Sophocles Page 5

Both physical blindness and blindness of the mind are depicted in Oedipus the King. The characters central to these images are Oedipus and Tiresias, the prophet. At the start of the play, Oedipus possesses sight while Tiresias is unable to see. However, as the play unfolds, it becomes evident as to who truly has the…

Oedipus Rex is one of the tragedies of Sophocles. Oedipus is a king and has the strength and the power of a king. For that reason Oedipus suffers from a tragic flaw which is his excessive pride. This pride makes him fall from status. Also, Oedipus is responsible for his downfall. We can see his…

Sophocles’ Antigone and Toni Morrison’s Pilate Dead both exhibit similar qualities. These include an intense and almost peculiar sense of family, a general disregard for written law, and bravery in the face of death. However, comparing Antigone and Pilate requires recognizing the inner motivations that drive these women. Antigone’s fear stems from the power and…

The play “Oedipus the King” examines the theme of people’s lack of awareness and their inability to perceive obvious truths. This idea of “blindness” is explored through various characters in the play. Oedipus, upon finally discovering the truth, admits that he had been blind to it for a significant portion of his life. This realization…

The role of the king in the time of Greek tragedies was simultaneouslydesired and dreaded because of the king’s responsibility to the people andbecause of the effects of the position on the king’s character. Creon revealssuch ambivalent thoughts towards the kingship in his speech defending himselffrom Oedipus’s conspiracy accusation in Oedipus the King; these ambivalentthoughts…

            The play “Antigone” by Sophocles depicts the tale of Antigone who defies the orders of King Creon and fulfills her wish of burying her brother’s body.  King Creon argues that Antigone’s brother, Polynices displayed disobedient behavior by fighting against him in the Thebes’ civil war so he orders to leave his body on the…

“I ought to be thy Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel… ” Mary Shelley, Frankenstein Mankind differs from other species by being intelligent. Intelligence and creativity allows humans to survive despite their relatively inferior physical attributes. Besides these benefits, being intelligent has also inspired fear. Humanity has always been afraid of being the…

The tragicomedy “Antigone” by Sophocles has a variety of interesting individuals, each with their own distinct characteristics and goals. Antigone stands out among them as a complex and multifaceted woman who personifies the competing impulses of duty, disobedience, and unflinching resolve. In order to shed light on Antigone’s relevance in the play, this article probes…

Modern French dramatist, Jean Anouilh, is a great tragic playwright of the twentieth century. His best known work is Antigone, a modern version of Sophocles’ tragedy. Anouilh’s Antigone also provides a commentary on the Nazi occupation of France. In rewriting the myth in modern times, Anouilh revives the issue of free will under the power…

An hamartia, also known as a tragic flaw, is a crucial physical or mental trait that can lead to the downfall of a tragic hero in literature. In the play Oedipus Rex, Oedipus is a tragic hero with a hamartia that ultimately causes his downfall. There are three traits that have been debated as Oedipus’…