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Oedipus: Hubris - Antigone

Uploaded by mfields on Oct 30, 2004

In the plays Oedipus Rex and Antigone by Sophocles the hubris or pride destroyed Oedipus and his family. The hubris sets up the situational irony in the play. During the play the reader knows what Oedipus did, but Oedipus doesn’t realize what he had done till the end of the play. The situational irony in the plays is the reader knows the true story about the characters but the pride in the characters did not allow them to see the truth.

Unknown to Oedipus, but known to the reader of the play Oedipus Rex, Oedipus killed his father Laius and was sleeping with his mother Jocasta. The play takes place about fifteen years after Oedipus was crowned King of Thebes. Oedipus fathered four children with Jocasta. The town is plagued because the murderer of Laius had not been punished. Oedipus cursed the murderer unbeknownst that it was himself. He declared, “I pray that man’s life be consumed in evil and wretchedness” (32). He continued by stating, “And as for me, this curse applies no less” (33) but because of the hubris it didn’t cross his mind that he was the murderer.

The irony in the play was obvious at this point because the reader knew Oedipus was cursing himself. The reader also knew Oedipus fathered four children with his mother and incest is one of the worst crimes in Greek culture. Despite knowing that Oedipus was the murderer he sent for a blind prophet, Teiresias. Teiresias is a very smart man; he knew Oedipus would become upset if he told Oedipus the truth. Teiresias denies Oedipus the whole story, however, after many threats from Oedipus, Teiresias told Oedipus that it was Oedipus who killed Laius. Oedipus became enraged he had no skepticism that he did not kill Laius. Oedipus swore Teiresias was trying to blame him to dethrone him.

By this time Jocasta knew Oedipus was the killer. She told Oedipus to forget about the whole thing but Oedipus, the amazing man who can solve any riddle, demands the murderer sought out. The reader sees where Oedipus is heading. Oedipus was seeking his own fate but Oedipus did not know what he was doing because he knew he was not the criminal. Finally, a shepherd came to the...

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Uploaded by:   mfields

Date:   10/30/2004

Category:   Literature

Length:   5 pages (1,082 words)

Views:   17273

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