Oedipus The King The Dramatic Twist Of Fate - 1148 Words

Sophocles wrote â€Å"Oedipus Rex† on C. 430 B.C.E as part of a trilogy, Oedipus the King was later translated by Dudley Fitts and Robert Fitzgerald which still conveyed the dramatic twist of fate in this historic play. The introduction of this play begins with Oedipus’s father Laïos, King of Thebes, being warned through a prophecy that his son will kill him and marry his wife Iocaste, Queen of Thebes. Knowing that this could be his future Laïos try his best to change his fate, not knowing his fate was already doomed. Unable to kill his own son, Laïos orders one of his herdsmen to his three day old son. The herdsman could not find it in himself to commit such as heinous crime, he maims the baby by stabbing him in his foot (this where Oedipus name originates from, which means swollen foot) and gives him to another herdsman so he can Oedipus. Instead of killing Oedipus the second herdsman gives the baby to his king who does not have children and raises baby Oe dipus as his own. Oedipus grows up and hears of the prophecy, frightened of his destiny flees from his adopted kingdom of Corinth and winds up back where he is conceived. Since he believes his adopted parents are his biological parents, because he was never told he was adopted, he unknowingly kills his biological father and then saves Thebes from the Sphinx. The people of Thebes rewards Oedipus by making him the King of Thebes and made Iocates his bride. By doing this the prophecy is fulfilled. You have to know where youShow MoreRelated Destiny, Free Will and Choice - The Power of Fate in Oedipus the King1071 Words   |  5 PagesThe Power of Fate in Oedipus the King The concept of fate has existed since the time of the ancient Greeks. The Greeks believed very strongly in fate, which can be defined as either a power beyond human control that determines events, or the outcome or end. In Oedipus Rex, King Oedipus lives and dies by fate. Fate influences the entire plot, thereby allowing for some interesting developments that may be unpredictable to the audience. In Sophocles Oedipus Rex, fate truly is a huge factorRead More Destiny, Fate, Free Will and Free Choice in Oedipus the King - Defining Fate1000 Words   |  4 PagesFate in Oedipus Rex      Ã‚  Ã‚   During ancient times, the Greeks believed very strongly in a concept called fate.   What is fate?   Fate can be defined as a cause beyond human control that determines events.   It can also be defined as the outcome or end of some sort.   In Oedipus Rex, King Oedipus is a character that lived by fate and died by fate.   This element of fate truly impacted the storyline and the plot, while allowing for some interesting developments that may have been unforeseen byRead MoreOedipus the King1065 Words   |  5 PagesSophocles’ use of irony is amongst the greatest of all time, as demonstrated masterfully in Oedipus the King. 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Conversely, the Story of Job uses the dramatic tension of a wager between God and Satan on the sincerity of Jobs devotion to God. Where Oedipus life, regardless of personal choice, is bound up by fated situations and their fated outcomes, Jobs story is one of choice in the midst of supernaturally imposedRead MoreOedipus Data Sheet2569 Words   |  11 Pages Major Works Data Sheet Oedipus the King Title: ________________________________ Sophicles Author: ______________________________ Date of Publication: ____________________ Around 450 BC Tragic Drama/Theater Genre: _______________________________ Historical information about the setting The work was written around 450 BC, a time of high Greek culture where literature and drama were placed at the forefront of society. Sophocles was a key player in this movement, and his playsRead MoreEssay on Oedipus the King2013 Words   |  9 Pagesfurther specified as dramatic or tragic irony. These types of irony often occur in plays, stories, and movies; where viewers or readers are led in one direction and director or author reveals different results than what is expected. The sudden twists and turns create drama and keep people interested thus, deserving the name dramatic irony. In the play Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, things are not as they seem. According to Matt Wolf of the International Harold Tribune, â€Å"dramatic irony could not haveRead 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 MoreLiterature: Compare and Contrast - Literary Devices5483 Words   |  22 Pagesliterary works by authors of all ages, writing non-fiction and fictional stories, poetry, and essays. The act of analyzing two different authors by both comparing their work and isolating their contrasting elements, can be difficult, yet rewarding. Oedipus Rex (Sophocles), written in 429 B.C., offers the authors use of Greek Mythology, oracles, Greek gods, deception, and murder. Throughout the series of events, the reader is given clues to the true identity of the murderer resulting in a traumatic