Oedipus

A detailed Summary of Oedipus


The mythological critic easily evaluates the written version of Oedipus the King, finding the prevalent mythological or archetypal characteristics in the text as well as common hero characteristics in Oedipus.

The myth begins with a journey as Oedipus arrives in Thebes from his home in Corinth as the son of King Plybus.

The ideas of heaven and hell are visible in the text. A heavenly atmosphere is presented upon the arrival of Oedipus in Thebes after he solving the Sphinx's riddle, saving the citizens from her wrechedness. In the end of the story Oedipus departs Thebes to Kithairon to spend the remainder of his life blinded and disabled and to avoid being seen by anyone. This place represents a hell on earth that Oedipus must live through many years until his awaited death.


Though Oedipus brings an awful plague to Thebes, kills its previous king, and changes the lives of his mother and daughters forever he still processes the characteristics of a mythological hero. He his parents, King Laius and Jocasta, can be considered divine parents do to their royalty. The disgracing fate of Oedipus leads him into exile from Thebes. Oedipus attempts to escape his terrible fat by fleeing from Corinth to avoid his "mother and father." After solving the sphinx's riddles Oedipus is viewed as a god. He is said to have had a gods touch and a priest says " as to the man surest in mortal ways/ And wisest in the ways of God." This presents a prevalent theme that no man will ever be above the gods and ensures that the gods have supreme authority over all mortals. Oedipus

Some common words found in the essay are:
Thebes Kithairon, Thebes Oedipus, Corinth Thebes, Oedipus King, Laius Jocasta, Oedipus Thebes, King Plybus, , solving sphinx's, sky imagery,

Approximate Word count = 533
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Novels

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