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Violence and panic-stricken desperation are how Laius and Oedipus respectively try to avoid their fates in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, violence appears to be the signature reaction of Theban King Laius when backed into a corner. For example, he asks his wife, Queen Jocasta, to kill their three-day-old infant son Oedipus when the royal couple receives a prophecy that their son will grow up to kill his father. In like vein, he battles a younger version of himself when the presumed stranger stands firm about right-of-way at the fateful Delphi-Daulia crossroads in Phocis. Both hotheaded expressions of violence boomerang with Laius' death.

Oedipus is similarly hotheaded. But the very first reaction of a frightened Oedipus is to run away in a classic example of desperate, panic-stricken avoidance behavior. The very second reaction is violent action carried out against an older version of himself and followed years later by violent threats and violent self-mutilation.

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Q: How do Laius and Oedipus try to avoid their respective fates in 'Oedipus Rex'?
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What are the primary sources of fear and pity in 'Oedipus Rex'?

What happens to Jocasta, Laius Oedipus are the primary sources of fear and pity in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban monarchs Jocasta, Laius and Oedipus are given fearful fates just because their ancestors are on a divine hate list. They understandably attempt to keep their unenviable fates from being realized. They fight an uphill battle against the relentless Furies of fate. Their destinies inspire fear, their efforts courage and their sufferings pity.


How is prophecy significant in 'Oedipus Rex'?

The significance of prophecy in 'Oedipus Rex' is its being carried out despite the opposition and strategies of mortals. It's prophesied that Theban King Laius will be murdered by his own son, who then will marry his own mother. Both the parents and their son, subsequent Theban King Oedipus, try to avoid such a horrific fate. But the more they hide and the further they run, the closer they get to their god ordained fates.


Who are three gods in 'Oedipus Rex'?

Apollo, Ares and Athena are three gods in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Apollo is the god of prophecy whose presence is evidenced in the predicted fates of Theban monarchs Jocasta, Laius and Oedipus. Ares is the war god whose presence is hinted in the self-defensive murders committed by Oedipus at the Delphi-Daulia intersection. Athena is the goddess of wisdom whose presence is implied in Oedipus' solving the Sphinx's riddle and King Laius' murder.


At which line does Jocasta inform her husband of fates not coming true in 'Oedipus Rex'?

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Why are Oedipus and Jocasta punished in 'Oedipus Rex'?

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Why is Apollo mentioned so early in 'Oedipus Rex'?

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Who is the playwright about Oedipus?

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Is the role of the gods negative in 'Oedipus Rex'?

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What attitude does the audience take away about the gods in 'Oedipus Rex'?

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What would Aristotle say about Oedipus killing his own father?

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