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In the play Oedipus by Sophocles, Oedipus's elf-destruction and fall from power leaves him as the villain and not the hero in the play. The very thing he fights so hard to discover is what leads to his self-destruction. Therefore, we tend to feel sorrow for Oedipus seeing that it was only the fate of the G-ds and the oracles. Oedipus is a tragic hero who fails to achieve happiness in such a way that it brings upon fear and pity by everyone in the highest degree. Tell me, and never doubt that I will help you in every way I can. (line 13) Oedipus was a very caring king; he cared for Thebes and his people with unconditional love. When he was exiled from his beloved city he did it by choice, but the fact that he left in order for plague to vanish shows his leadership qualities.
This part in the play is very sad and heartbroken, when Oedipus leaves the city in which he ruled, saved from the sphinx and now breaking a plague is not an easy task to comply with. The Chorus and people are deeply sympathetic to Oedipus, and appreciative of his willingness to go voluntarily into exile to save the city. They say, You overcame the stranger, the virgin with her hooking lion claws and though death sang, stood like a tower to make pale Thebes take heart, fortress against our sorrow! True king, giver of laws, majestic Oedipus!
No prince in Thebes had ever such renown, no prince won such grace of power. Oedipus was the first and last king who treated Thebes as an equal, he loves the people and the people loved him. Even though many may say that he was the one to cause the plague, and an embarrassment to the city, he was also the one to free the city of the plague; therefore we can conclude that Oedipus once again saved the city of Thebes. He may not be a Hero, and in this play a villain, however he could have ignored the fact that he was the murder of king Louis and gone on with his life, but he didnt, Oedipus is in fact a hero!
For these reasons we can feel sympathy towards Oedipus and his ill-fated life and density. The dead are more fortunate than the living, because they do not experience pain. Yet the people they leave behind, suffer and endure the pain instead. Likewise Jocasta kills her self at the end of the play, and leaves Oedipus to see his mothers dead and naked body. Oedipus in a way also dies because exile is equivalent to death... Oedipus also concludes that this is occurring because G-d hates him, and Oedipus says God.
God. Is there a sorrow greater? Where shall I find harbor in this world? My voice is hurled far on a dark wind. What had God done to me? The Chorus asks if the gods could even exist if the forbearing of Oedipus' life, this turned out to be false because, after all, the people have only known the gods through the prophets Another element contributing to the tragic effect and sorrow is the use of the error of judgment due to ignorance.
When Oedipus finally understands what he has done, he is so disgusted with himself that the readers are afraid for him and what he may do. After seeing Jocastas dead body, he blinds himself, saying: No more, No more shall you look on the misery about me, the horrors of my own doing! Too long you have seen, Too long been blind to those for whom I was searching! From this hour, go in darkness! (1051) By this time, the fate of Oedipus and his "lightless life" has everyone pitying and pondering over Oedipus' plight.
The blindness of Oedipus, which had been prefigured by the blindness of Teiresias, ends the play. It also leads to the enlightenment of this tragedy -- through vision. Some also say that he did not want to face his mother and father in the after world therefore, by freeing himself of eyesight, he ran away from his problem. Often this flaw or error has to do with fate, a character tempts fate, thinks he can thwart it or doesn't realize what fate has in store for him. To Oedipus, fate is an idea that surfaces again and again. In conclusion the play Oedipus by Sophocles is an ironic tragic tale in which we feel much sympathy for the tragic hero, Oedipus.
A character with a mixture of good and evil is more compelling that a character who is merely good. Oedipus is definitely not perfect; although a clever man, he is blind to the truth and refuses to believe Teiresiass warnings and everyone elses. This tragedy evoked pity and fear in its viewers, causing the viewers to experience a feeling of catharsis.
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Research essay sample on Oedipus Ironic Tragic Tale Play By Sophocles
