Oedipus Rex Study Flashcards
what is the main idea for free will
Oedipus trying to leave and chose his own destiny
what is the symbol for free will
Oedipus choses to blind himslef. everything that happened to Oedipus was out of his control, by doing this, he asserts control over fate for the first time
what is the main idea for fate
Oedipus ran away but he still ended up killing his father and marrying his mother
what is the symbol for fate
Ankels pinned together when he was left on the mountain to die. It’s what he is named after, how he solved the riddle, and it left a scar on his ankles.
reminds us of the prophecy he is meant to fufill.
How does Oedipus act at the end of the story
Oedipus chooses to excile himself from Thebes and accepts his fate of the prophecy. He still feels that he is responsible for his actions and tries to use the little influence he has to feel he has control.
He asks for excile and to see his daughters.
Who said this quote and what does it mean:
“O riddlers of God’s will, where are you now!
This was the man whom Oedipus, long ago,
Feared so, fled so, in dread of destroying him -
But it was another fate by which he died.”
the chorus is talking about Oedipus decision to leave his adoptive father in attempt to avoid his fate. They express sorrow over his downfall, mourning the tragic outcome of their king.
Who said this quote and what does it mean:
“O Light, may I look on you for the last time!
I…damned in his birth, in his marriage damned,
Damned in the blood he shed with his own hand!”
Oedipus is speaking to himself. At this time, he just found out that the prophecy that he was trying to run from came true. He feels hopeless because his whole life was shaped and controled by this prophecy.
Who said this quote and what does it mean:
“Think no longer
That you are in command here, but rather think
How, when you were, you served your own destruction.”
This quote is Creons last encounter with Oedipus at the end of the story. Creon is reffering to how Oedipus runs away from his old life led the prophacy coming true.
Climax of the story
when Oedipus found out the prophecy came true.
what is the main idea for chance
Oedipus happens to run into is father
what is the symbol for chance
the crossroads themself symbolize chance because it just happens that his biological used the same road he did the same minute he did.
How does Oedipus act at the start of the story
Oedipus is confident, the chorus is always talking about and praising him because of his good reputation. Everything that happened before the story gave him belief that he could do anything.
How does Oedipus act in the middle of the story
Oedipus is at the height of his anger, he is very determined to find the murderer of the king becuase it would rid the plagure of Thebes.
Who said this quote and what does it mean:
“But I say that you, with both your eyes, are blind:
You cannot see the wretchedness of your life”
Tiresias to Oedipus. Tiresias’ character is blind but can see the future. He is explaining that even though Oedipus has sight, he is blind to the truth of his life and fate.
Who said this quote and what does it mean:
“Thus, Apollo never caused that child
To kill his father, and it was not Laius’ fate
To die at the hands of his son, as he had feared.
This is what prophets and prophecies are worth!
Have no dread of them.”
Jocasta to Oedipus. she is reassuring to him that prophecies are unreliable. There could be no way that Oedipus could be the murderer of the king becuase her son died a long time ago. She said this before she knew Oedipus was her son.
