Choose one of the following topics over Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex to develop into a thoughtful, well developed essay of approximately 600-700 words. Be sure to provide abundant, detailed evidence from the play to support your discussion. Make sure you relate your supporting information to your thesis statement and bring your paper to an insightful, intelligent conclusion.
Aristotle wrote of specific traits that he believed the “ideal” tragic plot should have: reversal, discovery, turning point and a catharsis. Identify and discuss those characteristics as they are illustrated in Sophocles' Oedipus Rex. In your conclusion, explain the importance of the catharsis to the audience.
Whether Oedipus falls due to his fate, as it was foretold by ancient prophecies or because of his own flawed character, he does display evidence of arrogance, anger and obsession in his desire to discover the truth, despite warnings. Discuss these flaws and how each contributes to the fall of Oedipus.
There is constant word play concerning "sight" throughout the drama. Many times the dramatist, Sophocles, uses deliberate puns dealing with "seeing" or with "sight" to emphasize the two-fold blindness of Oedipus vs. the blind seer and the oracle at Delphi, as well as reference to the god of light, Apollo. Discuss the use of this word play as Oedipus moves from one form of blindness to another.
Does Oedipus bring about the fulfillment of his destiny by his own hand--or is he simply cursed, from the day he is born to inadvertently bring his own doom? Does Oedipus become a blind beggar (essentially), who wanders, homeless, forlorn because he was fated by birth--or does the former king use his own free-will into play and fall from grace due to his own actions. Is it FATE or FREE-WILL or both? EXPLAIN.
The audience attending the festivals and the plays were very well aware of the myth or story of Oedipus. It was well known that Oedipus was cursed, that he would kill his father, marry his mother, and live the remainder of his life in misery. Nevertheless, Oedipus was a popular drama, in large part because it did reinforce the beliefs of the audience. It also entertained the audience who would "catch" words or phrases that the characters would presumably not know. This form of irony is called dramatic irony. Using specific examples from the play, discuss the use of dramatic irony.
