Oedipus the king Play Produced by Sophocles - Research Paper Example

?Oedipus Introduction Oedipus rex or commonly known as Oedipus the king is a play that was produced by Sophocles. Sophocles was a Greek play who concentrated on tragic playwrights. His work depicts the role of mythologists and ancient Greek scholars as psychoanalyst. In addition, his work indicates his experiences in the age of Pericles and the Peloponnesian war. Sophocles spent most of his childhood in Colonus, which was a small town adjacent to Athens. This gave him an opportunity to interact with ancient Greek scholars such as Aeschylus and Euripides who frequented Athens. In the year 468, Sophocles defeated other tragedians in a competition that was held in the main green city Athens (Wiles 213). Following this victory Sophocles dedicated his effort in the creation of tragic playwright. This paper essay will therefore analyze Sophocles most popular playwright Oedipus rex. Plot analysis The play depicts a mythical Greek king known as Oedipus. Oedipus was to fulfill an ancient Greek prophecy that stated that he would kill his father and marry his mother. The play open by Oedipus been thrown out of his home by his parents, king Laius and queen Jocasta. During this scene, he is abandoned in the wilderness with his feet bound. After been abandoned by his parents in the wilderness, he is rescued by a shepherd and taken to Corinth. Oedipus learns about his tragic prophecy and he was determined to prove it wrong through positive living and control of emotions his mental reasoning (Foster 112). According to the writer, Oedipus’ life is predetermined and therefore he has limited control over his actions and decisions. However, Oedipus is determined to pursue the murderers of his father. He believed that with the help of the gods he would find success or ruins (Sophocles 5). Despite his attempt to exercise justice to the murderers of his father, Oedipus does not consider the boundary between fate and free will. He also believed that although god gives people the ability to make choices, they are bound by a predetermined outcome. In order to accomplish his mission, Oedipus consults a local prophet for a prophecy relating to his life in relation the murder of his father. The prophet informs him that his efforts to find the killers of his father were all in vain. However, this increases his determination to find the murders and execute justice for the murder of his father. Tiresias the old prophet gets angered spills the beans and declare him the murderer. This scene gets complicated and disturbing as “Oedipus tries to figure out how he would have killed his father and married his mother” (Radway web). He seems disturbed by the old man’s claim, that he would be his father’s murderer. He also recalls that this was not the first time the he was hearing this prophecy. He previously heard a similar prophecy from another man in Corinth. He recalls that he fled from Corinth in order to save his father from the murder and himself from the incest accusations. His wife who tells him that not all prophecies come out to be true comforts him. Just as his life was, beginning turning back to normal, Oedipus receives bad news from the shepherd. The shepherded explains how he found him abandoned in the wilderness as a little child and took him to Corinth. At this moment, Oedipus learns that while he was running away from his adoptive parents in Corinth, he killed king Laius because of a roadside argument (Sophocles 87). After he became the king of Thebes, he married Jocasta without knowing that she was his mother. The plays end on a tragic note whereby Jocasta hangs herself while Oedipus uses the pins from her dress to remove his eyes. Major themes Although the playwright concentrated on occurrences of the ancient Greek empire, the play reflects common occurrences in modern life. The first theme depicted by the play is that of light vs. darkness. Oedipus life depicts darkness or lack of self-awareness. In the play, Oedipus claimed to bring the murders of his father to justice while he turned out to be the murderer of his own father. His life indicates the thin boundary that separates life from darkness. His life as the king of Thebes demonstrates his light side of life while his life as a murderer of his father demonstrates his dark side of life. In addition, his knowledge and ignorance also depict the faint boundary that separates light from darkness. For instance, he continuously denied that he would be the murder of his father while he turned out to be the real murderer. This theme is analogous to the theme of sight and blindness that depicts Oedipus life. Te play also depicts the theme of origin and children. In the play, Sophocles explores various relationships to determine the origin of the problem. Thus, the author works his story in a backward format to determine who the father to whom was or who was responsible for the death of whom. Oedipus learnt that he was the murderer of his father after he hears the account of the shepherded who found him abandoned in the wilderness. This makes him to focus on his origin and his mistake. Similarly, people in the modern life notice their mistakes when they consider their past (Brunner 35). Thus, people have the choice of analyzing their mistakes by looking at their past or forgetting their past with and all their shortcomings. The play also depicts the theme of prophecy and predestinations. According to the play, people of Thebes believed that their gods predetermined their future. On the other hand, Oedipus believed that an individual had the ability to control his future through positive thinking. Thus, the play depicts conflicts between reality and prophecies. Oedipus’ actions such as running away from Corinth, indicates his determination to free from his predetermined life. However, his destiny and murder of biological father indicates the dominance of the prophecy over his life. Conclusion The play Oedipus rex by Sophocles focuses on the life of Oedipus who was born to king Laius. Through the playwright, Sophocles demonstrated his skills as the greatest Greek tragic playwright artist. Oedipus lived his life trying to run away from the prophecy that he would be the murderer of his father. In the end of the play, Oedipus realized that he had already killed his father unknowingly. His life as depicted in the playwright illustrates the themes of darkness vs. light, prophecy and predestination, children and origin. The story illustrates how people’s lives depict conflicting ideas in each of the themes. Works Cited Brunner, Mark. King Oedipus Retried. London: Rosenberger & Krausz, 2000. Print. Foster, Thomas. How to Read Literature like a Professor. New York: HarperCollins, 2003. Print. Radway, Janice. OEDIPUS REX. Theatrehistory. Web 12, July 2012. Sophocles. Oedipus Rex (Oedipus the king). New York: Digireads Publishing, 2005. Print. Wiles, David. Shakespeare's Clown: Actor and Text in the Elizabethan Playhouse. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007. Print. Read More