Fate and Ignorance in Oedipus Rex Essay - 2564 Words

Oedipus Rex is a story that can be interpreted on many different levels of thinking. The ancient tale has existed for centuries and has been subjected to countless forms of analysis. What is it that makes Oedipus the King such a fascinating story? Is it the suspense of a developing mystery that captivates the audience? Or perhaps the wonderful feeling the readers get after vicariously experiencing the horror Oedipus feels? And if not that, could it be that the reader is intrigued at Sophocles description of one mans disbelief in the gods? Whichever way one looks at it, Oedipus Tyrannus was, and remains, one of the most highly admired plays of all time (Wood, et al, 163). One way of interpreting this story is by looking at†¦show more content†¦A possible reason for his ignorance, and a fascinating twist, could be that Oedipus had originally believed that he was the murderer of Laius, and knew at the time of the story, that he had married his own mother (Daniels and Scully, 26). All the public cursing, the whole Now my curse on the murderer (Sophocles, 172) was really a spectacle to throw the suspicion off himself (Daniels and Scully, 26). However, most literary scholars dont believe this, as Oedipus does seem to display a great deal of remorse when he realizes that the prophecies about him are true. If it is all a setup by Oedipus, then he is both extraordinarily intelligent and stupid, by hiding the truth for so long and being self destructive at the same time (Daniels and Scully, 26). Most believe that Oedipus has simply chosen to ignore a real possibility (Daniels and Scully, 21). Howard Clarke said that [Oedipus] reaches a point where he is, literally, the captive of what he is searching for. (Clarke, 593). He reached a point in his search where he is carried along on the tide of his of his own discoveries (Clarke, 593). A part from these interesting interpretations, Oedipus Rex can be read from cover to cover as a normal detective story with all the basic elements; suspects, crime, clues and an investigator. The whole plot rotates around one significant event, which was the killing of Laius. So now we have the crime stated, weShow MoreRelatedTragic Flaws Of Oedipus Rex950 Words   |  4 Pages Tragic Flaws of Oedipus Rex The ancient Greek’s culture was greatly influence by their belief in in many gods. They believed that the gods would guide them and that everyone was destined to live out their fates. In the case of Oedipus Rex Fate drove him into a downfall. Oedipus Rex is a part of the great Sophoclean play, written by Sophocles. Sophocles’ write this story to portray a tragic hero, using character flaws to explain his downfall. 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