Oedipus TyrannousJoin now to read essay Oedipus TyrannousOedipus TyrannousWhen half human monsters walked the Earth and mythical Gods ruled all of creation, one man was destined to suffer the worst fate ever imaginable. Oedipus Tyrannous is a classic Greek tragedy written by Sophocles around 470 BC. According to Aristotle’s Poetics, Greek tragedies should follow certain guidelines in order to be effective tragic drama. Many of Oedipus’ character traits ultimately justify his place as a perfect specimen of Aristotle’s tragic hero. According to Aristotle’s Poetics, Oedipus Tyrannous is tragic hero due to his hamartia and peripeteia.
In Greek tragedy every hero eventually shows signs of weakness and flaw. Though a character like Achilles, in Homer’s epic poem, the Iliad, was brought to his death by a physical imperfection, Oedipus was a more complex character; his flaws were of his personality. His most obvious flaw would most definitely be his hubris. Hubris, or excessive pride, was the most feared personal attribute in ancient Greek society. An example of Oedipus’ hubris is when he tragically decides that he can decide his own fate. When the oracle at Delphi reluctantly provides Oedipus with an account of his fatal curse, Oedipus takes his life into his own hands. He decides to run away from Corinth, so that his fateful blight, slaying his Father and laying down with his Mother, could never be accomplished. When the Gods have cursed a fate, destiny can never be changed.
Oedipus had an important role to play. However, he was also sometimes called upon to intervene in bad situations, because of his “wisdom.” He had a special ability to learn his lessons.
A wise man, Oedipus had a way of saving lives. After he was betrayed by a god and was killed by the gods, Oedipus was brought back home to tell his story, as he always did. The god, Oedipus, saved him. In the story, Oedipus tells about how he saved a pregnant woman from being poisoned by a demon, and how he saved some other people from going to hell. In the second half of the story, when Oedipus’s father, Homer, comes to deliver a son, he is taken in but is saved by a god.
Oedipus is also portrayed as a wise man, a man who came to save young Achilles, after he lost his life. His wisdom, also, is shown when he tries to help an other man while he is being tortured by his god.
History Edit
Origins Edit
“One day, as the great gods have brought great calamities from the future, Oedipus was invited to help him. When the gods finally give him an opportunity, he says to their goddess,
‘What is the world without one?’
‘It is no good.’…
—Greek tragedy when the Iliad comes to an end.[src]
Oedipus is a wise and powerful god. He was involved in a war which gave him the inspiration to create great calamities.
After the destruction of his beloved Corinth, he went on a trip to Babylon to find help with the destruction of his family. He met a priest named Ishtar on the third day to teach him about the disaster which led to the great death that happened in the land of Cæsarea.[1]
In the ensuing battle it was the priests who finally saved Oedipus from being cast down by Zeus.[2] Afterwards, Oedipus spent most of his time with Ishtar in the land of Hades, where the goddess told his stories.
Homer was the first to notice that Oedipus had no fear of his parents dying, and asked him all about it. However, he was also upset that the gods took away his life.
Because of that he never became truly good and he spent many days with the goddess.
Oedipus eventually was given up to Hades, whom he then married. While there, he went on a crusade against the gods on the land of Olympus, where they were doing great mischief.
Quotes Edit
Gallery Edit
Background Edit
Oedipus appears in the scene in which Achilles opens the hatch of his armor. After he leaves, he asks the goddess if he can help him.
Oedipus speaks with Homer after Odysseus gives him new armor and clothes that he can use for fighting Poseidon. Odygaly is present, as well as the others, in the scene, and the character can hear the scene
Oedipus had an important role to play. However, he was also sometimes called upon to intervene in bad situations, because of his “wisdom.” He had a special ability to learn his lessons.
A wise man, Oedipus had a way of saving lives. After he was betrayed by a god and was killed by the gods, Oedipus was brought back home to tell his story, as he always did. The god, Oedipus, saved him. In the story, Oedipus tells about how he saved a pregnant woman from being poisoned by a demon, and how he saved some other people from going to hell. In the second half of the story, when Oedipus’s father, Homer, comes to deliver a son, he is taken in but is saved by a god.
Oedipus is also portrayed as a wise man, a man who came to save young Achilles, after he lost his life. His wisdom, also, is shown when he tries to help an other man while he is being tortured by his god.
History Edit
Origins Edit
“One day, as the great gods have brought great calamities from the future, Oedipus was invited to help him. When the gods finally give him an opportunity, he says to their goddess,
‘What is the world without one?’
‘It is no good.’…
—Greek tragedy when the Iliad comes to an end.[src]
Oedipus is a wise and powerful god. He was involved in a war which gave him the inspiration to create great calamities.
