The Role of Woman in Ancient Time

The role of woman in each of these works play a significant role in each yet they are all portrayed in different aspects. The Epic of Gilgamesh is a very old story yet still the role of women in the story is very much important. You can get the idea that it might actually not be so old since it shows that woman’s role as that of in today’s society.

If you take it from the biological perspective, the females are the heart and the brain. They are the ones that decide what happens in the story and what happens next. The female’s actions allow the male characters to go after all their goals and they also usually know what needs to be done before anyone else does. One of these examples is shown when the mother of Gilgamesh speaks to Gilgamesh, “The stars are like heaven, what kept fallen upon you…your caressing it like a woman.” (line 255-260) this was once Gilgamesh told his mother about his dream. The woman in the Epic of Gilgamesh is very powerful as well. Some of them are seen as goddesses that have power over everything in this world. The one that created mankind and everything after was Enkidu and she was a woman, a goddess called Aruru. It is not a coincidence that she is known as “the great one”.

Another huge aspect of the role of a woman is their position in their relationships. Females are equal to men and present the calmer and compassionate attributes into the relationship. If there is a problem that should be discussed and fixed with a male character, it is the female character who helps the male get to the right conclusion and helps make the right decision. All the female characters are needed in this part of the society because they bring balance into life. Their virtues, like love and compassion, calm down the male excitement to do things.

The role of women in Homer’s Epic poems is to show how important women are to the lives of the men. Most of the women are determined and sharp. For the most part, they are treated with dignity and respect from the men. However, they do play a secondary role to the male characters. All men desire women. Homer talks about their beauty in so much detail.

In the Odyssey, Odysseus would not have made it through his 20-year journey had it not been for Penelope, his wife. Penelope displayed loyalty, trust, pride, and cleverness. “No, the deathless gods destroyed my looks …my good name and my beauty.” (lines 249-253, book 18) This shows Penelope was the ideal woman. She had many men that wanted her hand in marriage she remained loyal to Odysseus and was very patient in his return, even though, she was not sure if he would ever return back from the Trojan war. It seems that Homer intentionally portrays women to have a very important role in The Odyssey, as well as The Iliad. Women in these poems are very powerful, wise, and wise. I think Homer’s main goal was to compare the differences between male and female roles while making it obvious how important women were to the men. In the Iliad, Helen is one of the most important characters. Women had the power over a man and his emotions, such as aggression, kindness, rage, pride, and jealousy. Often you see men losing their honor over the female character.

Oedipus the King was written in and around the 400 B.C by a man called Sophocles. The role of a woman was treated lower class human beings to that of men. At the beginning of the story, the mother of Oedipus, Jocasta, who is the queen still does household duties of a wife like a woman should in those times, it does not matter if you are the queen or a peasant you still have that role. Despite Jocasta who lives in a society where patriarchy is the dominant view, she plays a very prominent role. Jocasta is also seen to be worthy,” He will come; but, Oedipus, I think I am worthy too…that disquiets you.” (line 839-841) Jocasta referees a fight between Oedipus and Creon, a role that is hardly played by women in the patriarchal societies as it gives the woman a lot of power by deciding the outcome of a battle.

Although her role is not very distinct in the story, Jocasta emerges as an influential woman in her society.” Quote” the woman who has a big role in Oedipus the King is the daughter of Oedipus called Antigone. She makes her own choices as well as decisions and no-one can influence her to change her choices, not even her father Oedipus. Her purposefulness may be altered due to the fact that her father put a curse on her which has brought her down, made her have negative feelings towards life but with all that it has made her tough. A woman in these societies that Jocasta and Antigone live in tend to obey and listen to men since they are in a patriarchal society. Antigone is shown to be more of a well-known role in Oedipus the King as she questions the great Creon about his laws as she thinks that it can not override the traditions as well as the Gods. This is very uncommon for a woman to stand up against a king and by Antigone doing this, it can bring huge punishment towards her.

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Oedipus Rex by Sophocles

There are many types of leaders all over the world, everyone has had to deal with one that no matter how excellent their leadership skills were, they had at least one flaw that could destroy their entire career, such as a bad temper. This is understandable because nobody is perfect, although, one must learn to recognize and be cautious with these flaws because, a flaw can potentially bring great consequences to not only the person but to everyone around them as well. Especially when one holds a great deal of power and responsibility. In “Oedipus Rex”, a great example of how a flaw can be devastating to an entire kingdom when one does not learn to control them is demonstrated. Sophocles argues that, despite how skilled one is as a leader, if one does not learn to master their flaws, it will cause poor decision making, and possibly total loss of authority.

The story demonstrates great leadership skills in many parts of the story. Sophocles shows excellent leadership in Oedipus Rex with Oedipus himself who is able to maintain integrity throughout the entire story despite the difficult challenges he is struck with. Oedipus is both tough enough to guard the kingdom yet compassionate enough to feel the pain and hear the needs of their people who are suffering and dying. Oedipus demonstrated how he could take care of an entire kingdom by defeating the sphinx that was haunting the kingdom as soon as he arrived to Thebes "you saved us from the Sphinx" (578, 38-39). Everybody looks up to him because of this. They see a brave and tough man who saved them all. They feel safe around him and that is why they made him king. They see him almost as “the man surest in mortal ways and wisest in the ways of God” (578, 37-38). He is a compassionate person who is suffering greatly because his people are dying. He demonstrates his compassion when he goes personally to hear the prayers of the people who have lost their loved ones and are dying because of a plague that is attacking the kingdom "I have come myself to hear you" (577, 8). He loves his people even though he has no relation to them. His main goal is to protect the people of Thebes and find a solution to the plague and, at any cost he will accomplish it. Oedipus is an amazing leader.

The story strongly argues that one must learn to control their flaws in order to be a great leader. Despite the fact that Oedipus is a great leader, there is a big flaw that might seem insignificant to many, but it is significantly astounding how much damage a bad temper can cause. The moment that Oedipus hears something that he doesn't like or agree with, he loses total control of his temper and begins to yell. This causes people to be afraid to talk to him because they are afraid of what his reaction might be "when it comes to speech, your own is neither temperate nor opportune" (586, 109-110). Oedipus literally forces people to speak, he will condemn them if they don't do so you made me speak. I did not want to" (587, 140). It is almost impossible and unpleasing to forcibly speak to a person who’s completely full of rage and anger. This is his big flaw, one that he must learn to control before it brings great consequences to him.

Sophocles examines how a bad temper can lead one to make poor choices. Throughout the entire story Oedipus makes many poor choices, most of them are when he is full rage and anger. To begin, he killed his own father because he lost his temper when he was forced off the road "I killed him" (600, 289). If Oedipus wouldn't have lost his temper, he wouldn’t have murdered his father, he would have never became king, he wouldn’t have had children with his mother therefore, the oracle would have not come true. In addition, Oedipus also has another moment of rage when Tiresias is brought in to speak with him, Oedipus completely disregards the truth just because he doesn't like it, he then goes on to make false statements about Kreon because he was angry. At one point Kreon even tells Oedipus "if you think there is anything good in being stubborn against all reason, then I say you are wrong" (592, 37-38). Everyone sees him as a stubborn person who doesn’t stop to analyze what is being said before he acts on his emotions and disregards everybody else’s. One truly needs to learn to control ones temper in order to be a great leader, a bad leader will end up making poor choices and in the end, failing.

Ultimately, Sophocles examines that when one is controlled by their bad temper, one will make poor decisions which can lead to serious consequences such as total loss of authority. Oedipus was a great leader who ruled an entire kingdom and had a family, he couldn’t ask for anymore. All he wanted was to save his people from the plague. Unfortunately his bad temper caused him to make poor decisions every time he was faced with a hardship. In return, serious consequences began and in the end he lost everything he had. His wife committed suicide “her body was swaying from the cruel cord she had noosed about her neck” (613, 38-39). After the truth was unraveled about who he was, his dear mother/wife could not handle the truth and committed suicide. It was his stubbornness and bad temper that let the truth about everything be unraveled, and if only he could have made his choices in a nicer and kinder way, a lot of it, if not all, could have been avoided.

Oedipus knows he has to leave the castle because he has finally realized that it is all his fault and “my own guilt” (616, 156). He is well aware that everything that has happened is his fault and regrets it all, but what good is it now if he has lost it all. He has lost his kingdom, his family, and also his sight. One bad choice right after another. It is crucial to sit, calm down, and think about the choices one is going to make and what is going to be said when one is confronted with a hardship. Even when one is not content one needs calmly make any rational decisions at all times, otherwise everything will just get even worse. A bad temper could be a bad flaw to a leader that could have consequences such as total loss of authority.

In order for one to be a great leader one must definitely be brave and caring just as Sophocles demonstrates in “Oedipus Rex”. However despite how great one is a leader one must learn to deal with ones flaws so that people feel comfortable speaking with one about arising problems but also to make wise decisions with any situation given to one. Oedipus made one bad decision after another because his anger took total control of him every time life confronted him with something that he did not like until he lost everything he had. If he would calmly and wisely made every choice in his life he would have been a great leader.

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Oedipus Rex as the Ideal Tragic Hero

Oedipus Rex is a famous tragic hero known for his tragic downfall caused by his flaws (Barstow 2). Oedipus Rex, a play written by Sophocles, portrays a hero born of noble birth whose choices lead him to his downfall. Oedipus, King of Thebes, discovers his true identity and realizes that he has fulfilled the prophecy of marrying his mother and killing his father (Knox 6). He gouges his eyes out after realizing that his flaws have caused him to fulfill the prophecy because he does not want to “see either the evils he had suffered or the evils he had done” (Sophocles 1282 - 1285). A tragic hero is a well-liked, noble character that fails to achieve happiness and has a tragic downfall caused by his flaws that create a sense of fear and pity from the audience. In the play Oedipus Rex, written by Sophocles, Oedipus is the ideal tragic hero because of his character flaws that lead him to his tragic downfall, making it impossible for him to end up in a perfect virtue of happiness, evoking fear and pity from the audience.

In Oedipus Rex, Oedipus’s character flaws of pride and hubris lead him to actions and life events that guide him to his inevitable downfall. A tragic hero, like Oedipus, uses their actions to show that even the “best and most intelligent action” can lead to their downfall through their flaws, not because of chance or fate “but because of some error or misdirection in the action itself, a deflection that brings a reversal of the very intentions that propelled it” (Rorty 8). At the beginning of the play, Oedipus says “who am called Oedipus and known to all” showing his flaws of pride and his huge ego; these flaws are important in guiding the plot to his downfall (Sophocles 8). Oedipus’s immense ego and prideful characteristics cause him to murder his father on the triple road and bring him to Thebes to defeat the Sphinx and become king; in doing so he marries his mother, Queen Jocasta, fulfilling the prophecy. This illustrates how one’s character flaws can cause a protagonist to make choices that will inevitably lead to the tragic hero’s downfall. Oedipus Rex is led by the tragic flaws that arise from his own excellence and “makes him susceptible to a kind of waywardness that arises from his character” leading him towards a downward spiral of ill-fated actions (Rorty 11).

A tragic hero like Oedipus is flawed from being ignorant and not able to see the truth clearly. The tragic hero has a “great error or flaw” and is typically not aware of what is going on because of that flaw or error (Barstow 1). In one instance when Tiresias, the blind prophet, and Oedipus are talking, Oedipus dismisses everything Tiresias says, and accuses him of conspiracies; Tiresias tells Oedipus “You, even though you see clearly, do not see the scope of your evil” (Sophocles 427-428). Although Oedipus can see clearly with his eyes, he cannot see the bigger picture, because his ignorance and pride are in the way, so he cannot fully see nor understand what Tiresias is trying to explain, and accuses Tiresias of being “blind in your ears and mind and eyes” (Sophocles 384, 385). Oedipus uses verbal irony in this accusation because Oedipus is actually referring to himself, in which he does not listen nor see the truth. Oedipus does not recognize that he is the one who has killed his father, King Laius, and that Queen Jocasta, his wife, is his mother. When Oedipus realizes that he has fulfilled the prophecy, he feels remorseful and gouges his eyes out as a form of self-demise because he does not want to see the actions that he has committed. His ignorance is seen throughout the play and connects with all of the other flaws that lead him to his unavoidable tragic downfall (Barstow 1).

An ideal character will end up viewing life as a series of goals to end up in a perfect virtue of happiness, while the tragic hero in Oedipus Rex is led by his flaws and ignorance to his downfall failing to achieve happiness. A tragic hero will have a tragic downfall caused by his or her own flaws (Barstow 2). Oedipus realizes his tragic flaw and becomes aware of his pride and ignorance and admits that his own flaw of anger drove him to strike the driver on the road, which he finds out is his father, King Laius (Sophocles 788 - 790). The action of the tragic downfall is not when Oedipus fulfills the prophecy of marrying his mother and killing his father, the downfall of Oedipus is when he discovers his identity; this discovery made by free choice is what makes this play a tragedy (Knox 6). Oedipus’s self-realization of his tragic flaws that caused his adverse actions is his true downfall, leading him to gouge out his eyes. Oedipus experiences his tragic downfall, and all the people of Thebes turn on him saying “if only we had never set eyes on you” and blaming him because he was never able to see the truth (Sophocles 1233, 1234). When Oedipus gouges his eyes out, he illustrates his failure to achieve happiness, showing the inevitable downfall of a tragic hero like himself. A tragic hero does not end up in a perfect virtue of happiness; like Oedipus, tragic heroes end up having a tragic downfall through the choices and flaws (Barstow 2).

Fear and pity are created in the audience by the character’s downfall because the tragic hero is usually virtuous and meant to end up with happiness but instead, the tragic character ends up in a tragic downfall, which creates emotions of fear and pity for the character. Like Oedipus, a tragic hero is usually born into a noble family, wealthy, well known, and well liked, this makes his downfall seem unlikely and causes more fear and pity in the audience (Barstow 2). Oedipus is not only the “greatest in the eyes of all” and born of noble birth, but he has saved the city and becomes a king that the people of Thebes admire to the extent of comparing him to the gods and praising him; and, in the play the citizens are asking Oedipus to save the city again from the plague (Sophocles 44). The audience experiences sympathy towards the tragic hero because of their knowledge, and from knowing what the characters can not know through dramatic irony. The actions that result from the character and their tragic flaws create a sense of acceptance from the audience because his flaws justify his behavior, but when the character falls the audience feels pity and fear (Rorty 10). Oedipus is not evil, he is a good person with good intentions which is what causes the audience watching to feel sympathy for him (Barstow 2). Oedipus wants the best for his city and his people and he wants to save them from the plague, but his tragic flaws corrupt his good intentions. The tragic hero is usually a likable, well known, noble character that the audience sympathizes with because of his unlikelihood to have a downfall (Barstow 2).

Most tragic heroes like Oedipus, are well known and provoke emotions of fear and pity from the audience because of dramatic irony. The audience develops an attachment to the character through their good-natured personality and noble birth or family, and then the audience will feel fear and pity from knowing what the characters do not know(Struck 1). Oedipus is born from nobility, is well liked, and has good intentions; this helps the audience to build a connection and feel sympathy for him, creating a sense of fear and pity because the audience knows what his outcome will be. Dramatic irony plays a role in Oedipus’s tragic hero complex because of his flaws of ignorance and impulsiveness. Dramatic irony is prevalent throughout the play causing more fear and pity for the character because the audience knows what is going to happen to Oedipus (Barstow 4). In Oedipus Rex, while hunting for King Laius’s murderer, Oedipus declares “And so I myself am become an ally both to the god and the man who died” (Sophocles 244, 245). This is a crucial moment in the play because the audience knows that Oedipus is the murderer of the King Laius, but Oedipus declares that he will “become an ally both to the god and the man who died”, but in reality he is actually going to have a downfall and be the enemy; this creates dramatic irony and sparks fear and pity from the audience. Dramatic irony plays a large role in Oedipus Rex, evoking fear and pity from the audience and revealing how Oedipus is the ideal tragic hero (Barstow 4).

Oedipus’s “dynamic and multifaceted character” is a perfect example of a tragic hero, he is born of noble birth, has character flaws that lead to his downfall, and realizes his flaws and punishes himself while evoking fear and pity from the audience (Struck 5). Oedipus’s hamartia causes him to freely choose his actions, which is the impetus for his inevitable tragic downward spiral (Struck 3). A tragic hero is not meant to obtain happiness; they do not view life as a sequence of goals to help them to obtain happiness and are obstructed by the view of their flaws and ignorance causing their tragic downfall (Barstow 2). Tragedies like Oedipus Rex include elements and connections with the tragic hero and his or her downfall to evoke emotions of fear and pity from the audience (Rorty 5). Faced with his tragic flaws and ignorance, Oedipus is led to his downfall, prompting sympathy from the audience. Oedipus Rex continues to portray the ideal tragic hero even in today’s standards, showing that even the best action can go wrong when there is a misguided force.

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Oedipus the King – Doomed from Birth

From birth, being left to die with his ankles pierced and bound, Oedipus was a tragic figure and his life was predetermined by fate and the prophecies of the God Apollo. Oedipus The King was written by Sophocles in 430 B.C. He was influenced by Greek Mythology and the people of his time knew of all the Greek Gods. But according to Britannnia.com, to Sophocles ‘the gods’ appeared to have represented the natural forces of the universe to which human beings are unwittingly or unwillingly subject (Woodward and Taplin). While Apollo and the other Greek Gods were myths, their influence made the people of his time see why all the characters believed their prophecies.

At the beginning of the play we are not told the legend of Oedipus, but Sophocles audience and many readers today already know how he became King. The legend says that Oedipus was born to King Laius and Queen Jocasta of Thebes. The King had been given a prophecy, by the Oracle of Apollo at Delphi, that his son would kill him and marry his mother. When their son was born, they gave the infant to a shepherd who was told to kill him. The shepherd that took him to the mountains of Cithaeron and instead of just leaving him, he gave the infant to a shepherd of King Polybus and Queen Merope of Corinth. Later in the play the shepherd said, “O master, I pitied it, and thought that I could send it off to another country and this man was from another country. (1262-1264) The King and Queen named him Oedipus, which meant ‘swell foot’, because King Laius had scarred his feet. They raised him as their son, and it was not until he was older that he learned from another oracle that he was not their biological son and was told the prophecy. He then left Corinth to make sure it would not come true and began the journey that would in the end bring truth to the prophecy. On his journey he came to a place where three roads crossed and he became angry with a man in a carriage, who unknown to him was his father, harassed him. He killed his father, the King, and all but one of his servants. The audience now knew that the first part of the prophecy had come true. He continued to Thebes once there he answered the riddle of the Sphinx, restored Thebes, and married Jocasta, who he did not know was his mother. He was a noble king but also had his weaknesses. He created several errors in judgment, demonstrated excessive pride, and at the end his punishment exceeded his crimes.

When the play begins Oedipus demonstrated that he was a good king by having already sent Creon to see Apollo to find out how they can end the plague that is killing the people of Thebes. The Priest said of him, “You came and by your coming saved our city.” (39) He was considered a wise man when he was able to answer the riddle of the Sphinx and become the King. But, Oedipus also had his flaws, which included his excessive pride. He was often over confident in his own abilities. When Creon told him that “The God commanded clearly: let someone punish with force this dead man’s murderers” (121), Oedipus asked who the dead man was. When told that it was King Laius, he became determined that he could find the killer even if it was himself. In A Thinker at the Crosswords the author says, “Before Teiresias implicates him in the murder of Laius, Oedipus has already made up his mind – the murderer is a stranger and singular, very much like himself” (Cybulska). He sent for the blind prophet of Apollo, Teiresias, and demanded he tell him the truth and when he said, “You are the land’s pollution” (384), Oedipus said he did not understand. Teiresias then said, “I say you are the murderer of the king whose murdered you seek” (395-396). In Introductions and Translations to the Plays of Sophocles and Euripides the author says, “That Oedipus’ incest and parricide are predetermined is an indisputable fact; that he should, because he is who he is, act and suffer as he does is a dramatic necessity” (Sophocles, Love, and Euripides).

Oedipus made many errors in judgment, which led to his downfall. He was impulsive, angry and quick to jump to conclusions. When he discovered that King Polybus and Queen Merope were not his natural parents, he left the one place he would have been safe. When he became angry at Theiresias Oedipus told him to leave and not to return. He then became angry at Creon and when Creon ask if he would banish him Oedipus said “No, certainly; kill you, not banish you.” (689) Jocasta then begged him to “trust him in this, spare him for the sake of this his oath to God, for my sake, and the sake of those who stand here” (712-715) He then had her tell him the story of the death of Laius and what happened to their son. A messenger then arrived with news of the death of his father King Polybus. After hearing the story Oedipus sent for the herdsman to try to verify to himself that he had not been the killer of King Laius. At this point it has become obvious that Oedipus is the son of King Laius and Queen Jocasta. The reader now has a degree of pity for him and a sadness for the circumstances of his life.

