The Greek Tragedy of Oedipus the King - 971 Words

A Greek tragedy is one with a tragic outcome that is an inevitable result of the key characters personal flaws. It is a calamity he or she was destined to. However, is it possible that a hero’s laudable qualities could lead to his or her catastrophic fate? Oedipus demonstrates several admirable qualities that are portrayed throughout Oedipus the King by Sophocles. Compassion, diligence, and justness are three qualities that contribute to the internal struggles that Oedipus faces resulting in his appalling downfall. Taking a deeper look into understanding these virtuous qualities will depict how it led to Oedipus’s horrendous demise. Firstly, it is shocking to hear that having compassion for others could be negative. In fact for Oedipus,†¦show more content†¦He identifies with how profoundly distraught the city of Thebes is, and yearns to bring substantially more suffering onto whomever committed such a horrendous act. Oedipus wants the murderer to â€Å"drag out / his life in agony, step by painful step† (282-283). Immense irony is seen during these passages of condemning since at this point in the drama, Oedipus is unaware that he is only afflicting himself. However, his desire for justice continues. In lines 313-314, Oedipus announces his yearning for equality when he states, â€Å"may our champion, Justice†¦ / fight beside us to the end!† It is clear that Oedipus portrays justness early on in his search for resolution of the plague, but his justness will only come to harm him in future events. Moreover, his demand for justice does not cease when he learns that he is the curse. Out of habit, it is easy to assume that Oedipus would do everything in his power to not be blamed for the death of Laius. Conversely, once he fully comprehends the reality, Oedipus punishes himself in a justly matter by removing his own eyes. Oedipus states that, â€Å"how could I look my father in the eyes / when I go down to death?† ( 1502-1503). Oedipus desire for justice is so enormous that instead of taking an easy way out by killing himself, Oedipus blinds himself from the world, because he believes that there is shame in keeping his eyes, and that he has committed â€Å"crimes toShow MoreRelatedOedipus Tyrannus, A Tragic Hero. Summary: . Context. Oedipus1391 Words   |  6 PagesOedipus Tyrannus, a Tragic Hero Summary: Context Oedipus Tyrannus is a Greek tragedy that was first performed as a play in 429 BCE. The setting of the play is in Thebes, one of Greece’s city states that is suffering from a tragic plague. King Oedipus’s brother in-law; Creon, reports back from the oracle of Apollo that the plague would only be lifted if the murderer of his predecessor; King Laius, is found and brought to justice. Before the whole city of Thebes, Oedipus vows to apprehend and punishRead MoreEssay on Oedipus: The Reign of a Tragic Hero1266 Words   |  6 PagesThe time period of Greek theater’s popularity was a very influential time in our world’s history. Without knowing what Greek theater was all about, how can someone expect to truly understand a tragic play and the history it comes with? The history behind the character of Oedipus, in the play Oedipus the King, is very complicated. His intricate past dealing with prophecies, family members, and murder is the main focus of the story. Th ere are many characteristics that complete Aristotle’s definitionRead MoreOedipus : The King Of Thebes And Tragic Hero Essay728 Words   |  3 PagesOedipus: The King of Thebes and Tragic Hero Ancient Greek Literature encompasses an assortment of poetry and drama to include the great masterpieces of tragedy. In Classic Literature, tragedies were commonly known for their elaboration of a protagonist fitting the classification of a tragic hero. This type of a tragic hero often collectively described as a character of noble birth, facing an adversity of some nature and a fate of great suffering. The characteristics of what encompassed a tragic heroRead MoreOedipus The King : A Tragic Hero870 Words   |  4 PagesModern day drama has roots in the beautifully structured Greek theatrical culture. In the sixth century, ancient Greece, and more specifically Athens, overflowed with artistic talent. The Dionysian Festival materialized from Athens and this is where we first saw comedies and tragedies on stage. The Greek, as with many other cultures, honored their gods and did much to please and placate them. The Dioynsia Festival, which honored their god Dionysus, is proof of this. Sophocles, the well-known playwrightRead MoreAnalysis Of Oedipus The King 1696 Words   |  7 PagesAnnjeanette Wiese HUMN 1110 1 October 2014 Fatalism in Oedipus the King Tragedy has always been considered the highest form of literature; Oedipus the King is written by Sophocles who is one of the three ancient Greek tragedians, it fully represents the enduring charm of the ancient Greek tragedy, leaving the reader endless thinking. Through Oedipus’ misfortune, Sophocles tries to reveal the cause of their tragedy is ubiquitous and ever-present fate, rather than people themselvesRead MoreOedipus Rex by Sophocles889 Words   |  3 PagesSophocles’s Oedipus the King, fate is primary theme in the play. The influence of fate goes beyond the play but how Greeks viewed fate entirely. Also, Oedipus somewhat represented the Athenian political system and the people of Athens by his leadership. And lastly, having the play unfold, one is able to sympathize with Oedipus and strike pity and fear rather than disgust from his sins. The power of fate in Oedipus the King was one that shaped the entire story. In the beginning of the play, Oedipus heardRead More Oedipus the King Essay1073 Words   |  5 PagesOedipus the King The ancient Greeks were famous for their tragedies. These dramas functioned to â€Å"ask questions about the nature of man, his position in the universe, and the powers that govern his life† (â€Å"Greek† 1). Brereton (1968) stated that tragedies typically â€Å"involved a final and impressive disaster due to an unforeseen or unrealized failure involving people who command respect and sympathy. It often entails an ironical change of fortune and usually conveys a strong impression ofRead MoreOedipus the King: A Greek Tragic Hero Essay516 Words   |  3 Pagesof Greek drama. In his work, Poetics, he defines a tragic hero as â€Å"...The man who on the one hand is not pre-eminent in virtue and justice, and yet on the other hand does not fall into misfortune through vice or depravity, but falls because of some mistake; one among the number of the highly renowned and prosperous.† Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero is clearly shown by the main character in the Greek tragedy Oedipus the King by Sophocles. Oedipus, the protagonist in this Greek tragedy, isRead MoreUnderstanding Fate in Oedipus Tyrannos1196 Words   |  5 PagesThe Greeks were one of the most powerful empires of early civilizations with the well documented conquest, legends, gods, etc. One of their most significant things left of their empire, is their theatrical style, none bigger than Tragedy. The Greek Tragedy was their basis of Drama and is still studied today. Their view of the world and life could be personified in the plays and by the personages. It is the case in the play Oedipus Tyrannos. The play, written by Sophocles, represents the typical GreekRead MoreAncient Greek Theater1235 Words   |  5 PagesCheese’s, or not letting you hang out with that dreamy hunk Bryan on Saturday. For Oedipus, killing his parents was not something petty he threatened when he got too w orked up, but rather his fate. This suspenseful and masterful plot, conceived by the legendary playwright Sophocles, was one of the many groundbreaking works to come out of fifth century BC Greece. Works of ancient Greek theater, particularly Oedipus the King, embodied the spirit of innovation that fifth century BC Athens was known for.

