Fate In Oedipus Rex :: essays research papers

Through Sophocles use of foreshadowing in the stand for Oedipus Rex, certain truths atomic number 18 revealed to the reader, such as the fact that a lack of respect for fate can eventuallybring on a persons downfall, by driving them to delusion. Oedipus is looked up to by allhis kingdom at the opening of the play, only to be cross by his own lack ofintelligence-- and more by his lack of religious belief than even that. Oedipus, once the sanguine, yetslightly overbearing ruler of the people, is reduce to less than a sliver of a human being.When confronted by the prophesier Teiresius, Oedipus feels most perplexed and evenexposed. And so he rejects any incident of validity in Teiresius prognostication, and, indoing this, signs his own sentence. Because of Oedipus failure to respect the penetration of agifted seer, he is doomed to a blind and bloody(a) end.As I have said before, Oedipus was first revered by all his people. His earnestpatriotism for his adoptive land and people ar e well received by all in his kingdom. Afterall, he is the most glorious Oedipus (p.13,ln.8). Oedipus perceives himself to be aflawless champion for those surround him. These blind expectations that the mostexalted Oedipus has for himself are the very things that lead him to deposit little credence inothers and nearly all his faith in himself. And once he decides he is stronger than prophecy,his mad, unseeing eyes are ineffective to pick up the warning signs lining his road to oblivion.At integrity point in the play, the blind, hermaphroditic Teiresius enters to bringOedipus head out of the clouds and moxie to earth where things are a mite different. Thisis one point of the play in which Oedipus is unbelievably close to finally buying into thefact that about power higher than himself could be at work-- and yet his arrogance and felicitate hinder him from accepting the legitimacy of fate. Oedipus finds the idea thatTeiresius could know more than he simply offensive. Teiresius, s ensing Oedipus hostilitytoward him, warns the king that when Oedipus berates him that such taunts will... castthe selfsame(prenominal) taunts on you,(p.126,ln.73). One would assume that Oedipus, knowingTeiresius reputation as a most unfailing and precise prophet would take heed in his except dealings with fate. However, in a style most jibe his character, he ignoresthese insights. Only when Teiresius mentions Oedipus parents does Oedipus listen. Hisinterest sparked, the king cautiously asks, What mortals gave me birth?(p.28,ln.437).Teiresius elaborates further by stating that the king shall At once be revealed as associate