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Oedipus Rex
1. The myth of Oedipus differs from the play in that much of the mythology (such as the backstory and the answering of the riddle of the Sphinx) takes place prior to the play’s beginning.
2. An example of where Oedipus demonstrates hubris is when he states, “I count myself the son of Chance, the great goddess, giver of all good things—I'll never see myself disgraced” (1188-1190). This is just before it is revealed to him who he actually is—which brings about the disgrace he thinks he will never suffer.
3. Creon is Jocasta’s brother. Jocasta is both Oedipus’s wife and mother—so that makes Creon Oedipus’s uncle and brother-in-law.
4. The purpose of the chorus in the play is to provide narrative for the viewer. The chorus tells the viewer what is happening and also provides the moral lesson that is to be communicated plainly.
5. Exposition is given throughout the play. It sets the stage for the drama and tells about the suffering of the city of Thebes and the plague that his visited it. Information that is learned in another exposition is the background of Oedipus, who is, where he came from, and why he is identity matters.
6. The recognition in the play is that Oedipus is the killer of the king.
7. The reversal in the play is that proud, kingly Oedipus is brought low, blinded, and cast out of Thebes.
8. The three unities—unity of time, unity of space and unity of action—are employed in the play, which takes place over the course of one day, in one setting, and is focused on one action—solving the dual-mystery of who killed the former king and who Oedipus really is.
9. The 24-hour cycle is portrayed in the play because it takes place over the course of one day, with Oedipus vowing to get to the bottom of the mystery and ending with Oedipus discovering that he is the regicide and patricide.
10. Dramatic irony is employed in the play whenever Oedipus makes a vow—such as the vow to find the killer and bring him to justice (the audience knows it is Oedipus but he does not at that time).
References
Sophocles. (n.d.). Oedipus Rex. Retrieved from http://classics.mit.edu/Sophocles/oedipus.html
Oedipus Rex Sophocles' "Oedipus Rex" is the most famous of his tragedies in which Greek dramatic irony reaches an apex (Sophocles1 pp). Aristotle was a great admirer of Sophocles, and considered Oedipus Rex to be the perfect example of tragedy (Outline pp). According to Aristotle, tragedy is an imitation of action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude, in which language is embellished with each kind of artistic ornament
His physical loss of sight is penance for the lack of insight he had at the start of the play. He has exchanged physical sight for mental insight into the truth. 4. Rhetorically, Oedipus uses the diction of a king at the beginning of a play. He plays the role of one in power, and of a person in full control of and with confidence in himself. When his people
Sophocles, one of the three great tragedians of ancient Greece, authored many plays that have become foundational texts in the study of classical literature and drama, among which "Oedipus Rex" and "Antigone" are perhaps the most well known. These two plays are part of what is often referred to as the Theban Plays or the Oedipus Cycle, which also includes "Oedipus at Colonus". Focusing on the titular characters, Oedipus and
Their prophecies completely shape the life of Oedipus. It was the oracle who informed Oedipus that he will kill his father and marry his mother. This prophecy led him to abandon Corinth for fear of killing his father and marrying his mother. When he left Corinth he came across a man who he did not know was Laius and killed him. He married his wife Jocasta and towards the
Question What is ironic about the ending of the play? Oedipus, it was prophesied when he was a baby, would kill his father and marry his mother. So he was cobbled by his feet and exposed as an infant. The commoner charged with exposing the prince, however, was childless and took pity upon the babe, and reared the child himself. Oedipus as a young man learned by the same prophesy that he
A short time later, Oedipus comes across Jocasta who has hung herself. He immediately blinds himself with her brooches in a fit of madness brought on by the recent developments. Oedipus ultimately seeks to banish himself out of the Kingdom to escape his reality and for the good of the people of Thebes. Conclusion Oedipus fits the classic model of an Aristotelian tragic hero very neatly. First, Oedipus exhibits and is