When he heard Apollo’s prophecy, he could have calmly investigated the murder of King Laius, but in his hastiness, he cursed the murder, and in so, cursing himself. “I pray that that man’s life be consumed in evil and wretchedness. And as for me, this curse applies no less” (Sophocles 13). Oedipus’ desire to know the truth about Laius’ murder and the mystery surrounding his birth, led Oedipus to his realization of his doings. Although multiple people tried to stop him from pursuing the truth, he is unable to.
However, Oedipus egotism character concerning autonomy depicts and fulfills his destiny. Oedipus becomes ignorant as Tiresias expresses that Oedipus is the murderer he seeks (10). However, Oedipus calls the blind profit a traitor and mocks the seer by calling him a cripple to his ears and eyes. Oedipus does not believe the prophecy is true as he contradicts what he hears. Tiresias is also equally disrespectful, mocking and provocative as Oedipus.
When they encounter each other, Oedipus begs him to reveal who Laius’s murderer is. However, Tiresias is reluctant to speak with Oedipus. “I will not bring this pain upon us both, neither on you nor on myself. Why is it you question me and waste your labor? I will tell you nothing.”(Line 370-373) Oedipus quickly becomes angered and begins to insult him.
Sophocles seems to even mock the believers a few times, by telling the audience how there is no point in struggling against what is meant to happen, In Oedipus Rex, we finally see the conclusion of the prophecy made at the beginning of the Oedipus Trilogy. As Oedipus tries to hunt down the man who killed Laius, the audience already knows that it was in fact himself who did it. The audience at the time still believed in prophecies, so they would have expected Oedipus to kill his father and marry his mother. Sophocles seems to even mock the believers a few times, by telling the audience how there is no point in struggling against what is meant to happen, In ancient Greece, the Greeks accepted Fate to be a reality that no one could control, and that determined the course of an individual’s life. Nowadays the idea of fate sounds ridiculous and has become something that belongs in a fantastical tale.
Upon his return to London, he is told by Mrs. Lovett that the Judge raped his wife and adopted his child. Todd believed his family to be waiting for him, but instead he goes into an unexpected state of shock and mourning. He believes that his wife is dead from poisoning herself, and must immediately move on. From a psychological standpoint, Todd is completely justified in his obsession. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, “Important life transitions and mourning may lead to an intensification of ritual behavior that may appear to be an obsession” (“Obsessive Compulsive Disorder”).
Burnt Fingers- When King Hamlet’s ghost appears to Hamlet, the plot twists. Hamlet is told that his uncle, Claudius, actually killed his father with poison. His father’s ghost also tells him to seek revenge on Claudius. 3. Temporary Binding- Hamlet pretends to become crazy.
Damis being the person he is does not think about things before saying or acting on them. Damis says rudely “Ill go and tell Tartuffe off, I’m out of patience”. He verbally slams Tartuffe’s character and his father, who is absolutely obsessed with the presence and behavior of Tartuffe, to actually see beyond Tartuffe for what he is. Damis after eavesdropping on the conversation amongst Elmire and Tartuffe, believes that he is capable of influencing and proving to his father that Tartuffe is a negative person to have around their family. However, even after Damis tries to convince Orgon that Tartuffe was trying to seduce Elmire, Orgon instantly takes the side of Tartuffe and dismissed his own son’s claims and accusations and shields a total stranger saying “Ah you deceitful boy, how dare you try/to slain his purity with so foul a lie?” Orgon as a father did not even give his son a chance to truly convince him of Tartuffe’s wrongdoings.
Oedipus as King and Creon as King Sophocles’ plays, Oedipus the King and Antigonê, are tragedies that at a glance seem different but when examined are extremely similar. In Oedipus the King, the main character Oedipus is the King of Thebes and after investigation, finds out he is the villain that killed his father. Realizing he is the curse on the city, he leaves his children and flees. In the play Antigonê, Creon is the King of Thebes and after he found out Antigonê buried her brother, he sends her away to a stone vault. Creon becomes mad and irrational when he must make a series of decisions to choose Antigonê and the city’s fate.
This puzzles Othello as he is unsure why Iago, his most trustworthy friend, is reminding him to keep his reputation: “he that filches from me my good name Robs me of that which not enriches him And makes me poor indeed.” This further arouses Othello’s curiousity. Iago also warns Othello about the dangers of jealousy, “the green-eyed monster” and infers that Othello is a cuckold, a man married to an unfaithful wife. Iago
The stark contrast between Oedipus and Teiresias is a testimony to Oedipus’ character and how irony will get the best of Oedipus. Teiresias is a blind prophet who comes to Oedipus with the knowledge of Oedipus’ past deeds. He approaches Oedipus in silence, not telling him what he knows. This angers Oedipus and he blindly accuses Teiresias for killing Laius. With the truth being inside the “blind” prophet, Oedipus is seen as mentally blind due to the fact he does not believe Teiresias.