0
Oedipus Rex
More than 2,420 years old but still studied today, the play ‘Oedipus Rex’ tells a tragic tale of mistaken identities, inescapable fates, and horrific human misdeeds. Contributors typically compare and contrast the play’s characters, storytelling techniques, and subject matter with similar pieces of literature from the same and different settings and time periods.
3,240 Questions
Why does Oedipus' father try to have his son killed?
Oedipus's father tries to kill his son to prevent the prophesy, that Oedipus will kill the father and marry the mother, from happening. The gods prophesied as such and they didn't want it to happen.
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.
What is Oedipus' punishment for killing King Laius?
Exile is the punishment of Theban King Oedipus for killing Theban King Laius. The oracle at Apollo's shrine tells Theban King Creon that the murderer or murderers of Laius must be identified and punished with execution or exile. The choice of the punishment is up to Creon, Oedipus' brother-in-law and uncle. Oedipus asks for exile, and Creon decides to honor that request, and Oedipus' request for protection to his two daughters, Antigone and Ismene.
How and why is 'Oedipus Rex' a tragedy in self and in identity?
Theban King Oedipus is tragic in terms of his own self. The how of that tragedy is seen in the movement through the different traits that he and others see him as having. For example, he starts out noble and admired. Specifically, he's seen as having courage, integrity, and wisdom. He ends up humiliatedand mutilated. Specifically, he's seen as criminal and immoral.
Oedipus also is tragic in terms of his own identity. The how of that tragedy is seen in the movement through the different jobs that are deemed appropriate for him to hold. For example, he starts out with an enviable identity as a popular, respected head of state. He ends up with the unenviable identity as a blind, beggarly nobody.
The why of both tragedies is seen in his gradual discovery of his total misunderstanding of how he leads his life. For example, he understands himself to have killed a stranger in self defense. But long afterward, he understands himself to have killed his own father and his own king in a disgraceful street brawl over a right-of-way.
Likewise, Oedipus understands himself to have married a grieving widow as a reward for delivering her city from an evil Sphinx. The happily married couple lead a comfortable family life with twin sons and two daughters. But long afterward, he understands himself to have married his own mother and thereby to have fathered children who also are his half siblings.
he says that it is illegal for anyone to bury polynieces because he is a traitor towards thebes. at the end of the play we find out that he really says this because one of his sons is killed by polynieces army in the war between eteocles and polyniceces
Does Oedipus cause his own downfall?
Yes, Theban King Oedipus causes his own downfall by his pride and his tragically flawed decision making. He hears a rumor that he isn't the biological son of Corinthian King Polybus and Corinthian Queen Merope. He doesn't get a straight answer from his parents.
So Oedipus decides to see what the Delphic Oracle has to say. The Oracle doesn't answer Oedipus' question either. Instead, the Oracle says that Oedipus will kill his father and marry his mother.
In response, Oedipus takes the first step to his downfall through his pride in thinking that he can escape such a horrific fate. He does so through his tragically flawed decision making. He needs to find out who his biological parents are instead of assuming them to be people whose parental identity already is questioned by rumor and by their lack of forthrightness.
Instead, Oedipus decides to flee Delphi and Corinth. The road from Delphi takes him to a crossroads where three roads meet. One of those roads leads to Thebes. Along that road comes a churlish, surly stranger who is none other than Laius, King of Thebes and father of Oedipus. Laius presents an insulting, violent challenge to Oedipus' right of way. Oedipus decides to respond in kind, with the result that he kills a man whom he resembles and who is old enough to be his father.
Oedipus then goes on to Thebes. There, he saves the city from the beastly, bullying Sphinx. He solves the unsolvable riddle of what life form [man] moves on all fours in the morning, on twos in the afternoon, and on threes in the evening. As a reward, he's offered the vacant Theban throne as a job and the grieving widow as a wife. By accepting his rewards, Oedipus decides to marry a woman who is old enough to be his mother.
Much later, a pestilence ravages Thebes of its harvests, its livestock, and its people. From Apollo's shrine it's learned that the killer[s] of Laius must be identified and punished. Oedipus decides upon an automatic punishment of execution or exile. He decides not to look into any mitigating factors. He therefore foredooms his own tragedy of subsequent discovery that he's the killer of his own father and sovereign, and the wedder and bedder of his own mother.
Finally, Oedipus decides to blind himself. His life therefore ends up exactly as it's fated to go as a blind beggar in exile. Fate may be inescapable. But the supreme irony are the albeit unknowing choices and decisions that Oedipus makes every step of the way that take him ever closer to his horrific fate. The harder he tries to flee, the more closely he embraces his nightmarish destiny through the choices and decisions that he freely makes out of his ignorance of the true nature of his identity and the true consequences of his actions.
What is taboo of the play Oedipus Rex?
the killed his father and married his mother and has children with her.
What angry accusation does Oedipus make?
