Oedipus rex essays

Translations of Sophocles’ play are generally interpreted in one of two ways, ‘Oedipus Rex’, meaning Oedipus the King, or ‘Oedipus Tyrannus’, meaning Oedipus the Tyrant. The exact distinction between the two titles is undefined, though through the lens of Socrates’ five characterizations of the soul,...

Not only is Oedipus bound to his fate, he is also blind to it. Oedipus is said to be clear-sighted, but circumstances have blinded to the truth of his birth.

For example, in both Oedipus Rex and Antigone, the eponymous characters are torn... Throughout the history of literature, authors and playwrights have often employed a foil – a character whose purpose is to create a contrast with the main character that allows the latter’s attributes to cement their presence.

In Oedipus Rex the theme of blindness and vision refers to the knowledge and insight or lack of it that the characters suffer. Fate is another strong theme. In attempting to escape his fate, Oedipus only becomes more deeply entwined with it – he is blind to and bound by his own fate.