Five Important Points of “On Misunderstanding the Oedipus Rex” • Oedipus Rex attempt to justify the ways of God to man by: 1. “Proving” that we get what we deserve. An example is how Oedipus treated Creon badly, so the gods punished him. 2. Oedipus Rex is “a tragedy of destiny”, the play “proves that man has no freewill and is controlled by gods. 3. Sophocles was “a pure artist”, so he is not interested in justifying the gods, and Oedipus Rex was merely an exciting play.
• Oedipus did horrible things unknowingly, if they did it knowingly, readers won’t feel pity. The tragic hero must have a big moral flaw.
• A significant difference between Sophocles and Aeschylus is that Sophocles thinks that fate is unconditional, and can not be avoided. Oedipus tries to avoid the oracle given about him that he will sleep with his mother and kill his father, but in the end, it still happens. Aeschylus’ thinking is that fate could be avoided. According to him, the oracle given to Laius was avoidable: “Do not beget a child; for if you do, that child will kill you.”
• Oedipus blinded himself to cut himself off from contact with humanity. If he suicides, he would meet his parents in the next world. He blinded himself because he could not face the living or the dead.
• Oedipus Rex is a play about human greatness. Oedipus fell from his high position to the lowest of the low, and he still has the strength to accept and endure it. His inner strength is virtuous, because he pursues truth at whatever personal cost.
The Essay on Oedipus Rex 13
At one time in our lives there is a moment that we may think of ourselves as better than someone or something else. There may also be a point when making a decision leads to a great error in judgment. In the play Oedipus Rex, written by Sophocles, both of these characteristics can be seen in the main character. These characteristics are known as tragic flaws. These flaws are known as hubris ...
