Oedipus The Scapegoat or The Murderer - 1359 Words

In the Sophocles play, â€Å"Oedipus Rex,† discrepancy between whether Oedipus is the main culprit for murdering King Laius or if Oedipus has become the scapegoat for the cause of the city’s plague that took many lives. The murder of King Laius strikes the interest of many readers and therefore creating the discussion of who would be a culprit for the crime. One side of the argument shows the Greek Gods set a curse upon Oedipus making his destiny one of wrongful conviction for a murderous crime. On the argument’s opposing side the goddesses determine Oedipus’s fate will be to murder his own father unknowingly on his way to becoming King of Thebes. Also, a third argument can be made as to Oedipus did murder his father to save his family from a†¦show more content†¦Solving the riddle also becomes the key to the story since Oedipus ventures his way along the same pathway as the murders and meets the Sphinx. When Oedipus approaches the Sphinx he solve s the riddle and the Sphinx destroys herself making the situation quite a coincidence due to Oedipus’s fate of killing his own father made in prophecy at his own birth. All of these situations lead to Oedipus becoming the King of Thebes and making him very accusable upon the coincidental circumstances. On the flip side, Lauren Silberman’s journal, â€Å"God and Man in â€Å"Oedipus Rex†,† presents the argument that Oedipus’s destiny was to murder his father King Laius due to his son’s suffering at birth. Silberman makes a strong argument towards Oedipus’s destiny as, â€Å"There is more than simple dramatic irony in the contrast between Oedipus’ limited understanding of his situation and the full truth. What Oedipus understands as a simile-he fights for his father-is literally true because, contrary to what Oedipus asserts, Laius has not died without issue.† (Silberman 293) These facts were the creation of goddesses and they are the guarantors of Oedipus’s fate. Except Oedipus believes he needs to find the murderer and the idea becomes a huge consequence in the end of the play. The consequences include the suicide of Oedipus’s wife/mother Jocasta as she understands the fact he is the true killer of Laius before Oedipus figures out such disturbingShow MoreRelatedOedipus The King : A Classical Tragedy1272 Words   |  6 PagesSophocles’ Oedipus the King is a classical tragedy that derives its meaning through the experiences of its tragic hero, Oedipus. Throughout the play, the eminent characteristic of Oedipus is his ignorance of the truth that inevitably leads to his downfall. This ignorance of truth is a characteristic found within the Aristotelian definition of a tragedy. Tragedy, as defined by Aristotle in his Poetics, are imitations of actions and are not narrative. This means that tragedies are often demonstratedRead MoreOedipus The King Essay1360 Words   |  6 Pagesby the emotional discharging brought about by the suffering of a heroic figure. In Oedipus The King, by Sophocles, the agony of pain attacking the protagonist is a result of his tragic flaw. Sophocles often uses a characters hamartia to alter or influence the future or outcome of the hero, in this case, Oedipus. Oedipus hubris traps him into fulfilling the vision and intensifies his punishment. Oedipus pride is an inherited characteristic. Even before his glory and power as King of ThebesRead MoreEssay on The Pride of Sophocles Oedipus The King 1449 Words   |  6 PagesPride of Sophocles Oedipus The King      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Greek tragedy is characterized by the emotional catharsis brought about by the horrific suffering of a heroic figure. In Oedipus The King, by Sophocles, the onslaught of pain assailing the protagonist is a result of his tragic flaw. Sophocles often used a characters hamartia to alter or influence the outcome or future of the hero. Oedipus hubris traps him to fulfil the oracle and intensifies his punishment.    Oedipus pride is an innate characteristicRead MoreThe Iliad And The Odyssey1615 Words   |  7 PagesGreek literature a famous tragedy, is the play â€Å"Oedipus the King† by Sophocles, where the main character, Oedipus, is destined to lay with his mother and murder his father. Oedipus runs away from his fate and ends up turning full circle, completing the prophecy which he was blind to as the truth unraveled right in front of him. Since Oedipus was chosen to lead Thebes and find the murderer of his dad, King Laius, when he finds out that he is the murderer he gouges out his eyes and is banished from ThebesRead MoreOedipus As A Tragic Hero1506 Words   |  7 PagesIn Sophocles’ tragic drama, Oedipus displays heroic characteristics as well as those which hinder him. â€Å"There remains then the man who occupies the mean between saintliness and depravity. He is not extraordinary in virtue and righteousness and yet does not fall into fortune because of evil and wickedne ss† (Ahenkora et al, 2012, p. 12). This drama has influenced many great thinkers such as Freud. The downfall of a tragic hero consumes the audience with emotion. Oedipus exemplifies Aristotle’s definitionRead MoreThe Hubris of Oedipus in Oedipus the King Essay1865 Words   |  8 Pages(Miriam-Webster Dictionary) in Oedipus the King, by Sophocles, In Oedipus The King, by Sophocles, the onslaught of pain assailing the protagonist is a result of his tragic flaw. Sophocles often used a characters’ flaw to alter or influence the outcome or future of the hero. Oedipus hubris influences him to fulfill the oracle and further intensify his punishment from the Gods. Oedipus pride is an essential characteristic throughout the play. Even before Oedipus came into power as the King ofRead More Dramatic Irony in Oedipus Rex Essay3192 Words   |  13 PagesDramatic Irony in Oedipus Rex  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚        Ã‚   M. H. Abrams defines dramatic irony as a situation wherein:      Ã¢â‚¬Å"the audience or reader shares with the author knowledge of present or future circumastances of which a character is ignorant; in that situation, the character unknowingly acts in a way we recognize to be grossly inappropriate to the actual circumstances, or expects the opposite of what we know that fate holds in store, or says something that anticipates the actual outcome, butRead MoreHAMLET AND ORESTES10421 Words   |  42 Pagesin Greeh Tragedy, printed in Miss Harrison s Themis; Mr. F. M. Cornford s book on the Origin of Attic Comedy; and a course of lectures given at Oxford by Miss Spens of Lady Margaret Hall and in the presence of listeners, : on The Scapegoat in Tragedy, which I hope to see published next year. I am not proposing to-night to argue in favour of the theories propounded any of these in treatises. I am rather con- sidering, in one salient instance, a large question

