Essay on Oedipus, a Tragic Hero - 1040 Words

Oedipus a Tragic Hero What is a tragic hero? A Tragic hero is a man or character who has great influence, makes an error in his or her actions, and who must suffer the consequences of those actions. Oedipus’ tragic flaws starts with his excessive pride which leads to overconfidence as the people in the city lift him up and feed his ego: â€Å"You are not one of the immortal gods we know; Yet we have come to you to make our prayer. As to the man of all men best in adversity and wisest in the ways of God.† (Prologue, Line 34-37) Personality/character changes that moved him from being a great king to a blind man. In the prologue Oedipus is seen as a captain of the ship: â€Å"Ah, when years of kingship are remembered, let them not say we rose,†¦show more content†¦He begs and then demands that the seer tell him what he knows: â€Å"What a wicked old man you are! You’d try a stone’s patience! Out with it!† (P968, line 118,119) By Scene 2 Creon learns that Oedipus is making accusations against him. At this point Oedipus is angry and starts interrogating Creon: â€Å"Do you think I do not know that you plotted to kill me, plotted to steal my throne?† (P.972, line 22, 23) Things are getting worse as he acts like a hunter while questioning Creon. Next enters his wife/mother Iocaste and she tries to get them both to be reasonable. She gets Oedipus to tell her what he thinks is happening. After he tells her about the charges brought against him she tells him, â€Å"Set your mind at rest† and begins to tell him the story of how King Laios was killed. While she is talking, memories and facts for Oedipus are being revealed: â€Å"How strange a shadowy memory crossed my mind, just now while you were speaking; it chilled my heart.† (P977, line 200) He then asks her to get the servant who was there when Laios was killed. While they are waiting Iocaste gets Oedipus to confide in her more and he tells her his life story before he met her. This is where you see how compatible they are. He is searching for truth and she wants to help him. In scene 3 a messenger from Corinth arrives to let Oedipus know that his father, Polybos the king is dead. This brings some relief to him as it seems thatShow MoreRelatedOedipus As A Tragic Hero1506 Words   |  7 PagesA true hero does not merely wear a cape, but this individual possesses admirable characteristics. A hero inspires the people around him and he is honorable. Heroes influential individuals from fairytale stories and myths of a real-life hero. Yet, none of these influential people are perfect. The tragic hero is clearly defined by Aristotle as being a person of admirable character, yet completely human with noticeable flaws. Moreover, this individual is not exempt from suffering. In Sophocles’ tragicRead MoreOedipus-a Tragic Hero706 Words   |  3 PagesRunning head: Oedipus-A Tragic Hero Research Paper ENGL 102: Literature and Composition) Fall 2015 Melinda Meeds L26683811 APA Outline Thesis: In Sophocles’ â€Å"Oedipus†, Oedipus is exemplified as a tragic hero according to Aristotle’s definition because his story appeals to the reader’s humanity in the way he maintains his strengths after inadvertently causing his own downfall. I. Oedipus A. The noble birth. B. Describe Oedipus’ character. II. Tragedy A. DescribeRead MoreIs Oedipus A Tragic Hero?1167 Words   |  5 Pages2014 Is Oedipus a tragic hero? Aristotle, Ancient Greek philosopher whom did a lot of philosophizing, he believed in a logical reality. Aristotle’s objective was to come up with a universal process of reasoning that would allow man to learn every imaginable thing about reality. The initial process involved describing objects based on their characteristics, states of being and actions. Aristotle once said A man doesn t become a hero until he can see the root of his own downfall†. Oedipus was a mythicalRead