, â€Å"is a literary character who makes a judgment error that inevitably le ads to his/her own destruction.† Sophocles’ Oedipus exemplifies Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero. In the play, Oedipus unknowingly has cursed the entire town of Thebes. He was cursedRead MoreAnalysis Of Antigone By Sophocles1074 Words   |  5 Pages create a sense of fear and pity in the audience that comes from unmerited adversity, and lastly, a tragic hero’s own death or great suffering must originate from their own flaws or errors in judgment (â€Å"Aristotle The Elements of Tragedy†). In Sophocles’ play â€Å"Antigone†, King Creon fits all the requirements of a tragic hero. Creon believed that his own decisions and rulings would benefit his kingdom for the better. However, his decisions and rulings end up leading to his downfall when Antigone decidesRead MoreEssay on Oedipus is to Blame in Oedipus the King625 Words   |  3 PagesOedipus is to Blame in Oedipus the King      Ã‚   In the story of Oedipus the King, Sophocles portrays the main character, Oedipus, as a good natured person that has bad judgment and frailty.   Oedipus makes a few bad decisions and is condemned to profound suffering because of his pride.   I agree with Aristotle that he brings it all on to himself because of his own personal pride.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One day Oedipus finds out that there is a prophecy that depicts him killingRead MoreThroughout most famous Greek literature, a great hero usually saves the day. In the story of900 Words   |  4 PagesIn the story of Oedipus though, the good man with one minor flaw goes through great pain. This pain in the play Oedipus Rex is the focal point for the whole play. Almost every aspect of the play builds up and foreshadows Oedipus’ fall from power, and entry into pain. Sophocles in his tragedy Oedipus Rex creates a mood of dramatic irony using the dualities of sight and blindness, and light and darkness. This dramatic irony highlights Oedipus’ hamartia and in doing so Sophocles enhances his messageRead MoreOedipus the King: Fate vs. Free Will Essay examples591 Words   |  3 PagesSophocles’ Oedipus the King: Fate vs. Free Will In Oedipus the King, one of Sophocles’ most popular plays, Sophocles clearly depicts the Greek’s popular belief that fate will control a man’s life despite of man’s free will. Man was free to choose and was ultimately held responsible for his own actions. Throughout Oedipus the King, the concept of fate and free will plays an integral part in Oedipus destruction. Destined to marry his mother and murder his father, Oedipus was partly guidedRead More Boundaries of Destiny, Fate, Free Will and Free Choice in Oedipus the King1282 Words   |  6 PagesBoundaries of Fate and Free Will in Oedipus the King    The ancient Greeks firmly believed that the universe was guided strictly by order and fate. In Oedipus the King, Sophocles has examined the relationship between free will and fate, suggesting that free will paradoxically exists inside the boundaries of fate. It may be concluded, however, that man has free will and is ultimately held responsible for his own actions.    Oedipus destruction was brought about by a combination of fateRead MoreOedipus Rex: Classic Tragic Hero921 Words   |  4 PagesIn the play Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, Oedipus is a classic tragic hero. According to Aristotles definition, Oedipus is a tragic hero because he is a king whose life falls apart when he finds out his life story. There are a number of characteristics described by Aristotle that identify a tragic hero. For example, a tragic hero must cause his own downfall; his fate is not deserved, and his punishment exceeds the crime; he also must be of noble stature and have greatness. Oedipus is in love with hisRead MoreOedipus the King: Fate Vs Free Will Essay639 Words   |  3 Pages Oedipus the King, was written by Sophocles between C.A.496-406B.C. In this play, Oedipus is a great example of Sophocles’ belief that fate will control a man’s life no matter how much free will exists. Oedipus is a man of unflagging determination and perseverance, but one who must learn through the working out of a terrible prophecy that there are forces beyond any man’s conceptualization or control. Oedipus’ actions were determined before his birth, yet Oedipus’ actions are entirely determinedRead MoreOedipus The King Analysis1357 Words   |  6 PagesGreek play, Oedipus the King, shows how easy it is for a man to fall apart, while trying to make things right. Sophocles’ tragedy tells the story of Oedipus, a regular man turned king of Thebes. Throughout the tragedy, Oedipus searches for the cause of the chaos and havoc encompassing his land; however, he discovers that he is the one responsible for the hardships plaguing Thebes. As the tragedy continues, Sophocles’ exposes a dark side to power, fame, and ambition. Further, Sophocles’ exposes theRead More Oedipus Tyrannos by Sophocles1623 Words   |  7 PagesOedipus Tyrannos by Sophoc les Sophocles uses a mixture of both visual and emotional imagery to create the morally questioning, Greek tragedy ‘Oedipus Tyrannos’. He presents the audience with an intense drama, which addresses the reality and importance of the gods that the Greeks fervently believed in. The play also forces the audience to ask themselves if there is such a concept as fate.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  From the very beginning of Oedipus, it is made clear â€Å"that his destiny be one of fate and worse†