Going from being King to a blind person, who he himself exiled from Thebes, was a complete reversal of his Oedipus’s fortune. After getting confirmation from the herdsman that he is the son of Laius and Jocasta he was beside himself. The herdsman said, “If you are the man, he says you are, you’re bred to misery.” (1265-1266). Oedipus now realizes that the prophecy has come true – he killed his father and married his mother. He feels that his life could get no worse. Then a second messenger arrives and tells the reader, “Shortest to hear and tell—our glorious queen Jocasta’s dead” (1325-1326). Oedipus at this point gouges out his own eyes and according to the messenger “he’ll cast himself, out of the land, he says, and not remain to bring a curse upon his house, the curse he called upon it in his proclamation” (1381-1384). He did not kill himself because he did not want to be able to see. He said, “I do not know with what eyes I could look upon my father when I die and go under the earth, nor yet my wretched mother— those two to whom I have done things deserving worse punishment than hanging.” (1452-1456) He had no desire to see his children nor his country. He gave himself the greatest punishment, even though he had done many bad things, most of what he did was through ignorance of who he was.

Oedipus was doomed from birth and the reader knew this before he did. According to Bragg, “The most mistaken of Oedipus’ beliefs is that he lives in a world in which a good and able man may count on help and approval from responsible divinities’ (Sophocles and Bragg). Our feelings changed many times throughout the play. The infant given away by his mother evoked pity and yet when Oedipus killed King Laius, he made us feel hatred for him as a murderer. Had Oedipus known of his true birth, he might never have left Corinth and killed his real father. If he had just allowed Theiresias to leave without telling of his prophecy, he might never have felt he needed to search for the killer of King Laius in the manner he did. Not learning about what he done would not have might it right, but it could have had less caused tragedy for his family. But, then again, it could have destroyed Thebes. At the end he did not fear for his sons but wanted his daughters taken care of. As readers we are now feeling pity and sympathy for him. Despite all that he has done, we cannot help but feel that he is basically a moral and understanding man by wanting his children and country taken care of. Blinded by his own hand and exiled by his own words is truly more punishment than you would expect from someone themselves.

The heavy weight of fate that seems to hang over Oedipus, robbing his life of value and destroying everything that gave him a sense of autonomy and self-belief, suggests a doom-laden, pagan belief that, no matter what, we cannot escape the consequences of or past acts. (Sheehan) Oedipus has become one of the great tragic heroes of all time and his fate was determined before his birth.

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The Three Theban Plays is a Three Part Trilogy

The Three Theban Plays is a three part trilogy that exhibits the story of the great King Oedipus. Throughout this play, Sophocles develops a strong and central theme of free will verses the Gods’ will. Oedipus’ life is centered around a daunting prophecy that foreshadows the day when he will kill his father and marry his mother. Oedipus’ character is faced with the decision between instructed will, or following his personal instincts. Sophocles utilizes irony in this play to create a crucial part in demonstrating the downfall of Oedipus. Irony is used as a literary tool to illustrate Sophocles main plot of the play and help the audience better understand Sophocles intentions. Sophocles uses Oedipus’ character to portray and best emphasize his plot of tragedy, as well as consistently intrigue and or influence the readers ideas whilst incorporating the three types of irony; Dramatic,Verbal and Situational.

Sophocles use of Dramatic Irony is heavily used in The Three Theban Plays. Dramatic Irony is a literary technique in which the character’s actions are clear to the audience, but unknown to the character. In the play Oedipus the King, Creon is explaining to Oedipus what has happened to their previous King, Laius. Oedipus responds, “I know-/ or so I’ve heard. I never saw the man myself” (Sophocles.Oedipus the King,118-119). Oedipus is told that King Laius was murdered, and that one day Laius’ glory will be honored when his killer is put to death. Oedipus, unknowingly being apart of the murder, agrees that someone must track down the killer.

The audience at this point knows that Oedipus is the reason for Laius’ death, while Oedipus is clueless of his involvement. This realization intrigues the reader to continue their reading, in hopes of explaining the misunderstanding. This quote signifies the use of Dramatic Irony and the hand it plays in Oedipus’ downfall. In this instance, Sophocles use of Dramatic Irony is a tool to illustrate the superior plot of tragedy. Oedipus’ realization towards the death of Laius will lead to Oedipus’ punishment of hurting himself and escaping Thebes, as well as the overall change in his character as Oedipus unravels the prophecy. This use of Dramatic Irony will influence the reader to stay interested and excel in the reading of the play. Dramatic Irony is again present towards the beginning of the story. As Oedipus ventures off to discover himself, he stumbles along a crossroads. This event led him to duel with, and ultimately kill his biological father. This incident progressed the destined prophecy into completion. Due to the fact that Laius is now dead, the land of Thebes is cursed and a sphinx is placed on the people.

Oedipus leading the city of Thebes, he claims he will not let the killer of Laius dwell in their home, or Oedipus will put a curse upon the killer. Oedipus proclaims to the dwindling city, “If by any chance/ he proves to be an intimate of our house,/ here at my hearth, with my full knowledge,/ may the curse I just called down on him strike me!” (Sophocles.Oedipus the King,284-287). This example of Dramatic Irony illustrates Oedipus cursing the murderer of Laius when he is in fact cursing himself. This type of irony plays a considerable role in the tragedy of Oedipus; cursing himself ultimately led to his death. Sophocles use of irony in this specific scene allows the audience to understand the purpose of Dramatic Irony. Dramatic Irony used in the context of this moment, foreshadows the cursing that will take place on Oedipus further into the play. Additionally, Sophocles uses the tactic of Dramatic Irony, to compel the reader to stay interested in the play. Dramatic Irony is important in literature to develop a story and induce the audience. Sophocles uses Dramatic Irony as a source to progress the main plot of tragedy and leave the audience in suspense.

Verbal Irony is another literary tool used throughout The Three Theban Plays, directly along Oedipus to sustain the intended tragedy plot of the story. Verbal Irony are when words convey something opposite of what is expected or what is truly meant by the character; as in the character says one thing, but means something completely different. After Oedipus’ acknowledgement towards the death of Laius, he assures Thebes of his intentions. Oedipus states, “I will fight for him as if he were my father, /stop at nothing, search the world/ to lay my hands on the man who shed his blood” (Sophocles.Oedipus the King,301-303). The Verbal Irony shown in this quote is Oedipus proclaiming his courageous efforts to fight as if the previous king was his real father, when in actuality he is. Additionally he claims to search the world for Laius killer, when again Oedipus is the culprit. This example of Verbal Irony, created by Sophocles, allows the audience to sense Oedipus’ character.

Oedipus’ willingness to find the killer shows his caring side. **Sophocles again portrays Oedipus using Verbal Irony in the play, Oedipus the King. As Oedipus believes Creon is plotting to steal his crown, Oedipus confronts Creon. Oedipus says, “You, plotting to kill me, kill the king-/ I see it all the mauradign thief himself/ scheming to steal my crown and power!” (Sophocles. Oedipus the King, 596-598). This is an example of Verbal Irony because of the fact that Oedipus accuses Creon of potentially killing the King, when in reality Oedipus has already done this with Laius. Again, this illustration of Verbal Irony allows the audience to get a true sense of Oedipus’ character. This present quote of Verbal Irony depicts Oedipus to be a high tempered man who overreacts to little situations.

Situational Irony, similar in the effects of others, is an action that has an opposite effect from what is expected to happen. Situational Irony is strongly showed in The Three Theban Plays often as main ideas. Tiresias is a blind prophet that receives wiseful insight into the future. Tiresias explains to Oedipus that he is the killer and that one day, Oedipus will leave the city of Thebes. Tiresias clearly shares his insight to Oedipus saying, “the man you’ve sought so long, proclaiming,/ cursing up and down, the murderer of Laius-/ he is here (Sophocles.Oedipus the King, 511-513). Tiresias is showing wiseful insight, despite being blind. Additionally, Oedipus constantly appears clueless to situations around him. Oedipus

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Economic Growth in Indonesia

Contents

Introduction
Institutions
Current State
Theory
Conclusion

Introduction

Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is an equatorial archipelago located in Southeast Asia between the Pacific and Indian Oceans. This transcontinental state consists of more than 17,500 islands spanning approximately 5,150 kilometers from the east to the west (“Indonesia Facts”, 2018). Indonesia is not only the 7th largest country in terms of overall area, but also the 4th most populous country in the world, containing more than 260 million people (“Indonesia Facts”, 2018). With English as the primary spoken language, the Indonesian people also speak many local dialects, including Bahasa Indonesia, Javanese, and Dutch (“Indonesia Facts”, 2018). As Indonesia contains the largest Muslim population in the world, there are also other followers who practice faiths including Buddhism, Hinduism, Protestantism, and Roman Catholicism (“Indonesia Facts”, 2018).

Located near the equator, the mountainous terrain of Indonesia has an abundance of rain forests, which leads to disparate climates throughout the island regions (“Climate of Indonesia”, 2018). The mountainous regions of Indonesia are relatively cool, while the climate on the rest of the islands is tropical, with year-round heavy rainfall with cyclones and monsoons (“Climate of Indonesia”, 2018). Indonesia is a country that is rich in natural resources and leads the world in the export of refined tin and steam coal (Dutu, 2015). The island nation is one of the primary exporters of metals, including bauxite, copper, gold, lead, and zinc (Dutu, 2015). In addition to being renowned as a leading exporter of natural resources, Indonesia is a leader in the production of fish products, robusta coffee and rubber, and is the top producer in the world of palm oil (Dutu, 2015).

The key events in the history of Indonesia include the 1670 to 1900 colonization of the Indonesian islands by the Dutch, when the country became known as the Dutch East Indies. The Dutch recognized Indonesian independence in 1949 after the Japanese invasion of the Dutch East Indies in 1942 and four years of guerrilla warfare (“Indonesia Profile: Timeline”, 2018). Soon after, Sukarno became the first President of Indonesia and started his dictatorship. In 1968, Suharto overthrew Sukarno and initiated the New Order administration, which encouraged foreign investment and stimulated economic growth in Indonesia (“Indonesia Profile: Timeline”, 2018).

Institutions

Indonesian society is shaped by several economic and political institutions that have greatly impacted economic growth, including property rights, corruption, and child labor. The profound influence of these institutions is reflected in the lives of Indonesians, regardless of socioeconomic status. Although, as with most institutions and their respective policies, the poor or other marginalized groups are usually the people who are most impacted in a deleterious manner.

One of the key indicators that a country is a strong, stable, reliable economic partner in business is the nature of its laws and policies regarding intellectual and physical property rights. A country known to have inefficient laws or lax enforcement of laws regarding property rights is not going to be favorably viewed as a viable trade partner on the global stage. In the 2017 International Property Rights Index, Indonesia is ranked 68th out of 127 countries worldwide (“Weak Property Rights”, 2017). This ranking is attributed to a lack of enforcement for legally binding contracts, the lack of emphasis on property rights, inaction from law enforcement and the court system, rampant corruption, and the complete absence of protections for intellectual property rights (“Weak Property Rights”, 2017). The combination of the negative factors prevents Indonesian-based businesses from growing, which in turn stifles economic growth throughout the country. The International Property Rights Index not only measures how strong intellectual and physical property rights are within a given nation, but it also measures the country’s political and legal environments (“Weak Property Rights”, 2017). Obtaining a high ranking on this index is ideal as it is an indication that the country cultivated an environment that is conducive to business expansion and overall economic growth (“Weak Property Rights”, 2017). According to the 2017 International Property Rights Index, it takes over a year to enforce a legally binding contract in Indonesia, and the lack of secure property rights laws and insufficient enforcement of existing laws make it especially difficult for socioeconomically disadvantaged Indonesians to start or maintain businesses that can elevate them out of poverty (“Weak Property Rights”, 2017).

Another serious issue that contributes to the deep socioeconomic disparity in Indonesia is rampant governmental corruption. In the 2018 Corruptions Perception Index published by Transparency International, 180 countries and territories are surveyed to ascertain the level of government corruption that existed there on a scale of 0 to 100, where a score of zero indicates the highest levels of corruption and 100 means corruption is practically nonexistent (“Corruption Perceptions Index 2017”, 2018). Indonesia’s score has improved slightly, going from a ranking of 32 to 37, attributed to the efforts of the primary anti-corruption agency in Indonesia, in spite of strong opposition from politicians and the Indonesian government itself (“Corruption Perceptions Index 2017”, 2018). To place these figures in the proper perspective, New Zealand ranked 89 and Denmark ranked 88 while Central Asia was ranked 34 and Sub-Saharan Africa ranked 32 (“Corruption Perceptions Index 2017”, 2018). As in most nations, public sector corruption benefits the upper classes of society and harms the most vulnerable members of society. It is nearly impossible for the poor to elevate themselves from poverty, which in turn hampers the ability of the Indonesian economy to lift Indonesia up from developing nation status to becoming a major player in the global trade enterprise.

In addition to the prior two political institutions, child labor is a persistent economic institutional challenge in Indonesia. According to official statistics, there are more than 2.4 million children in Indonesia working in different economic sectors, including mining, seafood processing, and agriculture (Bessel, 2007). Conditions in many of these industries are unfavorable: agricultural work is hazardous with exposure to pesticides and the use of dangerous tools and machinery (International Labor Organization, 2018); work on fishing platforms is subject not only to harsh conditions, but also often various kinds of abuse from the adult employers (Bessel, 2007). Since a large percentage of the Indonesian population is still living in extremely poor circumstances with limited income and resources, children frequently enter the workforce out of necessity. As a result of their participation in the workforce, many children either forego schooling or eventually drop out (Bessel, 2007). Lack of education combined with prevailing economic conditions and child labor participation create a self-perpetuating cycle: untrained and uneducated young workers who begin work early are never able to improve their employment prospects and thus are never able to escape poverty or make significant contributions to economic development in the country. Therefore, all these negative factors of child labor would directly result in challenging economic conditions.

Current State

Indonesia is a lower-middle-income developing economy with a Gross National Income (GNI) per capita of 3974.10 US dollars, ranking as the 92nd in the world (“2018 Index of Economic Freedom”, 2018). For 2017, Indonesia’s GDP growth rate rose to 5.1 percent from 5.0 percent in 2016” (World Bank, 2018). Indonesia’s economic growth has been holding steady in an upward trend through 2016 to the current, influenced by net exports and supported by improved global trade (World Bank, 2018).

In 2015, Indonesia’s human development index (HDI) was 0.689, ranking it 113 of 188 countries and territories (“Indonesia’s Human Development Index”, 2017). Indonesia’s HDI has shown improvement in part because of advances that have been made in improving health outcomes for women in childbirth, and the number of school years completed (“Indonesia’s Human Development Index”, 2017). Despite advances in these areas and the country’s efforts to be more inclusive, Indonesia lags behind in improving the disadvantaged status of people who live in remote areas of the islands, women, and ethnic minorities (“Indonesia’s Human Development Index”, 2017). Such inequality can be statistically shown by the high inequality human development index of 0.563, representing the need for improvements for chronically disadvantaged populations (Dustan, 2017).

Moreover, the economic inequality in Indonesia can also be reflected by the Gini coefficient, which measures the degree of income inequality within a country and represents the distribution of wealth on a scale of zero to 100. According to the World Bank collection of development indicators, the 2013 estimated Gini coefficient for Indonesia was 39.5, which indicates a high level of inequality (“Gini Index”, n.d.). Based on the World Bank’s reports, the inequality of Indonesia has four main drivers, including “inequality of opportunity, inequality in the labor market, high wealth concentration, and unequal resilience to shocks” (Indonesia's Rising Divide, 2015). In order to close the income gap within the nation, Indonesia’s government should focus on addressing these four main drivers of inequality.

Today, Indonesia is the largest economy in Southeast Asia, and is being targeted for the next phase of globalized economic inclusion (Indonesia Investments, 2016). Trade within Southeast Asia has increased significantly in the recent decades, which helps to boost Indonesia’s export levels (“Indonesia - Economic Forecast Summary”, 2017). Since inflation in the country remains relatively low, the currency has experienced increased levels of stability, which has induced banks in Indonesia to reduce their policy rates on at least two occasions in 2017 (“Indonesia - Economic Forecast Summary”, 2017). The quantity of loans banks in Indonesia extend to consumers when compared to GDP is low, but this is a positive sign as it means the macroeconomic risks to financial institutions is also low (“Indonesia - Economic Forecast Summary”, 2017). Indonesia’s fiscal policies support the economy’s growth by increasing government expenditures on initiatives such as social, health, and educational programs, and infrastructure improvements (“Indonesia - Economic Forecast Summary”, 2017).

Theory

In this section, I am going to discuss the application of the Patterns-of-Development Analysis in Indonesia, which I believe is uniquely suited to an examination of the specific factors associated with the broader development in the country. As Todaro and Smith (2015) argued, the Patterns-of-Development can be viewed as an empirical model that evaluates several distinct components as indicators of a developing nation’s relative economic growth. These factors specifically include the domains of the transition from an agrarian to an industrialized economy, the steady accumulation of human capital, the nation`s broader patterns of urbanization, growing and evolving consumer demand, and the relative decline in terms of family size. Applying these measures to the Indonesian context yields the following set of findings.

Since 1967, the Indonesian economy has undergone an important and gradual transition away from an agrarian-based economy towards an industrialized-based framework. Elias and Noone (2011) noted that between 1968 and 2009 specifically, the nation`s manufacturing-based GDP increased by approximately 19%, whereas its agricultural-based GDP also fell in the same period by 35%. However, the nation’s economy is not entirely industrialized as agriculture still represents 16% of its approximately annual GDP. These specific patterns of development also tend to relate to the nation’s uneven development between its urban-coastal and interior-agrarian population and social patterns: the former represents sites of advancement whereas the latter indicates lower-levels of growth and development (Rielveld, 1988).

The nation’s patterns of urbanization also indicate a high increase in its urban environments in a 50-year period. Between 1967 and 2010, analysts estimated that approximately 53% of the nation’s aggregate population lives in its urban coastal environments. This indicates the massive expansion of cities, such as Jakarta, that now function as the primary sites of younger people moving away from their homes in agrarian and lesser developed regions (Anantra & Afflin, 2014). These figures tend to derive from three critical factors: the expansion of jobs within urban environments, the cultivation of a professional workforce in these regions, and the growing demand for younger professionals to work in emerging fields and industries (Razdan et al., 2014).

As this latter point illustrates, the gradual development of Indonesian cities as a site for urbanization, increased employment, and growth has also sparked an increase in terms of the nation’s aggregate professional workforce and collection of specialized human capital. Anantra and Afflin (2014) noted specifically that Indonesian`s specialized workforce derives from its increasing participation in the ASEAN economic bloc. In particular, the nation’s emerging tech economy has significantly contributed to the development of microchips, microprocessors, and similar components that are driving ASEAN`s broader prosperity. A critical shortage of tech worker specialists to populate these fields has created a new demand for younger workers who are trained and competent in these capacities.

The trends of urbanization and the growing specialization of the Indonesian economy are also having an impact upon birth rates and family planning issues. While the nation`s growth rate is steady at 1.04% annually, younger families are also having fewer children. This tends to be the case, specifically, in major urban centers (World Population Review, 2018). Finally, consumer trends in urban centers reflect a growing sophistication and a demand for goods and services apart from basic necessities (Razdan et al., 2014). This includes an increased demand for specialty goods, brand names, and international products and offerings.

It should be noted, however, that these patterns tend to be more pronounced in coastal urban areas, meaning that the nation’s agrarian-based interior still tends to be underdeveloped. Therefore, as Indonesia’s economy expanding significantly, its government still faces the issues of income inequality.

Conclusion

Throughout the last five decades, Indonesia has experienced a great deal of economic and social change. As today’s 10th largest economy in the world in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP), Indonesia has become an increasingly important participant in the global economy (“The World Bank In Indonesia”, 2018). After the Asian financial crisis of the late 1990s, the economy of Indonesia continues to recover and government efficiency is progressively improving throughout the time. Indonesia has been diligently working towards making the island nation more advantageous for private business investments and public-sector investments in programs that are of service to the community and the nation as a whole. Overall, the economic growth in Indonesia can be largely explained by the Patterns-of-Development Analysis, as it steadily went through the process of urbanization, transition from agriculture to industry, and accumulation of physical and human capital.

The Indonesian economy nowadays is described by The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) as an emerging economy with a positive economic outlook for 2018 (“Indonesia - Economic Forecast Summary”, 2017). According to the OECD, Indonesia’s gross domestic product (GDP) is anticipated to continue growing with the support of a better business environment. The implemented government policies, including relaxed government regulations and a simpler monetary environment, will continue to attract more foreign direct investment and public capital investment (“Indonesia - Economic Forecast Summary”, 2017). Moreover, the export rate is anticipated to continue increasing in the future with the open market policies. Indonesia will continue to be a leading exporter of metals and other natural resources.

However, Indonesia still has work to do when it comes to issues of income inequality. For years, many of the economic and fiscal policies were designed to specifically benefit those occupying the highest socioeconomic levels of the nation with little to no regard for the plight of the poor, those in rural areas, women, and ethnic minorities. Because of deep-seated corruption at all levels of the Indonesian government, politicians enacted laws and procedures that benefited their own ranks and their wealthy benefactors. Therefore, in the future, Indonesia should put more effort on providing tangible assistance to socioeconomically disadvantaged Indonesians, implementing stricter enforcement of labor laws, and improving intellectual and physical property rights laws and the enforcement of such laws. Addressing these critical issues can help Indonesia achieve greater income and social equality among all of its citizens.

