Sophocles And Oedipus Essay, Research Paper

Sophocles use of language allows his characters to show what is going on inside

them to the reader. Many works of literature deal with what happens to a person

physically and the resulting consequences. Many do deal with the issues that a

person endures internally as a result of physical actions. In Sophocles work the

events that take place in the human mind are the catalysts that drive on the

story, the greatest events are not when an action happens but when the

characters come to terms with what has transpired. The greatest realization

faced by a character is that of Oedipus who for many years has come to terms

with his situation. The Prophet Apollo?s predictions that he will kill his

father and have sex with his mother. The course of his life is shaped by this

prophecy. What Oedipus has been told from the beginning of his life shaped his

thinking, this also allows the reader to grasp that this myth is relevant to

their lives. The physical actions of Oedipus are the results of a man with high

principles and probing intelligence. The story can be separated into points

where Oedipus gathers more information about himself. The ?ignorance? that

Oedipus faces is the foundation he was brought up by. He has believed that he

lived with his birth mother and father and therefore when he learns of

Apollo?s prophecy he leaves home so that it cannot come true. Slowly as the

story progresses Oedipus discovers bits and pieces of his true-life story, as

Oedipus learns that he killed Laius by the story of the shepherd. He continues

on his journey to discovering the truth. When he pieces together what he has

done he cannot face himself. The chorus best shows his true emotions People of

Thebes, my countrymen, look on Oedipus. He solved the famous riddle with his

brilliance, He rose to power a man beyond all power. Who could behold his

greatness without envy? Now what a Black Sea of terror has overwhelmed him. Now

as we keep our watch and wait the final day, Count no man happy till he dies,

free of pain at last The Chorus is the voice of the reader showing the moral

lesson that is learned from the long told story Sophocles is borrowing from. The

change is Oedipus over his reign on earth from the cursed son of royalty to a

hideous monster that brought forth a curse on his village the voyage that the

reader takes in only In the mind of Oedipus not in his form.