• The Oedipus Trilogy
  • Literature Notes
  • Play Summary
  • Oedipus the King
  • Oedipus at Colonus
  • About the Oedipus Trilogy
  • Character List
  • Summary and Analysis: Oedipus the King
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Character Analysis Oedipus

Born from myth, Sophocles' Oedipus figures as the tragic hero who kills his father and marries his mother. A victim of fate vilified by all, he discovers his own corruption and tears out his eyes in self-punishment — a symbolic castration for his incestuous sin.

The keynote of Oedipus' character lies in his will to know — and, thereby, to control reality. Oedipus' brilliance and determination serve him well in solving mysteries — like the riddle of the Sphinx — but lead ultimately to his tragic downfall.

The petition of the chorus that opens Oedipus the King attests to Oedipus' responsible leadership. He has been a good king for Thebes, and in crisis he moves decisively to save his city, but in his excitement and energy, Oedipus lacks discretion. When, for example, Creon hints wisely that they should discuss the news from the oracle in private, Oedipus refuses, insisting that every action he takes to find and to purge corruption from the city must be public.

Impervious to reason and advice, Oedipus follows his will with an intellectual passion. His drive to unearth the mystery — and his pride in performing his intellectual feat before the whole city — end in horror, as he discovers that the object of his relentless search is himself. To the chorus, Oedipus explains his blinding as his mournful inability ever to look upon his loved ones again, but the violence also represents his attack on that part of himself that cannot stop seeking out and finding what is hidden, despite the fateful consequences.

In Oedipus at Colonus , the tragic hero persists in his will and determination, despite his age, blindness, and banishment. In contrast to the Oedipus who accepted infamy and begged for punishment at the end of Oedipus the King , the Oedipus of Oedipus at Colonus maintains furiously that his agonized past was not his fault. All the intellectual passion that he once devoted to solving the mystery of the Sphinx and finding Laius' murderer, he now pours into his self-defense: He did not know that he was doing wrong.

To the end, then, knowledge fires the tragic heart of Oedipus; yet, after his long suffering, he also attains something more profound — wisdom and transcendence. At the end of Oedipus at Colonus , Oedipus leads Theseus, king of Athens, and his daughters to his resting place — confidently, as if he has regained his sight — and there, in the place promised to him, he regains his integrity, becoming at one with the power he once sought to escape and to deny.

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Oedipus Creon Character Analysis

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Published: Mar 19, 2024

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Introduction, thesis statement: a character analysis of oedipus and creon reveals their contrasting personalities and leadership styles., oedipus character analysis, creon character analysis.

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oedipus character analysis essay

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COMMENTS

  1. Oedipus Character Analysis in The Oedipus Plays | SparkNotes

    At the beginning of Oedipus the King, Oedipus is hugely confident, and with good reason. He has saved Thebes from the curse of the Sphinx and become king virtually overnight. He proclaims his name proudly as though it were itself a healing charm: “Here I am myself— / you all know me, the world knows my fame: / I am Oedipus” (7–9).

  2. Oedipus The King: Character Analysis - GradesFixer

    Oedipus the King is a character of immense complexity and depth, with a range of traits, flaws, and psychological nuances that make him a timeless and compelling figure in literature. Through a comprehensive character analysis, we have gained valuable insights into Oedipus' background, personality, flaws, and impact on the plot of the play.

  3. Oedipus Character Analysis - eNotes.com

    Oedipus. Extended Character Analysis. Oedipus is often considered the quintessential Aristotelian tragic hero. In Oedipus Rex, he begins the play at a high point as the benevolent and beloved King ...

  4. Oedipus - CliffsNotes

    Character Analysis Oedipus. Born from myth, Sophocles' Oedipus figures as the tragic hero who kills his father and marries his mother. A victim of fate vilified by all, he discovers his own corruption and tears out his eyes in self-punishment — a symbolic castration for his incestuous sin. The keynote of Oedipus' character lies in his will to ...

  5. Character Analysis in Oedipus the King - Owl Eyes

    Character Analysis. in. Oedipus the King. Oedipus: Oedipus is the king of Thebes. At the start of Oedipus the King, many of the events for which he is known have already elapsed, including the answering of the Sphinx’s riddle, the murdering of Laius, and the union with Jocasta. The play details the aftermath of Oedipus’s mistakes.

  6. The Character Oedipus Analysis: [Essay Example], 525 words

    The Character Oedipus Analysis. Sophocles' "Oedipus Rex" is a classic Greek tragedy that tells the story of Oedipus, a nobleman who becomes the king of Thebes and unwittingly fulfills a prophecy that leads to his tragic downfall. In this essay, we will explore how the character of Oedipus serves as a tragic hero whose excessive pride and ...

  7. Oedipus Rex Character Analysis | LitCharts

    Creon. Brother of Jocasta. Whereas Oedipus is the charismatic leader who speaks openly in front of his people, Creon is more political and perhaps more scheming. Creon is offended and alarmed when Oedipus accuses him… read analysis of Creon.

  8. A Summary and Analysis of Sophocles’ Oedipus the King

    Summary. The city of Thebes is in the grip of a terrible plague. The city’s king, Oedipus, sends Creon to consult the Delphic oracle, who announces that if the city rids itself of a murderer, the plague will disappear. The murderer in question is the unknown killer of the city’s previous king, Laius. Oedipus adopts a sort of detective role ...

  9. Oedipus Creon Character Analysis: [Essay Example], 609 words

    Oedipus Character Analysis. Oedipus, the tragic hero of the play, is a man of remarkable qualities and fatal flaws. His personality is a tapestry of determination, hubris, intelligence, and insight. Oedipus is driven by an unyielding sense of purpose, a relentless pursuit of truth that borders on obsession. His hubris and arrogance, however ...