What kind of character is Oedipus the king?
Character Analysis in Oedipus the King Oedipus : Oedipus is the king of Thebes. At the start of Oedipus the King , many of the events for which he is known have already elapsed, including the answering of the Sphinx’s riddle, the murdering of Laius, and the union with Jocasta.
What does Oedipus say about himself at the beginning of the play?
At the beginning of Oedipus the King, Oedipus is hugely confident, and with good reason. He has saved Thebes from the curse of the Sphinx and become king virtually overnight. He proclaims his name proudly as though it were itself a healing charm: “Here I am myself— / you all know me, the world knows my fame: / I am Oedipus” (7–9).
Is Oedipus’s name a curse?
By the end of this tragedy, however, Oedipus’s name will have become a curse, so much so that, in Oedipus at Colonus, the Leader of the Chorus is terrified even to hear it and cries: “You, you’re that man?” (238). Oedipus’s swiftness and confidence continue to the very end of Oedipus the King.
Why is Oedipus a tragic hero in Greek mythology?
A tragic hero in Greek mythology, Oedipus accidentally fulfilled a prophecy that he would end up killing his father and marrying his mother, thereby bringing disaster to his city and family. The story of Oedipus is the subject of Sophocles ' tragedy Oedipus Rex, which is followed in the narrative sequence by Oedipus at Colonus and then Antigone.
Is Oedipus a static or dynamic character?
Oedipus is portrayed as a dynamic character throughout the piece. He was notorious for his intelligence and being able to solve riddles. He saved the city of Thebes from a plague by telling a riddle to the Sphinx. Oedipus is a dynamic character because throughout the story he is finding more about his own self.
What type of character is Oedipus in Oedipus the King?
Oedipus is firstly a moral and sympathetic character. Oedipus is a respected character for many reasons. He is noble and brave. He earns respect at Thebes for solving the riddle of the Sphinx and freeing the city.
Is Oedipus a protagonist?
Oedipus, the king of Thebes, is the protagonist of the play. Oedipus is born with a terrible prophecy to kill his own father and marry his mother.
Is Oedipus a model tragic character?
As a tragic hero, Oedipus elicits the three needed responses from the audience far better than most; indeed, Aristotle and subsequent critics have labeled Oedipus the ideal tragic hero.
What character trait of Oedipus is revealed by the fact?
What character trait of Oedipus is revealed by the fact that Oedipus accuses Creon of treason without first hearing Creon's side? Oedipus reveals his arrogance, inflexibility, irrational thought process, and his use of pathos "emotions" in his argument instead of logos "logic".
How does Oedipus characterize himself?
Oedipus characterizes himself as a powerful king. He thinks very highly of himself. He believes he rules the world.
Is Oedipus the protagonist and antagonist?
Oedipus struggles against a terrible prophecy that somehow conspires to take place no matter what measures are taken to avoid it. The narrative is a give and take between protagonist and antagonist, with Oedipus seemingly avoiding the prophecy and then the prophecy continually reasserting itself.
Why Oedipus is not a tragic hero?
Oedipus is less a 'tragic hero', and more a deeply flawed individual, overpowered by hubris and anger, undeserving of pity or respect. To prove this, it must be made clear that Oedipus' character is dominated by vice. Oedipus Tyrannous does not have enough redeeming character traits to be pitied.
Is Oedipus a good leader?
The playwright portrays Oedipus as the King who cares for his people above all else and Kreon as a royalty, who attends only to hedonic lifestyle. In the citizen's eyes, Oedipus is seen as a good leader. He demonstrates great leadership through several events.
What is Oedipus's tragic flaw?
What is Oedipus' tragic flaw, or hamartia? It is hubris or pride. Upon reaching adulthood and hearing the prophecy that he will murder his father and take his mother as his own wife, he attempts to flee the fate the gods have laid out before him by leaving Corinth.
How is Oedipus shown to be a tragic hero?
Most famously Oedipus is a tragic hero known for killing his father and marrying his mother. Commonly described as a victim of fate, after finding out about his incest, he performed self-mutilation as punishment and tore his own eyes out.
What is the story of Oedipus?
The story of Oedipus is the subject of Sophocles ' tragedy Oedipus Rex, which is followed in the narrative sequence by Oedipus at Colonus and then Antigone. Together, these plays make up Sophocles' three Theban plays.
Who was Oedipus born to?
In the best known version of the myth, Oedipus was born to King Laius and Queen Jocasta of Thebes. Laius wished to thwart the prophecy, so he sent a shepherd-servant to leave Oedipus to die on a mountainside. However, the shepherd took pity on the baby and passed him to another shepherd who gave Oedipus to King Polybus and Queen Merope ...
