What Makes a Tragic Hero & How Does it Reflect Society?
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Summary of Oedipus the King by Sophocles
The King of Thebes, Oedipus, sends Creon to seek the advice of Apollo in the attempt to lift the terrible curse that has befallen Thebes. Apollo tells Creon that the only way for the curse to be lifted is if they convict the murderer of the former king, Laius, who was killed at the crossroads many years ago.
Oedipus, fueled by a burning vendetta, dedicates all of his energy to the incarceration and banishment of the killer, cursing the individual and his house to a lifetime of suffering. After subjecting the citizens of Thebes to hours of intimidating interrogation, he consults the blind prophet Tiresias, who claims that Oedipus himself is the killer. Oedipus is angry with Tiresias, but Jocasta tries to comfort him by explaining that prophets have been wrong before. She tells him of the prophecy that she (seemingly) avoided by killing her own son at birth, who was destined to couple with her and slay his father. Heated and suspicious, Jocasta’s words bring no comfort to Oedipus.
Oedipus receives a devastating message that his father, Polybus, has passed away. He also discovers that Polybus was not in fact his biological father. Oedipus begins to uncover the mysteries of his past, searching for the origin of his blood.
Burning with a passion for truth, Oedipus sends for the shepherd who was supposed to leave him to die upon the mountain Cithaeron. Jocasta pleads with him to abandon his mission, but he stubbornly ignores her cries. The interrogation of the old shepherd leads to the questioning of the messenger, who pitied the baby Oedipus and brought him to Polybus to raise as his own. The truth dawns upon Jocasta, in a fleeting moment of understanding, and she quickly runs out of the room in a flurry of torn hair and screams. Unfortunately, the shock and shame causes her such grief that she takes her own life. After seeing Jocasta’s limp form hanging from the rafters of the bed where they committed a most shameful act, he finally realizes the truth. With the broaches of her gown, he gouges his eyes out to blind himself from his own horrors, and the shame of facing his children of incest. Bound by his own decree that the murderer of Laius must be exiled from Thebes, he banishes himself to wander the wilds forever, cursed to an eternity of not just mortal, but spiritual suffering. Sadly, Oedipus fulfilled the prophecy he struggled so hard to avoid.
The King of Thebes, Oedipus, sends Creon to seek the advice of Apollo in the attempt to lift the terrible curse that has befallen Thebes. Apollo tells Creon that the only way for the curse to be lifted is if they convict the murderer of the former king, Laius, who was killed at the crossroads many years ago.
Oedipus, fueled by a burning vendetta, dedicates all of his energy to the incarceration and banishment of the killer, cursing the individual and his house to a lifetime of suffering. After subjecting the citizens of Thebes to hours of intimidating interrogation, he consults the blind prophet Tiresias, who claims that Oedipus himself is the killer. Oedipus is angry with Tiresias, but Jocasta tries to comfort him by explaining that prophets have been wrong before. She tells him of the prophecy that she (seemingly) avoided by killing her own son at birth, who was destined to couple with her and slay his father. Heated and suspicious, Jocasta’s words bring no comfort to Oedipus.
Oedipus receives a devastating message that his father, Polybus, has passed away. He also discovers that Polybus was not in fact his biological father. Oedipus begins to uncover the mysteries of his past, searching for the origin of his blood.
Burning with a passion for truth, Oedipus sends for the shepherd who was supposed to leave him to die upon the mountain Cithaeron. Jocasta pleads with him to abandon his mission, but he stubbornly ignores her cries. The interrogation of the old shepherd leads to the questioning of the messenger, who pitied the baby Oedipus and brought him to Polybus to raise as his own. The truth dawns upon Jocasta, in a fleeting moment of understanding, and she quickly runs out of the room in a flurry of torn hair and screams. Unfortunately, the shock and shame causes her such grief that she takes her own life. After seeing Jocasta’s limp form hanging from the rafters of the bed where they committed a most shameful act, he finally realizes the truth. With the broaches of her gown, he gouges his eyes out to blind himself from his own horrors, and the shame of facing his children of incest. Bound by his own decree that the murderer of Laius must be exiled from Thebes, he banishes himself to wander the wilds forever, cursed to an eternity of not just mortal, but spiritual suffering. Sadly, Oedipus fulfilled the prophecy he struggled so hard to avoid.
The Tragedy of Oedipus the King
In Oedipus the King, hubris was how full of pride he was since he was king. Peripeteia was when the messenger showed up. When Oedipus realizes he fulfilled the prophecy, that was anagnorisis. When Jocasta dies, Oedipus stabs his eyes out and banishes himself, this was the scene of suffering. Finally, the audience is left with catharsis, the knowledge of what they learned from this story so that they can avoid the tragedy.