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Oedipus the King by the Greek

Oedipus the King was written by the Greek play writer, Sophocles and first performed in 429 B.C.E. Luke Mastin, in his article “Ancient Greece - Sophocles - Oedipus the King” mentions the play was written during a period of time known as the “Golden Age of Athens” because of a good deal of wealth, power and cultural accomplishments of the city-state throughout that era (Mastin). One of the many artistic forms of the time was tragic plays resulting in the creation of Oedipus the King. Throughout the play, sight is a symbol of anguish. Oedipus has sight to see his faults but chooses to feign ignorance. Yet when he’s finally able to see what he’s done he stabs his eyes out. Oedipus act of taking his sight away symbolized that the truth can be hard to handle.

This tragic play tells the tale of a man named Oedipus who is told by a prophecy that he will kill his own father and marry his mother. Oedipus chooses to ignore the forewarning and move, in hopes that he could escape the tragic fate. In Thebes the people are battling the plague, in which they requested Oedipus save them from. However, to save the people of Thebes from the plague, Oedipus needed to find the murderer of Laius, the former king. Oedipus swore he would find and punish the man. Ironically, Oedipus is the suspect and is later exposed to the truth. Oedipus realizes that he was not able to avoid the prophecy and is now responsible for the plague. Oedipus becomes so disgusted with his self that he decided to take his own punishment into his own hands.

Oedipus blinding himself shows the viewers that he took ownership for what he’s done. As seen in the play, Oedipus stabs his eyes out while declaring “eyes now you will not, no, never see the evil I suffered, the evil I caused. You will see blackness” (Sophocles, pg.699). Meaning Oedipus stabbed his eyes out so that he doesn’t get to see his mistakes because it causes him misery. This kind of comes off as a cowardly act and an escape for Oedipus. Without sight Oedipus is not able to witness the judgment from the people of Thebes or the results of his actions, so he’s not tormented. However, in the same light, Oedipus acknowledges that seeing the truth of his actions has left him blind and with great anguish to his actions , leaves him too ashamed of himself to witness the citizens' reactions because that would bring him discomfort.

Another example of sight bringing torment is seen in the play as the leader spoke to Oedipus, “Your pain is terrible to see, pure, helpless anguish, more moving than anything my eyes have ever touched” (Sophocles, pg.700). In other words, Oedipus actions brought so much sorrow to him that just witnessing the tragedy caused him pain.

Moreover, Oedipus chooses to stab his eyes out as a way of punishing himself for his pomposity and ignorance. Sight was portrayed as something that brought forth the agonizing truth, in which neither Oedipus nor the people of Thebes could stand to witness. So instead of dealing with it they wither ignored it or in Oedipus took their visual mobility away. Above all, Sight was an evil, tormenting monster that brought the people truth and anguish.

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Many Greek Texts are a Foundation in Learning about Ancient Times

Many Greek texts have many themes and are a foundation in learning about ancient times and interpreting them in the modern world. Many individuals read and decipher Greek Mythology in order to explain certain phenomena or beginnings of the world in addition to describing and telling stories about the social interactions, fate, power, family and many significant themes in life. A major topic that is depicted in many of the texts is how the ancient societies created a sense of duty or obligation, which can serve as an asset but in the same way can also be a major flaw. For instance, Medea by Euripides and Oedipus by Sophocles were plays taken place in ancient Greece but written by Athens depicting the stubbornness and determinization of ancient Greek civilians. Both texts depict that the mythical gods and creature of ancient times had no morals or values. Which allowed them to finish any duty no matter the consequences. Many of the characters express great deals of pain and obstacles which all end in homicide or suicide, tragic. The main characters of both texts destroy everything they love around them.

Medea was determined to kill her children and make Jason, her husband, experience the worst life as a way to seek revenge for her exile and betrayal. However, she was bringing a new life to her savior. Similarly, Oedipus was determined to find the culprit and when he finds out it is himself, he must continue to carry out the duty of banishing the culprit and eventually gouges out his own eyes. The loss and exile of Medea and the gouging of Oedipus eyes exemplifying that anger and determination blinds a person and can lead into more chaos than planned. If some obligations or duties were eased or forgotten, death and tragedy could have been avoided for both protagonists. In the end both are dramatic tragedies, in which the authors purposely included intense imagery, vivid descriptions, soliloquies and many more rhetoric devices in order to projects and enhance the tragedy.

Medea’s duty to gain revenge only sparked after her husband’s infidelity. Therefore, the deepest and most brutal revenge was through the children she bore him. Although this seems like a horrific action, Medea did not want her children to be killed by the new kin of the King of Corith. She had an instinct to protect her children as a mother, but also carried anger and resentment because Jason married another woman. Therefore, her plan was to kill all her remaining family on her own and leave for Athens. She kills everyone but Jason, in order for him to feel the pain and betrayal she did and live a lonely life. In the poem, Medea prays and schemes “O Zeus, and Zeus’s Justice, and the light of Helios, I now shall be victor over my enemies… He’ll never see them alive again, the children that I bore him. Nor will he ever father another child: his new bride, evil woman, she must die an evil death, extinguished by my drugs… (ll. 785ff)”. Medea shows her anger to the Gods and expresses her most truthful emotions. This leads her to poisons the new princess and kill the king, then lastly kills her own children. Medea’s emotions took a hold of her and lead her to ultimately breaking everything she had with Jason. Medea states and reveals her feelings toward Jason after he betrays her, “You dishonored my bed. There was no way you could go on to lead a pleasant life, to laugh at me… So, go ahead, call me a lion, call me a Scylla, skulking in her Etruscan cave. I’ve done what I had to do. I’ve jabbed your heart” (ll. 785ff) Medea is aware of her actions and the extent she has to go to see Jason suffer and feel as much wrath and emotion as she does. She claims that she “jabbed [his] heart”, but that is implicitly how she truly feels, her own heart is damaged. She hurts everyone even herself. Through her actions, Medea displays heroic characteristics by demonstrating that she is eager and will go through any extremity for revenge. She calls herself a “lion” and compares herself to Scylla, the lesser forces of evil between the sea monsters. This implies that her actions are caused by betrayal and wrath, her emotions, not because of sole satisfaction for evil. At first revenge was only toward Jason, however her poor decisions and the power of wrath outweighed the desire to keep the children. Rather than utilizing brut power to achieve her goal, Medea utilizes her psyche. Physical qualities are noteworthy, but Medea uses her intelligence and manipulations. Her creative villain idea leads her to giving poisonous gifts to her kids and sending them to the King of Corinth. She molded and took a hold of her fate. She experienced the most betrayal and loss, however in order to gain revenge she had to lose everything herself as well. Jason was left with nothing as Medea was too. In the end they were even.

On the other hand, Oedipus' defeat is due to his yearn and desire to always seek the truth. He felt it was his duty to seek the truth which that made him counsel the oracle and find out about the prophecy. Alike Medea, he did not stop until he attained his goals. He was very sure and prideful of himself, which was the true cause of his own death and tragic. He let pride supersede good judgement. In the beginning Oedipus tells Creon “I have my own reasons for driving out this infection. The killer, whoever it may be, could kill again and lay those deadly hands on me. As I serve this cause, so I serve myself. So I stand side by side with the god, Fighting for the rights of the murdered man. I damn the killer, whoever he may be, An unknown man, or one of many. May he suffer and die, pain beyond pain. I damn myself, if I should come to know That he shares my hearth and home — Then I call this curse to fall on me.” (ll. 244-51) This entire dialogue from Oedipus shows the irony that later develops in the play. This is very interesting because in the end he is the killer himself and has been cursed for life. Oedipus unknowingly continues the prophecy and discovers that he killed his father, married his mother, and had many incest children. In the beginning of the play, the Prophet is blind but knows, while Oedipus can see however does not know. In the end, he finally learns the truth and pulls his eyes out, clearly emphasizing his blindness. He unsees the evil actions he has committed however he will always know. His mother and wife also heard a similar prophecy told to Lias, but both were too blind to see that it was him all along. They did not put the pieces together. When she learns the truth, she hangs herself in order to end the agony. The truth hurts.

To add on, immense hubris was also expressed throughout both characters. Medea was prideful and was not going to remain silent. Her anger and emotions overcame her silence and she expressed her anger which caused her to kill her beloved children. The pride and victory over Jason brought her a restful feeling back. Oedipus was pressed on the idea to continue seeking the truth. And through his pride and boasting self-confidence, eventually turned out that he feed his ego so much he ended himself. Both characters caused of their own downfall.

Ultimately, both texts have tragic endings however, Oedipus earns a higher reputation from Medea’s revengeful actions because of their gender differences and the reputation of each. Medea did not reflect ideas and follow norms as the “normal’ women of ancient Greece. She determined her own fate. Medea was a woman’s perspective, and expressed the emotions that women hold. Only Medea fully projected them and depicts to what extent and the power women also have. While Oedipus determination is praised, his actions are because of his own poor decision-making skills, we notice the masculinity and privilege of men thought out the plot. Medea is not seen a such a tragedy as Oedipus Rex because ancient times as modern times, condemn women and place them inferior to men. Therefore, Oedipus Rex seems like the most compelling tragedy. Oedipus story has a beginning, middle, and an end while Medea’s story is predicted at an early stage of the story not allowing the plots further to develop. The gods however did not interfere with Medea’s actions and let her power as a mortal thrive, while Oedipus believed that one who leads without purpose shall be brought down by the gods, which is what happen to him. He interfered with the prophecy and fate of his life. He ended up taking his own life anyway to fulfill his promise.

Overall, both texts have many foundational ideas and themes that are projected in the world today. Pop culture and modern art has exhibited modern versions of Medea and Oedipus in movies, plays and shows. They are representation of ancient Greek civilization and societies. Through Medea, we learn the extremities of emotions. It also exhibited how duty and obligation go a long way, no matter the consequences that may aspire from the actions. Medea gained revenge but lost everything she loved and lived for. Oedipus was determined to seek the truth and change his fate; however, such determination blinded the truth, which was in front of him…well was him the entire time.

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“Oedipus the King” Perfect Classical Tragedy

According to Aristotle, “Oedipus the King” was the perfect example of the perfect classical tragedy. Oedipus is of noble status, he is in every respect a king; noble in blood and in stature. Oedipus the King starts with Oedipus assuming his Kingship of the land of Thebes, thus confirming his noble stature even before the discovery of his origin. Not only is this kingship a title, but also a status he attained among his people. His people reconize him as “The first of men” and the “great and glorious.” Later on, the audience learn that Oedipus has been left in the care of a royal Corinthian couple, King Polybus and Queen Merope’ making him the supposed prince of Corinth. Afterwards it is revealed that his real parents are the King and Queen of Thebes. Oedipus, then, is noble to the last inch; “renounced and prosperous” as Aristotle specifies.

The nobility of Oedipus’ upbringing and origin and his respected status among his people raises him above the common man in terms of rank, making him a human more “great and glorious” than the audience that watch his story. the greatness of his stature and rank strikes his downfall more terrible and his reversal of fortune more piteous and fearful. as will be discussed later. Aristotle states that the tragic hero must not be vile or bad in nature. Goodness and nobility of morale is as important as goodness of origin and birth in the characterization of an Aristotelian tragic hero. Oedipus, indeed, is overall a good character despite having his imperfections. The opening scene of the play reflects Oedipus’ devotion and care for his people and his city. He states frankly that he “would willingly do anything to help {his people}” (Sophocles, p.38, 1988). He expresses his grief for his citizens; says that “their plight concerns {him} now more than {his} life” (Sophocles, P.40, 1988). Oedipus is not merely sweet-talking his people out of their misery.

Oedipus is shown to have taken practical steps for saving his people. Thus he does “the only thing that promised hope” and sends his brother -in-law to get the prophet Tiresias to tell them the cause of their city’s plague (Sophocles, P.39-40, 1988). He also vows to “start afresh and bring everything to light” and unravel Laius’ murderer upon discovering it is the murder that brought the plague upon the city. In fact, Oedipus’ nobility of character is the primary reason for his reign on Thebes. During his argument with Tiresias, Oedipus is shown to take pride in the fact that, when Tiresias’ “bird-lore and god craft all were silent” during Sphinx’s attack on the city, it was he who came and solved sphinx’s riddle “guessing the truth by mother -wit not bird-lore”. Indeed, Tiresias’ prophecies and predictions did not save the city in the past; it was Oedipus’ nobility and initiative nature. Oedipus’ nobility of nature leads him to stand up for a city he did not then belong to, and for people he did not then know, to save them from a plague.

Thus it can be said that Oedipus’ nobility of character is one of the primary reasons behind his acclamation of his noble title. Oedipus is also a character who values the truth. He chooses to unravel a truth that could shame him for a lifetime rather than living in a lie. After realizing that he could be the culprit for Laius’ murder, Jocasta tries to warn him against going any further into the investigation. Yet Oedipus insists that he “must pursue this trail to the end till {he has} unraveled the mystery of {his} birth” (Sophocles, P67,1988). One must not also forget that in his investigation in Laius’ murder, he still had hispeople and his city in mind. When Jocasta warns him not to delve anymore into the investigation for his own “good” he simply tells her that his “good” had been his “bugbear long enough”. By unraveling the mystery of his origin and his own sins, he has not only his “good” in mind, but also his people. This noble, selfless attitude is later emphasized in the end of the play when Oedipus finally unfolds his dreadful fate, and punishes himself for his moral blindness with literally blinding himself.

Oedipus pleads Creon to cast him away from his “fatherland” so as to no longer “let {his} living presence curse this fatherland of {his}” (Sophocles, P77-78, 1988). All these qualities of noble morality, justice and earnest make Oedipus an overall good character and accordingly an eligible tragic hero, for Aristotle makes it clear that the character of tragedy must be a morally good character. Aristotle states that the tragic hero must be “a man not pre-eminently virtuous and just”. Indeed, Oedipus is far from an ideal or a “pre-eminently virtuous” character. Oedipus has many flaws. One crucial flaw is mirrored in some of his first words: “I, Oedipus, whose name is known afar”, is pride. Oedipus’ pride is a key trigger to his tragic downfall (though not the main one). Oedipus’ pride is wounded by a drunken stranger who tells him that he is not Polypus’ son. It is this pride that drives him off to find Apollo’s oracle to ask for the truth. This oracle’s prophecy, which says that Oedipus will kill his father and wed his mother, sends Oedipus off from Corinth to Thebes. Had it not been for his pride, Oedipus could have chosen to ignore the words of a drunken stranger and live peacefully with his adopted mother and father, and perhaps might have avoided his dreadful prophecy. Throughout the play Oedipus’ pride continues to show.

Oedipus is too proud to take Tiresias’ words. He takes pride in his own intelligence and chooses to follow his own methods to unravel the mystery of Laius’ murder rather than depend on the old, blind oracle (Magrath, 2015). Oedipus’ pride is clearest in his talk with Tiresias. When Tiresias accuses Oedipus of Laius’ murder, Oedipus taunts him for his boldness, his psychic methods, and yet above all, his sight. Oedipus also taunts Tiresias and his likes for failing to save the city when it was threatened by sphinx and raises himself above them for solving the “riddle too deep for common wits” by his “mother -wit not bird-lore”. Not only does Oedipus raise himself above the oracles and prophets’ soothsaying, but actually takes pride in an intelligence he raises to be above “common wits”, and of accordingly, above Tiresias’ “brainless”, “senseless” self. Metaphors of sight and blindness are often mentioned in the play, and the play’s major dramatic irony is Oedipus blinding himself with his own hands.

These references of blindness echoes Oedipus’ flaw of blindness. Oedipus’ reactions are in a lot of times prompt, thoughtless and blinded by emotions (Barstow, 1912). For example, Oedipus blindly accuses Tiresias of murdering Laius due to Tiresias’ reluctance to speak of Oedipus’ crime and promptly accuses Creon, his kinsman, his “most trusted friend”, of conspiring against him to steal his throne. Upon confronting Creon, Oedipus finds no other reason to base his accusations of Creon except that he brought “that canting prophet” (Sophocles, P.48 and 53). Oedipus’ tendency to be blinded by his emotions is most evident is with his encounter with King Laius. The rider orders him to step aside “and his venerable master joined in with a surly command” as Oedipus states it. Oedipus admits to being “angry”. Oedipus, with his “misguided promptness” kills the old man, who would be the same age his father should be, disregarding the prophecy over his head, and weds Jocasta, Laius’ wife, who is probably the age of his mother (Magrath, 2015).

Thus in complete blindness, mainly blindness by emotions, Oedipus fulfills the prophecy with his own hands, and in blindness did the prophecy end. Coming to Oedipus’ Hamartia, the question is, is it one of his flaws that brings about his downfall or merely an error on his part? Is his Hamartia to be translated to a “Tragic flaw” or a “Tragic error”? As previously mentioned, Oedipus is not devoid of flaws. Oedipus’s pride, as clarified above, is the reason behind his disregard of Tiresias’ prophetic words and his orders not to delve into his origins. Had Oedipus’ pride not blinded him and had he taken heed of Tiresias words, Oedipus would not have uncovered the secret of his origin or his murder and would have lived in the bliss of his ignorance (Magrath, 2015). On the other hand, had he continued to live in his ignorant bliss, he still would have been married to his mother, father and brother to his children and living in a plagued city, which still marks him as a tainted being “hated by God and man”. Moreover, according to Asuamah Adade-Yeboah, Kwaku Ahenkora & Adwoah S.

Amankwah’s paper “The Tragic Hero of the Classical Period”, one of Oedipus’ most crucial tragic deed, which is killing his father, might have been a combination of both ignorance and temper. Yet, indeed, incest is a result of no moral weakness or flaw, but purely ignorance (Yeboah et al, 2012). The only thing that Oedipus can be held at fault for in the incest is not judging by the ages of Jocasta and Laius (Magrath, 2015). This means that Oedipus’ tragic deeds, which brings any tragic hero to his downfall, is not a result of his flaws but majorly of ignorance and wrong judgment. Therefore, regarding Oedipus’ Hamartia, Oedipus has no tragic “flaw”, but a “tragic error”; that is the Aristotelian translation for “error of judgment”. One must also not forget that Aristotle’s idea of a tragedy is to be a representation of action; of the more universal theme of “happiness and unhappiness” not of character. Thus the role of the fate in Oedipus’ downfall cannot be ignored. Yeboah says that “prophecies in Greek tragedies are bound to be fulfilled in their true interpretation”.

Oedipus and Jocasta try their hardest to escape the prophecy. For example, Jocasta tries getting rid of Oedipus as a baby, only for him to come back as an adult. Oedipus flees Corinth so as not to kill his adopted father, only to kill his real father on the road. Even when he tries to learn the truth, Oedipus has been already living in his tragic deed; incest. Oedipus, indeed, is partially responsible for his own downfall with his error of judgment, fate, or as Oedipus calls it “Apollo” is definitely to be held responsible for Oedipus’ downfall. Therefore, Oedipus’s role in the tragedy is not as much of an individual character as he is the dramatist’s tool to highlight “the central theme of the play” which is “divine credibility or the credibility of oracular pronouncements” (Yeboah et al. 2012).

This emphasizes the previously mentioned theory posed by some literary scholars that Greek dramatists never focus on the character of tragedy as much as the overall philosophy of the tragedy and the process of catharsis intended by the tragedy as a whole. As an ideal and typical Aristotelian tragic hero in characterization and significance in the tragedy, Oedipus is in every way eligible for evoking the feelings of pity and fear. His stature and character, as explored earlier, make him an embodiment for the features Aristotle specified for a tragic hero who can evoke catharsis. Oedipus has also undergone all the 3 stages of tragedy in a typical Aristotelian manner. Almost every event Oedipus goes through undergoes a stage of reversal. For example, Oedipus mocks Tiresias for his blindness and calls him “sightless” and “senseless”. Oedipus is later bound to the same fate when he gouges his own eyes with his own handsupon discovering his own blindness to the truth and to all the signs that could have led him to an earlier discovery. The messenger who is supposed to cheer Oedipus with the news that his “father” died of natural causes does the exact opposite by revealing he was never Polybus’ son to begin with. Everything Oedipus does, and every attempt to escape or to reverse his curse turns against him, thus trapping him in a chain of tragic inevitability.

The audience pity Oedipus in this stage of reversal of fortunes; especially with the fact that the audience most probably already know what will happen to Oedipus based on the Greek myth (Farahbakhsh, 2013). The fear in this stage stems from the inevitability of fate and the terror of reversal of fortune. The next stage is discovery; where Oedipus’ fears are finally confirmed. Oedipus learns the truth of his origin and accordingly that the one he killed was no other than his father, and that he is the father and brother to his children. According to Krishma Chaudhary’s paper “The Development of Plot in the Famous Greek Tragedy “Oedipus Rex” Or “Oedipus the King” By Sophocles”; “The tragedy lies in the discovery of the guilt and not in the guilt himself, and so the feeling of pity and fear reach their height with the discovery by Oedipus”. The audience pities the once proud king who now becomes “sinful in {his} begetting, sinful in marriage, sinful in shedding of blood” (Sophocles. P70. 1988). The last stage Oedipus undergoes is the calamity or downfall. Aristotle states that in order for this stage to evoke pity and fear, the tragic hero’s misfortune must be “undeserved”, meaning that the punishment must be more than the crime or the tragic deed. Indeed, Oedipus’ crimes are, by moral standards, terrible.

