Oedipus
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Charlie Doebbler
Mrs. Hobbs
Period 3
10 March 2014
Oedipus Essay
In the drama Oedipus at Colonus, the author Sophocles bridges the gap between Antigone and Oedipus Rex, two of the most terrible tragedies ever written, as it almost appears as if the author feels some sort of sympathies for Oedipus, blessing him with a virtuous and contented death. Regardless of the obvious differences between this and the other two plays Oedipus at Colonus still fulfills the same purposes, by teaching a moral lesson and evoking emotions in the audience. The play provides a plethora of moral lessons, the largest and most important being the respect of the family and the favor it earns with the gods. Antigone is perhaps the greatest example of this, as she is always the vigilant guardian and guide of Oedipus, demonstrated when she attempts to help her father with the men in the grove, “O men of reverent mind, since you will not suffer my father, old man though he is… Take pity on my own unhappiness” (98). Not only does she attempt to assist her father, it is apparent that she will undertake extremes in order to help him. Additionally, Sophocles creates a foil for Antigone in her brother Polynecies, who is invading his home town (Thebes) simply because he wants his throne back and to kill his brother Etiocles, if this wasn’t bad enough, he also banished his father simply because he felt like doing so, evidenced by Oedipus saying “When it was you who held Throne and authority – as your brother now Holds them in Thebes- you drove me into exile: me, your father made a homeless man” (154). This action will come back to haunt Polynecies when Oedipus “[abominates] and [disowns]” (155) him, forsaking him into a terrible death at the hands of his own brother. These moral lessons provide not only allow the audience to relate to the story, but they also translate into emotions sensed by the audience. Oedipus at Colonus fits part of Aristotle’s definition of a tragedy in that it...
Mrs. Hobbs
Period 3
10 March 2014
Oedipus Essay
In the drama Oedipus at Colonus, the author Sophocles bridges the gap between Antigone and Oedipus Rex, two of the most terrible tragedies ever written, as it almost appears as if the author feels some sort of sympathies for Oedipus, blessing him with a virtuous and contented death. Regardless of the obvious differences between this and the other two plays Oedipus at Colonus still fulfills the same purposes, by teaching a moral lesson and evoking emotions in the audience. The play provides a plethora of moral lessons, the largest and most important being the respect of the family and the favor it earns with the gods. Antigone is perhaps the greatest example of this, as she is always the vigilant guardian and guide of Oedipus, demonstrated when she attempts to help her father with the men in the grove, “O men of reverent mind, since you will not suffer my father, old man though he is… Take pity on my own unhappiness” (98). Not only does she attempt to assist her father, it is apparent that she will undertake extremes in order to help him. Additionally, Sophocles creates a foil for Antigone in her brother Polynecies, who is invading his home town (Thebes) simply because he wants his throne back and to kill his brother Etiocles, if this wasn’t bad enough, he also banished his father simply because he felt like doing so, evidenced by Oedipus saying “When it was you who held Throne and authority – as your brother now Holds them in Thebes- you drove me into exile: me, your father made a homeless man” (154). This action will come back to haunt Polynecies when Oedipus “[abominates] and [disowns]” (155) him, forsaking him into a terrible death at the hands of his own brother. These moral lessons provide not only allow the audience to relate to the story, but they also translate into emotions sensed by the audience. Oedipus at Colonus fits part of Aristotle’s definition of a tragedy in that it...