This 3 page paper considers two plays by Sophocles; Oedipus Rex, also known as Oedipus the Kong and Antigone to identify common themes in the work of Sophocles. The writer argued that the main themes is that of the flaw of pride, the power of wisdom and the ultimate power of divine law. Quotes form both plays are used to emphasize points raised. The bibliography cites 2 sources.
Name of Research Paper File: TS14_TEantoed.rtf
Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
wisdom as in all the plays there is the portrayal of ignorance, if we look at both Oedipus Rex and Antigone, the first and third plays in the Theban plays,
there are these commonalities that lead to the message of a divine law that will overcome human law. In looking at the speech "of happiness the crown and chiefest part
is wisdom, and to hold the gods awe. This law that, seeing the stricken heart of pride brought down, we learn when we are old". The divine justice
is seen in two main themes in Oedipus Rex, the first the way in which fate may be fickle, but also plays a role in the deliverance of divine law,
punishing the insolent and the proud and mans inability to overcome that law, the second is that the bigger the they are the harder they will fall.
The story starts before Oedipus is even born, but this is told in retrospect. His parents had been foretold that there would be tragedy; "An
oracle Once came to Laius ...... declaring he was doomed To perish by the hand of his own son, A child that should be born to him by me"
(Sophocles). This tragic portent would surely have put most couples who believed in fate off of having a child, but in this case a child was born. The son
that was born to them is sentenced to death and is placed on a mountainside to die from exposure with his feet riveted together. As a result of Lauiss actions
Oedipus was found and rescued eventually comes into to the court of the king and Queen of Corinth. However, the pride of