However, considering that all his crimes were a result of lack of knowledge and, one cannot ignore, a game of fate, one cannot help but believe that Oedipus’ downfall is far worse than what he deserves. In the end of the play, an attendant enters and narrates a full account of Oedipus’ downfall. Oedipus finds his mother/wife had taken her own life in her room. He holds her dead body in his arms; he gets to feel it cold and dead, and bear the pain of such a calamity. He then takes his mother’s pins and repeatedly stabs his own eyes; “eyes that should see no longer his shame, his guilt” (Sophocles, P. 73, 1988). “ Bloody tears ran down his beard-not drops but in full spate a whole cascade defending in drenching cataracts of scarlet rain” (Sophocles, P. 73, 1988). The audience’s horror and pity at these dreadful images are echoed in the chorus’ cries upon seeing blind Oedipus: “Horror beyond allbearing...Insensate agony” (Sophocles, p73& 74, 1988). The play ends with Oedipus banishing himself out of his homeland, leaving his children behind after a last goodbye. In the end, Oedipus does not deserve such a downfall, for after all, most of his deeds is a result of sheer ignorance and blindness. Chorus: “He was our bastion against disaster, our honoured king; All Thebes was proud of his name. And now where is a more heart-rending story of affliction?” (Sophocles, P.71, 1988) This song summarizes Oedipus’ journey as a tragic hero and a catharsis releaser.

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Aristotle Oedipus is a Tragic Hero Due to the Fact that he Maintains his Strengths

A man cannot become a hero until he can see the root of his own downfall”. Aristotle Oedipus is a tragic hero due to the fact that he maintains his strengths but causes his own downfall. In fact, Oedipus was doomed at birth. His parents Laius and Jocasta sent him with a shepherd to have him killed because an oracle had told them that he would grow up and kill his father and marry his mother. Instead of Oedipus being killed, he is given to Polybus. Later when Oedipus is grown, he leaves Corinth and on his way has an encounter with some men and he kills them. Without knowledge of it, that one of them was Laius. He then becomes King Of Thebes by answering a riddle correctly and marries Queen Jocasta. Years later his people have been stroke by a plaque. So, he tries to save his people but instead his traits as a tragic hero surface and his downfall begins. Three traits will be explained in the next few paragraphs. Hubris, excessive pride, Hamartia, fatal flaw to downfall and Peripeteia, reversal of fortune or fate. Oedipus is a tragic hero. Oedipus first tragic hero trait is his excessive pride or Hibris. This is first shown when he decides to leave his adopted parents in Corinth. He leaves to avoid fate told to him by a prophet, that he would kill his father and marry his mother. Believing that Polybus

Reid 2and Merope are his real parents, he leaves to control his own destiny. His excessive pride is shown again when he is determined to save his people from the plaque. Oedipus keeps trying to find who killed Laius to stop the curse on Thebes. ‘I curse myself as well....if by any chance he proves to be an intimate of our house’ stated Oedipus (284-285). The insistence starts a furious accusations between Oedipus, Creon and Tiresias. This leads to a third time of excessive pride that overcomes the king. Oedipus demands to know the truth of the murderer of Laius. Tiresias says ‘You, even though you see clearly, do not see the scope of your evil, nor where you live, nor with whom you dwell.’ (433-435). Tiresias accurately accuses Oedipus as the ‘Unholy polluter’ of the Thebes (372). All would be better for Oedipus if the truth would not be revealed. Oedipus second tragic hero trait is Hamartia, the tragic flaw that causes his downfall. This is starts to reveal when the messenger tells Oedipus that Polybus was not his true father. The messenger also told him that his real father was Laius and that he was the one who killed Laius at the crossroads. Oedipus had unknowingly killed his own father.

‘I thought it wrong, my children, to hear the truth from others, messengers. Here I am myself—you all know me, the world knows my fame: I am Oedipus’ (6-9). The second tragic flaw is now that his wife Jocasta is also his real mother. Jocasta begs Oedipus to not believe the messenger. Jocasta says, ‘ Why should a person fear when the ways of fortune are supreme, when there is no clear foresight’(1005). As the pieces of the puzzle come together it is evident that Oedipus is the son of Laius and Jocasta. He has the marks on his ankles from being tied up as a baby and walks with a limp from it. The Reid 2and Merope are his real parents, he leaves to control his own destiny. His excessive pride is shown again when he is determined to save his people from the plaque. Oedipus keeps trying to find who killed Laius to stop the curse on Thebes. ‘I curse myself as well....if by any chance he proves to be an intimate of our house’ stated Oedipus (284-285). The insistence starts a furious accusations between Oedipus, Creon and Tiresias.

This leads to a third time of excessive pride that overcomes the king. Oedipus demands to know the truth of the murderer of Laius. Tiresias says ‘You, even though you see clearly, do not see the scope of your evil, nor where you live, nor with whom you dwell.’ (433-435). Tiresias accurately accuses Oedipus as the ‘Unholy polluter’ of the Thebes (372). All would be better for Oedipus if the truth would not be revealed. Oedipus second tragic hero trait is Hamartia, the tragic flaw that causes his downfall. This is starts to reveal when the messenger tells Oedipus that Polybus was not his true father. The messenger also told him that his real father was Laius and that he was the one who killed Laius at the crossroads. Oedipus had unknowingly killed his own father. ‘I thought it wrong, my children, to hear the truth from others, messengers. Here I am myself—you all know me, the world knows my fame: I am Oedipus’ (6-9). The second tragic flaw is now that his wife Jocasta is also his real mother. Jocasta begs Oedipus to not believe the messenger. Jocasta says, ‘ Why should a person fear when the ways of fortune are supreme, when there is no clear foresight’(1005). As the pieces of the puzzle come together it is evident that Oedipus is the son of Laius and Jocasta. He has the marks on his ankles from being tied up as a baby and walks with a limp from it. The

Reid 2third flaw to his downfall is that his mother/wife kills herself. Now, that Jocasta is dead he is totally on his final downfall. The third trait of a tragic hero is Peripeteia, the reversal of his fortune or fate. As fate would have it that Oedipus had tried to control his destiny. His turning point where all his power, prestige, happiness and pride, BREAK. He is then left as a helpless and pitiful man. The second evidence of Peripeteia is that the his people know his fate was caused by his actions due to ignorance of his roots. He so wanted to be a good king. As fate would have it, he would not have done any of these things if only the truth was reared to him from the beginning. The final Peripeteia was once that Jocasta was dead he stabbed his eyes out, so he was left blind. This was expressed that he was blind to the truth.

Oedipus said, ‘Let him die who took off the fierce fetters, feeding off my feet, and rescued and saved me from my death, no good deed for me! I would not have brought so much pain to my friends or me!’(1380). Oedipus is a tragic hero due to his own great pride in himself and his ability to reverse his fate. His pride caused him to save the people of Thebe but instead the truth was going to be revealed on the murderer of Laius. Oedipus said that Tiresias was the ‘Vicious slander’ (363). The truth is that Tiresias was correct when he said ‘I say you are the murder you’re looking for’(62). As the tragic flaw caused his downfall, that he had killed his own father and married his own mother. This had all happened through fate and not knowing his true roots.

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Oedipus is a Tragic Hero in the Play Oedipus, the King by Sophocles

Oedipus is a tragic hero in the play Oedipus, the King by Sophocles. According to Aristotle, a tragic hero is a literary character who makes a judgment error that inevitably leads to his/her destruction. Aristotle first defines what a tragedy is and what it represents; secondly, how a tragedy communicates to the audience; thirdly, the methods used to convey the tragedy; and lastly the means of fulfilling its purpose. He continues to imply that a tragedy is an imitation of an action, which means it is serious and complete, with incidents arousing pity and fear with which it affects a release of emotions. Through analyzing Aristotle definition of a tragic hero, this paper will show that Oedipus Rex is a tragic hero; and how the decisions he made led to his downfall.

Sophocles’ Oedipus shows a different definition of a tragic hero from Aristotle’s definition. Sophocles shows how Oedipus exemplifies a tragic hero in his play, Oedipus shows all of the characteristics of an anagnorisis, with hamartia (flaw or error in judgment). The play introduces the audience to the hamartia “a criminal act committed in ignorance of some material fact or even for the sake of a greater good” (Johnson, Greg, and Thomas, 2018 p. 1251) of Oedipus, the king in the first scene. Sophocles tells the story of a perfect tragedy through employing a complex plot that imitates actions, which promotes fear and pity from the audience. Sophocles did not dwell on the doctrine of Oedipus’s fate and destiny; instead, he aimed to present a mans life and his decisions that led him to become a tragic hero.

Oedipus was born into a royal family, Oedipus was also the bearer of an unfortunate generational destiny. “In spite of the Delphic Oracle of Apollo, Laius and Jocasta bigoted him. After the birth of Oedipus, Laius ordered his servant, a shepherd to abandon Oedipus in a wooded hollow of the mount Cithaeron” (Akhter, Muhammad, & Naz, 2015). Oedipus had no idea what his future held, or what he would become. Although Oedipus is said to have been a victim of fate, the decisions he made contributed to his fate of destruction. Oedipus was born into the world with a prophecy that he will kill his father and marry his mother and would bare children with her, but that was just a prophecy, not his destiny. Oedipus could have determined a new destiny for himself, but instead, he did everything to make the prophecy come true unknowingly. The life and story of King Oedipus was a tragedy, not only for him but for his family as well. Although the gods may have set a prophecy for Oedipus’s future, Oedipus contributed mostly to his destruction.

The play’s protagonist Oedipus is perceived as a good man, brave, and an intelligent ruler who acts quickly to defend and support the people of Thebes - a city which is haunted by a terrible plague. In the background notes of the play describes Oedipus saving the city of Thebes from the curse of the Sphinx, his reward for solving the riddle was to become king and marry the queen. Oedipus’s encounter with the Sphinx and solving the riddle is mentioned multiple times throughout the play as a reminder of his bravery and his ability to solve problems. The priest in lines 36-39 suggests the people of Thebes admiration for King Oedipus “Yet we have come to you to make our prayer as to the man surest in mortal ways and wisest in the ways of God. You saved us From the Sphinx, that flinty singer, and the tribute” (Sophocles, 2016 p. 1260). To the people of Thebes Oedipus was a hero and knew he could help defeat this plague just like he did with the Sphinx.

Although, Oedipus was a hero to the city of Thebes and happy he eventually had four children with his new wife, Jocasta/mother. Unknowing about the troubles that will soon follow. “Old men, young men, children have come as suppliants to the King, seeking deliverance from this great evil” (Barstow, 1912 p. 3). After learning about his city cursed with another plague and other misfortunes, he decides to send Kreon his brother in law to Apollos oracle to find out how he can help his people. Kreon returns with the information that Oedipus needs to rid Thebes of its curse; he must find and hold the people accountable for the murder of King Laius. Oedipus becomes determined to find out who the murderer is and restore peace to the city when he sends for Tiresias, the blind seer, who then names Oedipus, the murderer of King Laius. In a fit of rage, Oedipus disregards Tiresias statement but eventually realizes that he is the man behind the murder of King Laius.

Oedipus is disappointed that the prophecy that he had been running from all this time had come true, he incidentally killed his father and more than one can bear he married his mother. Additionally, Jocasta hangs herself soon after the truth has come out and Oedipus is demoralized and cannot take the fact that he had been the killer of King Laius and then married his mother. He then gouges out his eyes and asks to be killed for his crimes; instead, Oedipus decided to leave Thebes, and his daughter led him. “The perfect plot, accordingly, must have a single, and not a double issue; the change in the hero’s fortunes must be not from misery to happiness, but on the contrary from happiness to misery; and the cause of it must lie not in any depravity, but in some great error on his part” (Reeves, 1952 p. 173). Through the decisions, Oedipus made from when he decided to leave home and run from the prophecy bestowed upon him, Oedipus realizes these choices are what caused his fall from fortune.

Oedipus is a tragic hero who falls from a high position as the King of Thebes to a blind outsider, after realizing his destiny through his actions and descends from a high position this prompts the reader's pity and fear. “Oedipus' pity reflects a largely empathetic understanding of pity displayed through gestures of identification in which he envisions himself to be a father and the people understand him as a savior” (Danze, 2016). The Oedipus Rex play is a tragedy that fits all the descriptions of the tragic hero. “Empathy denotes the viewer's ability to step into a character's life, to infer beliefs, motivations, and intentions from the character's actions, and to experience similar feelings and bodily sensations” (MacDorman, 2019). Because of hamartia a fatal flaw leading to the downfall of a tragic hero, Oedipus suffers peripeteia, which is the core of a tragedy.

The destiny/fate of Oedipus provoked the horror and sorrow in the audience through witnessing the tragic events unfolding. Oedipus has the fundamental nature of a good person, but he gets bound by his foolishness while failing to look forward and realize that the repercussions of his actions. According to Aristotle, a tragic hero must be a lawful person but is flawed, and his fall results in him committing an act of injustice. At the beginning of the play, Oedipus has put forth punishment for the murders of Laius unknowing he is, in fact, the killer. Blinded by his past to the degree that he demands a harsher punishment for the murderers of King Laius, and what rests in him is the crudeness of other people. Oedipus is mindless and misguided and meets his tragic fate due to the fearfulness of something that may happen and his way of thinking because he cannot see the validity of the situation, but can only see a portion of it.

The destiny of Oedipus changes from favorable to disastrous because of the rage that caused the accidental murder of his biological father and the incest between him and his mother. “This act is, nevertheless, a criminal one, and the good hero is still responsible for it, even if he is totally unaware of its criminality and is acting out of the best intentions” (Johnson, Greg, and Thomas, 2018 p. 1252). Oedipus participated in abnormal sexual behavior with his biological mother, but their sexual encounter was not planned through feelings for one another, but they were both innocent to that fact they did not know they were mother and son. Oedipus was a man who was driven through his high moral standards and his moral core values that got him caught up in a series of unfortunate events. Given the circumstances highlighted by Sophocles that eventually prompted the tragedy that came to pass on Oedipus defines him to be a tragic hero.

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Oedipus the King and Antigone

Corey Marvin defines binary oppositions as “simply a pair of theoretical opposites or thematic contrasts” (1). In Oedipus the King and Antigone by Sophocles, there are many binary oppositions, but the most important oppositions are the following: calm versus irascible, male versus female, blind versus sight, and polis (city) versus oikos (family). While calm versus irascible and blind versus sight are only in Oedipus the King, male versus female and polis versus oikos is in Antigone. The binary oppositions in these plays are significant because the playwright uses them to differentiate between the characters. In 430-29 B.C. in Athens, there was a war that caused a plague that killed half of the citizens which corresponded to Oedipus the King that also starts with a plague. And in Antigone, the play starts “before the outbreak of the disastrous war” which is the same in Athens (Knox 30).

Sophocles was the playwright of Oedipus the King and Antigone, but he also played a big part in politics. Knox states, “[Sophocles] was deeply involved in public affairs throughout his long career” (25). Right before the Peloponnesian war, Sophocles was one of the generals that were sent to Samos to stop the revolt. Knox says, “Sophocles, as we know from a reliable contemporary source, was one of the nine generals elected … for campaign against the revolt of Samos in that year” (35). The Samians lost, but this made many of the cities revolt. Sparta is one of the city-states that revolted and caused the Peloponnesian War. At one point, Athens was cut off by Sparta who trapped the Athenians in the main city. In these conditions, a simple illness could kill and spread, which caused almost half of the Athenians to die, and at the end of the war, the Athenians lost about 200 ships and lost the war.

Calm versus irascible is a significant binary opposition in Sophocles’ Oedipus the King. In Oedipus the King, Creon embodies calmness, but Oedipus represents irascible which is the complete opposite of Creon. Oedipus’ tragic flaw is that he is irascible where he almost kills the people he talks to. During most of Oedipus’ conversation with the others, Oedipus’ tragic flaw always takes over. For example, in a conversation between Oedipus and Creon, Creon is interested in finding the truth, yet Oedipus just wants Creon to die because he thinks that Creon is plotting to kill him. Oedipus says, “[y]ou plotting to kill me, kill the king -- I see it all, the marauding thief himself scheming to steal my crown and power!” (596-8). Oedipus does not want a rational conversation with anyone because of his anger which causes him to fall. On the other hand, Creon is calm while trying to find out murdered king Laius. Creon tells Oedipus that “[n]ot if you see things calmly, rationally, as I do … No one with any sense of self-control” (653-7). Whenever Creon gives Oedipus an answer that he does not like, Oedipus thinks that Creon is against him and is planning to kill him. Another example of Oedipus’ irascibility is the discussion between Tiresias and Oedipus. Oedipus is happy that Tiresias came to tell Oedipus the truth. However, when Tiresias tells him that he is the pharmakos (cure and sickness at the same time) of the city, Oedipus responds with, “you scum of the earth, you’d enrage a heart of stone!” (381). Oedipus lacks self-restraint which causes him to insult Tiresias with harsh words. Lastly, the shepherd is brought to Oedipus because he knows about his birth. The shepherd resists revealing the truth of Oedipus’ birth because he realizes that it will make him angry. Shepherd says, “I wish to god I’d died that day … The more I tell, the worse the death I’ll die” (1271-3). Since the shepherd resists to tell Oedipus the truth about his birth, Oedipus tortures him. Oedipus says, “[s]o, you won’t talk willingly -- then you’ll talk with pain … twist his arms back, quickly!” (Sophocles 1266-9). Oedipus’ actions are charged up by his anger, and his anger almost kills most of the men.

Male versus female is a consequential binary opposition in Antigone. Shirley A. Barlow is the author of “Stereotype and Reversal in Euripides’ Medea.” Barlow describes the stereotypical women and their limitations that have been set by Greek society. Barlow says, “women are restricted in their marriages, without rights of their own. Husbands have complete physical control of their wives” (159). Women are basically slaves during the 5th century B.C. In Antigone, Ismene is the perfect example of a stereotypical woman. She says, “[r]emember we are women, we’re not born to contend to men” (74-6). Ismene believes that a woman is a property and does not have any power. However, Antigone is a woman that reverses these roles by representing as a male. In a discussion between Antigone and Ismene, Antigone ends it by reversing the roles of male and female. Antigone says, “leave me to suffer this dreadful thing. I will suffer nothing as great as death without glory” (110-3).

Antigone is portraying the complete opposite of a stereotypical woman because she is independent and faces consequences on her own. Next, Barlow says, “Women are expected to be domestic creatures, submissive, peaceful, and instruments rather than the initiators of action” (160). The role of women is expected to abide by the stereotype of society. In a discussion between Creon and Antigone, Creon is telling Antigone that it is against the law to bury Polynices because Creon thinks that he is a traitor and should rot (490). Antigone answers Creon by saying, “I did it. I don’t deny a thing … well aware. How could I avoid it? It was public” (493-7). Antigone knew the law and tells Creon face-to-face that she buries Polynices’ body. This shows that she has the strength to do her thing. Antigone is not going to let the men overpower her which shows that she is reversing the role. lastly, Creon is a male that thinks women should not have the power to govern the city. Creon says, “[w]hile I’m alive, no woman is going to lord it over me” (592-3). Creon thinks that Antigone buried her brother only to refuse to obey him. Nonetheless, gender roles in Antigone are important because Athens also has a patriarchal society where men rule over women.

Blindness versus sight is one of the most important binary oppositions. In Oedipus the King, Oedipus is the king of Thebes who has physical sight, but he is unable to see the truth. Tiresias happens to be a blind prophet that is sent by the god Apollo to serve truth. At the start of the conversation between Tiresias and Oedipus, Oedipus praises Tiresias because Oedipus knows that Tiresias is a prophet who delivers that truth. However, as soon as Tiresias says, “to see the truth when the truth is only pain to him who sees! I knew it well, but I will put it from my mind, else I never would have come” (Sophocles 360-3), Oedipus is enraged and disagrees to everything Tiresias says. He responds with, “You’ve lost your power, stone-blind … eyes blind as stone” (422-3). Oedipus has normal sight compared to Tiresias.

However, Oedipus is ignorant and blind to the truth. Tiresias is a blind prophet, but he can see the truth which foreshadows Oedipus blinding himself since he thinks that blindness is the cure to his ignorance. Oedipus’ arrogance blinds him from the truth. Oedipus says, “I will speak now as a stranger to the story … if anyone knows the murderer is a stranger a man from alien soil, come, speak up” (248-63). Oedipus basically confesses that he killed King Laius, his father, but his arrogance blinds him from the truth. Similarly, Jocasta can physically see, but she now is blind to the truth. Even after knowing the truth, she deliberately rejects it. Towards the end, the messenger unravels the truth to Jocasta and Oedipus. Jocasta rejects the truth and instructs Oedipus to “[s]top in the name of god, if you love your own life! My suffering is enough … listen to me, I beg you, don’t do this” (1162-7). Jocasta shows willful blindness when the truth of her past with Oedipus is displayed.

