In Sophocles’s play “Oedipus Rex” Oedipus Even though "fate"
seems to determine Oedipus' life, . he does infact have a free will. His choices
brought the prophecy to life. Only his decisions (not influenced by anybody) he
made. Of course those decisions were in side of the limits set by fate. When
Oedipus heard a prophesy that his going to kill his father and sleep with his
mother he ran away, even when he new there were suspicions of him being the real
son of his parents. There some lines from the play: "…There was a man
dining with us one day who had too much wine and man shouted at me-half drunk
and shouting that I was not rightly called my father's son. … Without my
parent's knowledge, I went to Delphi, but Apollo did not say what I had gone to
hear. Instead, he answered questions I had not asked and told of horror and
misery beyond believe - how I would know my mothers bad … and cause the death
of my own father." The prophecy drove the Oedipus away from home; the
terror of the predictions was too much to live with. Oedipus tried everything
not to meet the prophecy, and still when he came to Thebes and became a king
Oedipus married an older lady. It was his choice, even when he knew there was a
danger of him to know mothers bad, he made it. Oedipus' quest for truth was his
choice. When the Teiresias tried not to reveal the truth, The Oedipus was the
one, who made the priest to talk: "This city gave you life and yet you
refuse to answer! You speak as if you were her enemy. … For God's sake, if you
know, don't turn away from us! We are pleading. We are begging you. … You will
not tell? You monster! You could stir the stones of earth to a burning rage! You
will newer tell? What it will take?" As the truth is getting revealed:
"… You, Oedipus, are the desecrator, the polluter of this land."
Oedipus does not believe (his choice). He (Oedipus) start to accuse Creon of
truing to take his powers away (king). And still want to reveal whole truth.
After talking to Jocasta Oedipus faces that he in fact might killed the king
Laius. " There was s herald leading a carriage drawn by horses and the man
riding in the carriage … The driver pushed. In anger, I struck him. The old
man saw it, reached for his lash and waited till I had passed. Then he struck me
on the head. But he paid-oh yes he paid. … I killed him. And again that was a
choice, he (Oedipus) knew that he will kill his own father, even when he killed
an old man he didn't thought of possibility, that the old man might be his
father. Oedipus fate was determined before he was even born, and by trying t o
overcome it, he actually perfectly filing in his position in life which is a
prophesy. Oedipus thought that he oversmarted the Gods, but in fact every his
move he made moved him closer to prophesy becoming a reality. Oedipus Essay
(Fate) Sophocles “Oedipus the King” is a tragic play which discusses the
tragic discovery of Oedipus that he has killed his father and married his
mother. The story of Oedipus was well known to the athenian’s. Oedipus is the
embodiement of the perfect Athenian. He is self-confident, intelligent, and
strong willed. Ironically these are the very traits which bring about his tragic
discovery. Oedipus gained the rule of Thebes by answering the riddle of Sphinx.
Sophocles used the riddle of the sphinx as a metaphor for the 3 phases of
Oedipus’ life and to futher characterized him as a tragic man. The Sphinx
posed the following riddle to all who came to obtain the rule of thebes: “What
is it that walks on 4 feet and 2 feet and 3 feet and has only one voice, when it
walks on most feet it is the weakest?” Oedipus correctly answered “Man”
and became the king of Thebes. This riddle is a metaphor for the life of
Oedipus. As a child man crawls on his hands and knees this is the four feet to
which the Sphinx refers. Also man is at his weakest as a small child. He depends
solely on others for his nourishment and well being. Oedipus was the child of
Jocasta and King Laius who was taken to the mountain by a shepard to be killed
so the omen of the god apollo that Laius’ son would kill him and lay with
Jocasta would not come true. Oedipus was the weakest of his life at this point.
If it has not been for the shepard spairing his life and giving him to Polybus
to raise as his own Oedipus would have died. Man walks on 2 feet when he has
matured. This is a metaphor for Oedipus when he reaches adulthood and leaves
Corinth to escape the oracle. Oedipus meets up with a band of travelers and in a
rage kills them. Inadvertently Oedipus has killed his own father. Oedipus then
answers the riddle of the sphinx and becomes king of Thebes. By becoming king of
Thebes he marries Jocasta the Queen of thebes and his own mother. Many years
later after bearing children with Jocasta a plague kills many of the inhabitants
of Thebes. Oedipus is told by the gods to find the killer of Laius. He is very
dilligent in the inquiriy and finally comes to the horrible truth that he
himself is the murderer. Jocasta kills herself at the horrible realization that
she has layed with her son and Oedipus puts out his eyes at finally seeing the
truth. This fulfills the final part of the Sphinx’s riddle for Oedipus will
have to walk with a cane for the rest of his life because of his blindness, this
will give him the 3 feet which man walks with at the end of his years. Oedipus
used his intellect and diligence to answer the riddle of the Sphinx. Many of the
most intelligent young men of thebes has been killed attempting to answer the
riddle but Oedipus proved his intelligence superior to theirs. Oedipus uses the
same intelligence and perseverence to find the killer of Laius. He does not give
up his search even when Jocasta warns him to stop and let the matter rest. He
calls the shepard and interrogates him till he discovers the horrifying truth
that he is the killer. Oedipus’ intelligence was ultimately his flaw. Also, if
Oedipus had not had been as coarageous he would have have never ventured to
answer the riddle of the Sphinx. Thus even though he had killed his father he
would have never become king of Thebes and laid with his mother. In addition, if
Oedipus had had the courage but not the intelligence the Spinx would have killed
him for answering the riddle incorrectly. Sophocles used this to characterized
Oedipus as a tragic man for he came about his tragic discovery not because of an
evil act or an evil trait but because of the person he was. Oedipus traits which
gave him riches and power ultimately led to his tragic ending. Also, the god
apollo did not predestine that Oedipus would kill his father and marry his
mother by the oracle, he only stated what he knew was inevitable because of who
Oedipus was. The sphinx’s riddle was used by Sophocles to characterize Oedipus
as a tragic man and as a parallel to his life. The riddle describes the 3 stages
which Oedipus went through in his life. Also in answering the riddle Oedipus
inevitable brought about his own tragic ending by a horrible discovery. .
