Oedipus The King, Oedipus Downfall And Lack Of Divine...

THESIS STATEMENT In Sophocles Oedipus the King, Oedipus’ downfall was a result of the sin of hubris, as he believed that he obtained attributes of divinity, which blinded him from the truth. PURPOSE STATEMENT Through evaluation and analysis of literary criticisms on Oedipus the King, it is shown that the reason for Oedipus’ downfall was his hubris and lack of divine attributes. INTRODUCTION Oedipus assumed he acquired the divine attributes making him further from the truth and nearer to his downfall. He thought that by being a king the attributes came with the title. â€Å"these attributes of divinity – knowledge, certainty, justice – are all qualities Oedipus thought he possessed – and that is why he was the perfect example of the inadequacy of human knowledge, certainty, and justice† (Bernard Knox). Oedipus’ certainty of knowledge stems from his encounter with the Sphinx making him believe he could solve any riddles in his life including Laius’ murder. His belief of certainty of knowledge also was initiated by his inflated ego, which caused him to sin. With the sin of hubris, Oedipus also assumed he could administer fair justice to any situation, even when he had no knowledge pertaining to the matter. This attribute can be easily depicted during the investigation of Laius’ death. Along with his belief that he was to adm inister justice and having the certainty of his own knowledge, Oedipus made rash and impulsive decisions throughout the play. These actions led to Oedipus’Show MoreRelatedQuestions On The Guilt Of Oedipus 1574 Words   |  7 Pagesbelieve that Oedipus’s fall is due to his Free will and the decisions he makes. Those who hold this belief hold that Oedipus made his own decisions, which is what led to his fall and that he was not compelled by some external source. P. H. Vellacott is a strong supporter of this theory. As such, in his famous essay, â€Å"The Guilt of Oedipus,† Vellacott argues that, factually speaking, Oedipus must have at one point thought to himself, â€Å"If the man I killed was my father, and if I overcome the Sphinx and marryRead MoreThe Heroes Of The Epic Of Beowulf By William Shakespeare1292 Words   |  6 Pagesordinances of the Gods that kills him. In Oedipus Rex, it is Oedipus’s inability to control his temper which proves a morta l flaw. Yet, In Beowulf, despite Beowulf’s heroism and his preoccupation with honor, he operates with free will and without the burden of a character flaw. Heroism is attached with its own qualities that make up the characteristics of Beowulf and Aeneas. Throughout Beowulf, his acts of heroism were highly praised. Many times, the king of the Danes praised Beowulf for his battleRead MoreAntigone - in the Action1889 Words   |  8 Pagesthat the sisters now face in deciding whether to properly bury their â€Å"evil† brother. This opening song of celebration and victory also serves to contrast Antigone’s opening statement of her intention to defy the king and his laws. After the burial is discovered and made known to the king, the chorus sings on the theme of man’s rise to civilization, â€Å"if he treats his country’s laws with due respect and honours justice by swearing on the gods, he wins high honours in his city† (Sophocles 367-369).Read MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 Pages SKILL ASSESSMENT 280 Diagnostic Surveys for Gaining Power and Influence Gaining Power and Influence 280 Using Influence Strategies 281 SKILL LEARNING 283 Building a Strong Power Base and Using Influence Wisely 283 A Balanced View of Power 283 Lack of Power 283 Abuse of Power 285 Strategies for Gaining Organizational Power 286 The Necessity of Power and Empowerment 286 Sources of Personal Power 288 Sources of Positional Power 293 Transforming Power into Influence 298 Influence Strategies: The