Sophocles Oedipus the King is a tragic drama which discusses the tragic find of Oedipus that he has killed his male parent and married his female parent. The narrative of Oedipus was good known to the Athenian ‘s. Oedipus is the embodiement of the perfect Athenian. He is self-assured, intelligent, and strong willed. Ironically these are the really traits which bring about his tragic find. Oedipus gained the regulation of Thebes by replying the conundrum of Sphinx. Sophocles used the conundrum of the sphinx as a metaphor for the 3 stages of Oedipus ‘ life and to futher characterized him as a tragic adult male. The Sphinx posed the following conundrum to all who came to obtain the regulation of Thebess: “ What is it that walks on 4 pess and 2 pess and 3 pess and has merely one voice, when it walks on most pess it is the weakest? ” Oedipus right answered “ Man ” and became the male monarch of Thebes. This conundrum is a metaphor for the life of Oedipus. As a kid adult male crawls on his custodies and articulatio genuss this is the four pess to which the Sphinx refers. Besides adult male is at his weakest as a little kid. He depends entirely on others for his nutriment and good being. Oedipus was the kid of Jocasta and King Laius who was taken to the mountain by a Shepard to be killed so the portents of the God apollo that Laius ‘ boy would kill him and put with Jocasta would non come true. Oedipus was the weakest of his life at this point. If it has non been for the Shepard spairing his life and giving him to Polybus to raise as his ain Oedipus would hold died. Man walks on 2 pess when he has matured. This is a metaphor for Oedipus when he reaches maturity and leaves Corinth to get away the prophet. Oedipus meets up with a set of travellers and in a fury kills them. Unwittingly Oedipus has killed his ain male parent. Oedipus so answers the conundrum of the sphinx and becomes male monarch of Thebes. By going male monarch of Thebes he marries Jocasta the Queen of Thebess and his ain female parent. Many old ages subsequently after bearing kids with Jocasta a pestilence kills many of the dwellers of Thebes. Oedipus is told by the Gods to happen the slayer of Laius. He is really dilligent in the inquiriy and eventually comes to the atrocious truth that he himself is the liquidator. Jocasta kills herself at the atrocious realisation that she has layed with her boy and Oedipus puts out his eyes at eventually seeing the truth. This fulfills the concluding portion of the Sphinx ‘s conundrum for Oedipus will hold to walk with a cane for the remainder of his life because of his sightlessness, this will give him the 3 pess which adult male walks with at the terminal of his old ages. Oedipus used his mind and diligence to reply the conundrum of the Sphinx. Many of the most intelligent immature work forces of Thebes has been killed trying to reply the conundrum but Oedipus proved his intelligence superior to theirs. Oedipus uses the same intelligence and perseverence to happen the slayer of Laius. He does non give up his hunt even when Jocasta warns him to halt and allow the affair remainder. He calls the Shepard and interrogates him till he discovers the dismaying truth that he is the slayer. Oedipus ‘ intelligence was finally his defect. Besides, if Oedipus had non had been every bit coarageous he would hold hold ne’er ventured to reply the conundrum of the Sphinx. Thus even though he had killed his male parent he would hold ne’er become male monarch of Thebes and laid with his female parent. In add-on, if Oedipus had had the bravery but non the intelligence the Spinx would hold killed him for replying the conundrum falsely. Sophocles used this to qualify Oedipus as a tragic adult male for he came about his tragic find non because of an evil act or an evil trait but because of the individual he was. Oedipus traits which gave him wealths and power finally led to his tragic stoping. Besides, the God Apollo did non predestine that Oedipus would kill his male parent and get married his female parent by the prophet, he merely stated what he knew was inevitable because of who Oedipus was. The sphinx ‘s conundrum was used by Sophocles to qualify Oedipus as a tragic adult male and as a analogue to his life. The riddle describes the 3 phases which Oedipus went through in his life. Besides in replying the riddle Oedipus inevitable brought about his ain tragic stoping by a atrocious find. . Oedipus does non unselfishly seek out the truth even though he knows it will be painful for him, instead, he has no thought what the result of his hunt will be, denies the truth at every bend, and threatens those who speak it. Many people may paint Oedipus as a great adult male, indicating out that he pursues the truth at whatever personal cost and has the strength to accept and digest it when found. They admire that Oedipus was willing to convey himself down in his lecherousness to happen his true individuality. However, the driving force of Oedipus ‘ investigative mission is an effort to stop the disease that plagues his metropolis. He does n’t recognize the personal effects his Hunt will hold for him, and his trueness to the truth is based on his ignorance of it. In