Oedipus Rex

Hang herself and blind himself are what Jocasta and Oedipus do when they discover that Teiresias and the oracle told the truth in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Teiresias the blind prophet announces that Theban King Oedipus is King Laius' killer. This is in line with the Delphic oracle's prediction that Oedipus will kill his father and marry his mother. The Corinthian messenger and the Theban shepherd verify the facts in the prophecy's realization.

That she disrespects the gods and that her request already is being processed but that she will dislike the results are reasons why it is ironic that Jocasta burns incense to the gods in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban Queen Jocasta burns incense and offers a garland as sacrifices to Apollo the god of prophecy. But she disrespects him by interfering with her first husband King Laius' prophecy and by disparaging oracles and prophets. She makes the request that Oedipus leave the past behind and that the pestilence be ended soon. The requests will be granted, but she is going to dislike the way in which each is realized.

Laius and his royal escort party are the men killed by Oedipus in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Oedipus enters the Delphi-Daulia intersection from the Delphi side. A group of travellers enters the intersection from the Theban side. Oedipus is all alone against six people: Theban King Laius, his charioteer, his herald, his wife's most trusted servant and two others of unspecified function in the five-member royal escort party.

That it conflicts with overriding divine law is the reason why Antigone commits civil disobedience in "Antigone" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban Princess Antigone faces a legal conflict. Divine will gives to all Thebans the rights of below ground burials and funeral rites. But Antigone's uncle King Creon issues a law that denies these rights to his perceived enemies. Antigone opts for respecting the gods, who rule in life and death, as opposed to honoring her uncle King Creon's illegally issued edict.

Brave and compassionate but inconsistent and panic stricken are Oedipus' characteristics in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Oedipus demonstrates bravery and intelligence when he defeats the fearsome, monstrous Sphinx. He exhibits compassion when he interacts with his citizens and his children. But at the same time, he is inconsistent in following proper procedure for the murder investigation that condemns him and yet neglecting mandatory cleansing rituals after his crimes and Laius' death. The inconsistency may be linked to the panic that is his hallmark after receiving his dreadful prophesied fate as his father's killer and his mother's husband.

Yes, Teiresias suggests that Oedipus is the murderer in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Teiresias the blind prophet is the royal advisor to every Theban king since the city's founding by King Cadmus. He knows all because of his innate wisdom and because of his skilled reading of divine will through ritual sacrifices. He must share what he knows upon royal request, but this is one request that he dreads since he will have to accuse a hotheaded king of being the killer of the previous royal ruler of Thebes.

The Sphinx does not destroy the city of Thebes in "Oedipus Rex."

Specifically, the monster sets up camp outside the city and forces everyone coming and going to answer a seemingly unanswerable riddle. Those who have no answer are killed by her. But Oedipus comes along and solves the riddle before the Sphinx can devour every last Theban or destroy the city.

'Tragic' refers to an unhappy turn of events. That's the perfect description of Theban King Oedipus' life. Specifically, he's a much respected and admired ruler who is happy in his personal life with his four attractive, intelligent children and his beautiful, kind wife.

But before play's end, Oedipus ends up blind, homeless, unemployed and widowed. He loses everything that gives him meaning and that ensures the admiration and respect of others. His albeit unknowing fall from grace is complete and tragic. He goes from being a personal and professional role model of happiness and success to becoming a despised and scorned murderer, sex offender and traitor.

Legality, morality, obedience and respect are the appearances and illegality, immorality, disobedience and disrespect the realities in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (c. 495 B.C.E. - c. 405 B.C.E.)

Specifically, the royal couple formed by Theban King Oedipus and Theban Queen Jocasta has the appearance of a happy, healthy family life. The couple seems to serve as a role model of the happy successes inherent in clean, decent living. The royal consort and her second, younger husband show respect to divine law, gods, and Theban traditions.

But the reality is an incestuous marriage of a mother to her only son who thereby becomes half-brother to his own children. At first glance, Oedipus looks every bit the respected ruler of honor and integrity. In reality, he turns out to be the albeit unknowing killer of his father and royal predecessor as well as the deliberate, two-time violator of divinely-ordained purification rituals.

That he has no one to defend him is what Oedipus thinks is unlucky about Laius' fatherhood in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Laius dies under mysterious circumstance. No one in Thebes looks into his death or carries out mandatory cleansing rituals. But years later, King Oedipus makes it clear that he will do what is left undone. He owes it to Laius, the first husband of Oedipus' wife Queen Jocasta.

Commit murder is what Oedipus does at a place where three roads meet in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Oedipus commits one murder in self-defense. The other four happen in rapid succession. No specific information is given other than that Oedipus was outnumbered at an intersection, where a party of six pushed through, jostling and then striking him in the process.

It is the chorus leader who convinces Oedipus to allow Creon to leave in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Oedipus accuses his brother-in-law and royal colleague, Creon, of conspiring with Teiresias the blind prophet to grab all royal powers for themselves. He demands execution as the punishment in the choice between that and exile. Oedipus' wife, Queen Jocasta, makes an unsuccessful effort to talk Oedipus out of such cruel, rash action. But Oedipus relents only when the chorus leader observes that unity instead of conflict is needed and that Creon swears an oath as to the truth of his self-defense.

Answer #1

He had an unnatural sexual obsession with her. This obsession is the basis of the 'Oedipus Complex' term of Psychiatry.

Answer #2

Oedipus too thought that he could escape fate. He was warned against killing his own father and marrying his own mother. But he was operating under the mistaken impression that Polybus was his father, and Merope his mother. He therefore ran away from home.

Oedipus then made the mistake of not being vigilant, not maintaining his guard, and not looking a gift horse in the mouth. He would have served himself better to question any interactions with older individuals senior enough to be his father and his mother.

Practicality, straightforwardness and supreme self-confidence are qualities that the audience immediately sees in Oedipus in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Oedipus exhibits practicality in confronting a problem and immediately starting on the solution. He manifests straightforwardness in mincing no words and going straight to the essential concerns of his people. He shows supreme self-confidence in his exercise of his kingly powers.

Dramatic irony is when the words and actions of the characters of a work of literature have a different meaning for the reader than they do for the characters. This is the result of the reader having a greater knowledge than the characters themselves.

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It is a contradiction between what a character says and what the audience knows.

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Dramatic Irony occurs when the reader or spectator knows more about the true state of affairs then the characters themselves.
A situation in a play in which the audience knows more than the characters