99,000 Essays & Term Papers: Where You Buy Essays and Papers Online
Direct Essays, Where You Can Buy Essays and Papers Online

Instant Access to Buy Essays and Papers Online!
Acceptable Use Policy
Customer Service
Site Search


Login to View Essays and Papers Online

Join Now - Instant Access to Essays and Research Papers!

  Essay and Research Paper Topics
Acceptance Essays
Arts Essays
Custom Essays
English Literature Essays
Foreign
History Essays
Miscellaneous Research Papers and Essays
Movie Essays and Papers
Music Term Papers
Novels
People and Biography Research Papers
Politics Research Papers
Religion Research Papers
Science Essay Topics
Sports Research Papers
Technology Research Papers
 
  FAQ
Technical Support
Site Map
Direct Essays
 

 



Welcome to Direct Essays

This is a short summary of this paper!

Already a member? Go here to log in and view the entire paper!


Join Now!
by: Credit Card
Join Now!
by: Online Check
Join Now!
by: Phone 1-900
Special! View this paper for FREE!
  

Orestes and Oedipus

What are the similarities and differences between Orestes and Oedipus as tragic heroes? In the following paragraphs I am going to compare Orestes and Oedipus as tragic heroes. There are a number of characteristics that identify a tragic hero. Although a tragic hero causes his own downfall, his fate is usually not deserved, and his punishment is much worse than his crime. A tragic hero is usually someone of importance or power who has a tragic flaw that affects his judgment, and must then suffer the consequences.

Cassandra, who has been cursed by Apollo to be a seer who will never be believed, envisions the death of Agamemnon and herself. It is in this vision that she sees an avenger who will bring justice to the murdered victims, " We will die, but not without some honor from the gods. There will come another to avenge us, born to kill his mother, born his father's champion." This vision proves to be very important when speaking about the innocence of Orestes and his heroism as well. This vision also proves my belief of Orestes not being a true tragic hero. Before the incident takes place, we know that the gods have destined Orestes to avenge his father's death.

Another way to prove Orestes innocence is through the god


As we move on in "The Libation Bearers", Electra, like the leader and his chorus, also looks to Orestes as a savior or hero. As she sits at the grave of her father Agamemnon, Electra prays to Hermes, god of the dead. She prays for "the one, who murders in return!"

Oedipus wishes himself to be seen as deeply caring for his country, while at the same time looking out for himself, but his pride in his abilities and his determination not to look weak in front of his people leads him to blindly pursue the identity of the murderer, even when he is warned off by Tiresias and his wife. Oedipus wanted the death of Laius to be avenged and he had to be the one to find the murderer and punish him. "I'll fight for him, I'll leave no means untried, to catch the one who did it with his hand." Oedipus harmartia is his determination, stubbornness and his arrogance.

Oedipus's encounter with the blind prophet Tiresias is another example of Oedipus's hubris and a foreshadowing of his downfall. Oedipus sends for Tiresias and Tiresias reveal that Oedipus was the murderer. Oedipus is outraged by the accusation and throws insults at the prophet because of his blindness. In reality, it was Oedipus who could not see because his pride and confidence did not want to hear what Tiresias had to say. Oedipus thinks this is a plot by Creon to seize the throne. When Creon confronts Oedipus about the accusation, he denies it. Again, Oedipus's hubris shows. He will not be persuaded; no matter how much sense Creon makes. He is insistent that Creon is plotting against him, even after Jocasta intervenes and Creon makes an oath to the gods that he did not do what Oedipus accuses.

In "The Eumenides", Apollo speaks on behalf of Zeus and admits that he was an accomplice in the murder of Clytaemnestra. Apollo literally says, " I commanded him to avenge his father." Orestes' case was also helped when Apollo came forward, and took part of the blame as well. "I come as a witness. This man, according to custom, this suppliant sought out my house and hearth. I am the one who purged his bloody hands." In this case, Apollo has a huge authority over all of the other gods and for one reason only. He is a ser

Some common words found in the essay are:
Orestes Oedipus, Bearers Orestes, Agamemnon Electra, Polybus Merope, Creon Speak, Tiresias Oedipus, Oedipus Orestes, Clytaemnestra Apollo, Libation Bearers, Tiresias Tiresias, tragic hero, orestes oedipus, libation bearers, orestes oedipus tragic, wrong gods, oedipus's hubris, example oedipus's, determination stubbornness, vision proves, knowledge prophecy, tragic flaw, oedipus tragic heroes,
Approximate Word count = 1480
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)


  

More Essays on Orestes and Oedipus

A Tainted Homecoming1136 words
Eumenides1744 words
Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman and The Crucible11437 words

Look at even more essays on Orestes and Oedipus
More Sports Essays

Professional Papers:
Oedipus ampamp Hamlet1992 words
Greek Philosophy Influence1667 words
Two Greek Myths1369 words
Mourning Becomes Electra1244 words
Mourning Becomes Electra Eugene Oamp39Neill1244 words
Will Loman As Tragedy2143 words
Special! View this paper for FREE!
Click here to JoinNow!
by: Credit Card
Click here to Join Now!
by: Online Check
Click here to Join Now!
by: Phone 1-900

 

All papers and essays are for research and reference purposes only!
Copyright 2002-2009 Direct Essays , LLC. All Rights Reserved. DMCA
Webmasters make $$$$
Saved Papers