answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

Oedipus' name means 'lame or swollen footed'. The name that's based on injury to the feet therefore foreshadows Theban King Oedipus' true nature as the discarded son of his true biological parents, Theban King Laius and Theban Queen Jocasta. An early injury to the feet has permanent effects on the appearance and the gait.

Laius had been warned of his future death at the hands of his own son. He therefore told Jocasta to kill the three day old Oedipus. A rod was run through the infant's ankles to make it easier to throw him onto a hillside and die from exposure to the weather, the dogs, and the birds.

But Jocasta couldn't bear to kill her own son. She instead hoped to save both her husband and her son. So she handed Oedipus over to a shepherd to raise far away from Thebes. The shepherd removed the rod. But damage to the Achilles' tendon left Oedipus with swollen ankles. It also gave him an abnormalgait.

User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: How does the meaning of the name Oedipus foreshadow the discovery of Oedipus' identity?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Continue Learning about Performing Arts

What is the meaning of the title 'Oedipus Rex'?

"Oedipus the King" is the meaning of the title "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, the title "Oedipus Rex" is in Latin. It is a translation of the original title of "Oedipus Tyrannus" in ancient Greek. But the Latin is not a literal translation since the Greek translates literally into English as "Oedipus the Tyrant."


What does Tiresius say will happen to Oedipus?

Teiresias the blind prophet identifies Theban King Oedipus as the mystery killer of Theban King Laius. He also casts doubt on the acceptability, holiness and legality of the King's unknowingly incestuous marriageto Laius' grieving widow, Theban Queen Jocasta. He sums up his predictions of a dire future by calling the day of their bitter exchange as one of Oedipus' birth and death.This odd description of the day is due to Oedipus' ignorance of the true nature of his identity and of that of his parents. Oedipus mistakenly believes himself to be the biological son of King Polybus and Queen Merope of Corinth. In fact, he's their adoptive/foster son. His true parents are the man whom he kills and the victim's wife whom he marries.The heinous crime of father and king killing and the sex offense of mother-son incest are revealed to all of Thebes. One direct consequence is Jocasta's suicide. Another is Oedipus' own blinding and subsequent beggarly, humiliating, miserable exile. In one day, he loses his wife, the respect of an entire citizenry, the meaning of his life, his job, and his identity. So it's all in a day's work that Oedipus is born to his true identity and dies with the public revealing of the shameful crimes by which such an identity is accompanied.


What is the translation of the name 'Oedipus' in 'Oedipus Rex'?

"Swollen foot" is the translation of the name Oedipus in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, the meaning of the name describes one of Theban King Oedipus' most distinctive physical features. Scars feature prominently around both of Oedipus' swollen feet. He also has a shuffling gait because of the deformities.


Why is the audience important for the understanding of the meaning of 'Oedipus Rex'?

That the play is meant to be performed is the reason why the audience is important for the understanding of the meaning of "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, a range of audiences can be drawn into a performance of the play. It helps to be familiar with the life and times of Theban King Oedipus. But anyone will be moved by the dramatic irony of events and words have greater meaning that what characters assume them to have.


What is the origin of Oedipus' name in 'Oedipus Rex'?

The permanently swollen nature of his feet is what gives Oedipus his name in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, a rod is run through Oedipus' ankles when he is just three days old. The rod subsequently is removed, but leaves aftereffects. Permanently swollen feet and shuffling gait are among the consequences, of which the former is the actual meaning of the name Oedipus.

Related questions

What is the meaning of Oedipus in Tagalog?

Oedipus in Tagalog: Edipo


What is the meaning of foreshadow?

To shadow or typi/y beforehand; to prefigure.


What is the literal meaning of Oedipus's name?

Oedipus in ancient Greek meant "swollen foot".


What is the meaning of the title 'Oedipus Rex'?

"Oedipus the King" is the meaning of the title "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, the title "Oedipus Rex" is in Latin. It is a translation of the original title of "Oedipus Tyrannus" in ancient Greek. But the Latin is not a literal translation since the Greek translates literally into English as "Oedipus the Tyrant."


What does Tiresius say will happen to Oedipus?

Teiresias the blind prophet identifies Theban King Oedipus as the mystery killer of Theban King Laius. He also casts doubt on the acceptability, holiness and legality of the King's unknowingly incestuous marriageto Laius' grieving widow, Theban Queen Jocasta. He sums up his predictions of a dire future by calling the day of their bitter exchange as one of Oedipus' birth and death.This odd description of the day is due to Oedipus' ignorance of the true nature of his identity and of that of his parents. Oedipus mistakenly believes himself to be the biological son of King Polybus and Queen Merope of Corinth. In fact, he's their adoptive/foster son. His true parents are the man whom he kills and the victim's wife whom he marries.The heinous crime of father and king killing and the sex offense of mother-son incest are revealed to all of Thebes. One direct consequence is Jocasta's suicide. Another is Oedipus' own blinding and subsequent beggarly, humiliating, miserable exile. In one day, he loses his wife, the respect of an entire citizenry, the meaning of his life, his job, and his identity. So it's all in a day's work that Oedipus is born to his true identity and dies with the public revealing of the shameful crimes by which such an identity is accompanied.


Identity property multiplication?

meaning of identity property of multiplication


What is the translation of the name 'Oedipus' in 'Oedipus Rex'?

"Swollen foot" is the translation of the name Oedipus in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, the meaning of the name describes one of Theban King Oedipus' most distinctive physical features. Scars feature prominently around both of Oedipus' swollen feet. He also has a shuffling gait because of the deformities.


Why is the audience important for the understanding of the meaning of 'Oedipus Rex'?

That the play is meant to be performed is the reason why the audience is important for the understanding of the meaning of "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, a range of audiences can be drawn into a performance of the play. It helps to be familiar with the life and times of Theban King Oedipus. But anyone will be moved by the dramatic irony of events and words have greater meaning that what characters assume them to have.


What is the origin of Oedipus' name in 'Oedipus Rex'?

The permanently swollen nature of his feet is what gives Oedipus his name in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, a rod is run through Oedipus' ankles when he is just three days old. The rod subsequently is removed, but leaves aftereffects. Permanently swollen feet and shuffling gait are among the consequences, of which the former is the actual meaning of the name Oedipus.


What is the symbolic meaning of MTN corporate identity?

loob


What is the significance of oedipus complex?

The Oedipus complex comes from the ancient Greek play Oedipus. Dr. Sigmund Freud named this condition after one of the key meanings in the play. In Oedipus, the main character (oedipus himself) kills his father and marries his mother. The meaning of the Oedipus complex is a boy's natural sexual feelings for his own mother. This is shown at birth and in normal human behavior, is broken up after years of aging. If not, there's a problem-- Oedipus Complex.


What is the meaning of sim in telecommunication?

Stands for Subscriber Identity Module and basically provides the identity of a subscriber in mobile communication.