Now that you're about halfway through the play, it's time to sit back and examine what you think.
In one paragraph, go back to Prologue and Parados and think about Oedipus's actions and statements. What sort of person and leader do you think he is? What evidence supports your thinking? Explain the significance of your evidence.
In the second paragraph, review Oedipus's actions and statements in Scenes 1-3. What do you think of him now? Why? Does he seem to have some sort of flaw (remember the 'tragic flaw' from your literary terms list?) that leads to certain behavior? Describe the evidence and explain the significance.
I think that Oedipus is a very personal leader. Towards the very beginning of the book when speaking outside of his palace he interacts with individual civilians while still engaging his audience as a whole. This shows Oedipus’s concern for each and every person. Oedipus is also extremely empathetic, he feels the pain of his people. “Poor children! You may be sure I know All that you longed for in your coming here. I know that you are a deathly sick; and yet, Sick as you are, not one is as sick as I.”(5). Oedipus not only acknowledges the pain of his people, but makes it very clear that he feels this pain as well.
ReplyDeleteIn scene 1 Oedipus is extremely disrespectful towards Teiresias. Oedipus no longer shows a concern for the feelings of his people, he simply strives for an end goal. This end goal is to find the murderer of Laios. Finding this murderer will stop the plague, which has an effect on the lives of all people, but at this point in time Oedipus is acting solely on impulsive emotions. “Say what you will. Whatever you say is worthless.”(20). I feel that pride is Oedipus’s tragic flaw. Pride leads him to speak harshly without putting much thought into what he is actually saying. The book makes reference to this flaw “The tyrant is a child of Pride.”(46). Oedipus’s pride shows itself in every aspect of his life, including his marriage. When he and Iocaste are having an argument he does even attempt to calmly resolve the situation, but instead insults his wife. “Let us leave this woman to brag of her royal name.”(57).
At the start of this play, Oedipus seems like the perfect leader. I say this for many reasons. For one, he is liked by everybody. Really there is no way to know whether that is because he is being a great leader, or because he did the whole city-state a favor, and nobody has quite gotten their mind past it. Either way, it is a necessary trait for the king to possess. The second reason is that everyone trusts him. The people trust that he is doing whatever is best for them and not for himself. At one point he says something along the lines of, I feel your pain too, actually, I feel all of your pain combined. This is one of the things that I think would make people trust him. They also trust that he can run a city-state even though he didn't have too much experience going into it. The final reason why he is a good leader is because he didn't have too much money at the beginning. The reason this helps him is because he knows what it feels like to be poor like many of the citizens of Thebes.
ReplyDeleteThough He seems like a great leader, as the book progresses he seems to crack more and more. In the first scene, he has accusations thrown at him by Teiresias, the blind prophet. If people were to hear these accusations made by the the well known Teiresias, then people might start to doubt Oedipus, which is something that he can't afford to let happen in such troubled times. So, instead, he also verbally attacks Teiresias to change the subject from himself. This is completely out of desperation and really gets him no where. I think his fatal flaw is his doubt in himself. I don't think he would have attacked Teiresias so quickly and thoughtlessly if he had no doubts that Teiresias was right. This also shows up later in the book when he is talking to Iocaste and he actually thinks that he killed Laïos. If he didn't have this constant fear that he was guilty, then he wouldn't be so afraid and defensive.
In the beginning of the book, during the prologue and parados, Oedipus seems like an awesome guy. He seems to really connect with all the people of Thebes. In the first line of the play, he refers the people as "my children." This shows that he really cares about his kingdom. He relates to everyone. He continuously tells the people how his pain makes him upset. How he wants the absolute best for everyone in Thebes, and nothing less. He wants to solve whatever is distressing the people.
ReplyDeleteAs the play moves along, Oedipus's true personality comes out. While he remains a good, loyal man, we start to see what breaks him down, we start to see his weaknesses. As soon as Oedipus feels accused, he feels the need to throw the blame on someone else. When Teirisias accuses Oedipus of Laios' murder, Oedipus immediately throws it on Creon. He feels so threatened, he is willing to falsely accuse his best friend.
In one paragraph, go back to Prologue and Parados and think about Oedipus's actions and statements. What sort of person and leader do you think he is? What evidence supports your thinking? Explain the significance of your evidence.