Hamlet, By William Shakespeare - 1561 Words

Throughout the Elizabethan era, women were often considered insignificant and were never granted important parts in the plays. However, during the 1600’s, women gained an appreciation for the existence of their characters and played major roles in which impacted the progress of the play as a whole and other characters involved. This is evident in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, where two major female characters, Gertrude and Ophelia, contributed as crucial roles to the development of the tragedy. The plot of the play could not have been developed if it weren’t for Gertrude’s, the Queen of Denmark and mother of Hamlet, marriage to Claudius. Her hasty actions further worsened her relationship with Hamlet, and ultimately brought negative†¦show more content†¦Gertrude’s weakness enables her to place her emotions ahead of moral righteousness and what is the right act for her to do. Her emotions are expressed when she makes the immediate decision o f marrying Claudius, while betraying the love she had with her original husband, Old King Hamlet. Hamlet is disgusted by Gertrude’s decisions to marry Claudius and she begins to lose the respect he had for her. For instance in Hamlet’s soliloquy, he declares, â€Å"She married. O, most wicked speed, to post/ With such dexterity to incestous sheets!† (I.ii.161-162). This further demonstrates Hamlet’s profound disapproval of such forbidden and violated actions between his mother and uncle. By turning against traditional laws, Hamlet takes Gertrude into different regards and is left unsettle upon his true feelings for her. Despite Gertrude’s impetuous measures, Hamlet is greatly impacted emotionally further triggering his decision of stating, â€Å"frailty, thy name is woman!† (I.ii.150). Hamlet illustrates his anger by making the generalization that all women are frail and weak in character, centering his statement towards his mother. More so, Gertrude is morally weak because she clearly did not devote enough time mourning the death of Old King Hamlet, before marrying Claudius. Not only does she establish weakness,but she is also confined in meeting her needs of security and guidance from a male figure. On the other hand, Ophelia is defined

Things Fall Apart †Chinua Achebe Argumentative Essay Example For Students

Things Fall Apart – Chinua Achebe Argumentative Essay An African man, Chinua Achebe, wrote the novel, Things Fall Apart, at the age of 26. The story portrays his theme of life, when one thing stands another stands beside it. The main character, Okonkwo, lead a somewhat complicated life. As it began, it was ruled by courage and strength, but he chose to end it with a weak escape from every challenge he had ever been given, suicide. As his life began he was given nothing. His father, Unoka, was a disgrace to Umuofia. He was extremely lazy, and more in debt than anyone could even remember. Okonkwo worked extremely hard for everything he had ever had in his possession. He began his fame at a very young age, as a wrestler. His victory with Amalinze, the cat, was the beginning of his successful life. He harvested all of his crops alone, with no help. He was a strong and courageous warrior, as well as leader. When the Priestess of Agbala took his daughter, Ezinma, he followed behind, showing that he cared. This also counteracts the fact that, â€Å"He had a slight stammer and whenever he was angry and could not get his words out quickly enough, he would use his fists. † (Achebe 4) He was known for his fiery temper, which on occasion acted out unnecessarily. On one instance he beat his wife, Ojiugo, merely because she didn’t have his food ready. In the outcome of an ultimatum with Mbaino, Umuofia was given a young boy, Ikemefuna. Okonkwo took care of Ikemefuna for three years, but when Ezeudu said, â€Å"That boy calls you father, do not bear a hand in his death,† (Achebe 57) he helped to kill him anyways. During a ceremony for Ezeudu’s death, Okonkwo’s gun exploded and a piece of metal pierced the heart of Ezeudu’s son. He was exiled from Umuofia for seven years. During his exile, he went to Mbanta, his mothers’ homeland, to live with his uncle, Uchendu. While there he took very good care of Mbanta, although he became very lazy and whiny. During a talk with Uchendu, Uchendu commented that, â€Å"If you allow sorrow to weigh you down, and kill you, they wild all die in exile. † (Achebe 134) Instead of making the best out of what he had, he moped. After his exile he returned to a changed Umuofia. White men, missionaries moved into Umuofia, and Okonkwo’s son, Nwoye, decided to join them. Okonkwo got into many confrontations with the church, because he felt as if strangers were ruling him. In the end he decided to commit suicide. This was an extremely weak act on his part. He let all of the true Ibo people down, and merely did what he could to escape all of his troubles. Okonkwo did lead a very difficult life, and in the beginning he made what he could out of it and did many respectable things. By the end of his life I think that he was just sick of it. He could have fought the missionaries, but it’s almost as if he just gave up. Okonkwo deserves titles for all of his accomplishments, but he does not deserve any recognition for his personality. He was always concerned with what others would think of him, and not about what was right. In the end he just gave up.

