Sophocles

Sister Sister: A Comparison of Two unlike Girls Sophocles was an astonishing Athenian playwright who excelled in theater; he wrote more than one hundred twenty plays. He was most well-known for his dominant female characters and insights on life like in his famous work “Antigone.” The theme of this particular play was “the law of the gods is more important than the law of man.” In ancient Greece, citizens highly respected the gods; there were specific burial practices used in order to make…

In the play Oedipus the King by Sophocles many different characters go and visit the Oracle at Delphi. The Oracle that Oedipus went to offers advice or a prophecy that has come directly from the gods. Before the play had even begun, Oedipus went to the oracle to receive advice about where his family came from. This is stated in the text where it said “the god dismissed by question with reply; he spoke of other things. Some were unbearable: as that I should lie with my own mother… and that I…

In the plays, Sophocles’ Oedipus and Shakespeare’s Othello, Moor of Venice, two tragedies are portrayed to illustrate how the main characters in the plays encounter their downfalls. However, each downfall is viewed from a different perspective due to differences in causes. In both cases fate is inherent. It is, however, evident that in the Moor of Venice, Othello plays a salient role in inflicting his fate. Therefore, this eventually leads to his demise (Bevington, 1999). On the contrary,…

Ancient Greek plays that have been passed down throughout the centuries have allowed modern day people to have a glimpse into the lifestyles and traditions that were once prevalent. The play writer Sophocles wrote the ancient Greek tragedy, Antigone, in 441 BCE in the city of Athens. It is important for us to have a basic understanding of the time era in which this play was written in order to ensure a full appreciation of this work of art. During this era of time, Athens was deemed as one of…

Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex flawlessly demonstrates Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero through the protagonist, Oedipus. As required, the character exhibits errors of judgement, reversal of fortune due to such judgement, and acknowledgement of their self-inflicted misfortune. In addition, Oedipus exhibits extreme pride and receives a fate much colder than deserved. Shortly into the play, Oedipus reveals his hamartia, or flaw in judgement, when he refuses and mocks the advice of the blind…

the King was written by Sophocles, who was famous drama writers in ancient Athens in fifth century B.C.E. Sophocles held the idea of the unity and close relationship of society and the governor of the state. He described Oedipus as a king who feels responsibility for his people’s future, for homeland and he is ready to find a resolution that can help to stop the plaque in Thebes. Sophocles tries to show the human desire to control their own life by their own accord. Sophocles believed, even…

In Sophocles play, Oedipus the king, the relationship between Tiresias and Oedipus gradually progresses as Oedipus journeys towards his path of self-discovery. Sophocles juxtaposes both characters in order to illustrate Tiresias as a paradox to blindness. Tiresias is gifted immortality and ultimate divination power by the Gods and therefore is able to ironically see the truth and the fate that follows. Greek society generally viewed oracles as guidelines on how to live their life as they…

men and of women; and every neighboring city Will be goaded to fury against you” (Sophocles 155). This foreboding message given to King Creon by Teiresias warns Creon of the negative effects of his actions. For Creon, these words mark the beginning of his downfall. Every Greek tragedy included a tragic hero, a person who started at the top and fell to the bottom. King Creon fulfills the role of tragic hero in Sophocles play Antigone. Aristotle said that to be a tragic hero, a character must be…

“Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely” said historian Lord Acton. In Sophocles’ Antigone, Oedipus the King of Thebes has newly departed after disgracing his people, and his successors to the throne Polynices and Eteocles have died in battle, leaving his brother Creon to inherit his throne. From the beginning, Creon uses his newfound power to impose excessive punishments against not only the innocent people of Thebes, but also his family. As a result, the people of…

In the Greek Tragedy, Antigone, Sophocles demonstrates the consequences of hubris with Creon, the Theban king, as he suffers by losing everyone close to him. Creon is a man who has just become the king of Thebes and has a flaw of having too much pride. He can’t control the power of being over other people and he just lets the power go to his head. In getting his new power, Creon institutes a law that states that only Eteocles will be buried with full honor and Polyneices “must be left unburied”…