Essays on Laius

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Introduction Oedipus Rex is a play written by Greek dramatist Sophocles. It is among the most celebrated classical plays in the world. Oedipus Rex belongs to the genre of tragedy, as the central characters of the play undergo hardships at the hands of the fate, despite their integrity of characters and honest of intentions. The play follows all the components of an ideal plot outlined under classical dramatic structure – exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and denouement. The current essay discusses the presence of each of these components within the plot narrative of Oedipus Rex.

Exposition

Before the plot begins, ...

‘Oedipus the King’ was written by the Greek playwright Sophocles. Though a tragedy, like many from the Greek classics, it is laden with meaning that finds relevance even today in the modern world. The story contains a riddle about a murder and how it politically affects the state. The story, in a few words, is about the downfall of a brave warrior. This theme recurs in all cultures and can be found in almost any literature in the world. Since the theme is universal, folk cultures are replete with ballads to depict such tales. With the development of literature, ...

Throughout the play ‘Odepus the King', reader feels that there were sufficient indicators from which Oedipus should have predicted way before time that some truth was being concealed from him (Zachrisson and Anders 313). From messages expressed metaphorically to messages almost certainly meant to convey the understanding that some truth was awaiting him, instances of indicative expressions dominate the play. From the onset, the play is characterised by views and opposing views over just how aggressively Oedipus should pursue the truth regarding his true parentage and as to who was the murderer behind the death of King Laius (Priel ...

The play “Oedipus the King” by Sophocles is about fate and how one’s attempt to change it can inadvertently cause it to happen. This is mostly because “man” cannot change what the gods have already predestined. In “Oedipus the King” Laius is told by the Oracle at Delphi that his son will murder him and marry his mother. He and his wife Jocasta decide that the prophecy must be prevented as make the decision to expose their three-day old son to the elements. Nevertheless, things do not go as planned and their son is saved and grows up ...

There are many historical pieces of literature that continues to be read, studied and analyzed in order to understand the characters and events in, both, broader and focused, respects. Who are the heroes and who are the villains? What is the lesson to be learned? Is the ending happy and just or is it simply tragic. In the case of “Oedipus the King” the story has very taboo subject matter, dark foreshadowing and an entirely tragic ending. Oedipus’s choice to blind himself is not a selfish act and the story does not really have a just ending. It ...

Dramatic or tragic irony is a concept that originated in Greek tragedy. It is the idea that a character’s words when spoken against another are actually a reference to themselves (Dictionary.com) In dramatic irony the actions that are perpetrated by a character may be in opposition to what the audience knows is the truth (Dictionary. Com). This paper will look at dramatic irony in Sophocles’ Oedipus the King. Dramatic irony occurs at the beginning of the play when it is revealed that Oedipus is seeking the murderer of Laius King of Thebes. Oedipus wants to find the killer ...

In answering how Aristotle’s definition of tragedy applied to Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex one must look at Aristotle’s definition of tragedy in Poetics. Aristotle says in chapter 6 that tragedy is “a mimesis of a high, complete action in speech pleasurably enhanced, the different kinds occurring in separate sections, in dramatic, not narrative form, effecting through pity and fear the catharsis of such emotions” (Aristotle). Aristotle most likely had the play in mind as he wrote the Poetics, since he referred to it numerous times. There are also six elements of tragedy which are, mimesis of character, mimesis ...

Oedipus the King is an ancient drama set in Athens and written by Sophocles. The drama explores the events that take place in a kingdom called Thebes. The major character in this book is King Oedipus, who succeed King Laius. When a plague strikes Thebes, the people of Thebes ask King Oedipus to save them from them from the sufferings brought by the plague. At this time, Creon, who was the brother-in-law to King Oedipus, returns after visiting the oracle of Apollo and says that the plague that was experienced was a punishment for the death of King Laius ...

Oedipus, the King of These in Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex is guilty of both incest and patricide. The proof of Oedipus’ guilt can be found in what vague description of what he knew about Laius and Jocasta. As a man who knew about the oracle’s prophecy, he should have exercised caution when he was confronted by an old man. Oedipus’ failure to connect the dots is deliberate since people could have been able to decipher that the individual who was responsible for the death of Laius was Oedipus who makes his entrance into Thebes two days after the junction ...