Oedipus Rex Essay

 

Oedipus Rex Essay

Oedipus uses the prongs that held his mom's robes to pierce his eyes.

A shadow of his mother is also in the background as she hung herself with the noose.

Prompt: Recall how Oedipus came to kill his father and marry his mother, and then to discover his true identity. Do you feel Oedipus deserves the punishment he receives at the conclusion of the play? Why does Oedipus accept his guilt and punishment without question or protest?

The term punishment comes with a variety of meanings, whether it is dealt physically or mentally to the one who committed the crime. In order for one to be given a punishment they must have done something severe to acquire it. Do you feel as though we should have the right to give ourselves punishment for the things we may do? Sophocles uses numerous types of irony to convey his point through out the play such as dramatic and verbal irony. Oedipus was kept in the dark from who he truly was due to his parent’s selfish desire to kill him after the oracle foretold his destiny. Along with his misfortune the author used verbal irony a lot to convey his point about Oedipus actions through out the play. Oedipus say’s, "I will fight for him like I would fight for my father. My search will never end until I take in chains the murderer of Laius", in which Oedipus is unaware that he is actually the murderer. With him saying that it brings about so many complications which lead to his downfall and cruel punishment because he is in fact the son of Laius.

Oedipus became the ruler of Thebes after he solved the riddle of the Sphinx which saved the people. Being that he was able to help the people of Thebes he was given the power to rule them since they had lost their previous King who was assassinated. Along with him becoming the King of Thebes he was offered to take the hand of King Laius wife Jocasta, who later bared Oedipus two daughters Antigone and Ismene. In Thebes, the people were undergoing a great plague and were seeking an end to it all, so they sought for the one they looked up to and adored King Oedipus. Oedipus was a bit worried himself but none the less he still was determined to find the root to this problem. Creon was sent to find out the source of the great plague and was told that the blood of King Laius was spilled, and in order for the plague to end the must banish the man or use blood to remove it.

The beginning of Oedipus problem started from the time Creon came home with good and bad news. Being that Oedipus was a persistent man he was determined to get to the bottom of the problem. As the weight of the people started to press on his shoulders he started to begin to make bargains with the people to reveal who may be responsible for the death of King Laius. Banishment was all he offered to the person who would own up to the situation for being the cause. Oedipus felt as though he himself was a good and did not have to seek the gods for help, which shows that he feels as though he can control his own destiny.

Oedipus was destined to kill his father and marry his mother from birth and tried to avoid such a cruel prophesized destiny. Little did he know that ones destiny must be fulfilled before they depart from the mortal world, so thereafter he tried by every means to escape and prevent it from occurring. Being that Oedipus was determined to help the people of his land he sought to find out what actually caused the plague by Tiresias a prophet. When Tiresias came to the palace he had no idea about was about to happen, and as soon as he became aware of his calling to the palace he wanted to return home. During his small stay in the palace he had a bad encounter with Oedipus, which made Oedipus believe he conspired with someone to set him up. Tiresias and Oedipus both said a number of things during their argument to make those around them formulate questions on what is the truth. Oedipus said, “Blind, lost in the night, endless night that nursed you! You can’t hurt me or anyone else who sees the light-you can never touch me.” Tiresias replied, “True, it is not your fate to fall at my hands. Apollo is quite enough, and he will take some pains to work this out.” This foretold another event that was to happen to Oedipus before he would die.

Destiny is a big issue when it comes to plays from the times of Shakespeare, Sophocles, and many others. Many people are destined to be great for a life time, while some start as being great and parish as nothing. Oedipus was prime example as to why he does not deserve such punishment.

During the argument between Oedipus and Tiresias he blamed Creon harshly by putting false allegations on him for trying to get Tiresias to speak against. Creon felt highly disappointed in the fact that Oedipus his brother-in-law would lay such things to his charge. Tiresias said to Oedipus “So, you mock my blindness? Let me tell you this. You with your precious eyes, you’re blind to the corruption of the house you live in, those you live with – who are your parents? Do you know?” Tiresias said another problem that Oedipus was ignorant of and paid no attention too. After Tiresias continuously repeated it, to sound in the Kings ear it finally hit him. Oedipus started to question himself because of what Tiresias had just said to him concerning his true identity. From that moment on Oedipus was determined to find out the truth behind him, as well as who were his true parents. On his quest to finding out the queen became aware that Oedipus was indeed her son and that his destiny had been fulfilled. By every means she tried to get Oedipus from digging deep into the situation because of the terrible outcome that was to occur.

Do I believe Oedipus deserved the punishment he received at the end? Honestly I feel as though he did not deserve to be punished for his actions. Throughout the play Oedipus was confident about himself despite what anyone had to say. Although his destiny of marrying his mother and killing his father had been fulfilled he had no right in giving himself such cruel and sad punishment. All the same he was destined to do what he did and no one could stop him, but as for me he did not deserve the punishment in which he gave himself as painful as it was. Being that Oedipus has self-pride he would not deny the facts about what was placed on him. Once the truth was revealed he openly accepted every allegation placed on him and punished him self, because he did not want to see his parents in the after life. Throughout the play Oedipus was indeed blind to what was occurring around him which brought about the dramatic and verbal irony in the play. Apollo the god allowed Oedipus to fight against his destiny but realized that he could not get away from it.