How many children did Oedipus have?
Oedipus and Jocasta had four children: sons Eteocles and Polynices (see Seven Against Thebes) and daughters Antigone and Ismene . Many years later, a plague of infertility struck the city of Thebes, affecting crops, livestock and the people. Oedipus asserted that he would end the pestilence.
What did Oedipus learn from the oracle at Delphi?
Oedipus learned from the oracle at Delphi of the prophecy that he would end up killing his father and marrying his mother but, unaware of his true parentage, believed he was fated to murder Polybus and marry Merope, so left for Thebes. On his way he met an older man and killed him in a quarrel.
Why does Laius leave Oedipus?
He pierces Oedipus' feet and leaves him out to die, but a shepherd finds him and carries him away. Years later, Oedipus, not knowing he was adopted, leaves home in fear of the same prophecy that he will kill his father and marry his mother. Laius journeys out to seek a solution to the Sphinx's mysterious riddle.
What did Oedipus tell his parents?
After many years, Oedipus was told by a drunk that he was a "bastard", meaning at that time that he was not their biological son. Oedipus confronted his parents (the king and queen of Corinth) with the news, but they denied this. Oedipus went to the same oracle in Delphi that his birth parents had consulted.
What are the three plays of Sophocles?
The three surviving works of Sophocles' " Theban plays " consist of: Oedipus Rex (also called Oedipus Tyrannus or Oedipus the King ), Oedipus at Colonus, and Antigone. All three plays concern the fate of the City of Thebes, during and after the reign of King Oedipus, and have often been published under a single cover.
What is the character of Oedipus?
Character Analysis Oedipus. Born from myth, Sophocles' Oedipus figures as the tragic hero who kills his father and marries his mother. A victim of fate vilified by all, he discovers his own corruption and tears out his eyes in self-punishment — a symbolic castration for his incestuous sin. The keynote of Oedipus' character lies in his will ...
What is the keynote of Oedipus' character?
The keynote of Oedipus' character lies in his will to know — and, thereby, to control reality. Oedipus' brilliance and determination serve him well in solving mysteries — like the riddle of the Sphinx — but lead ultimately to his tragic downfall.
What is Oedipus's passion?
Impervious to reason and advice, Oedipus follows his will with an intellectual passion. His drive to unearth the mystery — and his pride in performing his intellectual feat before the whole city — end in horror, as he discovers that the object of his relentless search is himself.
What is the tragic hero's will and determination in Oedipus at Colonus?
In Oedipus at Colonus, the tragic hero persists in his will and determination, despite his age, blindness, and banishment. In contrast to the Oedipus who accepted infamy and begged for punishment at the end of Oedipus the King, the Oedipus of Oedipus at Colonus maintains furiously that his agonized past was not his fault.
What is the Oedipus play?
The Oedipus Plays. Oedipus is a man of swift action and great insight. At the opening of Oedipus the King, we see that these qualities make him an excellent ruler who anticipates his subjects’ needs. When the citizens of Thebes beg him to do something about the plague, for example, Oedipus is one step ahead of them—he has already sent Creon to ...
What is Oedipus trying to do in Oedipus at Colonus?
He is constantly in motion, seemingly trying to keep pace with his fate, even as it goes well beyond his reach. In Oedipus at Colonus, however, Oedipus seems to have begun to accept that much of his life is out of his control. He spends most of his time sitting rather than acting.
What is the most poignant line in the book of Oedipus?
Most poignant are lines 825–960, where Oedipus gropes blindly and helplessly as Creon takes his children from him. In order to get them back, Oedipus must rely wholly on Theseus. Once he has given his trust to Theseus, Oedipus seems ready to find peace.
What does Oedipus show when he tells the story of killing the band of travelers who attempted to shove
When he tells the story of killing the band of travelers who attempted to shove him off the three-way crossroads, Oedipus shows that he has the capacity to behave rashly. At the beginning of Oedipus the King, Oedipus is hugely confident, and with good reason.
What is the most significant action in Oedipus at Colonus?
The single most significant action in Oedipus at Colonus is Oedipus’s deliberate move offstage to die. The final scene of the play has the haste and drive of the beginning of Oedipus the King, but this haste, for Oedipus at least, is toward peace rather than horror.
Who are the main characters in Oedipus the King?
Main characters in Oedipus the King are: Oedipus (the king of Thebes), Jocasta, (the queen), Creon (Jocasta’s brother), a priest, a blind prophet, few messengers, a shepherd and a Chorus.
