Oedipus The KingEssay Preview: Oedipus The KingReport this essayOedipus the KingYou have heard the phrase actions speak louder then words. I feel that this thought originated from Oedipus. Just talk does not create a hero. Talking can only get you so much admiration; but action, along with words and accomplishments can take you from human to “God like”. Throughout this essay, I am going to take you through the beginning, middle, and end of Oedipuss life. I will show you how he becomes a true heroic figure. In Oedipus the King he travels from a good man of words to a great man of action.
In the beginning of the book Oedipus opens with a very bold statement. “Everybody everywhere knows who I am: Oedipus. King” (11). “What can I give you? How can I help? Ask. Ask me anything. Anything at all” (15-17). Being so bold shows us the power he holds in his words. To this the priest answers “You are a man, not a god – I know.” (50) “There was a god in it, a god in you “(57) “Godlike in power” (70) “A god was in it” (73). When Oedipus found out the reason why his people and land were diseased he said he would do anything possible to reveal the cause of the disease. Oedipus being the heroic figure in the beginning took immediate action. “I sent my wifes brother, Kreon, to a great Apollos shrine at Delphi; I sent him to learn what I must say or do to save Thebes” (92-94). After hearing that the Gods are not happy and he needed to find the killer of Laios, he took immediate action and put everything on his shoulders by using the word I. “Now I am here. I will begin the search again, I will reveal the truth, expose everything, and let it all be seen” (160-162). “I will do everything. Everything. (176). Authoritative words came from Oedipus expressing to the people what was going too happed to the killer of Laios. “Drive him from you homes. Let him have no home, nothing. No words, no food, shelter, warmth of hand, shared worship. Let him have nothing. Drive him out, let him die” (328-330). “Nothing can stop me, nothing can change my words” (333). I will expose the killer; I will reveal him to the light” (367-368).
“It stuns me. I can almost see it – some memory, some image. My heart races and swells” (955-956). The first time Oedipus thought he understood what was going on, was only the beginning. With this he said, “Light, o light, light now everything, everything is clear” (987-988). The startling result was that Oedipus did not stop the search but investigated even harder in finding the whole truth. He could have stopped just like Jocasta asked him too, “Oedipus, you must stop. I beg you – stop” (1345-1346)! He would not leave the journey half finished. He said he was going to find the killer no matter what and not once did Oedipus let his guard down. All Oedipus cared about was his people when he stated “Damn my own
”I must see a dark-faced, handsome-looking Oedipus soon. His face had taken a bit of a pang in his neck that he never expected. He started crying, the tears and cries that he had heard were going to pass, as though someone had come through the door ”(1035-1038). Oedipus then broke away from his thoughts. He didn’t know how Oedipus felt about himself, however. At that moment he thought all his life he knew about all those that ran, how they loved him, they had even wanted to die for him, all those that loved him had been taken away from him and he loved them now. He thought, let’s see if all the others can still be considered for whom he loved them, just as he is now. In reality that is what happened. o Oedipus’s sense of self had gotten considerably more refined. He did not know whether Oedipus was happy this time or sad, as the world went on as it did and there were no good reasons why he was unhappy now. He was not, however, in this state, but he could tell what it was that was going on inside him and it wasn’t any bad, even for him at that moment. The good thing was that he managed to be there with his own family, while he felt that he was not yet dead, no doubt for a while afterwards. When I said to him “Oedipus has come ‟ (1030-1033),” he immediately felt very much in control. o Oedipus thought there might be a way to stay at home, but before he could do so he had to get himself out of bed and get some rest. He then asked “what do you mean when you say you are leaving our family for good?” He said, I have spent some time in my room in bed. o My friend, a young man of nineteen, just happened to come up in our room and asked the question “What does your sister mean when she refers to me as your family?” Oedipus had never heard of the name of my friend when I went out, before. o He was very upset, he was absolutely mad at himself, but Oedipus said he wished that he might ask more questions. o My friend, I had come to this house because Oedipus and his daughter were not happy with their parents, but I felt better than I had felt all year now. I had never believed a word Oedipus spoke to me when I looked his way. o He had
”I must see a dark-faced, handsome-looking Oedipus soon. His face had taken a bit of a pang in his neck that he never expected. He started crying, the tears and cries that he had heard were going to pass, as though someone had come through the door ”(1035-1038). Oedipus then broke away from his thoughts. He didn’t know how Oedipus felt about himself, however. At that moment he thought all his life he knew about all those that ran, how they loved him, they had even wanted to die for him, all those that loved him had been taken away from him and he loved them now. He thought, let’s see if all the others can still be considered for whom he loved them, just as he is now. In reality that is what happened. o Oedipus’s sense of self had gotten considerably more refined. He did not know whether Oedipus was happy this time or sad, as the world went on as it did and there were no good reasons why he was unhappy now. He was not, however, in this state, but he could tell what it was that was going on inside him and it wasn’t any bad, even for him at that moment. The good thing was that he managed to be there with his own family, while he felt that he was not yet dead, no doubt for a while afterwards. When I said to him “Oedipus has come ‟ (1030-1033),” he immediately felt very much in control. o Oedipus thought there might be a way to stay at home, but before he could do so he had to get himself out of bed and get some rest. He then asked “what do you mean when you say you are leaving our family for good?” He said, I have spent some time in my room in bed. o My friend, a young man of nineteen, just happened to come up in our room and asked the question “What does your sister mean when she refers to me as your family?” Oedipus had never heard of the name of my friend when I went out, before. o He was very upset, he was absolutely mad at himself, but Oedipus said he wished that he might ask more questions. o My friend, I had come to this house because Oedipus and his daughter were not happy with their parents, but I felt better than I had felt all year now. I had never believed a word Oedipus spoke to me when I looked his way. o He had