MoreOedipus the Tragic Hero1390 Words   |  6 PagesOedipus; The Tragic Hero In the Fourth Century BC, a famous philosopher named Aristotle wrote about the qualities that a tragic hero must possess. Ever since that time, there have been many examples of tragic heroes in literature. None of those characters, however, display the tragic hero traits quite as well as Oedipus, the main character from the play Oedipus Rex by Sophocles. Oedipus is, without a doubt, the absolute quintessence of a tragic hero. His example shines as clear as a sunny summerRead MoreOedipus As A Tragic Hero1724 Words   |  7 Pagesstory of Oedipus, Oedipus is considered a â€Å"Tragic Hero† because of the tragic fate and effect that he had upon his life. My definition of a tragedy is a great loss that has a unhappy ending to which concluded me to state that Oedipus falls under that category. Throughout the book, Oedipus is leading himself to his own destruction when trying to find the killer of the late King Laios. So when a journal article I found published by The John Hopk ins University Press stated that a â€Å"tragic hero is a manRead MoreOedipus, A Tragic Hero1648 Words   |  7 Pages Oedipus, a Tragic Hero Bob Livingston Liberty University â€Æ' Sophocles presented the world with Oedipus around 2500 years ago. Never-the-less, the story remains among the most riveting of all time. He was, in fact, a man that was driven by a very high internal moral standard. It was that internal moral standard that ultimately entwined him in a sequence of events and circumstances that placed him in the spousal relationship with his mother. Oedipus, in fact, can truly be regarded as a tragic heroRead MoreOedipus a Tragic Hero1516 Words   |  7 PagesOedipus A Tragic Hero English 102 Literature and Composition Summer B 2011 Terry Garofolo 22816762 APA Sophocles presented the world with Oedipus around 2500 years ago. Never-the-less, the story remains among the most riveting of all time. Unfortunately, today when we hear the mention of the name Oedipus we place negative connotations around it. Oedipus, after all, had an unnatural sexual relationship with his own mother! In actuality, however, this relationship emerged entirely innocentlyRead MoreOedipus As A Tragic Hero1094 Words   |  5 PagesIn the play Oedipus the King, Oedipus struggles to accept the truth and lets his temper over power him. He can be displayed as a tragic hero. His refusal to accept the truth led to Oedipus’ down fall. A tragic hero, as defined by Aristotle, â€Å"is a literary character who makes a judgment error that inevitably leads to his/her own destruction.† Sophocles’ Oedipus exemplifies Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero. In the play, Oedipus unknowingly has cursed the entire town of Thebes. He was cursedRead MoreOedipus, a Tragic Hero?2158 Words   |  9 PagesOedipus, a Tragic Hero? Elizabeth Howell English 102- B33 Professor Katie Robinson Liberty University October 12, 2012 Oedipus, a Tragic Hero? Thesis: Using Aristotle’s five different descriptions of a tragic hero, we will show that Oedipus in Oedipus the King is in fact a tragic hero and how his decisions led to his downfall. Outline: I. Introduction and Thesis Statement II. Is the character of noble birth? A. King of Thebes B. Real father was king III. Though the tragic heroRead MoreOedipus, A Tragic Hero1832 Words   |  8 Pagesmany others will likely fade away. Oedipus Rex is a tragic tale set in Ancient Greece. Greek thinker, Aristotle, said there were certain elements that would make a person qualified as a â€Å"tragic hero.† (Adade-Ywboah, Ahenkora Amankwah, 2012). We think of heroes being larger than life, possessing impeccable honor, integrity, strong leadership and having the higher moral ground. However, tragic heroes are different; they are imperfect and will inevitably face a tragic downfall. Per Aristotle, there are