ReplyDeleteIn the beginning of the book Oedipus seems compassionate, caring, but later we realize he can be argumentative and extremely defensive if he gets to carried away. He cares very much though about his state and his "children" who live in Thebes. Oedipus wants nothing more than for Thebes to succeed and have the best that can be. Oedipus feels the pain for his people of Thebes and on page 5 Oedipus states "My poor children, what you desire is known and not unknown to me, for I see well that everyone is sick, and being sick, still, not one of you is as sick as I am. For your pain comes upon the individual, one by one, to each man alone and no other, but my soul groans for the city, for me and you together" This shows that he cares about his people and there is nothing that will stop him from helping them as best he can.
In the second paragraph, review Oedipus's actions and statements in Scenes 1-3. What do you think of him now? Why? Does he seem to have some sort of flaw (remember the 'tragic flaw' from your literary terms list?) that leads to certain behavior? Describe the evidence and explain the significance.
Over the course of the play we see Oedipus's true colors. As we first see him as a compassionate, nice, loyal man we see his is defensive, argumentative and a little arrogant. When someone accuses Oedipus he breaks out of his shell and defends himself in everyway he can. When Teiresias accuses Oedipus on Laios's murder he blows a gasket and almost immediately and throws everything that was just on him on Creon, one of his best friends. Oedipus will do anything he can to get the blame off of him.
In the prologue Oedipus seems like a leader who does not hid anything from his nation. An open and honest man. Oedipus seems like he cares about his nation deeply. He is not one of those leaders who doesn't care about his nation and just makes sure that he gets what he wants, when he wants it. For example, when he is speaking to the people of Thebes and Creon comes back, Creon asks Oedipus if he wish to hear the bad news in private. Oedipus's response is "Let then hear it. It is for them I suffer, more than for myself." pg7.
ReplyDeleteIn the Chapters that follow we learn that his act of kindness was literally an act. He seems to still be one of those kings where if you speak against him, you become a life threatening enemy. He only seems truly nice to his family and very close friends. One example of him going crazy is when the prophet Teiresias comes to the palace. Teiresias tell Oedipus that he is the murder he is looking for. Oedipus is outraged and goes on a tangent about how stupid and wrong Teiresias is, even tho he turns out to be right in the end.
Now that I have had a chance to see what kind of person Oedipus is, I completley change my mind on what I thought about him. I thought that he was a very humble man that only wanted what was best for state. But as the book goes on, he becomes more and more focused on his own issue. The only thing he now cares about is finding out about HIS childhood, not who killed Laios. He started off only wondering who murdered Laios but now he is more focused on who he killed when he was young. He is almost obsessed with wanting to know what happened to him when he was young.
ReplyDeleteOedipus completely ignores other peoples advice and becomes very self centered. For example on page 57, Iocaste gives Oedipus advice and basically tells him to stop investigating his childhood and to stop asking all these question because she fears only bad news will come. Oedipus is to stubborn to listen and ignores her advice.
In the beginning of the play, throughout the Prologue and Parados, Oedipus seems to be a caring ruler. He cares about his people, and grieves when they are sick; “I know that you are deathly sick; and yet, sick as you are, not one is as sick as I. Each of you suffers in himself alone his anguish, not another’s; but my spirit groans for the city, for myself, for you” (5). When his people are sick, he wants to help them, “Whether you come in dread, or crabe some blessing: tell me, and never doubt that I will help you in every way I can” (4). He shows that he is a leader that serves for his people and he doesn’t keep any secrets. When Creon comes with news from the oracle in Delphi and asks to speak in private, Oedipus replies, “Let them all hear it. It is for them I suffer, more than for myself” (7). This shows that whatever the oracle said, he wants to make sure that all of the people know what he knows, and so they know that he is doing everything he can to help solve the problem. Although he is portrayed as a unselfish ruler, this is not always the case. When Oedipus is discussing the death of his predecessor, King Laios, he says, “By avenging the murdered king I protect myself” (9). This leads the reader to believe that he might be thinking more selfishly at this point rather than for the greater community.
