Oedipus Rex Research Paper

One of the world’s greatest tragedies was Oedipus Rex written by a Greek philosopher, Sophocles. It was written during the Peloponnesian War. Oedipus Rex was a hero who made himself a savior for the city of Thebes. With that great achievement and many others came an ultimate defeat. That defeat was out of anyone’s control. The various symbols throughout the Greek tragedy Oedipus Rex help illustrate the theme that fate is inevitable.

Sophocles used the symbol of sight which represents how the characters see their actions and their wisdom. He also used the symbol of blindness which shows the way the characters are unable put things together until the very end. These symbols reinforce the theme that fate is inevitable by showing that people realize things too late & that some are oblivious to others. In the play, Oedipus starts off by telling Jocasta about his past. He says, ”Think of it: I have touched you with these hands. These hands that killed your husband. What defilement! Am I all then? It must be so” (2. 779-781). He started to see his wrong doings and the errors of his ways. He …show more content…
The messenger is informing Oedipus that the life he thought he has known is in fact a lie. Sophocles writes, “From what did you save me ? Your ankles should tell you that… I cut the bonds that tied your ankles together” (3.977-979). The scars on Oedipus’s feet just like the prophecy won’t go away. When he goes to Thebes and defeats the sphinx, that is the start of his down fall. In the play the messenger reveals the truth behind Oedipus’s name by stating “That was why you were given the name you bear” (3.980). By the messenger revealing that it shows that since birth Oedipus’s fate was already predetermined. Even when his biological parents tried to get rid of him by abandoning him on the mountain he was rescued & fulfilled the

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Oedipus Rex Research Paper