The War I And World War II - 1946 Words

Human history has not been peaceful at all; there have been big mass murders, terrorist attacks, and, worst of all, wars. There were and still are wars all over the world, like in Palestine, where people are killing each other because of religion, or in Syria, where people are killing each other because of a protest against Syria’s president. These are not the only reasons that caused gigantic wars. In fact, World War I and World War II, the most horrible, bloody, and catastrophic wars in history, started because of chain reactions. At that point of the human history, the International Community felt strongly the need to overcome all possible difficulties and fuse together into a supranational body, with a clear mandate of spreading and†¦show more content†¦As a result of this conference, on October 24, 1945, the UN was formed to prevent other world wars and to bring peace in countries of the world. The preamble of the UN Charter says: â€Å"WE THE PEOPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS DETERMINED to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom† Other nations joined after the United Nations was formed and soon 50 nations signed the Charter. Nowadays, the last member that affiliated was South Sudan, which was the 193rd member to join. The founding group of the United Nations, formed by the winning power of World War II (China, England, France, USSR, and USA), still keep privileges. The most important is the â€Å"right to veto†, which means that if one of these nations does not agree with a decision, then it is dismissed and will not apply to anything. To fulfill its mandate, the UN created the Blue Helmets, which are trained soldiers that perform peacekeeping and post-conflict peacebuilding operations. These people