fact, if we examine his “ quest for individuality ” , it becomes evident that the sequence of events are rather coinciding. First, he summons Tiresias to call the slayer, who Oedipus does non at the clip believe to be himself. Secon! The tragic hero Oedipus emerges as anything but a societal individual. He may get down that manner, motivated by a echt desire to assist the people, but what emerges throughout is different. It becomes apparent to see that Oedipus is really, deep down where it truly counts, far more concerned with his ain sense of ego and demands for justness on his footings, than in compromising his desires like any other true leader would. This calamity reminds us that even the bravest, those known throughout the universe for their cognition, are doomed if they set themselves up against the enigma of life itself, and if they try to coerce life to reply them, they are traveling to self-destruct. Oedipus Rex – Bliss in Ignorance Oedipus Rex – Bliss in Ignorance One of the most memorable and meaningful Socratic quotes applies good when in context of Sophocles ‘ Theban Trilogy. “ The unexamined life is non deserving life, ” proclaims Socrates. He could hold meant many things by this statement, and in relation to the drama, the significance is found to be even more complex. Indeed, the state of affairs of Oedipus, male monarch of Thebes, the truth of this statement is in inquiry. Would Oedipus have been better off if he was blind to the cognition of his parturition and the destiny which was foretold to someday bechance him? Truly though, his life would hold been a far better and easier way had he ne’er known about his true beginnings. His life in Corinth would hold been long and comfortable, and Thebes would hold lived on under King Laius. In fact, everyone would hold been better off in the long tally if Oedipus had non ventured out beyond the walls of Corinth. So is it deserving populating an examined life? Socrates had made this statement long after the creative activity of the Theban Trilogy. In the context of his ain clip, this was meant to connote that life must be examined and reflected upon, known and discovered by each person philosopher to better enrich life for all. Yet in footings of Sophoclean play, specifically Oedipus Rex, this was meant in a immensely different manner. The unexamined life was one that was in the dark, unknown as to what destine lied beyond every bend and sarcasm of life. Oedipus, up to the point in which he heard the remark in the tap house in Corinth, lived an unexamined life. To Socrates, he was an unrealized adult male, one who deserved to cognize more, one who non complete. However, in a much less metaphysical sense, Oedipus ‘ life was complete, in that he had all that he needed, and was populating a happy and fruitful life. As the play progresses, he finds out more and more, larning precisely what the deductions of his birth was, he suffers the destiny for analyzing his life. So what Socrates had meant, that the life which was non rich with self geographic expedition and contemplation was non deserving life, was so different than its application in footings of Oedipus, who ‘s life was unexamined, yet complete. The inquiry arises, what would life hold been like, if Oedipus had non discovered his true beginnings? If he had stayed in Corinth, would this hold of all time happened? We find that so, we would hold had no narrative, if non for that solitary remark of a rummy which sparked the fire of rebellion in the immature prince Oedipus. He ventured out to Delphi, to prise cognition of his background out of it, and to detect if this was so the truth, despite the fact that his adoptive parents of Corinth had assured him of it falsity. Oedipus leaves Corinth, carry throughing the Socratic thought of the unexamined life. However, we must measure the eventual effects of his actions and the deductions which they possess. What becomes of his fatal journey out of Corinth leads to the ruin of an full metropolis and household line. If he had non murdered King Laius, the Sphinx would hold ne’er descended upon Thebes, he would hold ne’er fulfilled the prognostication, and all would hold lived on in a comparative peace and tranquility. Once analyzing these facets of the relationship between the quotation mark and Oedipus Rex, we can come to a concluding scrutiny of its deductions. The inquiry which was addressed, that of the value of the examined life, can be answered. Indeed, if Oedipus had non ventured beyond the protective walls of his adopted place, would anything such as what occurred in the drama of all time have transpired? If Oedipus had non pursued that replies to the enigmas that plagued him, despite the beseeching warnings of I casta, in fact his life would hold been contented and happy. Alternatively, he follows the Socratic method of geographic expedition and find, and returns down the way of hurting and distraught. Was, after it was over, all worth it? We find that no, it was non. Bing content and suited with what he knew of himself would hold saved Oedipus and his children/siblings much torment. However, in the typical Greek calamity, we must see his autumn from grace through, which is so what