Finally, polis versus oikos is one of the most important binary oppositions in Antigone. Antigone’s brother died and she is trying to bury him for her family’s sake. However, Creon’s city comes first over the family. Creon says, “whoever places a friend above the good of his own country, he is nothing” (203-4). Creon thinks that Polynices sacrificed his right to have a proper burial because he attacked the city of Thebes. When Polynices attacks the city, Creon believes that he is disloyal to the city and should rot. Another instance, even though Antigone is Haemon’s fiancee, Creon refuses to forgive Antigone for burying her brother. However, Antigone is fully devoted to her family's tradition and loyalty over the city. Antigone says, “I have longer to please the dead than please the living here: in the kingdom down below I’ll lie forever” (88-90). She reckons that her loyalty to both her family and the gods counterbalance her loyalty to the city. Nevertheless, Knox explains the historical relation to burials in Athens. Knox says, “they would have no second thoughts about denying burial to the corpse of any Athenian who had fought on the Persian side” (40). Athenians believed that everyone deserves a burial even if that person is a traitor.

Sophocles’ Oedipus the King and Antigone have a vast amount of binary oppositions, but some are only significant. Sophocles uses binary opposition to characterize one’s character. The most important binary oppositions are calm versus irascible, male versus female, blind versus sight, and polis versus oikos. Regardless, the history of Sophocles about politics and being one of the ten generals in Athens plays a huge role in creating these great plays.

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Have you Ever yourself Tried to Convince Someone out of their own False Belief

Have you ever been so in deep in denial that even when everyone around you tried helping you out of that hole you dug yourself into you still can’t seem to face the truth? Have you ever yourself tried to convince someone out of their own false belief? We are all victims to our own minds sometimes. We allow our brains to reminisce on what we want to believe instead of acknowledging the facts of the situation. In this essay, we will thoroughly analyze denial and truth across many different genres including short stories, Greek tragedy, and lyrics. As we begin to dive into the psychoanalysis of it all we can begin to see how denial of the truth can impact people.

Beginning with the short story “The One’s Who Walk Away from Omelas” by Ursula K le Guin, we are told a story of what appears to be a perfect city with no flaws or imperfection throughout it. The people there are overflowing with joy, and are “mature, intelligent; passionate adults whose lives were not wretched.” (Le Guin 259). However, as you read you learn that the flourishment of Omelas and its people is only possible through the misery of a child being held within a broom closet. A product of pain and suffering the child is held in a dark place below an otherwise glorious building in Omelas where, “Its buttocks and thighs are a mass of festered sores, as it sits in its own excrement continually.” (Le Guin 261). Now you may wonder how anyone can allow for this to happen to anybody, and the answer to that is simple. They pick denial over the truth. They visit the poor child only to remind themselves that its okay to put them through it because it makes the whole city better. And who cares about the torture of one person if it means a perfect life for so many others? They keep themselves in a constant state of denial of what they are doing in order to have such a good life. They make themselves believe that “even if the child could be released, it would not get much good of its freedom.” (Le Guin 261). Giving off the illusion that having a perfect city at the cost of one individual is worth it. Then there are the ones who choose to walk away. The cowards who can’t live in denial and cannot face the truth. The ones who “keep walking, and walk straight out of the city of Omelas” (Le Guin 262) and instead of living in luxury at the cost of an individual, leave behind Omelas all together and move on from the child in the broom closet.

Moving on to the short story, “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner where denial takes on a few different faces. As you read, you are introduced to a small-town setting where a woman named Emily is the focus. The first time that we see denial in this short story is right after her father dies. For three days she puts on a charade where she refuses to accept his death instead “she told them her father was not dead.” And had ministers and doctors calling her to “Persuade her to let them dispose of the body.” (Faulkner online). In this story, Emily is the embodiment of denial. When she is faced with new leaders in the community claiming she needs to start paying taxes again, instead of listening she simply tells them she “had no taxes in Jefferson” (Faulkner online) and sends them on their way. She is clinging to the past and refusing to accept the changes throughout the community. Finally, the main way that we see denial in this story is in Emily’s dedication to being with Homer. She ignores the gossip of her neighbors claiming she and Homer wouldn’t marry because Homer was “not a marrying man” (Faulkner online). She refuses to acknowledge the growing separation between her and Homer to the point that after she presumably poisons him with the arsenic, she locks him away in a room and continues to sleep with his body until the day that she dies. Thus, presenting us with the ultimate form of denial.

Moving on to our Greek tragedy, “Oedipus the King” by Sophocles, where instead of following the character Oedipus, we analyze his father Laius and how his denial of the truth resulted in his own demise. It all starts with the birth of his son Oedipus, where he is then told that Oedipus will kill him and take his place in bed with Laius’ wife. After listening to this prophecy, he sends off his child with a clubbed foot to be left for dead. This is his form of denial. Instead of facing this oracle head on and allowing his child to grow up with him, he sends his problems away to keep himself from having to deal with it. He believes that he has done what needed to be done to save himself and his position as King as well as husband, but lives in a constant state of denial by not acknowledging that it was at the expense of his own son. Also, by not considering that the oracle would not come true if he had raised Oedipus himself and that he was forced to send him away and forget about him. It is reasonable to consider that had Oedipus been raised by his own father and mother that he would not have gone on to kill his father and rape his mother. In fact, one could believe that the oracle predicted such things would happen knowing that Laius would send Oedipus off and because of his actions end up exactly the way the oracle stated.

Lastly, I wanted to include the song “Edge of Reality” sung by Elvis Presley into this analysis. In the song, he sings about constantly being on the edge of reality, where “Life’s dream lies disillusioned”. Now this song seems to be about how a girl drives him to madness and leaves him at the edge of reality where he can either fall of the edge and chase his feelings for her or accept the reality of it all and move on. However, I think it would be fair to ask if in all the genres talked about in this essay the characters dealing with denial were not sitting on their own “edge of reality”? Emily in accepting her father’s death. The people of Omelas in living with the child in the broom closet. Finally, Laius in sending his child away to be murdered. We all are sometimes put on the edge of reality, but until we can decide to face our own truth and rid ourselves of denial we will continue to fall helplessly off the edge.

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Oedipus: a Rounded Character

Oedipus Rex, a story about a good man who made a terrible mistake. The author portrayed the main character, Oedipus, with such complexity. This character went through a large amount of information thrown at him at once that completely changed him and possibly what he thought of himself. His past was considered a lie. Not only did he not want to believe that his prophecy became truth, but his wife as well. His character is one like no other because he earned his throne, he saved the people he cared about and went through a mental change due to the truths told to him. In the beginning, Oedipus, as king, not only fought against the plague, that was killing the people of Thebes, but also had the mission of finding the killer of the previous king. During that journey, he tries to do what he can to find the murderer and is somewhat calm while doing so. He was extremely determined and would stop at nothing. He found value in his crown and what he had. He was grateful and never put his throne on the line.

Once the truth is told to him he must deny anything and everything for the fact that he doesn’t recall ever killing the king. He becomes be very defensive towards the fact that he not only killed the king but for the fact that the prophecy did not come true. “They prophesied that I should kill Polybos, kill my own father; but he is dead and buried, and I am here- I never touched him, never, unless he died of grief from my departure” (Sophocles 48). He’s convinced that he never laid a hand on him so his fate was incorrect and that no one can trust what the Pythian hearth has to say because they predicted wrong. Once he gets more knowledge about his past, he begins to get more interested and irritated along with more afraid of lying with his mother. He gets anxious about how his fate might be, what the past meant and what that could mean for the future. His wife didn’t want to get embarrassed at the fact that he might have been of lower class or a slave of some kind so she doesn’t want to hear of it. During this time, we see Oedipus be kind of forward and blunt with her saying, “You need not worry.

Suppose my mother was a slave, and born of slaves: no baseness can tough you” and “Let us leave this woman to brag of her royal name” (Sophocles 55). Oedipus showed many characteristics and became a complex character over the span of the tragedy. Just as any person would, he grew more and more worrisome of these things that were being said to him. He had a realistic attitude bringing up and never wanted to believe that his father was not his father and that he possibly might have killed him and slept with his mother. Oedipus wanted no lie to be truth and truth to be a lie.

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Oedipus has Unwittingly Murdered the King of Thebes, Laiu

As it is known, and has been confirmed by the guilty party himself, Oedipus has unwittingly murdered the king of Thebes, Laius. Most people who bother with this matter would admit that Oedipus committed the crime at his own volition because he had a choice to avoid murder, and thus he must assume the consequences of his actions. Even though his actions are considered to be his said fate, Oedipus is found guilty of slaughtering others, and not just the king. Given his willful act of murder against Laius, Oedipus should receive the punishment of banishment, seeing that he himself had declared himself guilty. Banishment is the punishment in this case since this was the original verdict of the potential killer of Laius before it was confirmed to be Oedipus. Be it fate or an act of free will, Oedipus is to be banished from Thebes due to the choices he made both out of pride and anger.

One may claim that it’s a matter of fate that Oedipus is met with the unfortunate event of unknowingly killing his father. The murder of Laius cannot be supported for several reasons. To say that Oedipus’ fate is determined, a-priori, by forces that his actions and freedom of choice could never alter, a-posteriori, do not apply in this situation by any means. Oedipus could have avoided committing murder but instead settles the score of the humiliation he had received from Laius and his men when he threw Laius out of the carriage by his stick. Oedipus says, “as I passed, he struck me from his carriage, full on the head with his two-pointed goad. But he was paid in full and presently my stick had struck him backwards from the car and he rolled out of it” (Sophocles, line 885-889). Nonetheless, Oedipus did not stop at just this action alone, he killed everyone in the carriage along with the king. It is obvious that he chose to kill the men out of some ill-temperament and conceit. In that, we are led to believe that his inflated pride or ego had contributed to the murder, for it is manifested in Oedipus’ later actions and acts of rage. As for being full of himself, he says in another context, “I Oedipus whom all men call the Great” (Sophocles, line 7). He throws around the entitlement of greatness as one of his attributes, and I believe this point is crucial.

Furthermore, Oedipus’ vanity went as far as to make us believe that it’s his ego that sanctioned the killing of the king when he felt humiliated. He acted unjust by being extremely violent to the extent of allowing himself to resort to murder, not just of the king alone but his company as well. Oedipus’ reactions appear in his behavior as violent and unruly to the extent that he was going to kill his mother in rage to, as has been confirmed by the people around him, upon learning that she knew that he was the killer of Laius. It follows that Oedipus’ disposition and the flaws in his character marred his judgment and clouded his reasoning in a situation where violence to the extent of murder could’ve been avoided. With that being said, Oedipus could have refrained from killing his father, but in the end he still chose to do so.

Oedipus was a good leader, but his temper always got the best of him, and who is to say that he may not react violently again in the future? When Oedipus lashed out at Creon and Teiresias for the news about him being Laius murderer, he again let his anger get the best of him by lashing out at them, even though he was not physically violent in this specific situation. Teiresias even said to him, “You blame my temper, but you do not see your own that lives within you; is it me chide” (Sophocles, line 365). Moreover, banishment would be enough in this case since it is yet another example of Oedipus’ anger and short fuse. In the instructional material, the video said, “Oedipus’ tragic flaw is hubris, or excessive pride and it causes him to attempt to avoid the fate prophesized for him, which makes it happen” (Why Tragedies Are Alluring, David E. Rivas, Ted ED). Oedipus was warned of his fate, but he still believed he could do no wrong, and due to this he made choices that would have a tragic outcome.

In addition, another situation that proves that Oedipus is recklessly violent and a man who takes pride in himself excessively is the fact that he pierced his eyes out as a punishment for himself. Oedipus acted as a judge and a jury for himself, given that he saw himself worthy enough to do so. We could also jump to the conclusion that it is his vanity, again, that pushed him to pierce his eyes out. He could not stand the shame of his crimes. Still, he believed in fate; that is, fate determines his denouement. Oedipus says, “What have you designed, o Zeus, to do with me?” (Sophocles, line 804). Yet, he acted hastily and pierced his eyes out, instead of waiting for fate to unfold his final punishment. He considered himself “the Great” and thus, he could not stand the shame when he was told he killed his biological father. The punishment for humiliating someone is never death, no matter the circumstances. Yet, Oedipus made the choice to kill because of it. The coincidence, or fate, that he killed his biological father does not make the matter worse, given that one should not kill another human just because they are thought to be strangers. If Oedipus had known that Laius was his father and refrained from killing him, and later on killed someone else, a similar punishment would still apply— banishment.

It is clear that in the moment of committing his crime, Oedipus elected to kill Laius by choice, not by the necessity of self-defense. Thus, the killing could’ve been avoided if Oedipus was not so easily angered. Oedipus said, “His power determined my agony, but these eyes were blinded by my own hands. Why have eyes to see my own degradation and misery?” (Oedipus the King, 1:39:46). Oedipus gouging out his eyes could’ve sufficed as his punishment since he took matters into his own hands and couldn’t bear what he had done. Above all, Oedipus faced his downfall, though he must be banished from Thebes due to that being the original verdict of Laius’ killer.

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Political Power in the Three Theban Plays

Throughout all of the Theban Plays, there is an elemental connection that plays a role of politics in Ancient Greece. In the Theban Plays, there is an emphasis on how a democracy is important, rather than a dictatorship. The idea is brought up that one person does not have the authority to rule a country or nation individually. It is seen throughout the plays that two minds are better than one, which means that a democracy can make better decisions than a dictator. Sophocles is trying to emphasize that a dictator can make decisions to benefit himself; considering that, a democracy will typically decide for the benefit and interest for the population.

The Thebans illustrated in the play, take an extraordinary deal of honor in their city-state. Most Greek males would have been a part of the military at some time in their lives. Ancient Greece provided the support of a democratic society. It is momentous and significant that there is tension and pressure in Antigone, regarding a ruler who tries to enact laws that his citizens find inequitable. In a true democracy, the people agree upon the laws that they obey, and a leader does not have the ultimate power over the people.

In Antigone, there are political connotations when Creon, the ruler of Thebes, declares that no one is allowed to agonize Polynices, who is Antigone’s brother. Once Antigone, who is Creon’s niece, defies this law, Antigone is then banished for disregarding the law of the land. Creon askes Antigone, “And yet you still had the gull to break the law” (Fagles, 81)? Antigone responds by stating, “Of course I did. It wasn’t Zeus, not in the least, who made this proclamation – not to me. Nor did that Justice, dwelling with the gods beneath the earth, ordain such laws for men” (Fagles, 82). Antigone challenges Creon’s moral and legal authority by elevating religious rights above his worldly law. With this statement made, Sophocles wants it to be known that the king’s law rules the land, much more than blood. However, the idea that Sophocles is trying to emphasize is that the people are the main ruling force in Greece. When the city is said to be cursed by the Gods, the majority rule they want Creon to free Antigone to save the city. This forces Creon to go against his own declaration to save the city. Although Creon has the ultimate power, the people can leverage his decisions for the welfare of the city. The reader can interpret that the welfare of the city is above any one person, which includes the king.

In Oedipus the King, it is shown that the well-being of the state outpaces any one person. Oedipus shows to the people that he is a candid and honorable ruler. Oedipus states, “But my spirit grieves for the city, for myself and all of you to learn What I might do or say to save our city” (Fagles, 162). Although Oedipus was a fair and equitable ruler, exposing the accurate identity of his past is what will save the city. Once Oedipus comes to realize he is the infection upon the city, he accepts his own declaration. Oedipus forces Creon to drive him from the city. It is shown in this play that even the best rulers have committed terrible actions in the past, which will come back to haunt them. The idea is that one little mistake can be the collapse of any man. This is why no one man should be the solitary ruler of any country.

Throughout the plays, the Chorus gets involved with political power in terms of who is in charge. The Chorus talk to the people of Thebes by stating, “People of Thebes, my countrymen, look on Oedipus. He solved the famous riddle with his brilliance, he rose to power, a man beyond all power. Now what a black sea of terror has overwhelmed him” (Fagles, 251). Odepius solving the famous riddle is an irrefutable fact, as in the claim that he rises to power, to an enviable greatness. The Chorus seems to suggest a spontaneous association between Oedipus’s rise and fall. Oedipus fell because he rose too high, since in his pride he inspired others to envy. The statement from the Chorus has a ring of hollow and terrifying truth to them, because the comfort an audience expects is moral, is absent.

In Oedipus at Colonus, it is shown that keeping a promise is extremely important, as well as being just. In this play, Theseus comes into account. Theseus, often known as “child of Aegeus,” is the ruler of Athens. This includes Colonus, the sacred grove where Oedipus has come to die. He is a pretty reasonable guy, and because of his reasonable response to the cursed wanderer, taking up residence in his town, he gains Oedipus’s grave. By keeping his promise to protect Oedipus, Theseus successfully saves his city from the destruction of the gods. It can be inferred that Sophocles is displaying the entire city is more important that just one individual. Also, he attempts to show that war is never the answer. Oedipus states, “Oh dear friend, give my children the binding pledge of your right hand, and children, give him yours. And swear that you will never forsake the, not if you can help it” (Fagles, 380). There is peace that is trying to be kept between Thebes and Colonus. Sophocles shows there is a democracy that is least likely to begin a war than one ruler because war does nothing for the community except eliminate them.

In the years between these play’s composition, Athens underwent many changes. Defeated by the Spartans, the city was placed under the rule of the Thirty Tyrants, and the citizens who opposed their rule were either exiled or executed. This certainly affected the way that early audiences reacted to the play, just as the invasion of Athens and its weakened power. This had to have affected Sophocles when he wrote these plays, specifically Oedipus at Colonus. The last play Oedipus at Colonus, contrasts the cities of Athens and Thebes utterly clearly. Thebes is often used in Athenian dramas as a city in which appropriate frontiers and identities are not sustained. This allows the playwright to explore theme such as incest, murder, and audacity in a safe setting. This play clearly shows that a democracy is run in the city of Athens and Thebes.

After reading and interpreting all three plays, it can come to conclusion that Sophocles is stating how important a democracy can be. Sophocles understands that ruling a country is an extremely difficult task for only man to do by himself. He is showing people that just one person can lose control of what is really important and just far easier than a council or assembly. Overall, there is an emphasis on the idea that Ancient Greece is run on the system of a democracy, not a dictatorship. Throughout the plays, it was noticeable how multiple minds work much more efficiently than one mind when running an ancient city. Since a democracy is ruled by the people, the people make decisions for the better of the city.

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Oedipus the King: the Truth

In the play Oedipus The King, Oedipus is to find the truth of what happened to King Laius. He is told from Creon that the Gods want him to punish those who killed King Laius. “Creon: Laius was killed. And now the God is clear: those murderers, he tells us, must be punished, whoever they may be.” (Sophocles, 420 BCE). While trying to figure out the truth of what happened to King Laius, who killed him and to banish them from the city, he also finds some things out about himself in which he did not know before.

Oedipus is married to Jocasta, which was also King Laius’ wife, he has four children two of which are males and two of which are females. When Creon tells him what the Gods want him to do he tells his people that this person or persons will be banished and shall not be helped by anyone within the city. He also asks for clues from which were found when the King died. So, he sends the boy for Teiresias. Teiresias knows the truth but will not say it to Oedipus, which in turn makes him made that he will not tell him what he knows. When Oedipus starts to aggravate Teiresias he tells him that he is the one who had killed King Laius. “Teiresias: Then I would ask you to stand by the very words which you yourself proclaimed and from now on not speak to me or these men. For the accursed polluter of this land is you.” (Sophocles, 420 BCE).Oedipus did not believe what he had heard. He did not understand why Teiresias was accusing him of murdering King Laius.

When talking with his wife, Jocasta, he tells her of how he thinks Creon set him up by talking with the prophet, Teiresias. She doesn’t agree with him and tells him a story about what a prophet had told her late husband, King Laius. She told him how the prophet told Laius that his son was going to kill him. But instead of being killed by his son he was killed by a robber. “Jocasta: King Laius once received a prophecy. It said Laius was fated to be killed by a child conceived by him and me. Before our child was three days old, Laius fused his ankles tight together and ordered another man to throw him out on a mountain rock where no one ever goes.” (Sophocles, 420 BCE). Listening to this had made him more worrisome. For if King Laius was killed where three roads met, then Oedipus did in deed kill Laius.

While continuing to talk with his wife he finds out more information about when King Laius was killed. This is when he comes to terms with him being the one who killed Laius and having to live by the words he had spoken and be banished from the city and not to speak with any man in which lives in the cursed city. He is shaken by this information in which he has received. He doesn’t know what to think. Is he finding out the truth of what happened to the King before him and the truth about himself? He then tells Jocasta of what it is that has him so shaken and she then tells him that the prophet couldn’t be true because he was not Laius’ son.

Oedipus summons the servant who witnessed the event in which King Laius was killed. The only survivor of the incident. But while waiting on the servant a messenger arrives to give Oedipus some news. The news relieves him until he hears something else. This is when he finds out the disturbing truth about himself. In which he does not take all too well. When the messenger tells him that the man and woman who raised him were not his parents it confused him as he did not understand what he was hearing. Then the messenger proceeded to tell him that he was found in Cithaeron’s forest valleys. “Messenger: I found you in Cithaeron’s forest valley’s. I was the one who saved you. The ankles on your feet could tell you that. (Sophocles, 420 BCE). While looking at was previously mentioned by Jocasta, they bound their child’s feet together and sent the child away with a servant to be put on a mountain to die so that said child would not kill King Laius. This is where the truth about Oedipus is revealed.