Why does Oedipus summon him?
Oedipus summons him when the messenger alludes to his intimate knowledge of the crime, in the hopes of discovering the identity of his true parents. Initially he is reluctant to tell truth but when Oedipus became furious he clears all his doubt that he is murderer of King Laius and one who married to his mother.
Why does Oedipus blame Teiresias?
Oedipus blames him for conspiring against him when Teiresias charged him for murder. He is a loyal member to Oedipus throne and at the end when Oedipus is blind he takes the responsibility of Thebes. He is kind to Oedipus and forgives him.
How many plays are there in Oedipus the King?
Characters in Oedipus the King are limited and well characterized. Oedipus Trilogy is comprised on three plays: Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus, and Antigone. Oedipus Rex or Oedipus the King is the first play. Here is the introduction to the characters in Oedipus the King (Oedipus Rex).
What does the priest do in the play?
The Priest appears at the start of the play with followers make a sacrifices to the gods, hoping that the gods will end the plague that has ruined the city of Thebes. Oedipus assures him that he has taken an initiative already to know about this plague by sending Creon to the oracle.
Who gave Oedipus the baby?
The Herdsman gives Oedipus to the messenger to give that baby to the king of Corinth; denying their order, and he is only the same man who is eyewitness of Laius’s death. When he returns to Thebes and learns that new king is that man who killed Laius, he requests to leave the city. Oedipus summons him when the messenger alludes to his intimate knowledge of the crime, in the hopes of discovering the identity of his true parents. Initially he is reluctant to tell truth but when Oedipus became furious he clears all his doubt that he is murderer of King Laius and one who married to his mother.
Who is Creon in Oedipus?
Creon is Oedipus’ brother-in-law and Jocasta’s brother. As the play opens and Oedipus is addressing to people, he appears returning from the oracle with a message that Laius’s killer must be killed or banished. Oedipus blames him for conspiring against him when Teiresias charged him for murder. He is a loyal member to Oedipus throne and at the end when Oedipus is blind he takes the responsibility of Thebes. He is kind to Oedipus and forgives him.
What is the character analysis of Oedipus?
The character analysis are based upon first play Oedipus the King where Oedipus was king and protagonist of the play.
What is Oedipus the King's role in the play?
Oedipus is a hero of great insight. At the opening of the play, Oedipus the King, we see that these qualities in his speech that make him an outstanding ruler. When the citizens of Thebes beg him to do something to save the city from plague, Oedipus proves himself as a responsible leader and tells that that he has already taken initiative ...
What does the chorus cry at the end of Oedipus at Colonus?
However, by the end of this tragedy, his name will have become a symbol of disgrace and curse, so much so that, in second play of trilogy, Oedipus at Colonus, the Chorus is terrified even to hear his name and cries: “You, you’re that man?” (Oedipus at Colonus, line 238). Making judgments hastily brings his doom.
What is Oedipus's best achievement?
Oedipus’ brilliance, wit, and willpower serve him well in solving mysteries like the riddle of the Sphinx. His quest to reveal mysteries brings him to a fate which he tried to escape. He stands with his stance with determination thought the play. Oedipus is a hero of great insight.
Why does Oedipus refuse to tell Creon the news?
When Creon returns from oracle, he hints sensibly that he want to tell the news from the oracle in private, Oedipus refuses and ask him to tell publically because he want to show how he eliminates corruption from city. At the beginning of play, Oedipus is relaxed and confident.
How did Oedipus become king?
Oedipus. Long before the play begins, Oedipus became king of Thebes by solving the riddle of the Sphinx. His sharp mind and quickness to action have made him an admired and successful leader. When the priests… read analysis of Oedipus.
Who was the shepherd in Oedipus?
A Shepherd. The former servant of King Laius who took pity on the baby Oedipus and spared his life. The shepherd was also an eyewitness to the death of King Laius. When Oedipus commands the shepherd to… read analysis of A Shepherd.
Who did the messenger give Oedipus?
The messenger himself gave Oedipus as a baby to the Corinthian king and queen. He got… read analysis of A Messenger.
Who is Antigone in Oedipus Rex?
Antigone. Daughter of Oedipus and half-sister of Oedipus. Still a small child in Oedipus Rex, Antigone appears at the end to bid farewell to her father. She is the main character of Sophocles's Antigone .
What are the events that Oedipus is known for?
At the start of Oedipus the King, many of the events for which he is known have already elapsed, including the answering of the Sphinx’s riddle, the murdering of Laius, and the union with Jocasta. The play details the aftermath of Oedipus’s mistakes. Oedipus reacts to the news of a plague in Thebes by searching for answers.