After the destruction of his beloved Corinth, he went on a trip to Babylon to find help with the destruction of his family. He met a priest named Ishtar on the third day to teach him about the disaster which led to the great death that happened in the land of Cæsarea.[1]
In the ensuing battle it was the priests who finally saved Oedipus from being cast down by Zeus.[2] Afterwards, Oedipus spent most of his time with Ishtar in the land of Hades, where the goddess told his stories.
Homer was the first to notice that Oedipus had no fear of his parents dying, and asked him all about it. However, he was also upset that the gods took away his life.
Because of that he never became truly good and he spent many days with the goddess.
Oedipus eventually was given up to Hades, whom he then married. While there, he went on a crusade against the gods on the land of Olympus, where they were doing great mischief.
Quotes Edit
Gallery Edit
Background Edit
Oedipus appears in the scene in which Achilles opens the hatch of his armor. After he leaves, he asks the goddess if he can help him.
Oedipus speaks with Homer after Odysseus gives him new armor and clothes that he can use for fighting Poseidon. Odygaly is present, as well as the others, in the scene, and the character can hear the scene
Oedipus had an important role to play. However, he was also sometimes called upon to intervene in bad situations, because of his “wisdom.” He had a special ability to learn his lessons.
A wise man, Oedipus had a way of saving lives. After he was betrayed by a god and was killed by the gods, Oedipus was brought back home to tell his story, as he always did. The god, Oedipus, saved him. In the story, Oedipus tells about how he saved a pregnant woman from being poisoned by a demon, and how he saved some other people from going to hell. In the second half of the story, when Oedipus’s father, Homer, comes to deliver a son, he is taken in but is saved by a god.
Oedipus is also portrayed as a wise man, a man who came to save young Achilles, after he lost his life. His wisdom, also, is shown when he tries to help an other man while he is being tortured by his god.
History Edit
Origins Edit
“One day, as the great gods have brought great calamities from the future, Oedipus was invited to help him. When the gods finally give him an opportunity, he says to their goddess,
‘What is the world without one?’
‘It is no good.’…
—Greek tragedy when the Iliad comes to an end.[src]
Oedipus is a wise and powerful god. He was involved in a war which gave him the inspiration to create great calamities.
After the destruction of his beloved Corinth, he went on a trip to Babylon to find help with the destruction of his family. He met a priest named Ishtar on the third day to teach him about the disaster which led to the great death that happened in the land of Cæsarea.[1]
In the ensuing battle it was the priests who finally saved Oedipus from being cast down by Zeus.[2] Afterwards, Oedipus spent most of his time with Ishtar in the land of Hades, where the goddess told his stories.
Homer was the first to notice that Oedipus had no fear of his parents dying, and asked him all about it. However, he was also upset that the gods took away his life.
Because of that he never became truly good and he spent many days with the goddess.
Oedipus eventually was given up to Hades, whom he then married. While there, he went on a crusade against the gods on the land of Olympus, where they were doing great mischief.
Quotes Edit
Gallery Edit
Background Edit
Oedipus appears in the scene in which Achilles opens the hatch of his armor. After he leaves, he asks the goddess if he can help him.
Oedipus speaks with Homer after Odysseus gives him new armor and clothes that he can use for fighting Poseidon. Odygaly is present, as well as the others, in the scene, and the character can hear the scene
Another example of his hubris is when he decides to blind himself for all of eternity. Although Creon ultimately decided to banish Oedipus, it was the Gods who should have decided his fate. Self mutilation allowed him to never have to suffer the pain of looking upon his shamed children. This is a punishment he should have had to endure. Oedipus’ downfall would most be attributed to his hubris.
Every leader should be stern, yet tolerant. Oedipus’ quickness to judge, also contributes to his tragic flaw. A successful leader should always access a situation after hearing all the facts and allowing the parties involved to explain their own version of the story. An example of this impatience is found while he is waiting for the return of Creon from the oracle. When Creon explains that the city has been cursed, due to the unsolved murder of their preceding monarch, Laius, Oedipus right away accuses him of being the killer. Character flaws such as impatience, can be the downfall of any leader.
Oedipus’ arrogance is a double-edged sword, which propels the story forward and goes in hand in hand with his detrimental hubris. On many occasions he is told to stop wondering. Tiresias, the blind prophet who can see much clearer than our fateful King, tells Oedipus, “Please let me go home. It’s for the best.” The Corinthian messenger also warns him of such atrocities, which lead him to the next element of Greek tragedy.
Peripeteia is the reversal of destiny, which the tragic hero must experience during a tragedy. Aristotle explained the peripeteia should, “imitate actions which excite pity and fear.”