Реферат: Oedipus The King Analysis Essay Research Paper

with her son and Oedipus puts out his eyes at finally seeing the truth. This

fulfills the final part of the Sphinx?s riddle for Oedipus will have to walk

with a cane for the rest of his life because of his blindness, this will give

him the 3 feet which man walks with at the end of his years. Oedipus used his

intellect and diligence to answer the riddle of the Sphinx. Many of the most

intelligent young men of thebes has been killed attempting to answer the riddle

but Oedipus proved his intelligence superior to theirs. Oedipus uses the same

intelligence and perseverence to find the killer of Laius. He does not give up

his search even when Jocasta warns him to stop and let the matter rest. He calls

the shepard and interrogates him till he discovers the horrifying truth that he

is the killer. Oedipus? intelligence was ultimately his flaw. Also, if Oedipus

had not had been as coarageous he would have have never ventured to answer the

riddle of the Sphinx. Thus even though he had killed his father he would have

never become king of Thebes and laid with his mother. In addition, if Oedipus

had had the courage but not the intelligence the Spinx would have killed him for

answering the riddle incorrectly. Sophocles used this to characterized Oedipus

as a tragic man for he came about his tragic discovery not because of an evil

act or an evil trait but because of the person he was. Oedipus traits which gave

him riches and power ultimately led to his tragic ending. Also, the god apollo

did not predestine that Oedipus would kill his father and marry his mother by

the oracle, he only stated what he knew was inevitable because of who Oedipus

was. The sphinx?s riddle was used by Sophocles to characterize Oedipus as a

tragic man and as a parallel to his life. The riddle describes the 3 stages

which Oedipus went through in his life. Also in answering the riddle Oedipus

inevitable brought about his own tragic ending by a horrible discovery. .

Oedipus does not unselfishly seek out the truth even though he knows it will be

painful for him, rather, he has no idea what the outcome of his search will be,

denies the truth at every turn, and threatens those who speak it. Many people

may paint Oedipus as a great man, pointing out that he pursues the truth at