ReplyDeleteAlthough in the Prologue Oedipus gives the impression that he not selfish, as the play progresses it is proven and shown otherwise. Throughout scenes 1-3, the play shows Oedipus as a man who, once is presented with a personal problem, is more concerned about himself rather than his people. His own wife makes a comment about it, “With Thebes sick to death, is it not shameful that you should rake some private quarrel up?” (34). A tragic flaw is the tragedy that brings the protagonist’s downfall. Oedipus’s tragic flaw would be the prophecy that he received many years ago. Oedipus himself recounts a visit with an oracle in which he says, “I should lie with my own mother… and that I should be my father’s murder” (42). This recount of his knowledge that he actually was the one to kill Liaos, as predicted, presents his downfall.
In the beginning of the book, during the prologue and parados, Oedipus seems like a caring, thoughtful, not selfish and genuine guy. In the first line, Oedipus says, “my children”, and this is just showing that he thinks of the people of Thebes because he thinks of them as his own children. He wants what’s best for “his children” and wants nothing to harm them and doesn’t like when they are sick or in poverty. He was also a good leader. He always wants the people of Thebes to know what is going on at all times, “Let them all hear it” Oedipus says, (page 7) He also connects with them and can feel their pain if not more that is coming from the plague. “It is for them I suffer, more than myself” Oedipus says, (page 7). He is going to do whatever it takes to solve the plague because it is for “his children”.
ReplyDeleteAs the play progresses, you find out more about Oedipus, especially his personality and how is a little selfish and not as genuine guy as we thought he was. In the prologue and parados, Oedipus seems like he does everything for “his children” but in scene 1-3 it shows otherwise. It shows that whatever he is doing mostly for himself and benefits the people a little. If you look at it in percents, 90% is for himself, and the 10% left is for “his children”. This especially starts to happen when Teirisias accuses Oedipus on killing King Laios. This is when Oedipus snaps. He blames Creon for treasoning him up, “I am told that heavy accusations, Have been brought against me by King Oedipus” said Creon, (page 27). Oedipus also is now just doing everything to try and prove that he wasn’t the murder of King Laios and that he didn’t marry his mother. This was an oracle he was given long ago when he went to Apollo. Oedipus especially wanted to prove this oracle wrong once he figures out that he has killed people in the exact spot and around the same time that King Laios was killed. He was sending out for King Laios old slaves, Shepherds, and messengers. Anyone who could answers his questions, and prove that the oracle was wrong and especially that he wasn’t the murder. This was mostly for himself and a little for the people of Thebes.
In the prologue and parados, I think Oedipus is a very unique ruler. I am not saying that all kings are selfish and greedy for power, but Oedipus is far from this. Seeing how he came from nothing, he understands people on a different level than most kings. He really cares for his people. For example, when Creon returned from the oracle of Delphi he says, "Is it your pleasure to hear me with all these gathered around us? I am prepared to speak, but should we not go in?" Oedipus responses with "Let them all hear it. It is for them I suffer, more than for myself." He wants everyone to hear what Creon has to say, because he doesn't think it would be right to hide information from them and manipulate it.
ReplyDeleteIn these next three scenes, one learns more about Oedipus' past.
You start to see Oedipus become a little more self-centered, like a typical king. At the point of the play where Teirisias was called to Thebes to help lift the plague, he gives Oedipus some very important information. He tells him that he is the murderer of Laios. Now Oedipus' focus has been directed from lifting the plague, to clearing his name.
Oedipus is the kind of leader who knows what he has. On page 4 the priest says, "Great Oedipus, O powerful King of Thebes!". He was made king because he saved the city from the Sphinx, a mythical creature with a human's head and a lion's body. He saved them, and they know what he is capable of.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, Oedipus' tragic flaw is his obliviousness and his denial during the play. He doubts the word of a prophet, given a prophecy from the gods (page 24). When presented with evidence (death of his adoptive father, Polybos), he denies it and believes, until the end, that the prophecy given to him will not come to pass.
