Oedipus, the Cursed Man Essay -- Oedipus the King Oedipus Rex

Oedipus, the Cursed Man Have you ever had one of those eld when it seems that everything is against you, that life could not look any bleaker than it does right now? We find all had moments ilk those, scarce nothing can compare to the sentiment Oedipus had on that dreadful day when he found out that he was cursed by the gods, destined to kill his father and marry his mother. This tragic story of the cursed man is told in Sophocles play, Oedipus the King. This essay go forth check one of Oedipus speeches, found in lines 1183 - 1194, made earlier he learns of his noble fate. It is a passage full of dramatic irony. We, the audience, realise the truth. Even Jocasta has dear come to realize the facts, but Oedipus is still unaware of the impending doom. let it burst Whatever will, whatever must I must cut my birth, no matter how common it whitethorn be-I must see my origins opposite. She perhaps, she with her womans hook may well be mortified by my birth, but I, I count myself the son of Chance, the great goddess, giver of all good things- Ill never see myself disgraced. She is my mother And the moon abouts have marked me out, my blood brothers, one moon on the wane, the next moon great with power. That is my blood, my nature-I will never shop it, never fail to search and learn my birth (Oedipus lines 1183-1194) The passage begins with Oedipus crying, let it burst Whatever will, whatever must / I must know my birth, no matter how common / it may be-I must see my origins face-to-face (lines 1183 - 1185). He is eager to know his past, no matter how ugly it may be. He believes the truth can be no worse than encyclopaedism that he comes from a humbl... ...ldren and siblings. Again, the audience knows the truth and wishes the opposite of what Oedipus persevered to discover. The reader wishes that he would indeed give up the search to find his true origins. It will only result in ending his life in horrific misery. This short ye t heartfelt speech made by Oedipus before he learns of his fate is packed with dramatic irony. He is blinded to the truth, but the readers are entirely aware of his dreadful fame. This makes the speech all the more painful and wrenching for the audience. Oh how we must pity a king like Oedipus, the cursed man. May what happened to him never happen to another. Work Cited Sophocles, Oedipus the King. Trans. Robert Fagles. The Norton Anthology of World Literature. second ed. Vol. A. Ed. Sarah Lawall and Maynard Mack. New York Norton, 2002. 617-658.