Oedipus Essay, Research Paper

Oedipus

In the drama & # 8220 ; Oedipus, & # 8221 ; sarcasm is used often every bit and as articulately by Sophocles to the reveal subject of seeking cognition. Not cognizing the King of Thebes, Oedipus, gives addresss on happening the liquidator of the King of Laias and how wretched the hapless dirt will be when the truth is revealed.

& # 8221 ; Then once more I must convey what is dark to illume? , whoever killed King Laios might- who knows? -might decide at any minute to kill me every bit good. By revenging the slaying of the King, I protect myself, ( Sophocles 1109 ) . The address shows how dedicated Oedipus in the chase of the liquidator and non merely the avenge of the King but to salvage himself. He will non be salvaging but adding down to his life. Oedipus doesn & # 8217 ; t recognize he is in chase of himself. He continues his address & # 8220 ; Furthermore: If anyone knows the liquidator to be foreign, Let him non maintain silent: he shall hold his wages from him, & # 8221 ; ( 1112 ) . With his ain words he asks for the truth. But he can & # 8217 ; t manage the truth, for he has no thought what he is inquiring for or for whom he is seeking for.

He besides states that he wants the people of his state to outcast the liquidator one time he is discovered.

& # 8220 ; I solemly prohibit the people of this state, Where power and throne are mine,

of all time to have that adult male or talk to him, no affair who he is? , ( Sophocles 1112 ) .

He fears the prophet and wants to make it right by it. But in making so he will sequester himself from his ain people every bit good as his household. He even prays to God inquiring him to penalize the liquidator badly with no help. & # 8220 ; I pray that that adult male & # 8217 ; s life be consumed in immorality and misery? And as for me, this expletive applies no less, & # 8221 ; ( 1112 ) . He is certain that that the expletive doesn & # 8217 ; t use to him, so he is willing to denote this publically. He doesn & # 8217 ; t know that the old adult male he killed was King Laois. His lone concern at this clip is to liberate the metropolis from illness. He subsequently announces that the King if he had non been killed would hold had kids and he would move as Laois & # 8217 ; boy and revenge his male parent & # 8217 ; s decease. & # 8220 ; I say I take the boy & # 8217 ; s portion, merely as though I were his boy, to press the battle for him, & # 8221 ; ( 1112 ) . Not

merely is he traveling to conflict for the murdered King, but wants all the people in the metropolis and damnation will be their wages.

As he continues his hunt for cognition, Oedipus brings the lone adult male known to cognize the truth about the prophesier Teiresias. Oedipus feels the truth will now be revealed and satisfaction will come to him. & # 8220 ; How awful cognition of the truth can be when there & # 8217 ; s no aid in truth? , & # 8221 ; ( 1114 ) . This address from Teiresias is non good interpeted by Oedipus. He is raged. Oedipus wants Teiresias to talk up and state what he knows but as Teiresias continues to talk the Oedipus is confused and angered. Teresias blames Oedipus for the ruin of the metropolis and eventually provinces that Oedipus is the liquidator. Oedipus is ferocious with Teresias and tells him to leave.The truth is already difficult to get down. Then it all starts coming together. Iocaste reminds Oedipus of the narrative.

& # 8220 ; Laisaus was killed

By marauding aliens where three main roads meet ;

But his kid had non been three yearss in the universe

Before the King had pierced the babe & # 8217 ; s mortise joints? & # 8221 ; , ( 1124 ) .

This joys Oedipus & # 8217 ; memory of the old adult male he killed and how he has marks on his heels. Fear overcomes Oedipus. He starts inquiring Iocaste inquiries about the King. What did he look like? Was the King escorted at the clip of his decease? He doesn & # 8217 ; t want to believe what he is hearing. As Oedipus last resort to seek cognition he asks the lone informant to the offense to come and give his narrative. The shepherd to the King of Laios is loath to talk. But Oedipus insists on the truth. As the truth unfolds, Oedipus is left with nil but wretchedness.

Ah God!

It was true!

All the prognostications!

& # 8211 ; Now, O Light, may I look on you for the last clip!

I, Oedipus,

Oedipus, damned in his birth, in his matrimony damned,

Damned in the blood he shed with his ain manus!

In seeking cognition he found the truth. Truth that has brought him to his destiny given by the Gods. No other adult male he feels is every bit pathetic as himself. With all that was said he pokes both eyes out to populate in wretchedness as he feels he should.