Obamas Speech in India

President Obama of the United States of America gave a long speech in India, November 2010. His visit in India was on his way to Asia, whereby he intended to visit Japan, china, south Korea and Singapore. The four countries he visited own more than 46% of the United States foreign-held debt. The speech that he gave consisted of so many things, but most importantly, he stretched on the relations between the United States and India.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Obama’s Speech in India specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More As much as India has changed in various things, Obama added that the relationship of the two nations has also changed (Jaffe 12). The partnership of India and United States was considered as natural and necessary during this meeting. One of the major benefits of ensuring a good relation between the two nations was to bring them closer to each other, hence increasing trade and the success of s ome important agreements. Obama insisted that, it is his vision, and that of his nation for India and the United States to partner for their mutual benefit, and that of the whole world. Every country has a desire to satisfy its interests. The United States president said he was convinced and sure that, relating with India would make the interests of the two nations best advanced. Some of the interests of the United States as stated by Obama were security, prosperity, growing economy, and respect for universal values (Duke 10). The promoted relation between India and the United States would make these interests achievable. Stronger global relationship would assist most of the nations to realize their dreams of prosperity. The United States president confirmed to the Indians that the relationship between the two countries is unique. Some of the unique features that can strengthen their relationship, and reap some benefits are their strong democracies. The constitutions of the two nati ons begin with the same revolutionary words according to Obama. The relation of the two nations was going to be very positive and very beneficial to the whole world. Much of the benefits were to be realized from the fact that, the two nations are free market economies, whereby their citizens are free to pursue their interests, and come up with new ideas that can bring change to world. The partnership of India and the United States is considered to be an indispensable one, and would meet the major challenges that are faced by nations especially the developing ones. Enhancing the relationship of the two nations has been a priority of the United States president. He started working on the success of this relationship during the first official state visit, in the white house, when he invited India Prime Minister Singh.Advertising Looking for essay on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Through this visit, the two governments started working together, especially in finding solutions of the major challenges that the two nations encounter (Wagner 32). The president confirmed that, the United States will not only welcome India into this healthy relationship, but it would also support it, to make the visions of the two nations a reality. The issue of securing the world from dangerous and vulnerable nuclear material was another stated benefit to be reaped from this relationship. This is meant to result to these two nations strengthening the backgrounds of democratic governance, globally. The president appreciated the efforts of Indian government to make use of technology to make issues more open and transparent to the citizens (29). He recommended that, as a good way of empowering citizens, by making the services that they require available to their reach, and making officials responsible of their acts. Obama emphasized that the new collaboration of the two governments would major in sharing e xperiences, identify the key areas, and come up with the most efficient tools to empower their citizens. Works Cited Duke, Gerald. Obamas ten day journey to Asia. 22 November 2010. 24 September 2011 https://www.thenigerianvoice.com/. Jaffe, Mathew. President Obama in India. 3 November 2010. 24 September 2011 https://www.huffpost.com/. Wagner, George. President Obamas Asia Visit. 2 November 2010. 24 September 2011 https://www.csis.org/. This essay on Obama’s Speech in India was written and submitted by user Jesse Delaney to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.