Oedipus The King And Oedipus At Colonus - 1567 Words

The role of hubris, a theme commonly present throughout the works of Sophocles and particularly evident in Oedipus the King and Oedipus at Colonus, not only exalts the Greek nationalism present at the date of composition but dictates the course of the story, evolving as its tragic hero works through his fated anguish. Hubris, defined as exaggerated pride or self-confidence, is the earmark character trait of Oedipus and perhaps Creon. However, it is the abandonment of his sanctimonious nature that distinguishes Oedipus as a true hero. The theme of the evolution and role in the downfall of men by this overly zealous pride may be traced throughout Oedipus the King and Oedipus at Colonus, as it is only by his radical reversal of mind-set that one may deem Oedipus a hero. –more– In the opening scene of the first play in the trilogy, Oedipus the King, Sophocles depicts Oedipus as a man of great stature, ruling his lands justly but hints at his own catastrophic fate condemned by his overly arrogant conduct. Initially, Oedipus exhibits intelligence, love and concern for his subjects, and deep-rooted wisdom, upholding a reputation of high moral standards. His wisdom, however, becomes self-righteous, his arrogance becoming very clear on the eighth line of his opening monologue, â€Å"Here I am – myself – you all know me, the world knows my fame: I am Oedipus. † (159). The irony of this statement rests behind the notion that Oedipus’s fame will be known and surpass the ages, but it isShow MoreRelatedOedipus The King, And Oedipus At Colonus1065 Words   |  5 PagesAlong with Oedipus the King, and Oedipus at Colonus, Antigone is one of Sophocles’ three Theban tragic plays estimated to have been written – or at least perfor med for the first time - in 442 BCE. At the start of the play it is communicated that Antigone, along with her sister Ismene, are the sole surviving children of Oedipus. Their brothers, Polyneices and Eteocles, have recently been killed in a battle in which they fought on opposing sides. Polyneices led a mercenary force to conquer Thebes,Read MoreOedipus The King And Oedipus At Colonus Essay1261 Words   |  6 Pagesbetween Antigone and Creon, family and politics. However, in Oedipus at Colonus, the play merges all the conflicts happened to former plays and enhances the theme of the story. The later part of this trilogy, especially the ending of Oedipus the King and Oedipus at Colonus, reveals a darker and deeper phenomenon of Thebes and projects it to Oedipus. The prophet plays important role of forming the story line and tragic image of Oedipus, but the root causing the series of tragedy of the charactersRead MoreOedipus The King, And Oedipus At Colonus1343 Words   |  6 Pages Oedipus, a play written by Sophocles, has become a staple in the study of a Tragic hero in classic literature. When this was written in the fifth century, theatre was more than a means of entertainment but almost a religious event. Robert Fagles goes even further by saying that†theatre was not only a religious festival; it was also an aspect of the city’s political life.† (Fagles) . Greek dramas were presented only twice a year during religious festivals that honored Dionysus, the god of winesRead More Comparing Creons Metamorphosis in Antigone, Oedipus the King, and Oedipus at Colonus1114 Words   |  5 PagesCreons Metamorphosis in Antigone, Oedipus the King, and Oedipus at Colonus      Ã‚  Ã‚   Temptation is ever present in our society and always has been throughout human history. When a person gives into temptation, this is seen as a sign of weakness. Usually, after a person has given into temptation once, that person will find each successive temptation easier and easier to give in to. Before realizing it, this person has changed into a completely false, morally lacking being. Over the course of SophoclesRead MoreOedipus Rex By Oedipus The King1206 Words   |  5 PagesOedipus’ evolution throughout the Theban plays is one with fascinating twists and turns. Oedipus’ characterisation evolves and changes as he experiences the fall from being the great ruler of Thebes into a blind beggar who is tortured by what he did. As the stories progress, so does their protagonist to the point where the Oedipus of the second play is a completely different man. In Oedipus Rex, the main character is portrayed as a strong and clever yet arrogant king whose ignora nce leads him toRead MoreOedipus Trilogy Analysis1214 Words   |  5 PagesAnalysis of The Oedipus Trilogy Oedipus Rex, or Oedipus Tyrannus as it is in Latin, could be what we call today a Freudian work of literature. The Oedipus Trilogy was originally written by Sophocles and is meant to be told in a story-telling fashion. But this Grecian tragedy was revised and translated into English by Paul Roche and put into a novel form. The Oedipus Trilogy is a novel that deals with destiny and fate. The reader is shown a series of events plotted out from which Oedipus cannot escapeRead MoreCharacter Development in the Oedipus Cycle875 Words   |  4 PagesIn the Oedipus Cycle Sophocles conveys a powerful message through his charactersÂâ€"that with experience comes wisdom, and with wisdom comes the ability to see the truth. Oedipus is the man of unyielding pride and arrogance, Creon, his brother, is the crafty politician, and Antigone, the daughter of Oedipus, is perceptive and righteous. These three characters personae play a major role in making the idea of truth tangible. In the beginning of Oedipus Rex, Oedipus is still riding on the powerRead MoreEssay on Hope in Oedipus at Colonus2217 Words   |  9 PagesHope in Oedipus at Colonus      Ã‚  Ã‚   The Greek tragedy Oedipus at Colonus was written by the renowned Greek playwright Sophocles at around 404 B.C.. In the play, considered to be one of the best Greek dramas ever written, Sophocles uses the now broken down and old Oedipus as a statement of hope for man. As Oedipus was royalty and honor before his exile from his kingdom of Thebes he is brought down to a poor, blind old man who wonders, â€Å"Who will receive the wandering Oedipus today?† (Sophocles 283)Read MoreNoting Details1540 Words   |  7 Pagesby Sopocles is characterization. In Oedipus the King, Sophocles used characterization to portray Oedipus as the tragic hero. A third literary device used in the play is flashback, which is where the story switches from the present to an event that occurred in the past. The most important literary device in the play is dramatic irony. It is frequently used throughout most of the play. For example, when Creon tells Oedipus about the gods curse on Thebes, Oedipus puts his own curse on the murderer ofRead MoreActing on Emotion938 Words   |  4 Pagesexample, Oedipus is one of Sophocles’ characters that allowed his actions to be ruled by his emotions when he was traveling along the road. Laius’ group passed and the leader and the master ordered him out of the way. The driver shoved Oedipus out of the way and in fury he struck the driver. But the master (Laius) saw it and as Oedipus passed, he struck Oedipus on the head. But Oedipus, in a fit of rage, killed everyone in the party not knowing that the master was Laius, his father. Oedipus is ruled