What is the summary of Oedipus?

Oedipus Rex is a Greek tragedy that tells the story of King Oedipus of Thebes, who is fated to kill his father and marry his mother. Thebes is struck by a plague that will only be lifted if the man who killed the former king is exiled. The prophet Teiresias claims the murderer is Oedipus.

What is the main idea of Oedipus the King?

The main idea of Oedipus the King by Sophocles is that one cannot defy the gods without suffering severe consequences. The play is about Oedipus, the king of Thebes, who inadvertently kills his father and ends up marrying his mother. Even when the terrible truth is revealed, he remains in denial.

What is the prophecy of Oedipus?

Before the play begins . . . By leaving his home in Corinth, Oedipus thinks he has escaped a terrible prophecy that says that he will kill his father and marry his mother. Oedipus has defeated the riddling Sphinx, saved the seven-gated city of Thebes, and married the queen Jocasta.

What happens at the end of Oedipus?

In the closing scene of Oedipus Rex, Oedipus, who has recently learned that he has unknowingly killed his father and married his mother, blinds himself as a form of self-punishment and prepares to live the rest of his life in exile.

What lesson does Oedipus teach?

The moral of Oedipus Rex is that one cannot control one’s own destiny and that pride leads to downfall.

What is ironic about Oedipus appeal to Tiresias?

What is ironic about Oedipus’ appeal to Tiresias? Oedipus does not really want to know the truth. Oedipus believes knowing the truth will help him. Tiresias’ answer will anger Oedipus.

What causes the downfall of Oedipus?

The cause of Oedipus’ downfall is his hamartia or mistake, which was caused by his pride and impulsiveness, his hubris. Creon, the queen’s brother, tells Oedipus that Apollo has commanded to take revenge upon whoever killed Laius and that will put an end to the plague.

Is Oedipus a hero or villain?

Oedipus is a perfect example of the character of the tragic hero. Aristotle identified the tragic hero in his works about Greek tragedy. As the protagonist of a tragedy, a tragic hero must fulfil three criteria according to Aristotle: first, the audience must feel attached to the tragic hero.

What is the irony of Tiresias?

The argument between Oedipus and the prophet Tiresias is a hotbed for dramatic irony. Tiresias’ claim that Oedipus has caused the plague does not sit well with the King. Oedipus puns on the Prophet’s blindness by suggesting he is a, “seer blind in his craft!” (442).

What does Tiresias mean when he calls Oedipus a tyrant?

When Tiresias calls Oedipus a “tyrant” he means that Oedipus. did not inherit the throne. Tiresias’ calling Oedipus blind is both. metaphoric and prophetic.

What was the plot of sophocles’oedipus the king?

So it’s worth briefly recounting the plot of Sophocles’ play in a short summary. The city of Thebes is in the grip of a terrible plague. The city’s king, Oedipus, sends Creon to consult the Delphic oracle, who announces that if the city rids itself of a murderer, the plague will disappear.

Who was the killer of Oedipus the king?

The city of Thebes is in the grip of a terrible plague. The city’s king, Oedipus, sends Creon to consult the Delphic oracle, who announces that if the city rids itself of a murderer, the plague will disappear. The murderer in question is the unknown killer of the city’s previous king, Laius.

What did Oedipus say to the priest in the play?

Summary. The priest responds that the city is dying and asks the king to save Thebes. Oedipus replies that he sees and understands the terrible fate of Thebes, and that no one is more sorrowful than he. He has sent Creon, his brother-in-law and fellow ruler, to the Delphic oracle to find out how to stop the plague.

Why did Oedipus send his brother in law to Delphi?

Oedipus replies that he already sent his brother-in-law, Creon, to the oracle at Delphi to learn how to help the city. Creon returns with a message from the oracle: the plague will end when the murderer of Laius, former king of Thebes, is caught and expelled; the murderer is within the city.