Oedipus Rex Character Analysis Essay

Category: Materials Art,
Words: 568 | Published: 02.22.20 | Views: 532 | Download now

Oedipus, in Sophocles’ play Oedipus Rex, through definition, a tragic leading man. King Laios of Thebes was given a prophecy from the oracle that he would always be murdered by his son’s hand, and that his child would get married to his wife, Queen Iocaste.

When Oedipus was born, King Laios had him taken to Mt. Cithaeron to die, however , the servant who was instructed for taking him to the mountain felt pity pertaining to the baby and turned him over to a shepherd coming from Corinth. When in Corinth, he was raised by King Polybus and Queen Merope, and the prediction slowly started to be a reality. Oedipus grew up, assuming that he was indeed the son of Polybus and Merope, if a drunken gentleman informed him that having been not his father’s kid.

In search of the reality, he went to the shrine at Delphi, where he was told of the same prophecy his birth father and mother already understood, and fled to Thebes, believing the prophecy pertained to Full Polybus and Queen Merope. In likely to Thebes, he finds that King Laios was killed in the same area that he had just lately murdered a male in. He tells Iocasta of this celebration, exclaiming that he had “killed him. [He] killed all. ” (Scene II, ll. 288-289) His curiosity gets the best of him, and this individual orders – as the modern king of Thebes – that the people find out who also murdered Laios, and that they report it to him right away. When a messenger brings the shepherd towards the palace, he could be told that he was Laios’ son.

Oedipus realizes that he features killed his own dad, saying, “Ah God! It had been true! Each of the prophecies! ” (Scene 4, ll. 68-70) Iocaste can be horrified at this time, and flees to her room, where she is later discovered “hanging, her body unsteadiness from the inappropriate cord the girl had noosed about her neck. ” (Exodus, 2. 38-39) Oedipus finds her lifeless body system, and fights, completely hysterical, “[striking] his eyes – not when, but many occasions. ” (Exodus, l. 52) His complete lifespan is completely full of disaster.

His nobility, his curiosity, his poor choices, the realization of any foretold prediction coming to life, the death of Iocaste, and the blinding the vision by his own palm, all contribute to the theory of him becoming a tragic leading man. He was given birth to the boy of a ruler, and resided his lifestyle king of both Corinth and Thebes – in charge of the people of his land. His curiosity is his biggest catch, because he can’t leave well enough alone, and goes to great lengths to learn the truth. His choice to kill the man on the road instead of just letting the confrontation proceed decided his fate.

Seeing that he’s murdered Laios although he’d tried so hard to prevent the prophecy from becoming a reality was unbearable. Finding Iocasta lifeless in her room by simply her very own hand was his battling. Finally, gouging out his own eyes in a hysterical attempt to reprimand himself was obviously a punishment significantly beyond the crimes he previously committed.

These types of factors alone do not define a tragic hero, but when brought collectively the way they perform in Sophocles’ play, earning Oedipus a tragic leading man.

< Prev post Next post >