& # 8211 ; Bliss Is Ignorance Essay, Research Paper

One of the most memorable and meaningful Socratic quotation marks

applies good when in context of Sophocles & # 8217 ; Theban Trilogy. & # 8220 ; The

unexamined life is non deserving life, & # 8221 ; proclaims Socrates. He could

have meant many things by this statement, and in relation to the drama,

the significance is found to be even more complex. Indeed, the state of affairs

of Oedipus, male monarch of Thebes, the truth of this statement is in

inquiry. Would Oedipus have been better off if he was blind to the

cognition of his parturition and the destiny which was foretold to someday

befall him? Truly though, his life would hold been a far better and

easier way had he ne’er known about his true beginnings. His life in

Corinth would hold been long and comfortable, and Thebes would hold

lived on under King Laius. In fact, everyone would hold been better

away in the long tally if Oedipus had non ventured out beyond the walls

of Corinth. So is it deserving populating an examined life?

Socrates had made this statement long after the creative activity of

the Theban Trilogy. In the context of his ain clip, this was meant to

imply that life must be examined and reflected upon, known and

discovered by each person philosopher to better enrich life for

all. Yet in footings of Sophoclean play, specifically Oedipus Rex, this

was meant in a immensely different manner. The unexamined life was one that

was in the dark, unknown as to what destine lied beyond every bend and

sarcasm of life. Oedipus, up to the point in which he heard the

remark in the tap house in Corinth, lived an unexamined life. To

Socrates, he was an unrealized adult male, one who deserved to cognize more,

one who non complete. However, in a much less metaphysical sense,

Oedipus & # 8217 ; life was complete, in that he had all that he needed, and was

populating a happy and fruitful life. As the play progresses, he finds

out more and more, larning precisely what the deductions of his birth

was, he suffers the destiny for analyzing his life. So what Socrates

had meant, that the life which was non rich with self geographic expedition and

contemplation was non deserving life, was so different than its

application in footings of Oedipus, who & # 8217 ; s life was unexamined, yet

complete.

The inquiry arises, what would life hold been like, if

Oedipus had non discovered his true beginnings? If he had stayed in

Corinth, would this hold of all time happened? We find that so, we would

hold had no narrative, if non for that solitary remark of a rummy which

sparked the fire of Rebel

ellion in the immature prince Oedipus. He

ventured out to Delphi, to prise cognition of his background out of it,

and to detect if this was so the truth, despite the fact that

his adoptive parents of Corinth had assured him of it falsity.

Oedipus leaves Corinth, carry throughing the Socratic thought of the unexamined

life. However, we must measure the eventual effects of his

actions and the deductions which they possess. What becomes of his

fatal journey out of Corinth leads to the ruin of an full metropolis

and household line. If he had non murdered King Laius, the Sphinx would

hold ne’er descended upon Thebes, he would hold ne’er fulfilled the

prognostication, and all would hold lived on in a comparative peace and

tranquility.

Once analyzing these facets of the relationship between the

quotation mark and Oedipus Rex, we can come to a concluding scrutiny of its

deductions. The inquiry which was addressed, that of the value of

the examined life, can be answered. Indeed, if Oedipus had non

ventured beyond the protective walls of his adopted place, would

anything such as what occurred in the drama of all time have transpired? If

Oedipus had non pursued that replies to the enigmas that plagued

him, despite the beseeching warnings of I? casta, in fact his life would

have been contented and happy. Alternatively, he follows the Socratic

method of geographic expedition and find, and returns down the way of

hurting and distraught. Was, after it was over, all worth it? We find

that no, it was non. Bing content and suited with what he knew of

himself would hold saved Oedipus and his children/siblings much torment.

However, in the typical Greek calamity, we must see his autumn from

grace through, which is so what happens.

In the cloud nine of ignorance, much hurting and trouble is

averted. For what worries does the nescient adult male hold? In the instance of

Oedipus, ignorance would hold suited him all right. The Socratic quotation mark

& # 8220 ; the unexamined life is non deserving populating & # 8221 ; surely doesn & # 8217 ; t keep true

in the instance of Oedipus Rex. While it may keep importance and a

significant significance for our ain lives, in the instance of Oedipus Rex, he

would hold been better off without it. Indeed, for while the

unexamined life is hapless in a metaphysical sense, Oedipus would hold

genuinely been all right without it. For the unexamined life is a simple one,

and he would hold lived a long and happy life, ne’er detecting the

true nature of his birth, nor even lovingness.

Bibliography

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