E N T E R T H E T I D D I E ( . Y . )
In Oedipus the King, hubris was how full of pride he was since he was king. Peripeteia was when the messenger showed up. When Oedipus realizes he fulfilled the prophecy, that was anagnorisis. When Jocasta dies, Oedipus stabs his eyes out and banishes himself, this was the scene of suffering. Finally, the audience is left with catharsis, the knowledge of what they learned from this story so that they can avoid the tragedy.
E N T E R T H E T I D D I E ( . Y . )
Citations
http://www.liveyourmagic.com/2014/02/aristotle-the-purpose-of-life/
Larry. "Aristotle The Purpose of Life." Live Your Magic. LIAP Media Corp, 5 Feb. 2014. Web. 9 Dec. 2014. <http://www.liveyourmagic.com/2014/02/aristotle-the-purpose-of-life/>.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7B2a8XFep8
Tragic Hero in Modern Media. YouTube / Tragic Hero in Modern Media. Davis Cavanagh, 5 May 2014. Web. 9 Dec. 2014. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7B2a8XFep8>.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HE2fClV3TMc
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/111088534/Tragic-Hero-Notes
Tragic Hero Notes. Digital image. Docstoc. Docstoc, 18 Jan. 2012. Web. 9 Dec. 2014. <http://www.docstoc.com/docs/111088534/Tragic-Hero-Notes>.
http://www.ayoungertheatre.com/the-wicked-stage-emotional-releases-in-musicals/
Green, Sarah. The Wicked Stage: Emotional Releases in Musical Theatre. Digital image. A Younger Theatre. A Younger Theatre, 16 Sept. 2012. Web. 9 Dec. 2014. <http://www.ayoungertheatre.com/the-wicked-stage-emotional-releases-in-musicals/>.
https://ashadeofpen.wordpress.com/tag/sorrow/
Tears. Digital image. A Shade of Pen. WordPress, n.d. Web. 9 Dec. 2014. <https://ashadeofpen.wordpress.com/tag/sorrow/>.
http://api.ning.com/files/DtcI2O2Ry7AyIRGXnzSVH65tI9e31ZAnnYfe-eFb-8RMXRQuxkQUBe6ikR1W3u-Ag*nBqEcC2bkhHg2lERo6kEoWiF8-4STS/1082117844.jpeg
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QGko2twrcO0/TQpHL6Ij7rI/AAAAAAAAAAQ/UUPguLLdZfI/s1600/Pain_sm.jpg
http://www.natespace.com/Fine_Art/Catalog/Angry_Mask_files/stacks_image_176_1.png
http://www.liveyourmagic.com/2014/02/aristotle-the-purpose-of-life/
Larry. "Aristotle The Purpose of Life." Live Your Magic. LIAP Media Corp, 5 Feb. 2014. Web. 9 Dec. 2014. <http://www.liveyourmagic.com/2014/02/aristotle-the-purpose-of-life/>.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7B2a8XFep8
Tragic Hero in Modern Media. YouTube / Tragic Hero in Modern Media. Davis Cavanagh, 5 May 2014. Web. 9 Dec. 2014. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7B2a8XFep8>.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HE2fClV3TMc
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/111088534/Tragic-Hero-Notes
Tragic Hero Notes. Digital image. Docstoc. Docstoc, 18 Jan. 2012. Web. 9 Dec. 2014. <http://www.docstoc.com/docs/111088534/Tragic-Hero-Notes>.
http://www.ayoungertheatre.com/the-wicked-stage-emotional-releases-in-musicals/
Green, Sarah. The Wicked Stage: Emotional Releases in Musical Theatre. Digital image. A Younger Theatre. A Younger Theatre, 16 Sept. 2012. Web. 9 Dec. 2014. <http://www.ayoungertheatre.com/the-wicked-stage-emotional-releases-in-musicals/>.
https://ashadeofpen.wordpress.com/tag/sorrow/
Tears. Digital image. A Shade of Pen. WordPress, n.d. Web. 9 Dec. 2014. <https://ashadeofpen.wordpress.com/tag/sorrow/>.
http://api.ning.com/files/DtcI2O2Ry7AyIRGXnzSVH65tI9e31ZAnnYfe-eFb-8RMXRQuxkQUBe6ikR1W3u-Ag*nBqEcC2bkhHg2lERo6kEoWiF8-4STS/1082117844.jpeg
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QGko2twrcO0/TQpHL6Ij7rI/AAAAAAAAAAQ/UUPguLLdZfI/s1600/Pain_sm.jpg
http://www.natespace.com/Fine_Art/Catalog/Angry_Mask_files/stacks_image_176_1.png