Themes from Genesis 1-11 - 1238 Words

THE PENTATEUCH IS A RICH COLLECTION OF GENRES. DISCUSS WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON ITS LEGAL CATEGORIES. 1. Introduction. The Pentateuch consists of the first five books of the Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy; called Torah in Hebrew. The term Pentateuch is from the Greek for Penta (five) teuchos (books). Both Jewish and Christian traditions view these five books as a single unit, forming the backbone of the rest of the Bible. Both traditions place the Pentateuch first in the divisions of the Old Testament (Law, Prophets, and Writings). Other designations for the Pentateuch include ‘The Book of Law , emphasizing the covenant stipulations as its defining features; and ‘The Law of Moses†¦show more content†¦The Covenant renewal (Deuteronomy) comes with the second law-giving as preparation for entry into the land of the promise by the second generation of Yahweh s people. Sandwiched between these two law-giving is the Expansion of Covenant law for the purpose of holiness among the people of Yahweh(since He will dwell inShow MoreRelatedEssay about Religion 111 Study Questions Week 1979 Words   |  4 PagesREL 111 Questions For Review Chapters 3, 4, 5 Chapter 3 Q1. What levels of meaning can be found in Genesis 1.1-2.4a? This passage gives meaning to the first creation story. It gives the order of how God created everything over the first six days starting with light and ending with the creation of animals and humans. Q2. What are the similarities and differences between the biblical and the Babylonian presentations of cosmic beginnings? The similarities between biblical and Babylonian beginningsRead MoreCritical Criticism Of Genesis1714 Words   |  7 Pageseyes and look from the place where you are† Genesis 13:14. The word genesis is the dawning of creation, and the biblical book of Genesis is the book that brings fourth the creation of our planet and the life that resides. Genesis also describes the descent of Adam and Eve and unveils the foundation that sin builds upon. Genesis introduces the origin of the holy land, Israel, and inception of holy covenants promised by the holy trinity; the son, the father, and the holy spirit. Genesis communicatesRead MoreThe Old Testament Essay1457 Words   |  6 PagesGod’s promise that He would never destroy the earth and humankind with floods again. This sign of this covenant is the rainbow, this was after God sent a flood to destroy the wickedness that had become widespread on earth after the Fall of man: Genesis 9:11 â€Å"I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth† The covenant with Abraham was the promise of the land and descendantsRead MoreGenesis 1:1-11; the Primeval History2948 Words   |  12 PagesThe Primeval History: Genesis 1-11 and its Theme David Judson Old Testament amp; Its Context RS2003A Dr. Stephen Dempster December 1, 2011 Genesis 1-11, also known as Primeval History is the recorded text of the original creation of the earth, and all that we have.[i] Genesis 1-11 begins with the creation, followed by the fall, the story of Cain and Abel, the story of Noah and his sons, followed by the flood, then the tower of Babel, and ending with the line leading up to Abram/Abraham[ii]Read More1. Overview Of The Theology Of The Pentateuch.. Theology1422 Words   |  6 Pages1. Overview of the Theology of the Pentateuch. Theology is the study of God, and further the Theology of the Pentateuch is defined as what is the Pentateuch teaching us about God today. The Pentateuch is another name for the Torah, which consists of the first five books of the Biblical canon. Studying the theological vision contained within the Pentateuch is crucial to scholars since it is this vision that shapes the principal form of this work. Further, the foundation for the theology of GodRead MoreCompare and Contrast Genesis and Enuma Elish1121 Words   |  4 Pagesbeliefs about how the world we live in was created may arise. Looking deeper into the literature, one will realize there are also many similarities between creation stories. Based on the strong possibility that Genesis was influenced by the Enuma Elish, there are similarities that stem from the fact that they both describe the creation of a new world as well as differences in their interpretations and approaches to creationism. The Enuma Elish is a Babylonian creation story comprised of seven tabletsRead MoreThe Old Testament And The Ancient Near East1543 Words   |  7 Pagesto, but there are common themes and ideas that are virtually shared between the traditional stories stemming from this region of the world. In fact, these parallels even extend into Old Testament literature; laced within the stories that we’ve come to know and love. It is not surprising that the Old Testament contains similarities found within ANE tradition, seeing that God’s people and the Promise Land were in the same geographical area that these traditions originated from, and historically, showedRead MoreAllusions And Theme In The Goblin Market By Christina Rossetti1282 Words   |  6 Pagesand themes in this poem. Mostly, Rossetti tells a story of sisterhood, overcoming temptation and experiencing restoration. Laura and Lizzie both endured the temptation of fruit; Laura suffered the worst as her health declined an d aging away to death. Lizzie’s determination to help her sister shows love and sacrifice for Laura’s well-being, similar to how Christians described Jesus Christ’s love for them by dying on the cross. Rossetti centers this poem with female characters, including themes fromRead MoreGod s Fourth Speech With Noah1328 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction God’s fourth speech with Noah (9:1-17) is a cluster of three sub-speeches, which will be further explored in this analysis. Similar aspects of Genesis 1 are echoed; a new cosmic order is installed, initiating a pre creation period. God blesses the humans and commissions them to take domination over all creatures. This passage is of great importance to not just the Genesis story but also the Old Testament as a whole. I will further depict central meanings throughout the passage, as wellRead MoreSummary Of The Lord s Messenger Essay1537 Words   |  7 PagesIn verse nine, I observe that the Lord’s messenger asks Hagar to return to a life of servitude despite ill treatment from Sarai. I now question why the Lord might want Hagar to endure this mistreatment, but in verse ten the messenger says that Hagar will be rewarded and given so many children that they cannot be counted. 1 Peter 2:18 may offer some insight as to why God asks Hagar to return to her master, it says, à ¢â‚¬Å"Household slaves, submit by accepting the authority of your masters with all respect

