Greek Literature
Cadmus, the founder of Thebes, angered Apollo by killing the God's favorite snake. As punishment, the descendants of Cadmus lived under a curse prophesized to each generation by Apollo's oracle. According to the prophecy, if Laius, king of Thebes, had a son by Jocasta, his queen, that son would kill his father and marry his mother. In response to this prophecy, Laius had a rivet driven between his infant son, Oedipus' ankles, and instructed a household servant to leave him on Mt. Citheron to die from exposure to the elements. Instead, the servant pitied the infant, and without revealing his identity, gave him to a Shepard. In turn, the Shepard gave Oedipus, to Merope, the wife of Polybus, king of Corinth. They named him Oedipus, which means "swollen foot," for the wounds in his feet.As a young man, Oedipus was taunted for not being the true son of Polybus. Deeply troubled, Oedipus consulted the oracle of Apollo at Delphi about the accusation. But before he could ask this question, the priestess, Pythia, drove him away from Apollo's shrine, declaring that Oedipus would kill his father and marry his mother. Horrified, Oedipus fled Corinth, the home of his supposed parents, in attemp
The oracle of Apollo at Delphi, which the Greeks call the navel, or the center of the world, was where the Greeks and foreigners alike traveled form all over the Mediterranean to eek the advice of the god who knew all things and who always spoke the truth. Creon tells the citizens that Oedipus has accused him to be the killer. Creon denies these charges, and Oedipus says that he is going to kill him. Jocasta asks her husband to spare the life of her brother. Creon then leaves. Jocasta asks Oedipus why he is so angered, and Oedipus says that it's because Creon accused him. Apparently, Creon sent a prophet to Oedipus, and Jocasta tells Oedipus the exact story of Laius' death. It is said that in Phocis, where the road splits, one way from Delphi and one from Daulia, just before Oedipus became king that Laius was killed. He was a tall, grizzled man. Then Oedipus looked at Jocasta, and realized that something horrid has happened. Oedipus realized that he was the murderer of Laius. A Messenger comes to Jocasta and tells her that Oedipus shall be the new King of Isthmus, because Oedipus' adopted father, Polybus has died. Oedipus thinks that he killed Polybus, because that would fulfill the prophecy, but Oedipus doesn't know that Polybus isn't his real father. He doesn't realize that Polybus died of Old age. The messenger tells Oedipus that a Sheppard gave him to Polybus. Oedipus finds the Sheppard, and he says that he won't tell Oedipus his real father is, but he finally reveals that it's Laius. Jocasta realizes that she has married her son, and she goes into her room, and pulls out her hair, and hangs herself. Oedipus is so distraught, that he takes Jocasta broaches and gouges out his eyes. He has to wander the world blind now. The irony in it is that the blind Teiresias saw more than Seer Oedipus did, so Oedipus blinded himself. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Part I: As the play
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1307
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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