When Oedipus asks the blind prophet Tiresias who killed the previous king Laius, Tiresias states that he knows but wishes he didn't. Oedipus furiously accuses Tiresias of the murder of (Oedipus'own father), Laius - whom, of course Oedipus actually killed unknowingly.
What are the two opposing worldviews in 'Oedipus Rex'?
Fate and free will are the two opposing worldviews in Oedipus Rex.
What is creon's motive for arresting Ismene as well?
Creon believes that Ismene was apart of the unrightful burial as well because Polyneices was just as much Ismene's brother than Antigone.
Whom does Teiresias accuse of killing Laius?
It's Theban King Oedipus that Teiresias the blind prophet accuses of killing Theban King Laius. He also suggests that there's an equally dark truth behind the married life that Oedipus appears to lead so happily with Laius' widow, Theban Queen Jocasta. Teiresias says that before day's end Oedipus will know the truth of the accusations. Indeed, before not too long, Oedipus is confronted with his own true identity as the killer of his own father and sovereign, and the wedder and bedder of his own mother.
Why does jocasta beg Oedipus to relinquish his search?
cz Jocasta understood that Oedipus is her child n the prophecy came true. And if Oedipus gets to know this, he will suffer, mentally.
What was the prophecy that Oedipus fulfilled?
An oracle had a prophecy that Oedipus would kill his father, king of Thebes, and marry his mother.
Why does Oedipus look for the muderer of king laius?
Oedipus does not realize that he killed king Laius and that king Laius was his father.
Who is blinded by Jocasta's brooch?
Theban King Oedipus blinds himself with Theban Queen Jocasta's brooch. Jocasta turns out to be his mother, the mother of his children, and his wife. When the news breaks, Jocasta kills herself rather than keep up an incestuous marriage or choose between death or miserable exile. Oedipus then blinds himself rather than see the mess that he and his parents have made of their lives. He can't bear the thought of seeing the life choices and style that he previously had prided himself on knowing so well and seeing so clearly.
What is the structure of government in 'Antigone'?
Royalty, monarchy or kingship describes the governmental structure that's presented in the play 'Antigone'. The play takes place in the ancient Greek city of Thebes. Thebes was founded around 2000 B.C.E.* by Cadmus, who was the son of King Agenor of Tyre, in Phoenicia. Cadmus became the first king, and his descendants continued the royal pattern of government. Antigone and her uncle, Theban King Creon, were both descendants of Cadmus.
What god will punish the murderer of Laius?
Although Athene, Artemis, and Apollo are called upon in this Ode to help the people of Thebes, it is ultimately Zeus who is called upon to slay the murderer of King Laius.
Father Zeus, whose hand
Doth wield the lightning brand,
Slay him beneath thy levin bold, we pray,
Slay him, O slay!
First, Oedipus flees Corinth. Second, he kills four men at a crossroads between Delphi and Thebes. Third, he frees Thebes from the Sphinx. Fourth, he marries Theban Queen Jocasta and thereby becomes King of Thebes.
It depends on which Troy you are talking about! There are many Troys in the world! Including a whole country!!!!!!
He declines the request, saying that Oedipus can no longer have his way as he did when he was king.
What is Oedipus' response when Teiresias charges him with killing Laius?
He begins to deny everything, and starts arguing with Teiresias. After that, he blames Creon, claiming that Creon was jealous of Oedipus' power and wants the throne, so he murdered King Laius. When Creon enters, he says that he is already treated like a king and that he doesn't need the name of king to be treated like one. Later on in the tragedy, Oedipus begins to question himself.
What was the importance of saying 'no' in 'Antigone'?
Saying 'no' in the play 'Antigone' was important in showing individual choices. It also was important in showing what can't be legislated: a certain unchanging standard for humans of appropriate behavior. That changeless standard was set by the gods. According to the gods, for example, it was unthinkable for any Theban not to be given a proper funeral. But that timeless standard was contrasted with the latest, changing standards of city government. According to Theban King Creon, it was unthinkable for Thebans to expect a proper burial. He considered burial a privilege to be earned, not a right to be honored. Thebans had to act, speak, and think in the ways that the King wanted them to. Otherwise, they'd be denied their traditional, god-given rights. But Creon's niece Antigone decided to say 'no' to the standards of the moment, and 'yes' to the eternal. In so doing, she showed that mortals were more than puppets to the moment's particular despotic, dictatorial ruler. She also showed that life was more than mindless, uncritical obedience to the moment's earthly bully. And she showed that the bonds of tradition, friendship, and family were forces not to be ignored by earthly rulers and earthly laws.
In what type of writing style is 'Oedipus Rex' written?
A writing style is a particular manner or technique by which something is written. In the case of 'Oedipus Rex', Sophocles [496 B.C.E.-406 B.C.E.] writes the play in a poetic style. A poetic style is characterized by vivid images and a fairly regular rhythm. Indeed, 'Oedipus Rex' may be said to have strong images that are made ever stronger by a steadily moving text. The play doesn't rhyme, and poetry doesn't have to do so.