Oedipus does not unselfishly seek out the truth even though he knows it will be
painful for him, rather, he has no idea what the outcome of his search will be,
denies the truth at every turn, and threatens those who speak it. Many people
may paint Oedipus as a great man, pointing out that he pursues the truth at
whatever personal cost and has the strength to accept and endure it when found.
They admire that Oedipus was willing to bring himself down in his lust to find
his true identity. However, the driving force of Oedipus’ fact-finding mission
is an attempt to end the disease that plagues his city. He doesn’t realize the
personal consequences his hunt will have for him, and his loyalty to the truth
is based on his ignorance of it. In fact, if we examine his "quest for
identity", it becomes apparent that the sequence of events are quite
coincidental. First, he summons Tiresias to name the killer, who Oedipus does
not at the time believe to be himself. Secon! The tragic hero Oedipus emerges as
anything but a social person. He may begin that way, motivated by a genuine
desire to help the people, but what emerges throughout is different. It becomes
plain to see that Oedipus is actually, deep down where it really counts, far
more concerned with his own sense of self and demands for justice on his terms,
than in compromising his desires like any other true leader would. This tragedy
reminds us that even the bravest, those known throughout the world for their
knowledge, are doomed if they set themselves up against the mystery of life
itself, and if they try to force life to answer them, they are going to
self-destruct. Oedipus Rex - Bliss in Ignorance Oedipus Rex - Bliss in Ignorance
One of the most memorable and meaningful Socratic quotes applies well when in
context of Sophocles' Theban Trilogy. "The unexamined life is not worth
living," proclaims Socrates. He could have meant many things by this
statement, and in relation to the play, the meaning is found to be even more
complex. Indeed, the situation of Oedipus, king of Thebes, the truth of this
statement is in question. Would Oedipus have been better off if he was blind to
the knowledge of his birthing and the fate which was foretold to someday befall
him? Truly though, his life would have been a far better and easier path had he
never known about his true origins. His life in Corinth would have been long and
prosperous, and Thebes would have lived on under King Laius. In fact, everyone
would have been better off in the long run if Oedipus had not ventured out
beyond the walls of Corinth. So is it worth living an examined life? Socrates
had made this statement long after the creation of the Theban Trilogy. In the
context of his own time, this was meant to imply that life must be examined and
reflected upon, known and discovered by each individual philosopher to better
enrich life for all. Yet in terms of Sophoclean drama, specifically Oedipus Rex,
this was meant in a vastly different way. The unexamined life was one that was
in the dark, unknown as to what fate lied beyond every turn and irony of living.
Oedipus, up to the point in which he heard the comment in the tavern in Corinth,
lived an unexamined life. To Socrates, he was an unfulfilled man, one who
deserved to know more, one who not complete. However, in a much less
metaphysical sense, Oedipus' life was complete, in that he had all that he
needed, and was living a happy and fruitful life. As the drama progresses, he
finds out more and more, learning exactly what the implications of his birth
was, he suffers the fate for examining his life. So what Socrates had meant,
that the life which was not rich with self exploration and reflection was not
worth living, was indeed different than its application in terms of Oedipus,
who's life was unexamined, yet complete. The question arises, what would life
have been like, if Oedipus had not discovered his true origins? If he had stayed
in Corinth, would this have ever happened? We find that indeed, we would have
had no story, if not for that lone comment of a drunkard which sparked the fire
of rebellion in the young prince Oedipus. He ventured out to Delphi, to pry
knowledge of his background out of it, and to discover if this was indeed the
truth, despite the fact that his adopted parents of Corinth had assured him of
it falseness. Oedipus leaves Corinth, fulfilling the Socratic idea of the
unexamined life. However, we must evaluate the eventual consequences of his
actions and the implications which they possess. What becomes of his fateful
journey out of Corinth leads to the downfall of an entire city and family line.