happens. In the cloud nine of ignorance, much hurting and trouble is averted. For what worries does the nescient adult male hold? In the instance of Oedipus, ignorance would hold suited him all right. The Socratic quotation mark “ the unexamined life is non deserving life ” surely does n’t keep true in the instance of Oedipus Rex. While it may keep importance and a significant significance for our ain lives, in the instance of Oedipus Rex, he would hold been better off without it. Indeed, for while the unexamined life is hapless in a metaphysical sense, Oedipus would hold genuinely been all right without it. For the unexamined life is a simple one, and he would hold lived a long and happy life, ne’er detecting the true nature of his birth, nor even caring. Oedipus Rex Sophocles ‘ “ Oedipus the King ” is a tragic drama which discusses the tragic find of Oedipus that he has killed his male parent and married his female parent. The narrative of Oedipus was good known to the Athenian ‘s. Oedipus is the embodiement of the perfect Athenian. He is self-assured, intelligent, and strong willed. Ironically these are the really traits which bring about his tragic find. Oedipus gained the regulation of Thebes by replying the conundrum of Sphinx. Sophocles used the conundrum of the sphinx as a metaphor for the 3 stages of Oedipus ‘ life and to futher characterized him as a tragic adult male. The Sphinx posed the following conundrum to all who came to obtain the regulation of Thebess: “ What is it that walks on 4 pess and 2 pess and 3 pess and has merely one voice, when it walks on most pess it is the weakest? ” Oedipus right answered “ Man ” and became the male monarch of Thebes. This conundrum is a metaphor for the life of Oedipus. As a kid adult male crawls on his custodies and articulatio genuss this is the four pess to which the Sphinx refers. Besides adult male is at his weakest as a little kid. He depends entirely on others for his nutriment and good being. Oedipus was the kid of Jocasta and King Laius who was taken to the mountain by a Shepard to be killed so the portents of the God apollo that Laius ‘ boy would kill him and put with Jocasta would non come true. Oedipus was the weakest of his life at this point. If it has non been for the Shepard spairing his life and giving him to Polybus to raise as his ain Oedipus would hold died. Man walks on 2 pess when he has matured. This is a metaphor for Oedipus when he reaches maturity and leaves Corinth to get away the prophet. Oedipus meets up with a set of travellers and in a fury kills them. Unwittingly Oedipus has killed his ain male parent. Oedipus so answers the conundrum of the sphinx and becomes male monarch of Thebes. By going male monarch of Thebes he marries Jocasta the Queen of Thebess and his ain female parent. Many old ages subsequently after bearing kids with Jocasta a pestilence kills many of the dwellers of Thebes. Oedipus is told by the Gods to happen the slayer of Laius. He is really dilligent in the inquiriy and eventually comes to the atrocious truth that he himself is the liquidator. Jocasta kills herself at the atrocious realisation that she has layed with her boy and Oedipus puts out his eyes at eventually seeing the truth. This fulfills the concluding portion of the Sphinx ‘s conundrum for Oedipus will hold to walk with a cane for the remainder of his life because of his sightlessness, this will give him the 3 pess which adult male walks with at the terminal of his old ages. Oedipus used his mind and diligence to reply the conundrum of the Sphinx. Many of the most intelligent immature work forces of Thebes has been killed trying to reply the conundrum but Oedipus proved his intelligence superior to theirs. Oedipus uses the same intelligence and perseverence to happen the slayer of Laius. He does non give up his hunt even when Jocasta warns him to halt and allow the affair remainder. He calls the Shepard and interrogates him till he discovers the dismaying truth that he is the slayer. Oedipus ‘ intelligence was finally his defect. Besides, if Oedipus had non had been every bit coarageous he would hold hold ne’er ventured to reply the conundrum of the Sphinx. Thus even though he had killed his male parent he would hold ne’er become male monarch of Thebes and laid with his female parent. In add-on, if Oedipus had had the bravery but non the intelligence the Spinx would hold killed him for replying the conundrum falsely. Sophocles used this to qualify Oedipus as a tragic adult male for he came about his tragic find non because of an evil act or an evil trait but because of the individual he was. Oedipus traits which gave him wealths and power finally led to his tragic stoping. Besides, the God Apollo did non predestine that Oedipus would kill his male parent and get married his female parent by the prophet, he merely stated what he knew was inevitable because of who Oedipus was. The sphinx ‘s conundrum was used by Sophocles to qualify Oedipus as a tragic adult male and as a analogue to his life. The riddle describes the 3 phases which Oedipus went through in his life. Besides in replying the riddle Oedipus inevitable brought about his ain tragic stoping by a atrocious find.