Oedipus tried to get more information from the messenger but the messenger couldn’t tell him more because it was another shepherd who gave him to the messenger. He even told Oedipus that he thinks the other shepherd was one of Laius’ servants. When the servant arrives Oedipus makes sure that the messenger identified him as the other shepherd then begins grill him with questions about the night he found the baby. This is where he finds out that the child, himself, was actually Laius’ own child. “Servant: If you must know, they said the child was his. But your wife inside the palace is the one who could best tell you what is going on.” (Sophocles, 420 BCE).

In the end the truth will always come to light. In this play Oedipus finds out that he himself is the man who killed his real father and then turned around and married his mother. Learning that the people who raised you your whole life aren’t your real mother and father can be devastating. The prophecy in which he was told would happen when he was a younger man came true when he ran away from home to stay away from the person who he thought was his flesh and blood father, as he thought he would kill him. But instead found out the man he killed in the three crossroads was his father and the woman he married was actually his mother. When he found these out his wife/mother hung herself in their bedroom and Oedipus dug into his eye sockets and made himself blind for what it was he had done.

Learning the truth about his life caused so much grief that he wished that the servant has done as his mother and father wished and left him on the mountain to kill him. If he had then the city would have never of been cursed and their late King would still be their King, he wouldn’t of killed his father and married his mother and had children with her. He was devastated! Disgusted! The truth about his life ruined his life.

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Second Episode of Oedipus Rex

In the second episode of Oedipus Rex, I thought the dialogue but significantly impacted the development of the scene or play was when Oedipus had asked Tiresias to help him find the killer of Laius in order to end the plague. Although Oedipus asked kindly Tiresias does not want to answer and asks if he could go home. “Just send me home. You bear your burdens. I’ll bear mines. It’s better that way” I feel like this significant because Tiresias seems to try to protect Oedipus by staying silent about who the murderer is.

Although Oedipus does not know he is being protected by Tiresias he gets angered by not getting an answer putting Oedipus and Tiresias in a conflict. It shows how desperate Oedipus is in trying to help save his people. Oedipus begins to assume that Tiresias is trying to over throw him. Oedipus insults Tiresias by mentioning his blindness, then calls Tiresias a fraud prophet, Tiresias gives Oedipus a warning, tell him that he is the actual blind man in the room. Oedipus is blind that he is destroying his own life. We see that Oedipus is a character that likes to take action.

Oedipus lacks seeing what is going on and what might become the out come of it, in the scene where Tiresias and Oedipus are arguing, it develops conflict. Tiresias being a Character of being able to see the truth and Oedipus calling him a fraud shows the how close minded he is. Oedipus shows that he will fight with anything and anyone who he does not agree with. With Oedipus and Tiresias not agreeing, Oedipus makes a statement saying “I’ll start again — I’ll bring it all to the light myself” he sees himself with so much pride that it does help his character show why he is a leader. As Oedipus and Tiresias continue to disagree, Tiresias tell Oedipus that he will soon find out who his parents are. By the time Oedipus finds out who his parents really are this will completely crushed him because he fell back into his fate. This shows what makes up most of the story of how Oedipus was trying so hard to run away from his destiny.

Tiresias makes a small riddle for Oedipus to figure out with this little riddle it will give the big clue of who the killer really is. “No man will ever be rooted from the earth as brutally as you” this riddle is similar to the riddle Oedipus was famous for figuring out when he faced Sphinx. At this point it seems that Oedipus is not very willing to figure out what the answer of the riddle is. “ but whether a mirror man can know the truth, weather is here seer can fathom more than I- there is no test, no certain proof through matching skills for skills and men can outstrip a rival night. No not—- change provide wall I side with his accusers” with this the chorus help the audience understand that the people of the city are still on Oedipus side, they seem to still have faith and hope in him. There is no actual proof against Oedipus yet. This is Scene and dialogue significant, it impacts the development, of not only the characters but the story it adds more to the conflict and why each character takes that certain role, in addition it helps the reader understand why the character is the way they are.

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The Mesopotamians and the Egyptians both were Polytheistic Meaning

The Mesopotamians and the Egyptians both were polytheistic meaning they believed in more than one god, and they built temples to praise their gods. When the Mesopotamians built their temples, they also made 40 feet platform called a ziggurat and Sumerians that were shrine waiting rooms (13). Especially gods and goddesses representing nature. The Mesopotamians believed in Enki the god of water, Gibl the god of fire, Shilpae goddess of earth and Enlil the god of air (12). While the Egyptians had

Aten-Ra was the sun god, Horus, was the sky god, and Ma 'at the goddess of truth, justice, and harmony (26). Mesopotamians religion does not show any evidence in the belief of recantation but does show a heaven god and a god and goddess of the underworld. The Egyptians all through history have shown belief in afterlife and resurrection of the dead. The Egyptians had a “The Book of the Dead” dedicated to the spells and rituals that would pass the death through the underworld and send you into the afterlife (27).

Homeric worldview started at the beginning of Greek history looking at the world as the Greeks did, and comparing gods to men and men to gods. Homer made the center of the world in the 19th century revolved around Greece. If you were not from Greece people looked at you as if you were barbaric. In the book the Iliad Homer inspired the artist to paint Zeus, "She sank to the ground beside him, put her left arm around his knees, raised her right hand to touch his chin and so made her petition to the Royal Son of Cronos”(54). The artist Jean-Auguste Dominique Ingres depicted Zeus as a fearsome ruler of the sky with one arm raised with a royal scepter and the other resting on clouds, Jean-Auguste Dominique Ingres named the painting “Jupiter and Thetis” (54). After painting "Jupiter and Thetis" was created, multiple artists use the inspiration of Homer's Epic Poems to create a generation of artwork that we still see to this day.

Each of the Greek dramatists had different worldviews and illustrated Athens in the 5th century. Aeschylus players showed his deep awareness for the human weakness which she saw firsthand when he fought the battle of marathon in 490 BC. In his plays, he showered that right and reasoning will triumph of anything. In the opening scene of his play Agamemnon the chorus states: justice turns the balance scales, sees that we suffer, and we suffer, and we learn. And we suffered will know the future when it comes" (104) Aeschylus Philosophy and background must be kept reading his place he often describes violent and bloody events. He believed "blood for blood" for the legal system of justice (104). While Sophocles saw the world and live a positive light then Aeschylus. You could not tell Sophocles Philosophy in his work. In his place, he can bind in awareness of the tragic consequences of an individual‘s mistakes with a belief in the collective ability and dignity of the human race (107). In Sophocles play Oedipus the King it talks about a plague that has wiped out most of the population, and the people of the kingdom come to Oedipus and ask how he will stop the plague but in the path of helping he finds out the truth about his life. Oedipus finds out that his wife is really his mother on lines 1306-1310 he stays: "O god- All come true all burst to light! O light-now let me look my last on you! I stand revealed at last- cursed in my birth, cursed in my marriage cursed in the lives I cut down with these hands!”(109). These lines Oedipus kills himself. Sophocles created Oedipus to break social taboos, portray him as a tragic hero, and gave him human-like qualities good and bad.

The people Rome and Pompeii lived normal lives and since Pompeii was a resort city they gave multiple businesses and homes to the people. The building created in (27 BCE -79 CE) is very similar to how we still make large corporate buildings and apartment complexes. Also how they used their aqueduct system threw out the city of Pompeii and later in Rome. The city of Pompeii was a major resort city in Ancient Rome in 79 AD, the disaster of Mount Vesuvius struck the city. The city was buried under 20 feet of ash and debris from the eruption (140). In modern day we have used similar aqueduct systems with plumbing and our sewage systems (151). A similar tragedy for modern day is Hurricane Katrina how all of New Orleans was basically underwater is the similar effect of the people of Pompeii. New Orleans, also, has similar agriculture as Rome as well as Pompeii.

Right when Constantine became the Emperor of the Roman Empire the first thing he said was going to make changes. The biggest obstacle he knew he would deal with is convincing the religious leaders to accept the Christians. He considered Christianity as a huge factor for the establishment of the state and his capacity and he composed the Christians who had been dismissed for the past three centuries. Constantine needed Christianity to believe in him and Christianity needed Constantine to spread Christianity. He needed the Christians to follow all the new laws he was about to create and knew he could create an alliance with the Christians. Christians in this era were not the main religion and knew they needed to spread the “gospel” to the world (215). The people of Rome respected what he accomplished for Christians by helping them become a part of the community and not individual targets. Constantine kept up with the Christians with and saw them start going according to his strategy.

Until his imperfect strategy was a deferred consequence of the continuation among religious and individual interests, in any case, this does not impact the manner by which that this system profited Christianity. Constantine helped Christianity to be viewed as a genuine and solid religion inside Roman society.

Justinian is holding a golden bowl for the bread for the sacrament of the Eucharist. He's surrounded by a priest and other important religious figures in the mosaic as well as his army and people of his disciples. Justinian emperors Theodora is holding a golden chalice and wearing multiple jewels such as sapphires, rubies, and emerald showing her importance. Theodora was surrounded by religious women as well as people of an important during this time. They are both wear purple the sign of royalty. The couple shows off their crowns, and the halos to represent religious power they have during the Byzantine era. The mosaics symbolize them as the imperial court which is a ceremony that is related to Eucharist.

Monasticism comes from the Greek word mono meaning singular or single. Christians in the Carolingian period believed it was an integral part of Christianity (285). Monasticism was very traditional in the east and starting to spread into the west. The great eastern tradition was asceticism meaning self-denial and eremitism meaning the solitary life. The people from the great eastern areas believe you must become one with oneself and have a monastic lifestyle (285). This tradition did not carry well into urban areas due to the living styles and depending on how flexible your monastery was. For example, most Monasticisms in Italy were simpler and rude while one in Europe cities were laxer that had monks walking around (285).

The Chartres cathedrals considered to be the first true high Gothic church (315). The cathedral was reconstructed in 1194 after a terrible fire in the rebuild after 1184 they decided to reconstruct the high Gothic church in a rectangular bay system Creating the shape of an X through visual fact is one of the unity through the reputation in your continuous flow of perfect pattern from the portal to apse(315). By making the regular bay system the windows are much larger increasing the flow of light and airy feeling throughout the whole cathedral. While the Hagia Sophia is Greek for the holy wisdom which was the ideal principle of the church of Constantinople (242). Hagia Sophia interior has multiple windows between the drums in the dorms giving the impression of floating lights this effect goes from the top of the dome all the way down to the ground. Around the floating lightness, you can see a circular shield with Arabic writings from the Qur'an (243). The Hagia Sophia and the Chartres cathedral both share the effects of floating lightness throughout the church and the feeling of the true sanctuary.

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Fate is Predetermined Beyond Human Control

What is fate? Fate is predetermined beyond human control. It’s a supernatural force that we do not know how it exist. Fate is all the predetermined outcomes that we have in our lives. It is what controls our destiny in life will be. It is something beyond human control but plays a constant role in our everyday life. Many people accept fate, but they do not question it. I do not entirely agree. I believe that fate controls the major aspects in my life, but I don’t believe it controls the small choices I make in my life that fate uses to determine what my life will be.

I do entirely agree that people’s fate should be controlled. In the play, Oedipus the King by Sophocles, an oracle tells a prophecy to the King and Queen of Thebes, they will have a son, but he will kill his father and marry his mother. The King and Queen send their son to a mountain to die but the servant gave him to a Shepard. When he came to age to know the prophecy he ran away and try to change his fate, but ultimately, he fulfilled the prophecy (1017). I do believe in fate because I was told by my cousin that my grandfather was going to die but he was going to die on his bed surrounded by his family and then give out with a smile when we start to pray for him to get better. I did not believe her but when five years pass and I saw him surrounded by family and everyone started to close their eyes for prayer, I saw him die with a smile.

However, fate does not control the small events you do or will cause. In Oedipus the King, Oedipus say “But my two girls” (line 1528), in the prophecy he was to kill his father and marry his mother. However, he did more than just marry her, he had two girls with his mother. That is a small piece that fate does not control every act we take and do. That is way I do not believe in fate. Two years ago, I was planning on going to Puerto Rico for a month to see my family, but before I told my best friend that, he told me I am going to Puerto Rico and I will be in the graveyard which my grandpa was buried and I will be crying. When I got to Puerto Rico, I found out my grandpa was not buried there he was buried in New York. That was proof to me that fate does not control everything in my life or control the small things in my life.

Fate is an unsolved mystery that humans are constantly puzzled with. Most people have come to terms with not being able to understand its mystery. I do not believe that fate controls every aspect of my life. I believe that it only controls the main aspects of my life. We should have the control of what happens in our lives. Why should something that is unknown to us have any control of what happens to us. Our own free will should be what guides us to our choices and helps us to make our own decision. We should not have our lives already mapped out for us, we should map our own lives.

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Comparison between “Death of a Salesman”, “Oedipus Rex”, and “A Streetcar Named Desire”

The most remarkable association between the Death of a Salesman and Street Car Named Desire is hallucination. In the Death of a Salesman, Willy, the hero, is lost in the figment that the American dream is just feasible through shallow characteristics of affability and engaging quality. He mistakes the fantasy for philistinism and he winds up harming his family because of his inability to accomplish his fantasies. In Willy's translation, the slippery American dream calls men to be alluring and simpatico, yet he doesn't meet the edge and accordingly he is a disappointment. In Street Car Named Desire, Blanche DuBois, the hero, is frustrated and lost in dream and consequently she can't manage reality.

In a bid to stay away from the truth, Blanche resorts to lies and plotting expecting to make a kinder world, rather than the brutal truth of life. By one way or another, Blanche eventually encounters a misrepresented type of joy, however she never defeats the figments encompassing her considerations. The other association between the two plays is that the heroes are sexual fugitives. Both Willy and Blanche have a dull past encircled by unlawful undertakings. Willy is sincerely snared in an illegal undertaking with a 'lady' he just experienced some place en route to Boston, yet he is hitched. Then again, Blanche loses her employment as a secondary school mentor subsequent to getting included physically with one of her male understudies. She additionally concedes that she ordinarily beds outsiders. This physically violent past frequents the two heroes and somewhat, it adds to their definitive obliteration.

In the Greek misfortune, Oedipus Rex is the fundamental person (book). He is significant and of honorable birth, and rules as the King of Thebes. Notwithstanding, because of his royal status, there are occasions that have happened in his life that have influenced his prosperity just as that individuals of Thebes. Ruler Oedipus destiny, unbeknownst to him, has effectively been dictated by the Gods before he was conceived (book). In Arthur Millerr's work of art, Willy Loman is a more seasoned refined man that battles to acknowledge his destiny in an impasse work and advanced age. Willy was given up from his work as a sales rep and has begun to twisting crazy, baffled with the manner in which his life is ending up (book). Willyr's heartbreaking circumstance, in contrast to Oedipus, doesn't at all effect the nation, individuals, or even city where he lives. The people that are quickly influenced by Willyr's demise are his close relatives (book). Inside the person similitudes, there is one significant contrast. In a Greek misfortune, like that of Oedipus Rex, the fundamental person is quite often of respectable or illustrious birth. In this manner, the nation over while they rule is straightforwardly influenced and in danger of risk because of the grievous circumstance of the hero. In the advanced misfortune, like Death of a Salesman, the fundamental person is the normal individual, with just few affected by the demise or misfortune of the hero.

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The Tragedy is an Event that Leads to an Unhappy Ending for Instance Death

The tragedy is an event that leads to an unhappy ending for instance death, destruction or suffering. Othello and Oedipus are two examples of plays that build upon tragedies that play out at the end with an unpleasant ending. In Othello, the play starts in Venice, Italy considered the land of water and love. The play centres on power and love where Othello has unofficially married Desdemona. The Duke calls Othello and sends him to fight in Cyprus where instead of the war he finds a big party there. Conflicts erupt between Rodrigo and Cassio leading to Cassio dismissal. As the story ends, Othello kills Desdemona and Emilia realizes that her problems arise from her husband’s actions. Othello commits suicide after learning he would be taken to Venice for trial for the killings (Critical Essays Shakespeare's Tragedy). In Oedipus Rex, King Oedipus sends Creon to establish the cause of the plague that struck the city. Creon says that the epidemic will be lifted once the man who killed King Laius is brought to book. According to CliffsNotes, Queen Jocasta fails to believe that Oedipus is a murderer. An oracle confides that the king would be killed by his son who will then marry her mother. To evade this curse, Jocasta disposed her infant child to die and avoid the curse. However, the abandoned child was rescued and eventually killed the king who was his father and married her mother. The tragedy is evident in Othello in the form of killing where Othello is motivated by betrayal and love to kill his wife while Oedipus kills his father and marries her mother due to his arrogance to listen to the oracles.

To start with, Othello is considered as the tragic hero which according to Aristotle is a person occupying a prestigious estate. For one to be fit within the characteristics of a tragic hero, they must be high ranking in the society but face downfall due to the flaws. He is a tragic hero since he is respected and enjoys power at the beginning of the play but later falls after killing his wife. Othello kills his wife for fear that she is cheating on him which is a double tragedy. According to CliffsNotes Othello is a respected African hero who commands respect from the other leaders in Venice and the army (Analysis of the Tragedy Othello). He commands honour from the people who refer to him as the “captain.” The ordinary citizen loves him and is popular with them due to his excellent qualities. Othello’s ignorance, however, delineates him from the people when he is tricked by Lago to believe that Desdemona is unfaithful to him. Othello’s actions lead to the death of her wife which is the greatest tragedy. The killing is a tragedy that comes at the end of the book resulting from the flaws.

Similarly, Othello loves his wife and this result to the tragedy that is evident throughout the play. Love like in any other Shake spears plays a vital aspect in this play. Love is the major driving force behind the actions committed by most of the characters in the play especially Othello and Desdemona. According to Paperap, Desdemona lies to her husband concerning the missing handkerchief that starts a vicious cycle of betrayal. Desdemona was aware that this handkerchief was so useful to him and did not wish to tell him directly to avoid annoying him. It is evident that Othello went through betrayal due to his love for Desdemona. Desdemona knew that Othello loved him and could not stand her cheating (Critical Essays Shakespeare's Tragedy). The betrayal perpetrated by Lago is different since it was influenced by hate and greed for material things. The characters in the play display a wide range of issues including ethnicity, betrayal, and love which the play has to cope with as the genesis of the tragedy. These issues result in problems that result in tragedies that characterize the last parts of the play.

As noted above, betrayal contributes to tragedy in the play starting from the courts up to lago. The Italian court ruled in favour of Othello which motivated Rodrigo to pay Lago to spread deception and lies. Shakespeare uses this element of betrayal proficiently throughout the novel to put his message of how betrayal is a contributor to tragedy. According to Paperap all the betrayals in the play centre on Lago and its evident that he is not trustworthy. He betrays every character at different points of the story to the extent of targeting his wife. He betrays Cassio by ensuring he drink shaming himself in front of Othello (Critical Essays Shakespeare's Tragedy). Lago further betrays Cassio by convincing him to go and ask Desdemona to help in reinstating him from his position. Lago convinces her wife to steal Desdemona’s handkerchief and leave it in his room which is betrayal at its best. However, the person who feels the brunt of betrayal the most is Othello. Lago convinces Othello that Desdemona does not love him but is obsessed with Cassio. All the other forms of deception result in tragedy but the most significant results from the killing of Desdemona due to a mixture of love and betrayal.

Apart from Othello, Oedipus Rex is another excellent example of tragedy that is evident in the setting, atmosphere, characters, and mood. The dialogue and the language used to emphasize the drama about the life of ill-fitted Oedipus. Aristotle one of the greatest philosophers used the Oedipus complex to explain the kind of tragedies that affect the play. According to EsaybyExample, the tragedy in Oedipus thus be understood from Aristotle’s perspective. For an issue to be considered as a tragedy, it must have complete actions, effects, cause and a link between these main elements. Oedipus is, in this case, a tragic character since he is committed to tackling the problems affecting the country and the people (Sophocles' Oedipus the King). His tragic character, however, invites some terrible weaknesses in the long run. His tragedy stems from the overconfidence on what he knows or seems to know. Oedipus becomes very careless and lacks respect towards the gods and the words of the oracles. He does not listen to the inner voice directed to him sealing his fate in the negative light.

Likewise, the next tragedy is evident in the atmosphere where the play exposes us to very frightening conditions. The main characters engage in dramatic conflicts that destabilize the reader throughout the play. The play maintains a serious tone throughout unlike in most Shakespeare plays which are full of comical tragedy. The reader is therefore subjected to fear, frustration and anxiety. The readers’ false hopes are guided by the tragic purification of emotions and the tragic change of characters. According to Esay by Example, the greatest tragedy by Oedipus, however, is when he killed his father and then married her mother. According to Shmoop, when Oedipus father and mother gave birth to the boy, they learned of the prophecy that their child would kill them and hence decided to throw him away (Oedipus the King). The son was however rescued and brought up. He learned of the prophecy that he would kill his father and marries the mother and was determined to stop this at all costs. He understood that there would be two concurrent sins and a tragedy. He runs away from his adoptive parents to avoid fulfilling the prophecy but out of ignorance of the advice of the oracle. On the way, he comes across a king and engages in a fight killing him and as the norm assuming the throne in Thebes and inheriting the queen (Oedipus the King). He realizes that he has just committed the acts he was avoiding and hence gorges her eyes out in the sorrow of the action.

