Oedipus free essay sample

The ability to see is a much more complex ability than just the physical attribute. Most individuals have the ability to see physically but are blind to the reality of certain circumstances. In the play, â€Å"Oedipus the King† by Plato, Oedipus, the tragic hero, is not a blind man but cannot see the reality in the outcome of trying to escape his given fate. Some individuals are blind to who they actually are, this is displayed when Oedipus in defense mocks Teiresias. This quote reads, â€Å"it has no strength for you because you are blind in mind and ears as well as in your eyes†. Oedipus does not realize that his statement about the prophet really is more true to what is wrong with him. The irony in this is Oedipus comes to this man for insight obviously because the prophet is much wiser than Oedipus himself. Surely this is the first display of his tragic flaw which is being blind to the reality of his situation. We will write a custom essay sample on Oedipus Essay or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Even when the reality of what is to happen is put right in front of someone they still cannot see what is to come. The prophet tells how Oedipus will give â€Å"blindness for sight† and â€Å"beggary for riches†. When this was told to him he called the prophet foolish but in the end Oedipus gouges his eyes out making himself physically blind so that he may see reality much more clear. He also goes out on a journey giving up royalty to be a beggar. This is ironic because he has become the very thing that he mocked earlier in the play. By this time he has fixed his tragic flaw but it is too late because he has already fallen so far. For most people it takes extremely difficult lessons for them to see things for what they really are. Oedipus gains more insight as the story goes. He says in lines 812 through 814, â€Å"I have a deadly fear that the old seer had eyes†. He is now realizing that physical sight is completely different than being wise and he now sees that Teiresias may be wiser than he is. He is now realizing that he may have killed Laius. He is to late though because he has already unknowingly banished himself from the kingdom of Thebes. The message in this play is that fate is inescapable. Also a regular person can be blinder than anyone in certain areas. Although people can physically see not everyone has the alternative vision of seeing reality. Oedipus free essay sample Lady Macbeth can be considered a perfect wife. She may not be a perfect person, but when viewing her as a wife, and only a wife, she actually can fit this statement. She does many things that may benefit her husband, and hence the reason to why this title can be fitting for her place. Lady Macbeth understands her husband because their relationship is so close. She encourages and reassures Macbeth when he is most vulnerable. She is also loyal, supportive and protective. While always being determined and strong, she shows that she is loving and caring as well. What else could a partner ask for?.. An hamartia is a crucial physical or mental trait that, in a certain situation, can lead to the downfall of a tragic hero within a piece of literature. In the play Oedipus Rex, Oedipus is a tragic hero with a hamartia that leads to his inevitable downfall. We will write a custom essay sample on Oedipus or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page He possesses three traits that have been debated on to be his hamartia: his hubris (excessive pride), his heinous temperament, and his consummate determination. Of these three traits Oedipus possesses, I’ve believe that his hamartia is his profligate pride. Oedipus was a proud man. After all, who wouldn’t be proud of defeating a Sphinx who was terrorizing an entire city. Ultimately, this pride he had within had eventually led to his downfall. This idea is supported by the Chorus’ direct quote on page 61 of Oedipus Rex. Here, the chorus says,† The man who goes his way/ Overbearing in word and deed,/    Who fears no justice,/ Honors no temples of the gods-/ May an evil destiny seize him/ And punish his ill-starred pride†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This means that Oedipus, the one being mentioned in the quote, has too much pride and that he should be punished for it, which clearly demonstrates how his hubris leads to his demise. Though Oedipus has a temper, it is influenced by his hubris, which is another reason why Oedipus’ hubris is his hamartia. An example of this is his altercation with the blind prophet known as Tiresias. Oedipus has a heated argument with the infallible Tiresias when he tells Oedipus that he is the one who murdered the previous king, Laius. With this accusation, Oedipus becomes enraged because he held so much pride that this statement seemed so absurd. Many scholars point out that Oedipuss greatest act of hubris is when he tries to deny his fate. The Oracle of Delphi told him long ago that he was destined to kill his father and sleep with his mother. Oedipus tried to escape his fate by never returning to Corinth, the city where he grew up, and never seeing the people he thought were his parents again. Ironically, it was this action that led him to kill his real father Laius and to marry his mother Jocasta. Its undeniable that by trying to avoid his fate Oedipus ended up doing the thing he most feared. This is probably the most popular theory as to Oedipuss hamartia. Hamartia, from the Greek for â€Å"error,† is a mistake in judgment committed by a tragic hero. While the character’s intentions and personal flaws play a central role in this process, this word specifically refers to the character’s erroneous action. This error may be the result of a lack of knowledge or moral flaw, and it generally brings about the sorrow, downfall, or death of the hero. The results are usually the direct opposite of the character’s expectations.