An analysis of the characters of the play oedipus

Oedipus then sends for the one surviving witness of the attack to be brought to the palace from the fields where he now works as a shepherd.

In his youth, Laius was the guest of Pelopsthe king of Elisand he became the tutor of Chrysippusthe king's youngest son, in chariot racing. Oedipus's reaction to the Oracle is irrational: It does so through Oedipus' interactions with his citizenry and his brother-in-law Creon regarding a pestilence; with his consort Jocasta and his royal advisor Teiresias the blind prophet regarding his royal predecessor Laius' death; and with the Corinthian messenger and the Theban shepherd regarding his family background and his fate.

When his son is born, the king consults an oracle as to his fortune. The messenger, eager to ease Oedipus's mind, tells him not to worry, because Merope was not in fact his real mother.

Her son and second husband, Theban King Oedipusmay be as young as 18 when he runs away from Corinth, kills his father, defeats the Sphinx, and marries his own mother. Oedipus went to Delphi and asked the oracle about his parentage.

Now that he has unassailable proof of the charges against him, Oedipus finally bows to Fate. Oedipus should have never showed animosity towards Tiresias who was the truth oracle and also a person in authoritative position.

Oedipus the son of Laius and Jocasta became king of Thebes after killing his father, solvin…g the riddle of the Sphinx and unknowingly marrying his mother. Another such servant, whom Jocasta particularly trusts, makes job changes back and forth between palace duties and shepherding.

Oedipus cannot see how this could be, and concludes that the prophet must have been paid off by Creon in an attempt to undermine him.

If the shepherd confirms that Laius was attacked by many men, then Oedipus is in the clear. He was like a father figurewise old man, and a oracle in the Greek tragedies. Creon enters, saying that Oedipus shall be taken into the house until oracles can be consulted regarding what is best to be done.

While traveling he came to the very crossroads where Laius was killed, and encountered a carriage which attempted to drive him off the road. In Oedipus the King, Tiresias tells Oedipus that he is the murderer he hunts, and Oedipus does not believe him.

Oedipus anger and arrogance leads him to a lot of red flag and more. Oedipus disputes this, however, claiming that the king is the king, regardless of whether he is right or wrong. Before arriving at Thebes, Oedipus encounters the Sphinxa legendary beast with the head and breast of a woman, the body of a lioness, and the wings of an eagle.

Parodies[ edit ] Chrysanthos Mentis Bostantzoglou makes a parody of this tragedy in his comedy Medea Freud says, His destiny moves us only because it might have been ours — because the oracle laid the same curse upon us before our birth as upon him.

Given our modern conception of fate and fatalismreaders of the play have a tendency to view Oedipus as a mere puppet controlled by greater forces, a man crushed by the gods and fate for no good reason.

Oedipus moves from a position of great personal happiness and professional success to the depths of humiliation, loss and pain. He tries to demand for his right hand official Creon to be killed as you can see this is where Oedipus judgment is really clouded.

Oedipus chooses not to return to Corinth after hearing the oracle, just as he chooses to head toward Thebes, to kill Laius, to marry and to take Jocasta specifically as his bride; in response to the plague at Thebes, he chooses to send Creon to the Oracle for advice and then to follow that advice, initiating the investigation into Laius's murder.

It emerges that this messenger was formerly a shepherd on Mount Cithaeronand that he was given a baby, which the childless Polybus then adopted. Tiresias had many roles in the Oedipus play. He was like a father figure, wise old man, and a oracle in the Greek tragedies.

Tiresias is the oracle that reveals the truth to Laius and Oedipus. Oedipus the King Character Analysis Essay Lancaster ENG 11/25/ Oedipus the King Character Analysis Oedipus the King had accomplished many great things during his reign of Thebes and in his life time. An Analysis of the Character of Oedipus in Oedipus Rex, a Play by Sophocles.

words. 2 pages. A Comprehensive Analysis on Ancient Greeks That Fate Is Determined by Gods on Oedipus, Jocasta, Creon and Antigone An Analysis of the Character of Oedipus in Oedipus Rex by Sophocles.

words. 2 pages. The Changes in the Character of Oedipus. Nov 24,  · Oedipus, Jocasta, Teiresias, and Creon are the main characters in 'Oedipus Rex'. Theban King Oedipus is the husband and son of Theban Queen Jocasta.

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.

Play Summary Oedipus the King Bookmark this page Manage My Reading List Oedipus the King unfolds as a murder mystery, a political thriller, and a psychological whodunit.

An analysis of the characters of the play oedipus