Review of Death in Venice Essay Example For Students

Review of Death in Venice Essay In the novel Death in Venice by Thomas Mann, the author expresses his theory of the ability of absolute passion and obsession in washing off a persons dignity and common sense through the character Gustav von Aschenbach. Manns writing is heavy with literary devices such as Greek mythology allusions, symbolisms, imagery, foreshadowing and immense details on different characters in the plot; which contributes towards intensifying the plotline and expressing his theories through the happenings of the story. Death in Venice depicts the gradual development of von Aschenbachs passion and obsession towards a 14 year old boy he meets whilst on vacation in Venice. Gustav Aschenbach is a German writer in his fifties. He is a very serious man with great dignity and self discipline, very dedicated to his writing where everyday he spends hours and hours writing even when fatigue strikes him. One day, von Aschenbach is pondering about his writings and strolling around the English Garden when he reaches the North Cemetery. A most peculiar man caught his thoughts with his eminent features and sudden appearance, upon scrutinizing his appearance and catching the mans hard glance, von Aschenbach encounters a hallucination of his desire to be at somewhere tropical with lush greenery and damp whether. This extraordinary vision and his sudden desire to travel to escape writing lead him to decide on a vacation out of Munich to Venice. During the journey to Venice and the hotel, von Aschenbach again meets two strange men who have similar eminent features as the man he met in the cemetery. It is then at the hotel that von Aschenbach meets a boy, Tadzio whom he thought is the most beautiful being he has ever seen and since then, von Aschenbach descends into a sort of frenzy of love towards the young boy. Even under several circumstances when he encounters unease on Venices weather and decides to leave, and upon knowing about the epidemic cholera spreading across the city consciously as well as unconsciously, von Aschenbach remains in Venice to remain devoted to the boy. This novel skillfully illustrates the mans sinking into uncontrollable passion and at the end, von Aschenbach dies of cholera. The voice of the novel plays a great role in establishing the storyline. Death in Venice is told by a third person point of view of Manns assumed persona and yet readers are able to hear von Aschenbachs thoughts and feelings, enabling a double perspective as an outsider as well as von Aschenbach himself. It is also eminent that Mann has included quite some personal feelings and experiences from himself into the story and feelings of the main character. The assumed persona provides elaborate descriptions of different characters in the novel, the feelings of von Aschenbach, as well as the different places that von Aschenbach encounters in the story. Mann explains von Aschenbachs life in the initial chapters to set his personality, where he is a man of strict discipline and self control, giving us a stronger impression of how a man of intellectual and reason can descend into a stage of frenzy and loses common sense. Mann uses strong imagery to express the intensifying passion of von Aschenbach towards Tadzio and also to set the atmosphere and mood of where the events occur. The streets of Venice is sweltering repulsively, with thick air mixed with oily billows and sluggishly drifting cigarette smoke which hover in clouds instead of dissipating; the dreadful alliance of sirocco and sea air and the horrible effluvia from the canals seems to suffocate von Aschenbach. This immaculate description of the hot, dense, slow moving air enables readers to fully experience the sense of suffocating, while supporting von Aschenbachs decision to leave Venice. However, when von Aschenbachs sub-conscious mind refuses to leave Venice due to his deepening passion towards Tadzio, von Aschenbach inhale in deep and delicately painful gulps, regretting the decision he made. Also, when von Aschenbach first sees Tadzio, he describes him as absolutely beautiful, and all recalled Greek statues of the noblest era, with perfection in nature. As the story moves on, von Aschenbach starts to scrutinize more details of the boy his pale and jagged teeth, striped linen suit, even the boys foreign language transforms into music to von ASchenbachs ears, the boys smooth armpits shiny hollows of his knees and bluish veins. .u51984fecba003e983606b818c5806c4c , .u51984fecba003e983606b818c5806c4c .postImageUrl , .u51984fecba003e983606b818c5806c4c .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u51984fecba003e983606b818c5806c4c , .u51984fecba003e983606b818c5806c4c:hover , .u51984fecba003e983606b818c5806c4c:visited , .u51984fecba003e983606b818c5806c4c:active { border:0!important; } .u51984fecba003e983606b818c5806c4c .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u51984fecba003e983606b818c5806c4c { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u51984fecba003e983606b818c5806c4c:active , .u51984fecba003e983606b818c5806c4c:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u51984fecba003e983606b818c5806c4c .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u51984fecba003e983606b818c5806c4c .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u51984fecba003e983606b818c5806c4c .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u51984fecba003e983606b818c5806c4c .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u51984fecba003e983606b818c5806c4c:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u51984fecba003e983606b818c5806c4c .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u51984fecba003e983606b818c5806c4c .u51984fecba003e983606b818c5806c4c-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u51984fecba003e983606b818c5806c4c:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Is Macbeth a dead Butcher? EssayThis further emphasizes the fact that von Aschenbach is more and more descending into the frenzy of love towards the young boy, to the point that he carefully scrutinizes microscopic details of the boy. Mann also uses imagery to build up to von Aschenbachs realization that he is spinning out of control and unable to suppress his passion; when von Aschenbach sees Tadzios smile, it is described as the smile of Narcissus, a very slightly distorted smile, distorted by the hopelessness of his striving to kiss the sweet lips of his own image, making von Aschenbach so deeply shaken that he went into fits of shudders and overwhelmed emotions, at las t wrapping up into a single whisper of I love you!, signifying the point where he loses his reason and conscious and plunges into unreason and obsession. This imagery is very powerful because it enables us to picture the boys smile and its effects on von Aschenbach.

Reflection on Nutrition Research Paper Example

Reflection on Nutrition Paper Overall I have enjoyed every aspect of this class. However, I must say that I enjoyed the healthy eating plan assignment. This assignment gave me an overview of my eating habits as a whole. Having to put everything on paper enabled me to acknowledge a change was needed and where the change was needed. Prior to composing a healthy eating plan, I was never equipped with the knowledge to know there were nutrients missing from my daily diet. This particular assignment showed me that I wasn’t absorbing enough fiber daily and that I needed to consume more whole grains, fruits and green vegetables. I’ve also learned that a combination of good nutrition and regular exercise together will assist me in maintaining good health. I also understand the importance of eating a well balanced meal to ensure the recommended amount of daily nutrients is being met. I can’t pinpoint any one particular assignment that has affected my life in terms of overall health and nutrition habits because they all have affected my overall health in a positive way. I now make a conscious effort to watch my fat and calorie intake. The readings have helped to better understand how the body digests foods and the impact a poor diet can have on the body. This class has also enlightened me on impact of what I eat today and how it will affect my body tomorrow. Since starting this class I have lost 35lbs and have seen a significant decrease in my sugar levels and have more energy than ever. To ensure I live a healthier life and rid myself of having to take medication for my type-2 diabetes and hyper tension, it is mandatory I continue the path of eating healthy and exercising on a regular We will write a custom essay sample on Reflection on Nutrition specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Reflection on Nutrition specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Reflection on Nutrition specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer