Oedipus the King by T. Hoey - Annotated Bibliography Example

McDonald, David. "The Trace of Absence: A Derridean Analysis of Oedipus Rex'." Theatre Journal. 31 (1979): 147-161. Arguing that deconstruction dominates throughout Oedipus Rex, McDonald critically analyzes Sophocles' wok from the perspective of a character, plot, scenes, and events. As his analysis establishes, the protagonist, initially presented to readers as a strong and vibrant young man, is deconstructed throughout the play and is ultimately reduced to a lowly, despised and blind man, guilty of the worst sins.

The concepts of family and kingship are similarly deconstructed and exposed, within the context of the plot, as little other than lies and illusions. While this particular analysis may lend to the conclusion that Sophocles' play is little other than a vitriolic attack on society and the values upon which it is founded, McDonald explains that nothing is farther from the truth. .Deconstruction is motivated by the dramatist's desire to make people see the fragility of their lives and to encourage them to look closely into their own selves and to carefully consider their actions lest they jeopardize all that which they founded their lives upon.

This particular interpretation motivates a deeper consideration of the play's meaning.Paolucci, Anne. "The Oracles Are Dumb or Cheat A Study of the Meaning of Oedipus Rex." The Classical Journal. 58 (1963): 241-247. Questioning whether or not, as Aristotle asserted, Oedipus is the perfect, and most complete, example of the Greek tragic hero, Paolucci initially states that he does not seem to be. His sin, as Paolucci argues, was beyond his control. He may have married his mother and killed his father but, in both instances, he had no inkling of his relationship to them.

These choices were imposed upon him by fate, implying that Oedipus was nothing other than a victim of fate. In such an instance, his punishment seems altogether out of proportion to his supposed sins and to his character faults. After stating this, an argument which most critics have used in order to establish that, indeed, Oedipus is the epitome of the greek tragic hero, Paolucci claims that he is not. In other words, were we to look at these events as evidence which establishes him as such, the argument is unconvincing.

Instead, there must be another reason, one more directly linked to his character and the choices he makes, which define him as the penultimate tragic hero. Through a critical analysis of the play, Paolucci concludes that this fault, and that which truly renders him a tragic hero, lies in his relationship with the gods. Throughout the play, he only calls upon them when in need but when he feels that he does not need their help, or believes himself strong, he scorns them. It is this, as Paolucci argues, which makes Oedipus a tragic hero, deserving of his fate, not the fact that he unknowingly married his mother and killed his father.

This interpretation, apart from being novel, invites one to re-read Oedipus the King from this particular perspective. .