The Message of the “Oedipus Rex” Play by Sophocles Essay

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The ancient Greek tragedy Oedipus Rex, sometimes referred to as Oedipus the King was composed by the dramatist Sophocles. This play relates the tale of Oedipus, the King of Thebes, who is looking into the execution of King Laius, his forebear. Therefore, in Sophocles’ eyes, this antiquated story develops into a profound study on the issues of blame and responsibility, the structure of our society, predestination, and the essence of humans and their emotions.

The narrative examines the value of belonging to society by contrasting life within and outside of the city walls, which is symbolic of Greek societal and political life. The public witnesses how being a part of society brings with it security and solidarity while residing outside the city walls during the entire play Oedipus the King. The drama Oedipus Rex by Sophocles demonstrates how individuals can get so overwhelmed by their emotions that they lose the ability to reason. The characters depicted in the play frequently make poor decisions because of their sentiments, which causes the gods to chastise them as a natural consequence. Oedipus refuses to attempt to restrain his fury, which leads to him acting violently and aggressively toward the other figures. Even in modern times, everyone suffers from a lack of emotional self-control.

The plot centers on Oedipus’ effort to utilize his own free will to thwart the prophecy that the Oracle of Delphi had granted him. According to the oracle, Oedipus will marry his mother and murder his father. The lesson of Oedipus Rex’s tale is that there is no way to change one’s destiny. The Oracle of Delphi foretells Oedipus’ fate, the central protagonist. Oedipus makes every effort to avoid meeting the prophecy, yet it still unfolds.

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IvyPanda. 2023. "The Message of the "Oedipus Rex" Play by Sophocles." June 23, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-message-of-the-oedipus-rex-play-by-sophocles/.

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IvyPanda. "The Message of the "Oedipus Rex" Play by Sophocles." June 23, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-message-of-the-oedipus-rex-play-by-sophocles/.

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