Although the plays center on tragedies, they are very different based on their motivations and the results. Othello is an industrious man who commands attention due to his excellent qualities even in the presence of the senators in Venice. He is of African origin, and he takes pride in the ability to command whites in Venice. According to Paperap (2017), Love is one of the most significant causes of the tragedy in Othello since most of the terrible acts are motivated by love. The love is however not true love since a person who kills the other cannot kill them. Othello must be fascinated with Desdemona, and that’s why he kills her welcoming the tragedy (Analysis of the Tragedy Othello). The tragedy builds over time from the start up to the end culminating to killings, the most significant tragedy. Oedipus tragedy is anchored on ignorance. In this case, Oedipus is arrogant and does not wish to listen to the oracle's words. He wants to do what he wants without informing other people what he intends to do (Sophocles' Oedipus the King). His act of running away to avoid killing his parents but eventually kills the father and marries the mother.

Although the plays portray tragedy in different ways, the end point is that they lead to death. They show that tragedy results from a culmination of various internal and external events. For instance, in Othello, court cases, love and betrayal are the events leading to tragedy (Critical Essays Shakespeare's Tragedy). The tragedy affects almost all the people before it is realized. In Shmoop, The king, queen, and Oedipus were eventually affected by the disaster. It is therefore evident that tragedy does not strike at once but a culmination of different events affecting different people.

To conclude, Othello and Oedipus are two plays that focus on tragedy in human life. In Othello, Cassio is betrayed and made to think that her wife is unfaithfulness. He cannot believe that her wife does not live her and ends up with the tragedy of killing her. Oedipus kills his father and marries his mother after ignoring the prophecy that he would kill his parents. He kills the parents without knowing he was living with his birth parents and then spiked his eye which is the tragedy due to arrogance. The play shows that tragedy stems from various events and is a process that starts slowly but ends with an ugly incidence.

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Oedipus Rex by Sophocles and the Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare

For my culture report I chose the plays Oedipus Rex by Sophocles and The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare. Oedipus and Caesar have some very striking similarities as well as some other minor characters. However, even though they are similar, these two controversial characters have some stark differences as well. Oedipus and Caesar were very beloved political figures but also very complicated and frustrating individuals.

These two major plays have some remarkable similarities. In both plays Oedipus and Caesar both became king/emperor because of their popularity with the people of Thebes/Rome. Both characters have had major prophecies given to them. The soothsayer tells Caesar “beware the ides of March” on this day it was prophesied that something bad would happen to Caesar . The Oracle at Delphi prophesied that Oedipus would kill his father and marry his mother (Comparison 1). Brutus, Caesar’s best friend, and Oedipus could both be described as honorable (Comparison 2). Brutus shows honor by letting Marc Antony speak at Caesar’s funeral. Oedipus shows honor by truly caring for the well being of Thebes and not just focusing on his power. Both plays have women committing suicide. Portia, Brutus’ wife, commits suicide because she is lonely. In Oedipus Rex Jocasta, Oedipus’ mother/wife, commits suicide by hanging herself because she was so distraught that she married her son (Comparison 3). The last major similarity is that in the end of both plays the supporting and main characters felt guilty. Brutus and Cassius both started feeling guilty for what they did to Caesar and the other people around them. Cassius started feeling bad for all the people he had manipulated, deceived, and hurt that he had his servant kill him (Julius III). In Oedipus Rex, Oedipus and his wife both felt so guilty for what they had done without even knowing it, that she killed herself and he gouged his eyes out and fled the nation (Sophocles III).

Even though both plays have some striking similarities they also have some huge differences. Despite the fact that both characters got horrible prophecies given to them they reacted in different ways. Caesar was arrogant and chose to ignore the soothsayer ;however, Oedipus took it seriously and fled Corinth to try and avoid the prophecy given to him (Comparison 1). Despite the fact that Brutus and Oedipus are considered honorable, Caesar is not. He was killed because none of the senators or his closest friends thought that he would do what was best for Rome, and that he would become a dictator (Julius II). This implies that he only cared about power and not the well being of Rome. Even though both characters were given the role of king because the people of the nations loved them and thought of them as gods, Oedipus never planned to become king he just wanted to save his father’s life. Oedipus’ motives were pure. Caesar on the other hand, all he wanted was to become king. He wanted to be the most powerful, because the power that he already had was not enough. The last major difference was that Caesar was taken down because his friends and the Senate did not think he had Rome’s best interest at heart. However; Oedipus, when he found out that he was the cause of the famine in Thebes did what was best for the nation and gave up his power to save the people, which is something that Caesar would never do (Sophocles III).

In conclusion, both of these plays have very influential characters who are similar in some ways but very different in others. Caesar and Oedipus might not be exactly the same, but both of their decisions changed the course of their entire lives. These two characters bring two very different personality types and show the reader how power can change or corrupt a person. Oedipus Rex and The Tragedy of Julius Caesar are great examples of loss of trust and family.

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An Understanding of the Cultural Values in the African Tribe

In the novel Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo’s story is told so the reader can get an understanding of the cultural values in the African tribe, which take place in Igbo village of Umuofia, Nigeria. Okonkwo is the main character, who symbolizes the African culture and the European involvement. The focus of the novel is Okonkwo because he is ambitious and is trying to overcome the reputation his weak father left behind. In the following questions answered below, we can see how he handled people and situations when times got rough.

From the village scenes we can see how they affect the main protagonist. White missionaries arrive in Umuofia, build a Christian church and possibly come converts. The missionaries have left the villagers surprised, especially when they build a church in the Evil Forest. This has allowed the Christians to gain power and many of the villagers start to notice that their beliefs are not as powerful as they thought. This shows how the missionaries are influencing the villagers on many things, not only religious views. While the changes are happening, Okonkwo is completing his exile. He does not like any of the changes, especially when he finds out his son Nwoye has converted to Christianity. He disowns his son and starts to become violent. The setting changes appropriately as things begin to fall apart. Okonkwo does not like the Christians. As his exile comes to an end, he has not improved his impulsive behavior. He considered the village of Mbanta a womanly clan because of their conversion to Christianity. When he returns to his village, he finds out that the white men have created a government court of law in Umuofia. He thinks that by being violent it will change things back to how they were, but it’ll only anger the white men. The white missionaries took over without learning or listening to the village’s customs and traditions.

The Africans believed in many Gods, like the god of rain and earth. They focused mostly on nature. This is also seen in the Greek play, Oedipus the King and the Indian Epic, Ramayana. These stories believed in superhuman forces. However, the Christians only worshipped one god. These stories also contain an Oracle. An Oracle can foretell what the future will hold. In this novel, the Oracle tells Okonkwo that Ikemefuna must be killed. Okonkwo is advised to not take part in killing Ikemefuna, however he doesn’t listen. Oedipus the King, the Oracle at Delphi tells Laius that his son will kill him and his wife, so they leave their son with a messenger. Another aspect of the African’s lives was the kola nut and palm wine. They were a sign of respect and welcoming guests to your home, especially at ceremonies. There was also the Week of Peace that was celebrated before they would plant their crops. The Week of Peace was in honor of Ani, the earth goddess. During the Week of Peace, the villagers were to not be violent. People had to relax and enjoy their time drinking palm wine. If there was a dispute or violence, it was an insult to Ani. During the Weak of Peace, Okonkwo was punished due to the circumstances that had happened. He had beat one his wives and he was sent to complete an exile. This impacted his life and the villagers because things rapidly changed due to the white missionaries who arrived. Also, his son was becoming interested in the religion and customs of the white men.

Okonkwo can be considered a static character because he was violent at the beginning and end of the story. He was unable to change the way he handled things. His inability to change his behavior would consider him to be a static character. He was portrayed as a respected individual who was determined to not be like his father. Okonkwo was a clansman and they were the law makers of the village, which people had to obey. He became obsessed with the idea that he does not want to commit the same mistakes his father made. He wanted to show his village that he wasn’t poor, lazy and that he was better than his father. The relationship between Okonkwo and Unoka was not the best. In fact, I think there was no relationship. Unoka was a musician. He did not work. He was called a woman. As a result of his father’s laziness, Okonkwo did not respect his father. He was determined to show his strength and everything his father never was. This can be considered a flaw because it leads him to his exile and when he returns to his village, he is not able to adjust to the changes that were made while he was gone. His angry and cynical attitude did not allow him to build relationships in his life, especially with his children. The same thing that happened between his father and him, happened with his own son. He had no mercy and struck back whenever he felt he was being provoked or wanted to prove his point.

At the beginning of the novel, Okonkwo is confident, strong and fierce. Later, he begins to feel hopeless and depressed, which leads to his life ending. Ikemefuna became part of Okonkwo’s family for three years. He was everything Okonkwo wanted his son, Nwoye to be. The death of Ikemefuna affected him for a bit. However, his inner fire peaks out again. He decides that he shouldn’t be feeling unhappy because if it would’ve happened during a busier time, he would’ve been unbothered by the death. This shows how unsympathetic he is and how his behavior and emotions never changed for the better. Since Okonkwo had a strong attitude and never showed his emotions. His relationship with his family members is not the same. He criticized his eldest son, Nwoye because he though he acted too much like his father, Unoka. However, he had a soft side for his only daughter, Ezinma. Ezinma was everything Okonkwo wanted Nwoye to be. He was gentle and gave her his full attention. Okonkwo only regrets that Ezinma is a girl and not a boy. I think one of his major flaws is his inability to show he has a heart. He was so afraid that he would look weak in front of others that he rather portray a strong masculine persona. I think he can be compared to Oedipus. Both characters refuse to listen to others intake on things and they do not like to be told what to do. Okonkwo and Oedipus were short tempered, and their anger got the best out of them. Their short temper prohibited them from listening to others and as a result it led to their downfall.

I think it was expected that something tragic was going to happen to Okonkwo. In the beginning of the novel, things were already falling apart. He was not a good father to begin with. He did not show his emotions unless it was with Ezinma. He favored her and disregarded the others. Since he ended Ikemefuna’s life, he could’ve done it with anyone in his family. He had already beaten one of his wives. However, I don’t think it was satisfactory because no one deserves to die when it comes to committing suicide. I think Okonkwo’s life had already began falling apart when he did not have a father-son relationship with his father. He couldn’t build a relationship with his own son. He had so much pride and a big obsession with not becoming his father, but in the end, he was like his father. I would say there was an appropriate closure when Okonkwo died. The traditions, customs and everything the village of Umuofia had died along with him. Personally, I would’ve wanted the novel to end differently. I think if Okonkwo would’ve not died if the white missionaries didn’t colonize and he continued to be the leader of his clan. Okonkwo should’ve stayed alive to change his ways. He could’ve made a change and perhaps started a father-son relationship with Nwoye. If he didn’t focus so much on not becoming his father, I think he would have been a different person. He would have had less pride and not a hostile personality. Perhaps if he didn’t like the white missionaries who took over, he could’ve come to an agreement with them so things would have not been so radical. I would’ve also wanted to see Nwoye and Okonkwo to have a relationship because if they would’ve had a relationship then he would’ve not been like his father.

The novel Things Fall Apart, has a big significance behind it. The title becomes obvious because the author shows it through characterization and setting. It takes place in Africa. Chinua Achebe writes about a family and the village who go through obstacles and changes when the British men try to convert the village to Christianity, while some people try to keep their culture and traditions. However, many of the problems arise from the main character Okonkwo. His impotence to see the point of views of other leads to his downfall. His downfall was seen through his anger and cynical attitude. As a result, he couldn’t get what he wanted, and he became desperate. His success didn’t last long.

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Have you Ever been Blinded to the Truth

Have you ever been blinded to the truth? Sometimes there is more to reality then meets the eye and our own ignorance can lead us down a path that can lead to tragedy. Physical blindness is considered a disability, although blindness to the truth can be much worse. The demise of a person can be as simple as a lack of insight and the blindness to the truth. In both tragedies, King Lear and Oedipus Rex, blindness is symbolic throughout the story. This is a tragic flaw that when unrecognized can have deadly and long term effects. In the Shakespeare play The Tragedy of King Lear you could say he is a foolish old man who is blind to all of the traitors around him as his two oldest daughters have a deceitful love for their father to avoid conflict the King decides to divide his kingdom between his three daughters. In Sophocles play Oedipus Rex it tells the story of Oedipus, a man who becomes the King of Thebes, who unknowingly has killed his father and has married his mother, and is trying to understand why the city has been struck with a plague. In this paper, I will explore how in both King Lear and Oedipus Rex metaphoric blindness is shown throughout both and the destruction which can be caused by such. Both characters suffer from the repercussions of poor judgement, and only through their poor judgment do they gain sight of their own situation.

In both plays King Lear and Oedipus Rex are initially blind to their situation’s which leads them to make negligent decisions and ignore the warnings of others who are trying to show them the truth. In Act 1, Scene 1, King Lear decides to split his kingdom between his daughters proclaiming that the daughter that loves him the most will receive the biggest portion of the kingdom. This shows that King Lear is hungry for love whether fake or real, all while his two eldest daughters begin to plot to overthrow their father and he cannot see this. He goes on to banish his younger daughter who is the only one who truly loves her father. This is shown by Shakespeare as King Lear says “Here I disclaim all my paternal care, Propinquity and property of blood, And as a stranger to my heart and me…” (Act 1, Scene 1, 115-120) as he is speaking to his youngest daughter. King Lear also goes on to banish his advisor, this is explained when King Lear says, “O vassal! Miscreant!” (Act 1, Scene 1. 172). As you can see, King Lear’s voice is aggressive towards Kent.

This was just the beginning of the tragic downfall of King Lear. In Oedipus Rex you are quick to gather that he believes that everyone around him is blind and he is the only one who can see, as well as, a sense of arrogance. Wherein, he states “I, Oedipus, who bear the famous name”. (Page 960, Line 9) His burning desire to find the truth about Laius' murder and the mystery of his own birth, brings him to the tragic realization of his horrendous acts. Throughout the story, slowly pieces of the truth are revealed for instance when the messenger comes to tell Oedipus “No more your father than the man speaking to you”. (Page 984, Line 103) Now Oedipus is discovering his true identity and things are happening quickly. As this revelation is coming to light Oedipus proclaims “God. God. Is there a sorrow greater? Where shall I find harbor in this world? My voice is hurled far on a dark wind. What has God done to me?” (Page 992, Line 84-89). As the truth continues to unfold and the hurt he is feeling, Oedipus is still unable to stop making rash decisions showing that he will not learn from his mistakes. Throughout, Oedipus did not know that the people he thought where his parents and that he ran away from where his adoptive parents. As we can see, there are different ways in which a person can be blinded and their life can be altered forever most of the time the person is not ready for such a moment.

In both tragedies, we are shown that there is a real danger in being blind to the happenings around us and how being unaware of certain situations, such as easily being deceived can cause destruction. Lear's indiscretion and irrational decision is the cause of his downfall. Although Lear did have the best intentions, he does not think logically when he decides to hand over his power to his daughters before he dies as he did not realize the power struggle that would incur. Oedipus’ flaws led to his demise. “His temper, his egotistical pride, and impulsive need for the truth” (“The Best Notes” 2017) drove him to destruction. As his search leads to the truth, the truth was unimaginable to him. It was too much for him to bear and there was no way he could break free from the pain and agony of his mistakes. In both the intentions, beliefs and personal desire cause King Lear and Oedipus to make their decisions even if biased. The lack of sight is shown throughout both by Shakespeare and Sophocles as it is shown metaphorically through the blindness of King Lear and Oedipus which is symbolic in the plays. King Lear and Oedipus are ignorant to the fact of what is truly occurring around them and the motif of sight vs. blindness is used throughout the play as they are on their quest for knowledge.

In closing, we can all learn a lesson from both of these tragedies. As sad as it may seem, sometimes the people we trust most could possibly have their own agenda and if we remain unaware and not willing to remain open to listening to all sides we could wind up making a huge mistake which could negatively impact us. We must be willing to keep our emotions under control, take a step back and analyze the situation so we do not wind up in a situation that could have a negative impact on our lives.

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How does Homeostasis Help

The body naturally reacts to activity by sweating, breathing heavily and your heart pumping. These physiological factors are important to the body state of homeostasis. The body stays consistent during regular functions but changes with exercise that affect the body’s temperature, blood oxygen levels, sugar levels and hydration. Keeping these properties regulated during exercise is necessary for cell, tissue, and muscle survival. Therefore, the body uses the automatic feedback system to preserve normal temperature and water levels to maintain homeostasis. Proper water intake and eating healthy also helps your body maintain homeostasis.

The body is constantly using the metabolic process to maintain life. Your body uses metabolism as the sum of all chemical reactions that take place, these chemical reactions are catabolism and anabolism. Catabolic reactions produce energy and anabolic reaction use energy. Extra energy is stored in fat molecules that is used for long term storage. Catabolic reaction starts by the breakdown of organic molecules into smaller molecules which releases the energy from chemical bonds. The amount of energy that is released is less than the total amount that is contained in the molecules. The transfer of catabolic reaction is from higher energy moles which is ATP adenosine triphosphate this energy is released in cells that are immediate used to power molecular mechanisms that support cells, tissues and other organ function. ATP also builds new tissue and repairs damaged tissue. ATP is stored in the body to fulfill future energy demands.

The storage of the ATP molecules drives all bodily function in the body it contracts muscle, maintains electoral pulses to nerve cells, and absorbs food in the gastrointestinal tract. ATP is produced by catabolic reaction of proteins that are broken down into amino acids, lipids that are broken down into fatty acids and polysaccharides which is than broken down into monosaccharides. These are the building blocks that are used for the synthesis of molecules in anabolic reaction. Anabolic reaction requires energy from the catabolic reaction. This happens when the chemical reaction from ATP changes to ADP. The cells in anabolic reaction are combined with the catabolic reaction from the cells that release energy. The cells that release energy are used by chemical fuels into cellular energy, which is then used to imitate energy required from anabolic reaction to free energy that is release from the hydration of the phosphate group (Lumen). Hormones regulate the metabolism which is the metabolic process of catabolic and anabolic reactions. Catabolic hormones stimulate the breakdown of molecules and the production of energy, by using cortisol, glucagon, adrenaline/epinephrine, and cytokinesis. All these hormones are mobilized at specific times to the meet the needs of the body. Anabolic hormones are required for synthesis of molecules which includes the growth of hormones, insulin, testosterone, and estrogen. Catabolic hormones are the function of hormones. Cortisol is releases from the adrenal glands in response to stress; its main role is to increase blood glucose levels by braking down fats and proteins.

Glucagon is released from alpha cells in the pancreas, they are used to generate additional energy and stimulate the breakdown of glycogen in the liver to increase glucose levels. It is part of the negative feedback system that stabilizes blood glucose levels. Adrenaline and epinephrine are released by the active to the sympathetic nervous system, it increases heart rate and constricts blood vessels along with dilating the bronchi of the lung to increase air volume in the lungs. Anabolic hormones maintain the function of hormones. The growth hormone is synthesized and released from the pituitary gland to stimulate growth of the cells, tissue, and bones. Insulin like growth factors stimulate the growth of muscles and bone while inhibiting cell death (apoptosis). Insulin is produced by the beta cells of the pancreas and play an essential role in carbohydrate and fat metabolism to control blood glucose levels. It works to maintain the proper levels of glucose in the body by using muscle, adipose tissue, and liver to take glucose from the blood and store in in the liver and muscles as glucagon (Betts, J.G., Desaix, P., Johnson, E., Johnson, J.E., Korol, O., Kruse, D., ... Young, K.A. (2017). Testosterone is produced in the testicles of males and ovaries in females, it stimulates and increase in muscle mass and strength as well as growth and strengthening of bones in the body. Estrogen is produced in the ovaries, liver and adrenal glands its anabolic function is increase metabolism and fat deposition (OpenStax). In exercise hormonal responses have an acute response to tissue growth and remodeling chronic changes. Anabolic hormones are released during physical activity and hormones are released by the hormones in catabolic reaction to produce energy during physical activity. (Lumen).

Nephrons are the filtration function unit of the kidneys. The nephrons filtering of the kidneys is used to separate water, ions, and small molecules from the blood, filter out waster and toxins and returns needed molecules to the blood. Nephron function occurs through the ultrafiltration of pressure from blood that then forces water and other small molecules into the capillary walls. The ultrafiltrate of blood and water travels through the various loops of the nephron, where water and important molecules are removed into the collecting ducts that drain into the bladder (Biology Dictionary). The filtration process in the nephron happens when blood enters the afferent arteriole and flows into the glomerulus. Inside the glomerulus cells and serum will move water and nitrogenous waste. Blood that is pumped from the heart will enter the kidneys to undergo the filtration process, the blood that is filter will flow through the rest of the body to facilitate tissue perfusion and gas exchange. The next step is reabsorption of molecules and ions that will be reabsorbed into the circulatory system.

