Oedipus Synthesis

How has your view of Oedipus developed and changed over the course of the play?

From beginning to end, Oedipus undergoes a dramatic change of once a self righteous king of Thebes to a letdown. My view of Oedipus from the very beginning was portrayed as an arrogant king who primary focus was on himself, rather than the welfare of his people. His position as king gave him authority to assert his superiority like, “You scum of the earth/ you’d enrage a heart of stones”(380-381) and “Out with it once and for all!”(383). Those were just some accounts of Oedipus enforcing his power, towards anyone who didn't share his same view. The play goes on, Oedipus mental stability slowly deteriorates as he finds about his tragic destiny since he was born. We see him once as a mighty ruler of Thebes to a fallen man in his own misery.  

Ultimately, what important understanding have you gained about family, society, leadership, etc., through Oedipus and his tragedy?

After going through Oedipus the King, it reshaped my perspective on society. The overall takeaway is that

an individual should not be pressured by society’s norms. We see that Oedipus is far from a perfect icon 

and his judgments are impaired based on his position in hierarchy. Although, the prophecy predicted that he 

may commit insect which is a social taboo, he still remains clouded by the bliss of his notoriety, “I count 

myself the son of Chance/ the great goddess, giver of all good things-/ I’ll never see myself disgraced”(1188-

1190).Towards the conclusion, Oedipus understands that his unfortunate choices led him to be banished 

from his kingdom. He remained under the ignorance until it was too late. Overall, society has a major impact

on Oedipus’s choices and it cost him his positioning as a father and as a father for Thebes.

Reader Responses

1.“You with your precious eyes/ you’re blind to the corruption of your life”(Oedipus the King)

Here Oedipus is interpreted as a man who can't "truly" see the corruption, so I drew him without any eyes to portray his blindness. His tears are also a symbol for sadness and inevitability for the hardship in his life.

2. “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 overwhelm him. Now as we keep our watch and wait the final day, count no man happy till he dies, free of pain at last.” (Oedipus the King)

When I read this I quickly thought about a boat. This boat is suffering through the obstacles from it's environment, like Oedipus's life. I drew a skull under the water to show that not all things that are evil fully reveal itself, it is also a focal point that's why it is the only colored part in my piece. He his fighting his surroundings for his ability to survive peacefully.

3.“For my own sake I’ll  rid us of this corruption/ Whoever killed the king may decide to kill me too/ with the same violent hand”(Oedipus the King)

Sinner (poem):
Can we truly live in peace?
With disease in our nature
Can we truly live in peace?
With one hand in the depths of hell,
and the other in the heavens,
Can we truly live in peace?
If ignorance is such a crime,
Can I still live in peace?

4. “Now as it is. I’d have you say a prayer/ prey for life, my children/ live where you are free to grow and season”(Oedipus the King)

Prosperous Tree (poem):
Let the leaves grow full on the prosperous tree,
Where roots grow deep,
the integrity is rich,
let the evil dispose itself from once it came,
and let generations start anew on the prosperous tree,

Oedipus Quotes and Analysis

Quote	Analysis
“For my own sake I’ll  rid us of this corruption/ Whoever killed the king may decide to kill me too/ with the same violent hand”(Oedipus the King, 157-159)	This quote from Oedipus I found very ironic. It is one of the rare moments in the story where foreshadowing is seen. Oedipus in this scene acts like a righteous king, when in actually he is the most corrupt person in Thebes.
“You with your precious eyes/ you’re blind to the corruption of your life”(Oedipus the King, 470-471)	Tiresias makes a valid observation on Oedipus’ kingship. His situation is ironic because he values his eyes, but yet he doesn't truly see his crooked ways. Even though, he is told that his arrogance “blinds” him from what the prophecy says, he remains ignorant.
“Now as it is. I’d have you say a prayer/ prey for life, my children/ live where you are free to grow and season”(Oedipus the King, 1657-1659)	This scene is very significant to the story. Here Oedipus has a moment of revelation and has come to terms of his wrongdoings in his past. His flaws are acknowledged but by this time it is too late. Oedipus doesn't realize that his poor decisions permanently affected his future generations and family tree with incest.
“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 overwhelm him. Now as we keep our watch and wait the final day, count no man happy till he dies, free of pain at last.” (Oedipus the King, 1678-1684)	The Chorus highlights Oedipus’s greatest achievements and failures throughout his life up until he got exiled from Thebes. He was a man that represented a person with authority and corruption soon overwhelmed him to his own demise. Even Though his life was prophesied, the pain he suffered was inevitable. Sophocles,  wanted to show that pain is inevitable and everyone has to deal with it. It’s apart of life.