Classical Literature

[ trope][professor /instructor][course]November 19 , 2007Irony and Justice in Sophocles Oedipus the world-beaterGreat rulers throughout history take in common attributes intellect foresight , wisdom , and strength , to name serious a few . Oedipus greatest in only men s eyes .noblest of men was called upon by the citizens of Thebes to rescue them , as he did in the past (Sophocles ,br 111-112A blight is on the rich plants of the earthA blight is on the cattle in the fieldsA blight is on our women that no children atomic number 18 borne to them a God that carries firea deadly pestilence is on our t throw (p . 112Oedipus , like other great leaders , is empathic and open to the plight of his people small-arm ignorant of his own position causing the plight I know you are all sick , yet there is not matchless of you , sick though you are , that is as sick as I myself . My spirit groans for city and myself and you at once (p . 113 . He had deliver the city previously , and he feeling this season would be little different . He cannot understand the raillery of his speech accepting his duty as he swears that whoever killed the later(a) king Laius may also wish to kill him (117 . This is just the beginning of the irony and justice which will fall upon OedipusOedipus has always believed his parents were Polybus and Merope , even when his legitimacy was questioned (p . 145 ) yet the story crept well-nigh widely and Oedipus sought to learn the truth from an oracle while he did not learn of his true parentage , he was told of desperate horrors that would occur : killing his father and sleeping with his buzz off (p . 145 . He took what he considered to be the best bodily function to prevent the horrors from occurring , and fled , seemingly to never give it another thought .

It is this vey flight from what he believed to be the oracles dark kernel that causes him to partly fulfill the prodigy . This can be considered a refreshing choice yet while hearing the words of the oracle , he did not pay enough attention to what was not said . He was not given any meter reading Polybus and Merope were indeed his parents . It is the great paradox of this decision to stay away(predicate) from his parents is the cause of the curse on his subjectsHe cannot undo what has been done the ironies of parcel had conspired against him and his mother and wife , Jocasta . She had received the same horrific prophecy , and had taken pains to have her son killed . Fate intervened , and Oedipus was saved , to be raised by his surrogate parents . When Oedipus fatefully killed King Laius , it was of no apparent significance to him and he did not forge on the oracles message . Had his killing of Laius triggered a reflection of the message perhaps he could have avoided the inevitable . Later , although persuade the prophecy could not occur he had...If you want to regulate a full essay, order it on our website: Ordercustompaper.com

If you want to get a full essay, wisit our page: write my paper