What does Oedipus' devotion to his people mean?
Oedipus’s devotion to his people suggests that he is a morally righteous king. He has his people’s best interests at heart at the beginning of the play. However, the audience knows that the plague is a result of Oedipus’s actions and that the only way to lift it is for Oedipus to offer retribution for his crimes.
Why does Oedipus rage against Tiresias?
In this passage, Oedipus boasts that his own intellectual powers saved Thebes and rages against Tiresias for claiming that Oedipus was to blame for the plague. This rage is clearly born of Oedipus’s pride and his fear that he may prove to be less capable than he presents himself to be. Wesley, Owl Eyes Editor.
Why does Oedipus ignore the chorus?
The Chorus acts as the voice of reason here, urging Oedipus and Tiresias to work matters out in a more civil manner. The fact that Oedipus denies Tiresias and ignores the Chorus suggests that he is too prideful to take advice from others and will remain ignorant because of his denial. Owl Eyes Editors.
What is the relationship between Jocasta and Oedipus?
Jocasta and Oedipus are depicted as having a loving relationship. Jocasta’s care for Oedipus overshadows her desire for the truth. When the same shepherd arrives in Thebes, claiming to have witnessed Oedipus’s murder of Laius, Jocasta pleads for Oedipus to end his search.
What does Tiresias tell Oedipus?
Knowing the truth, Tiresias tells Oedipus, “You yourself are the criminal you seek.”. Oedipus dismisses the prophet, calling him blind. Tiresias retorts by calling Oedipus blind, a wise remark on two levels.
How does Oedipus react to the news of the plague in Thebes?
Oedipus reacts to the news of a plague in Thebes by searching for answers. The plague is the result of his own murder of his father, Laius, and so Oedipus’s search leads to his own undoing. The central tension of Oedipus is the combination of his nobility and his unwitting sinfulness.
Overview
Oedipus was a mythical Greek king of Thebes. A tragic hero in Greek mythology, Oedipus accidentally fulfilled a prophecy that he would end up killing his father and marrying his mother, thereby bringing disaster to his city and family.
The story of Oedipus is the subject of Sophocles' tragedy Oedipus Rex, which is followed in the narrative sequence by Oedipus at Colonus and then Antigone. Together, these plays make up Sop…
Basics of the myth
Variations on the legend of Oedipus are mentioned in fragments by several ancient Greek poets including Homer, Hesiod, Pindar, Aeschylus and Euripides. However, the most popular version of the legend comes from the set of Theban plays by Sophocles: Oedipus Rex, Oedipus at Colonus, and Antigone.
Oedipus was the son of Laius and Jocasta, king and queen of Thebes. Having been childless for s…
Ancient sources (5th century BC)
Most, if not all, of our knowledge of Oedipus, comes from the 5th century BC. Though these stories principally deal with his downfall, various details still appear on how Oedipus rose to power.
King Laius of Thebes hears of a prophecy that his infant son will one day kill him. He pierces Oedipus' feet and leaves him out to die, but a shepherd finds him and carries him away. Years lat…
Later additions
The Bibliotheca, a Roman-era mythological handbook, includes a riddle for the Sphinx, borrowing the poetry of Hesiod:
What is that which has one voice and yet becomes four-footed and two-footed and three-footed?
Due to the popularity of Sophocles's Antigone (c. 442 BC), the ending (lines 1005–78) of Seven against Thebes was added some fifty years after Aeschylus' death. Whereas the play (and the tri…
Post-Classical literature
Oedipus was a figure who was also used in the Latin literature of ancient Rome. Julius Caesar wrote a play on Oedipus, but it has not survived into modern times. Ovid included Oedipus in Metamorphoses, but only as the person who defeated the Sphinx. He makes no mention of Oedipus's troubled experiences with his father and mother. Seneca the Younger wrote his own play on the story of Oedipus in the first century AD. It differs in significant ways from the work of Sop…
Oedipus complex
Sigmund Freud used the name "the Oedipus complex" to explain the origin of certain neuroses in childhood. It is defined as a male child's unconscious desire for the exclusive love of his mother. This desire includes jealousy towards the father and the unconscious wish for that parent's death, as well as the unconscious desire for sexual intercourse with the mother. Oedipus himself, as portrayed in the myth, did not suffer from this neurosis – at least, not towards Jocasta, whom h…
See also
• Antigone
• Epigoni
• Genetic attraction
• Myrrha (the Greek myth of incestual love between father and daughter)