Oedipus, the Cursed Man Essay - 830 Words

Oedipus, the Cursed Man Have you ever had one of those days when it seems that everything is against you, that life could not look any bleaker than it does right now? We have all had moments like those, but nothing can compare to the feeling Oedipus had on that dreadful day when he found out that he was cursed by the gods, destined to kill his father and marry his mother. This tragic story of the cursed man is told in Sophocles play, Oedipus the King. This essay will examine one of Oedipus speeches, found in lines 1183 - 1194, made before he learns of his appalling fate. It is a passage full of dramatic irony. We, the audience, know the truth. Even Jocasta has just come to realize the facts, but Oedipus is still†¦show more content†¦The ironic part comes when he says, I must see my origins face-to-face (line 1185). The reality is, every time he looks into the face of his wife, he is seeing his origins, his very mother. Next, Oedipus goes on to say, She [Jocasta] perhaps, she with her womans pride may well be mortified by my birth, but I, I count myself the son of Chance, the great goddess, giver of all good things- Ill never see myself disgraced. She is my mother! (lines 1186 - 1190) Indeed, Jocasta is mortified by Oedipus birth. So much so that she hangs herself at the end of the play. It is quite ironic that Oedipus calls himself the son of Chance. He could not be farther from the truth. His life is anything but an accident, pure coincidence. The disaster of his life was entirely predestined by the gods, set in stone in the form of prophecies to two people, his father and himself. Things surely would have worked out better if his life had been determined by Chance. Oedipus is a little bit too quick to say, Ill never see myself disgraced (line 1190). Perhaps his pride is getting the better of him; later on he will eat those words. As he ends this part of his speech with, She is my mother! (line 1190), the audience cannot help but be slightly confused. Is he talking about Jocasta or Chance when he refers to her as my mother? Has he somehow realized the truth? No, the reader soon realizes,Show MoreRelatedOedipus the King: Fate vs. Free Will Essay exampl es591 Words   |  3 PagesSophocles’ Oedipus the King: Fate vs. Free Will In Oedipus the King, one of Sophocles’ most popular plays, Sophocles clearly depicts the Greek’s popular belief that fate will control a man’s life despite of man’s free will. Man was free to choose and was ultimately held responsible for his own actions. Throughout Oedipus the King, the concept of fate and free will plays an integral part in Oedipus destruction. Destined to marry his mother and murder his father, Oedipus was partly guidedRead MoreOedipus the King: Fate Vs Free Will Essay639 Words   |  3 Pages Oedipus the King, was written by Sophocles between C.A.496-406B.C. 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