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ReplyDeleteI have to say that my first impression of Oedipus was that he was an arrogant yet kind ruler. I especially felt this when he announced his arrival and titled himself 'I who bear the famous name'. I could also see how Oedipus was being a more generous king than most, but I still thought it was awfully cocky of him when he told his people that while they suffered from the city's awful state, he felt pain for each person who was suffering. He means to say that he feels their pain, yet it seems more like he's saying "I feel the most pain", even though he is rich, powerful, and for the most part, safe from the plague. While the way he rules is unique, for many kings are greedy and selfish, he has his flaws as a ruler. And while he's more personal with and loved by the people than most kings in storytelling, I feel this brings out his arrogance, especially after being crowned shortly after saving Thebes from the Sphinx. Even so, one of the things that especially stood out to me was when Creon returned with word from Delphi, Oedipus is offered to go inside the palace and talk in private. Yet Oedipus, wanting to be more open with the citizens of Thebes, has Creon talk to him outside in front of the palace for all to hear.
ReplyDeleteHowever, as the play continues I start to notice his selfless, more generous side as a king even more. He knows it is his duty as king to solve the murder of Laïos and by doing that rid Thebes of Apollo's plague. As the case develops, the murder begins to get more and more personal with Oedipus. First he is accused by the blind seer, there's the conspiracy about Creon's treachery, and the identity of Oedipus' own birth parents are beginning to be questioned. Iocaste (and the blind seer) warns him not to continue searching for answers, knowing it may lead to his demise or possibly reveal something so dark it could affect him deeply. His ignorance is also evident, as he continued to ignore Iocaste and the seer's warnings. However, curiosity killed the cat, and in this case curiosity spooned out the cat's eyes. If anything led to the to the downfall of King Oedipus, it was most likely he yearning for secrets that are best left untouched, even after being persuaded multiple times by a few people to stop the investigation while he still has his eyes.
In the beginning of the play Oedipus is the all mighty king that saved a country out of the sphinx. He rallies them, he instills hope in the grim city. He is a great leader, and I think he knows that. He rules with confidence to the point where is it cocky. He is eager to please the people, but doesn't think things through. He lives off the cheers from Thebes as he arrives.
ReplyDeleteHis tragic flaw was arrogance, and curiosity killed the cat. He kept digging for the truth, when it was only going to mess things up. It lead to him obsessing about it, and he was going crazy. He threatened anyone who got in his way. Then he rejected the people who going to help him. Listened to no one but his own voice. The not so tragic fall of Oedipus.
Stealing my 'curiosity killed the cat' quote now aren't we Zack? You know I thought you were my friend, but now I'm not so sure... Yeah that's right.
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ReplyDeleteI thought Oedipus was a good leader in beginning of the play. He was a little bit cocky, but it seemed like his interests were truly for his people. He seemed like the type of king who wouldn’t let people go hungry, the kind who would sleep on the ground if his people were. An example of his compassion for his people was on the bottom of page 4 when he says, “Speak before all; the burden that I bear is more for these subjects than myself.” Immediately, I thought he was a great and kind king. I believed that he understood his people’s hardship and was open and honest with them. He not only understood but carried the burden also like he and his people were one and the same.
ReplyDeleteThe more the book went on, the more and more I questioned his character. He was disrespectful and slightly conceited as the book went on. I understand that it is hard to accept a difficult a truth but that was too much. I think he was kind of paranoid and focused on Laios’s murder not for his people but so his own curiosity could be satisfied. He outright accused Creon of conspiring about him with Teiresias and threatened him with death many times. “O argue not thou art not a rogue,” (14) showing how quick he could turn on people to find someone to blame. He is not as kind of a king that I once thought. I think he is a little too quick to anger even in the way he reacts to Jocasta when she warns him not to look into the past. He jumps to the conclusion that she is insecure even though he agreed when Creon asked “And as thy consort queen she shares the throne?” His anger and one mindedness lead to his downfall if he had taken in others advice and didn’t have such a short temper, this story could have ended differently.
I think that Oedipus is the type of leader that actually has a heart for his peers and listens to his audience and community. Leaders that don't take their community into consideration obviously don't care enough to be a leader. The quote, " Let them all hear it. It is for them i suffer, more than for myself " This quote is definitely a way to show how much a leader truly cares about his audience. This actually makes me think of something i would say to a teammate on a basketball court, which is why i really like this quote. The significance of this quote is that since the citizens of Thebes heard this, they will definitely show Oedipus respect. And the citizens will definitely trust his opinion about any problems they face.
ReplyDeleteI now began to see the other side of Oedipus. Oedipus really hasn't cared much about what the people of Thebes have to say. In scene 1, Oedipus has been focusing on who the murderer of Laios is. After this mystery is solved it will help the agonizing plague. I believe that pride and that willingness is the Oedipus's " tragic flaw " Also, the more and more Oedipus found out that he may be guilty of killing Laios, the more and more defensive he gets about the topic of Laios's death. Although it does say the " Evil Spirits " took control of his body, he should still know all the facts before assuming anything. This can also be Oedipus's " Tragic Flaw " This evidence shows that sometimes he half-steps, he doesn't fully give it his all when it comes to certain things. If he works on this, he could become a very good king.
In the prologue and Parados Oedipus seems like a very good leader. He speaks to his people not as a superior to them, but more as a protector. He dedicates himself to solving the problems that plague the city (pun intended) and makes sure that his people know that he will work as hard as possible to solve the problems they are facing. He clearly cares about his people, and wants to make sure that they know that he cares about them.
ReplyDeleteI believe that he is truly a good person, and that he tries his best as a leader, which is truly the most a leader can do. He still supports his people, and even says that if Laïos's killer is in his own home he will suffer just the same. He may not be a perfect leader though, because he has not spoken on how he would react if he were to be the killer, which it is becoming increasingly clear may be the case. I don't see a flaw as of yet, but I can see how one may develop in the future and cause these problems.
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ReplyDeleteOedipus is a leader that listens to his people, and is a nice to his people. He is not stuck up and thinks that his ideas are the only ideas. He states that he feels the pain that his people feel and that shows that he is a caring leader. Oedipus is also liked by many. He also refers to the people as "my children" that shows that he is extremely caring and listens to their ideas, like a father listens to his son. Even though Oedipus is a good leader he seems overall very cocky.
ReplyDeleteI think that Oedipus is a good leader, but he does have a very bad past that ends up destroying him in the end. Even though he is a good leader he has a downfall because of killing king Laios. If Oedipus didn't kill this man he probably would have ruled the people of Thebes for a long time. I think that his tragic flaw is that he goes to far to find a truth that was better uncovered.
Even from the very first pages Oedipus shows how open a leader he is, and much he cares about his people. He starts by treating the people of Thebes where he rules as if they were his own flesh and blood, as he calls them: “my children.” It is hard to me a leader during a time of such hardship and plague. Yet, he keeps no secrets from them, he wants them to know what is happening as opposed to shielding them from the truth. His people are in pain, so he feels the pain with them. As he proclaims to them: “Poor children!... sick as you are, not one is as sick as I... but my spirit groans for the city. While other people see themselves as more superior to their subjects, it seems that Oedipus feels like their equal. This makes him a more compassionate and strong ruler.
ReplyDeleteYou can’t judge a book by the cover. At first Oedipus seems like such a good character, but during scenes 1-3 we see a different side of Oedipus. He becomes very paranoid and doesn’t really listen to his people. Also, he it becomes apparent that he would blame anyone just to save himself. For example, he blames Creon of conspiring against him, and all he cares about is figuring this out as opposed to attending to the needs of the people. He quickly turns on people, and trusts no one. This shows his flaws, self confidence and arrogance. His people seem to matter less than himself. This shows that maybe he isn’t as good of a leader as he seemed during the prologue and paradose.
In the very beginning of the book, Oedipus seems to be a natural leader who values his people. He is very caring of them, and they also care about him. He is and accomplished leader, having earned his position by solving the Sphinx's riddle and lifting the past plague from Thebes. He puts his people first, making it his priority to solve the second plague Thebes is faced with. He is confident in his skills as king, and knows he can help his people.
ReplyDeleteLater on in the book, more of his true colors are revealed. He is shown to be more quick-tempered, getting mad at Tiresias very easily. His Confidence in his kingship has turned more into arrogance. He believes too highly of himself to be the murderer Tiresias says he is. He also quickly blamed Creon for trying to overthrow him as king. His adventure to lift the plague becomes more of a quest to find out who he is, rather than doing it for the people of Thebes. He no longer is the great king Oedipus, but the foul king Oedipus.