Technological Development Of Rocketry free essay sample

Examines the developments of modern rocketry, including the initial development of gunpowder and the works of Jules Verne. Concludes that it is impossible to determine the birth of any particular technology. TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT OF ROCKETRY It is said that some 55 years ago, a group of German scientists stood at Peenemunde to watch the launch of the worlds first successful ballistic missile. After the 14-meter long V-2 had soared 80 km up and 120 km downrange, Wehrmacht Major General Walter Dornberger turned to the projects civilian technical director, Wernher Von Braun and said Do you realize what we accomplished today? Today the spaceship was born (Nelan, 1992, 35). In a small sense, he was correct, but in a larger sense, he was dead wrong, wrong in assuming that any technological event is a birth of something new. Isaac Newton, founder of modern physics was once asked how he was able to come up with so many inventions. We will write a custom essay sample on Technological Development Of Rocketry or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page He is reported to have answered By standing on the

Sophocles And Oedipus Essays - Oedipus, Sophocles, Oedipus The King

Sophocles And Oedipus Sophocles use of language allows his characters to show what is going on inside them to the reader. Many works of literature deal with what happens to a person physically and the resulting consequences. Many do deal with the issues that a person endures internally as a result of physical actions. In Sophocles work the events that take place in the human mind are the catalysts that drive on the story, the greatest events are not when an action happens but when the characters come to terms with what has transpired. The greatest realization faced by a character is that of Oedipus who for many years has come to terms with his situation. The Prophet Apollo's predictions that he will kill his father and have sex with his mother. The course of his life is shaped by this prophecy. What Oedipus has been told from the beginning of his life shaped his thinking, this also allows the reader to grasp that this myth is relevant to their lives. The physical actions of Oedipus are the results of a man with high principles and probing intelligence. The story can be separated into points where Oedipus gathers more information about himself. The ?ignorance? that Oedipus faces is the foundation he was brought up by. He has believed that he lived with his birth mother and father and therefore when he learns of Apollo's prophecy he leaves home so that it cannot come true. Slowly as the story progresses Oedipus discovers bits and pieces of his true-life story, as Oedipus learns that he killed Laius by the story of the shepherd. He continues on his journey to discovering the truth. When he pieces together what he has done he cannot face himself. The chorus best shows his true emotions People of Thebes, my countrymen, look on Oedipus. He solved the famous riddle with his brilliance, He rose to power a man beyond all power. Who could behold his greatness without envy? Now what a Black Sea of terror has overwhelmed him. Now as we keep our watch and wait the final day, Count no man happy till he dies, free of pain at last The Chorus is the voice of the reader showing the moral lesson that is learned from the long told story Sophocles is borrowing from. The change is Oedipus over his reign on earth from the cursed son of royalty to a hideous monster that brought forth a curse on his village the voyage that the reader takes in only In the mind of Oedipus not in his form.