If he had not murdered King Laius, the Sphinx would have never descended upon
Thebes, he would have never fulfilled the prophecy, and all would have lived on
in a relative peace and tranquillity. Once examining these aspects of the
relationship between the quote and Oedipus Rex, we can come to a final
examination of its implications. The question which was addressed, that of the
value of the examined life, can be answered. Indeed, if Oedipus had not ventured
beyond the protective walls of his adopted home, would anything such as what
occurred in the play ever have transpired? If Oedipus had not pursued that
answers to the mysteries that plagued him, despite the pleading warnings of Iöcasta,
in fact his life would have been contented and happy. Instead, he follows the
Socratic method of exploration and discovery, and proceeds down the path of pain
and distraught. Was, after it was over, all worth it? We find that no, it was
not. Being content and suited with what he knew of himself would have saved
Oedipus and his children/siblings much agony. However, in the typical Greek
tragedy, we must see his fall from grace through, which is indeed what happens.
In the bliss of ignorance, much pain and difficulty is averted. For what worries
does the ignorant man have? In the case of Oedipus, ignorance would have suited
him fine. The Socratic quote "the unexamined life is not worth living"
certainly doesn't hold true in the case of Oedipus Rex. While it may hold
importance and a substantial meaning for our own lives, in the case of Oedipus
Rex, he would have been better off without it. Indeed, for while the unexamined
life is poor in a metaphysical sense, Oedipus would have truly been fine without
it. For the unexamined life is a simple one, and he would have lived a long and
happy life, never discovering the true nature of his birth, nor even caring.
Oedipus Rex Sophocles' "Oedipus the King" is a tragic play which
discusses the tragic discovery of Oedipus that he has killed his father and
married his mother. The story of Oedipus was well known to the athenian's.
Oedipus is the embodiement of the perfect Athenian. He is self-confident,
intelligent, and strong willed. Ironically these are the very traits which bring
about his tragic discovery. Oedipus gained the rule of Thebes by answering the
riddle of Sphinx. Sophocles used the riddle of the sphinx as a metaphor for the
3 phases of Oedipus' life and to futher characterized him as a tragic man. The
Sphinx posed the following riddle to all who came to obtain the rule of thebes:
"What is it that walks on 4 feet and 2 feet and 3 feet and has only one
voice, when it walks on most feet it is the weakest?" Oedipus correctly
answered "Man" and became the king of Thebes. This riddle is a
metaphor for the life of Oedipus. As a child man crawls on his hands and knees
this is the four feet to which the Sphinx refers. Also man is at his weakest as
a small child. He depends solely on others for his nourishment and well being.
Oedipus was the child of Jocasta and King Laius who was taken to the mountain by
a shepard to be killed so the omen of the god apollo that Laius' son would kill
him and lay with Jocasta would not come true. Oedipus was the weakest of his
life at this point. If it has not been for the shepard spairing his life and
giving him to Polybus to raise as his own Oedipus would have died. Man walks on
2 feet when he has matured. This is a metaphor for Oedipus when he reaches
adulthood and leaves Corinth to escape the oracle. Oedipus meets up with a band
of travelers and in a rage kills them. Inadvertently Oedipus has killed his own
father. Oedipus then answers the riddle of the sphinx and becomes king of
Thebes. By becoming king of Thebes he marries Jocasta the Queen of thebes and
his own mother. Many years later after bearing children with Jocasta a plague
kills many of the inhabitants of Thebes. Oedipus is told by the gods to find the
killer of Laius. He is very dilligent in the inquiriy and finally comes to the
horrible truth that he himself is the murderer. Jocasta kills herself at the
horrible realization that she has layed with her son and Oedipus puts out his
eyes at finally seeing the truth. This fulfills the final part of the Sphinx's
riddle for Oedipus will have to walk with a cane for the rest of his life
because of his blindness, this will give him the 3 feet which man walks with at
the end of his years. Oedipus used his intellect and diligence to answer the
riddle of the Sphinx. Many of the most intelligent young men of thebes has been
killed attempting to answer the riddle but Oedipus proved his intelligence
superior to theirs. Oedipus uses the same intelligence and perseverence to find
the killer of Laius. He does not give up his search even when Jocasta warns him
to stop and let the matter rest. He calls the shepard and interrogates him till
he discovers the horrifying truth that he is the killer. Oedipus' intelligence
was ultimately his flaw. Also, if Oedipus had not had been as coarageous he
would have have never ventured to answer the riddle of the Sphinx. Thus even
though he had killed his father he would have never become king of Thebes and
laid with his mother. In addition, if Oedipus had had the courage but not the
intelligence the Spinx would have killed him for answering the riddle
incorrectly. Sophocles used this to characterized Oedipus as a tragic man for he
came about his tragic discovery not because of an evil act or an evil trait but
because of the person he was. Oedipus traits which gave him riches and power
ultimately led to his tragic ending. Also, the god apollo did not predestine
that Oedipus would kill his father and marry his mother by the oracle, he only
stated what he knew was inevitable because of who Oedipus was. The sphinx's
riddle was used by Sophocles to characterize Oedipus as a tragic man and as a
parallel to his life. The riddle describes the 3 stages which Oedipus went
through in his life. Also in answering the riddle Oedipus inevitable brought
about his own tragic ending by a horrible discovery.