The fluid that passes through the nephron system will include the convoluted tubules, loop of Henle, and the collecting ducts. Water and ions are removed as the fluid osmolarity changes in the collecting ducts this prepares for waste to be secreted. Secretion is the last step in the nephron system. Hydrogen ions and creatinine is removed from the blood through the peritubular capillary network into the collecting ducts. What is not absorbed will be passes as urine. Urine is mostly water that has not been reabsorbed, it is the body’s way to lower blood volume, by increasing the amount of water that become urine instead of becoming reabsorbed. Urine is highly soluble that is made up of ammonia, carbon dioxide and nitrone this is the body’s way of removing it (Lumen).

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) regulates the amount of water that is excreted by the body. When blood volume is low the concentration of solutes in the blood is high therefore the hypothallus senses the low blood volume and increase serum osmolality to synthesize ADH which is a small peptide molecule. The pituitary gland than releases ADH into the blood system and cause the kidneys to retain water by concentrating urine and reducing urine volume. Water retention increases blood volume and decrees serum osmolality. Natriuretic hormones are the peptide hormones that stimulate the kidneys to excrete sodium an effect opposite of that of aldosterone. Natriuretic hormones act by inhibiting the aldosterone release by Na+ that is recover in the collecting duction. When Na+ work to release urine, high sodium is high but also work to recover water. Parathyroid hormone (PTH), is produced by the parathyroid gland to decrees calcium levels. It is stimulated when hydroxylation of calcitriol is active. It blocks the reabsorption of phosphate which can be lost during urination (OpenStax).

Aldosterone is the major mineralocorticoid hormone. It is synthesized in the outer layer of the adrenal cortex which is the zona glomerulosa. It plays a vital role int regulating blood pressure and electrolyte homeostasis, through absorption of sodium and water. Aldosterone is the principle mineralocorticoid. It increases sodium and water by resorption in the kidneys which is than exchange for potassium and hydrogen. Aldosterone release angiotensin II, which converts angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) (Rainey, E., William. Bollag, B., Wendy., Isales., M Carlos., Regulation of aldosterone production., Pages 361-381., (2009).

Acid base balance woks in the kidneys by regulating the pH. The kidneys adjust the pH by protons and buffers which secretes acid in the form of hydrogen ions. The kidney secretes excess hydrogen ions in the proximal tubule. Buffers filtered by the glomerulus which have phosphate and bicarbonate that work to minimize the acidity of the tubular fluid. Collection duct take the filter urine and excrete it out of the body, by this time it can be acidity, basic or neutral this is the final stage of determining the final pH which happens in the collecting duct.

Homeostasis is critical for the body; many complex mechanisms regulate energy intake and maintain body weight. For weight maintains the body needs energy intake that is balanced. Metabolic imbalances can come for energy that is off balance by expenditure changes. This effects the energy that is stored energy intake and energy expenditure. This can slow down the metabolism which causing weight gain and weight loss can form stored energy that is from starvation or extreme physical activity. Low metabolic rate is also assoicated with weight gain (Galgani J, Ravussin E. (2008). Metabolic disorders effect weight gain and loss by abnormal chemical reaction in the body. When the body’s organs such as the liver, pancreas, small intestines or larger intestine do not function proper this can cause for metabolic disease that disrupt the normal homoeostasis effect weight (Fernandes, John; Saudubray, Jean-Marie; Berghe, Georges van den (2013).

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Famous People Avoid Punishment because of their Social Status

If you step back and look at our society today as a whole, it is not hard to see what power can do to people. Famous people avoid punishment because of their social status, big corporations are paying people to keep quiet about important issues and it all just goes to show that our entire society is full of corrupt people with too much power. It is simple really, people who have a lot of power believe they can pretty much do and get anything that they desire. A recent example of this is the college admissions scandal that is circulating right now. Famous and powerful people, Like Lori Laughlin and her husband, paid money to get their children into the school that they wanted all because of the funds they have access to, and the power associated with their names. But this is not the point of this essay, just a jumping off point as we take a deeper look into the way power controls and corrupts people throughout various short stories and how it is a reoccurring theme throughout both society and these short stories.

Starting with Tim O’Briens “The Things They Carried”, we follow a platoon amid war. As you began to get a feel for the development of the characters the person speaking describes to you the things that they carry with them through these times. Thus, helping to give the reader a sense of who these characters were and an idea of what they might have been going through to need some of the things that they did. Like how “Ted Lavender carried 6 or 7 ounces of premium dope, which for him was a necessity.” (O’Brien 565) Or how “Ray Kiley carried comic books.” (O’Brien 565). All of this is a form of character development used by the author to convey to readers the state of mind that the characters are in.

Dealing with the power side of things, we are introduced to the leader of the Platoon, also known as Lieutenant Jimmy Cross, who is essentially the person who holds the power. Now to say that he was corrupted by the power probably doesn’t make much sense, but after losing one of the members of his platoon while fantasizing over a young woman he decides he needs to step up as a leader and take responsibility because to him, “Ted Lavender was dead because he loved her so much and could not stop thinking about her.” (O’Brien 567). In a way you could say that he was corrupted so to speak in that he allowed his own dreams and fantasies to keep him from leading the way that he should have to keep his team safe and alive. It isn’t until after this incident that Cross finally steps completely up to the plate and assumes his position as leader with a clear mind thus demonstrating how his own delusions had initially corrupted him.

Now we move on to the cnext story, “Oedipus the King” which leaves so many themes to interpret throughout it. Beginning with the father of Oedipus, Laius, who is told a prophecy that he will be killed by his son who will then replace him and bed his wife. With the ever-helpful push from Creon, Laius decides that he can’t have this happen and sends his son off to be left for dead. This is the first example from this story of how power can corrupt people. Laius the previous King of Thebes’ position in the world was threatened to be taken away by this boy and without hesitation he sent his own son off to die all because of an oracle that he heard. He will obviously would have gone to great lengths to keep his position as ruler and leader of Thebes which therefore showcases how he was corrupted by the power he had gained in his time.

Then if we turn around and look at the character known as Creon. It can be argued that he is the most corrupted by power throughout the entire story. Creon appears as a trusted friend to Oedipus along with a trusted friend to the late King Laius. Although he seems like the friendly, trusting guy that just wants to help Oedipus as King it is possible that he is the puppeteer pulling all the strings. It is with his help that Oedipus was sent away causing the ultimate downfall of King Laius as he is killed by Oedipus without him having any knowledge of who he killed. Leaving Creon to take over until he eventually gives the throne over to Oedipus where he then serves as his friend and trusted advisor and confidant. Later it is partly through Creon that Oedipus learns of his true father and his murder causing the downward spiral resulting in Oedipus leaving Thebes all together.

On a different note, in analyzing the song “Handlebars” alongside these short stories we are again presented with a theme of power and corruption in society. The song explains the way that power is controlling our society instead of morale. Throughout the song he goes on about the many things that he can do and all the power that he can have over people like when he says, “I can hand out a million vaccinations, or let ‘em all die in exasperation” which could be referring to how people find all these solutions to diseases and all these cures but instead of giving them out they choose to profit and gain more power over the sick people of the world. They are dangling the power that a cure gives them in front of people who are desperate to be cured. This further outlines the corruption that comes along with power in society.

Finally, going back to the short story,” Harrison Bergeron” from earlier in the semester we can again see a theme of power and corruption sprinkled throughout it. Harrison Bergeron lived in a society where you were forced to be handicapped so that everyone was seen as equal, so for every quality that you had that was superior to that of other you were forced to compensate for that in some way whether that be through wearing an ugly mask for good looks, or by carrying weight for being stronger. He is imprisoned, but after breaking out he declares himself Emperor in front of everyone on TV because he is no longer handicapped and deems himself as superior to everyone else. This can be seen as a corruption of power as he uses his strengths to try and overthrow the government whether that be for a good cause or not. This newfound power abruptly results in his death and his actions are forgotten along with him.

It is through our careful analysis that we can begin to learn about analyzing literature and applying our critical thinking, to make the connections between so many short stories. These authors use their platform and form of expression to showcase the many issues that our problematic society faces in ways that are unique to them. As a student it is vital for me to realize the power that can lie in perspective. Every single person who has read or who is going to read the stories that I read, are reading the stories from a different point of view from me. If I truly want to gain the knowledge from literature and to educate myself better as a student and as a member of society, I need to see that hearing and empathizing with other people’s own perspectives and theories is the key to unlocking the power that lies within literary analysis.

In conclusion, the authors of all of the short stories mentioned throughout this essay, such as, “The Things They Carried” and “Oedipus the King” , along with the song “Handlebars” and the short story “ Harrison Bergeron”, we carefully construct these pieces of literature to portray their character’s in different lights while simultaneously connecting them on the theme of power and corruption. It is with the use of careful analysis and a lot of critical thinking, that one can begin to piece together the trail of bread crumbs that is left behind by the author’s in their short stories and by the singer in their song. They are not only trying to display issues and problems that they have seen and witnessed in their own lifetimes but are also trying to do it in a way that forces readers to dig deep and really think hard in order to understand the true meaning of the work that they are providing. Without author’s like these we as a public would not be as successful or as intelligent as we are today, and we would be lacking in the amount of knowledge and power that literary analysis has provided us.

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Drama Project for Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, thank you for your time as all the evidence was carefully presented. So, all the facts and evidence have been presented to you today and with that I’d like to say the fate of Oedipus’ life now is within your hands. Oedipus has been convicted of committing an inhumane crime and letting his anger get the best of him, resulting in grave damage and therefore we request that you determine a punishment that seems just for taking the lives of several humans. It is our humble request to view all the evidence in its entirety and make an unbiased decision. The decision made today will affect multiple lives as well as bring closure to some. We believe that Oedipus’ punishment should be that he receives 15 years in prison on the basis of committing the inhuman crime of murder which resulted in the death of several Thebes citizens, his father, King Laius, and the subsequence suicide of his mother. Some may argue that it was his fight against fate however we believe that Oedipus did intentionally kill his father and several other men even, if it was on the act of self-defense. This punishment is just because Oedipus did not display any self-control upon the confrontation with the group of men traveling with his father. Oedipus’ uncontrolled anger took the lives of many innocent men and it is not justifiable to simply take one’s life over a disagreement or argument.

This case is about Oedipus and how his actions lead to the death of several innocent people, his birth mother and father. Oedipus was a well-known and respected king of Thebes and was recognized for his hubris and ability to solve the riddle of the Sphinx and save his country (Rivas, 00:02:30-00:02:55). You all might be thinking how could such a well put together and honorable king be charged of murder? Well it all started when the country of Thebes was in ruins because of a horrific plague that was killing hundreds of innocent citizens. This plague all started because of the murder of King Laius, former king of Thebes, was not yet found and until the killer was not found and exiled the country would remain in ruins. This tragedy needed to come to an end, so all the citizens of Thebes gathered outside Oedipus the king’s palace asking him to help their country and to bring light back into Thebes (Rivas, 00:01:00-00:02:23). Oedipus being an honorable king promised the citizens to bring an end to the plague upon the arrival of Creon, his brother-in-law, who would bring the news as to how to end this tragic plague. As Creon returned to the palace with a message from the Gods, he was informed that King Laius’ murderer was still not punished for his crime and until he was not caught and banished the plague would continue. Oedipus unaware of who killed King Laius, promises’ the citizens that he will find the murderer and punish him for his actions and ensures them that the individual will be forever cursed.

In search of King Laius’ murderer, Oedipus sends for Tiresias, an old blind prophet, who would have the ability to find out the truth behind this injustice. Tiresias arrives to the palace and is fearful to tell Oedipus the truth behind the story. Following Oedipus’ insistence and determination to get the truth, Tiresias reveals that Oedipus himself is the killer. At first Oedipus refuses to believe what Tiresias exposed but soon came to realize the truth. Tiresias reveals that Oedipus was adopted as a baby and his birth mother and father sent him off to a slave to be killed because of a prophecy. The prophecy was that Oedipus would one day be his father’s killer and would then marry his mother. His birth parents couldn't bear to hear the news so decided to get rid of him.

They were able to get rid of him for only a couple of years because fate brought both father son together again one day. The story unfolds that later on in life Oedipus and King Laius both approach each other while traveling. Following some confrontation, Oedipus ends up killing all the men traveling with King Laius and the king himself as self-defense. Oedipus furious with Tiresias asks him to leave his palace. Jocasta, his wife, notices that her husband seems frustrated she asks what is wrong. He tells her what Tiresias just accused him of and instead of being shocked she learns that Tiresias’ accusations were correct. Jocasta realizes that Oedipus killed her husband, King Laius, and that he is her son. She confronts Oedipus about the truth and runs to her room not knowing what to say to him. Oedipus then soon has recollections of the day of the confrontation and soon remembers everything. He realizes that he was the murder of King Laius. Jocasta could not bear the thought that her own son killed his father and that she prophecy came true and felt that best thing to do was to end her life.

So, with the full story being told I would like for you all the jury to take a minute and understand the evidence and see how Oedipus not only killed his father but also was the reason his mother died. Although some of you may say that he didn't directly kill his mother, we have to remember that his actions lead to her suicide. Yes, some can argue that it was in his fate to kill his father and that it was not done intentionally and blame the prophecy but at the same time Oedipus himself was the one to commit the crime. Even if it was written for him to kill his father and marry his mother, he was still the one to do it and he used his own two hands to kill his father. He was aware at the time of the confrontation that he was about to take the life of many individuals. Not only did he kill his father, King Laius, he also killed the men that worked for his father and traveled with him. So, in all of this he is the murderer of many individuals. As for his mother’s suicide, yes, we can’t directly say that he killed her, but his actions lead her to believe that suicide was the best option.

This indirectly makes him the murderer of his mother. We have to remember that Oedipus himself states that “curse on the mean who took the cruel bonds from off my legs, as I lay I the field. He stole me from death and saved me, no kindly service. Had I died then I would not be so burdensome to friends” (Sophocles, 1417-1424). He himself remembers the moment that his parents left him as a child. Could it be that this memory lead to uncontrollable anger and rage within him? Could this image of him being left alone while his parents leave him be the cause of his wrongdoings? Maybe this act to kill shouldn't be blamed on fate but should be blamed on built up anger and range. We can neither confirm nor deny that Oedipus knew that one of the men he confronted was his father, but he had built up anger and resentment internally that he committed such an in just crime.

Although Oedipus was known as a tragic hero and honored king of Thebes, his actions of killing his father and causing his mother to commit suicide resulted in him being accused of committing voluntary and involuntary manslaughter. Oedipus didn't have the intent to kill or pre planned this action, but regardless of his fate he still made the decision to kill and he committed the crimes with his own two hands. His statement regarding the act was made in self-defense doesn't correlate with his story and we can’t believe that he committed this crime to protect himself. Oedipus had unresolved anger and rage which caused him to lose control and commit murder. He had his own free will to decide what actions to make. No one forced him to commit murder. This was all based of what Oedipus wanted. No one else is to blame for this horrific crime.

Although he didn't directly kill his mother, the act of killing his father caused his mother to commit suicide. He is to blame for the death of his mother. The gods and his preborn prophecy caused him to commit this injustice crime and be a victim of his fate. Just because he had no say in the killing of his father does not excuse him from his punishment. Our defendant himself admitted to the crime as he spoke to his daughters for the last time “Your father killed his father and sowed the seed where had spring himself and begot you out of the womb that held him (Sophocles, 1562-1564). Oedipus himself knows he’s guilty and should accept any cruel punishment received to him today. His actions not only lead to the death of many individuals, but he also ruined the life of his two daughters, Antigone and Ismene, they will forever be cursed and traumatized for their fathers’ actions.

Oedipus should not be given any sort of special treatment because he was king of Thebes nor should he be excused for the crime that he has committed because it was in his fate to kill his father. The crime was still committed regardless of why it was committed and because of that the deserves to be punished. People of the jury, please without any hesitation express the way you feel Oedipus should be punished. We want to ensure that he receives just punishment for his actions. In the court he is not known as the king of Thebes but as a normal human being that committed the crime of killing two individuals. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, with all of that being said I will ask you to decide the fate of Oedipus’ punishment and what you believe is a fair penalty for the crime he’s committed. The decision is in your hands.

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Compare and Contrast Written and Movie Version of Oedipus the King

I choose the written version of Oedipus the King translated by Francis Storr who was the editor of the Journal of Education in London Storr wrote articles for the Dictionary of National Biography and for the 1911 British Encyclopedia. The translation of the original play written by Sophocles, was published for the first time in 1912 and the second time 1919.

To compare and contrast with this version, I choose the movie version of Oedipus the King released in 1967, the name of the film is Oedipus the King and was directed by Phillip Saville, the language in the film is English, and was the first theatrical effort of this director. The script was written by Saville and Michael Luke. According to Storr (1912) The argument of this play is about the king of Thebas, Laius, an oracle foretold that the child born to him by his queen Jocasta would slay his father and wed his mother. So when in time a son was born the infant's feet were riveted together and he was left to die on Mount Cithaeron. But a shepherd found the babe and tended him and delivered him to another shepherd who took him to his master, the King of Corinth. Polybus being childless adopted the boy, who grew up believing that he was indeed the King's son. Afterwards doubting his parentage he inquired of the Delphic god and heard himself the word declared before to Laius.

Wherefore he fled from what he deemed his father's house and, in his flight, he encountered and unwillingly slew his father Laius. Arriving at Thebes he answered the riddle of the Sphinx and the grateful Thebans made their deliverer king. So he reigned in the room of Laius, and espoused the widowed queen. Children were born to them and Thebes prospered under his rule, but again a grievous plague fell upon the city. Again, the oracle was consulted and it bade them purge themselves of blood-guiltiness. Oedipus denounces the crime of which he is unaware, and undertakes to track out the criminal. Step by step it is brought home to him that he is the man. The closing scene reveals Jocasta slain by her own hand and Oedipus blinded by his own act and praying for death or exile.

Plot For this Greek tragedy, the written version translated by Storr shows a written argument that has been used in this essay, which explains the plot since the beginning when Oedipus was born and how the fact of not leaving with his biological parents and him not being aware of that causes the tragedy. Conversely, the film version by Seville doesn’t explain these facts since the beginning and gives some clues along the movie which generates more drama and suspense.

Characters and character portrayals The written version translated by Storr define the characters to be played by actors, the characteristics of the characters are basically given by the reader. In the film version by Seville, there are professional actors actually playing the roles, the role of Oedipus played by Christopher Plummer in the film where the director seems to try to add more drama by giving the role to Plummer.

Setting Since the written version translated by Storr contains the original effort of the author (Sophocles) and describes the setting necessary to tell the story and make it adaptable to play in theaters. In the other side the film version by Seville had the opportunity to show the set, although I think the movie could be filmed in better locations to match with the expectations created after reading the written play.

Theme Even though both versions are not translated exactly the same, both reflected the same themes, royalty, wisdom, love, tragedy, goodness. I think the movie version has more suspense because the way the presented the story. In the film version by Seville, the actors followed the script that was adapted for a movie version considering the type of audience is different when the play is presented in a movie, using the text in the written version by Storr in the film version could have make really hard for the audience to understand the movie. Also, another factor to consider is that there are several translations for this play. I think the movie followed the expectations for Greek drama, the lack of especial effects was another important factor (I’m not sure if this happened because of the lack of technology back then, lack of budget, or because Seville wants to keep it natural). I think the customs were not appropriated for that time period.

After I enjoyed both versions of the play, I prefer the written play over the film version. I really think that the film could be better and although I like the fact that the film doesn’t have especial effects, I think they could have used better locations and better customs in the film. I like the written version better because I this it gives me the opportunity to imagine the locations and the characters in a different way, I think is more dramatic and the language use is more according to the time period. I definitely would like to see this play in a theater and see how other actors play the roles, but for now, I prefer the written version translated by Storr.

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Compare and Contrast Written and Movie version of Oedipus the King. (2021, Mar 23). Retrieved November 5, 2025 , from
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Solution for the Tragedy of the Common

One solution that can be offered to prevent the overall tragedy of the commons, is to use “education” as a means to an end. Education is what allows for us to evolve our understanding of what is right and wrong. It helps us to establish our moral identity, and by establishing a universal environmental moral identity, we can avert the ongoing tragedies of the commons.

There are many that may say that the most difficult challenge in using education as a means of achieving universal environmental morality, is capitalism. The majority of people in our societies tend to focus more on prosperity over environmental morality due to the immense income disparity that exists in the world. A large portion of our global community does not actively participate in pro-environment activities because their main focus is merely to obtain sufficient income to fulfill their daily needs. This hinders their ability to become morally aware of their environmental obligations, and also inhibits the cooperative relationship between the highest and lowest classes of society due to the wide income disparity between them. A simplistic approach to resolving this issue would be for our global community to shift its focus to social capital development in lieu of individual self-serving capital development.

Despite the income disparity that exists in the world and the urgent need for us to equally combat that issue, we should in no way allow for it to undermine or deter us in our efforts to use education as a means to create a universal environmental morality in our global community. The ultimate goal in achieving universal environmental morality, is for all people everywhere to have the same moral obligation of assuring that the units of commons that exist today, are protected, and forwarded to future generations. Once this becomes the standard environmental moral objective of our global community, then formal legislation can take place to formulate laws to effectively govern the commons. It is worth noting this does not fix the incentive structure in the Tragedy of the Commons and the Prisoner’s Dilemma, but subverts it by instead allowing people to focus on the ethical benefits rather than personal interests.

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