A Brief Biography of Louis Armstrong - 1376 Words

Advanced Placement United States History Born and raised in New Orleans, the melting pot of cultures, Louis Armstrong was by far one of the most influential and successful individuals during the 1900s. His fame and popularity grew astoundingly because of his trumpet playing and charisma. His skills not only attracted the attention of the general population, they also attracted the attention of the State Department. The State Department selected him along with a few other distinguished musicians such as Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington, and Benny Goodman to be ambassadors of the United States. These musicians were chosen to travel to foreign countries in Africa, Europe and Asia to perform with the intent of promoting democracy. However this was a very controversial issue because the United States was still a Jim Crow Law nation at the time. Therefore the reason the State Department chose to use African-Americans as their ambassadors to pr omote democracy was morally reprehensible. Louis Armstrong was born on August 4th, 1901 in the city of New Orleans. However, there were complications with his birth certificate and he originally believed his birthday was the 4th of July, as â€Å"it was the custom for poor blacks to adopt an honorary date as their birthday – often Christmas, or New Year’s Day, or the Fourth of July.† The difficulties did not end there, he had a very difficult childhood because his father abandoned him rightShow MoreRelatedTaking a Look at the Jazz Age1600 Words   |  6 PagesFitzgerald’s writings were influenced by his past military service. â€Å"Fitzgerald joined the army in 1917 and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the infantry. Convinced that he would die in the war, he rapidly wrote a novel, â€Å"The Romantic Egotist† (A Brief Life of Fitzgerald) Fitzgerald’s experiences in war, were shown through his literature. Another piece of literature affected by the times of the Jazz Age, w as Ernest Hemingways The Sun Also Rises. The novel is about a young soldier, who returnedRead MoreA Brief History of Piano Greats and Jazz Essay1426 Words   |  6 PagesA Brief History of Piano Greats and Jazz The piano has been a pivotal instrument throughout the development of jazz music. Starting with ragtime, which developed out of classical music, all the way to modern jazz the piano has been a foundational instrument upon which many styles have been built. This is a result of the versatility of the instrument, as it has the ability to play accompaniment, rhythm, and solo improvisation simultaneously. Throughout the course of jazz history many musicians haveRead MoreA Feminist Study of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women5846 Words   |  24 Pages Chapter 2 Jo March: A Woman Ahead Of Her Times Jo March, one of the four sisters featured in Louis May Alcott’s novel Little Women, is often recognized as an extraordinary literary heroine. 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The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gales For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources. (c)1998-2002;Read MoreOrganisational Theory230255 Words   |  922 PagesTitle. HM786.M33 2007 302.3’5—dc22 2006022347 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 10 09 08 07 06 Typeset in 10/12.5 pt sabon by 72 Printed by Ashford Colour Press Ltd., Gosport The publisher’s policy is to use paper manufactured from sustainable forests. . Brief Contents Preface List of figures List of tables Acknowledgements xiii xvii xix xx 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Introducing organization theory: what is it, and why does it matter? Modernist organization theory: back to the future? Neo-modernistRead MoreContemporary Issues in Management Accounting211377 Words   |  846 Pagessubjective measure of the Wrst task into an implicit contract, he or she could reduce the distortionary eVect of the explicit contract and improve the eYciency of the agent’s actions. 38 BAIMAN 2.4 Conclusion In this chapter I have given a brief explanation of the contract theory model and a few examples of how it has been applied to managerial accounting issues. The examples indicate that contract theory analysis is well suited to analysing managerial accounting issues. The Wt comes fromRead MoreMonsanto: Better Living Through Genetic Engineering96204 Words   |  385 Pagesessential part of a strategic management course and is also perhaps the most entertaining part of such a course. The ‘full story’ that follows this summary gives you considerable detail about how to go about a case analysis, but for now here is a brief account. Before we start, a word about attitude – make it a real exercise. You have a set of historical facts; use a rigorous system to work out what strategies should be followed. All the cases are about real companies, and one of the entertaining

Drinking Age Controversy Free Essays

In the United States, a citizen is considered an â€Å"adult† at the age of 18, and with that new title comes many responsibilities, such as the right to vote and to join the army. However, the legal drinking age in America is twenty-one. This issue has been a major controversy for some time now that faces both national and state governments. We will write a custom essay sample on Drinking Age Controversy or any similar topic only for you Order Now Should the drinking age be lowered to the age when legally a person becomes an adult and assumes all other adult responsibilities, or should it remain at a higher age to allow people to grow more mature and, hopefully, make more responsible decisions? In the mid 1600’s, colonial laws attempted to control alcohol consumption, but drinking per se was not remonstrated. Between 1913 and 1919 there was a lot of controversy between the â€Å"wet† states, which were states that allowed liquor, and the â€Å"dry† states, which were against and had made liquor illegal. On October 28, 1919, Congress enacted the National Prohibition Act, also known as the Volstead Act. The 18th Amendment was to become effective on January 17, 1920, and in those three months before the amendment became effective, alcohol was stolen in mass quantities from government warehouses. Throughout the thirteen years that Prohibition was enforced, the demand for alcohol only grew. The 18th Amendment was repealed on December 5, 1933 following the 21st Amendment, which was effective immediately. The National Minimum Drinking Age Act followed the 21st Amendment on July 17, 1984 stating that all states prohibit anyone under the age of 21 consuming, purchasing, or being in possession of alcohol. If the states would not comply with the law, they would not get funding under the Federal Aid Highway Act. This bill was supported by many people, one being arguably the most influential, was Candy Lightner. She founded the MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) after losing her daughter in 1980 to a car accident involving a drunk driver. On average, according to MADD statistics, a person is killed by a drunk driver every forty minutes. In 2007, about 13,000 people were killed in alcohol impaired driving crashes. A â€Å"binge drinker† is defined as a person who has more than 5 drinks in one sitting, which is becoming a large issue at college campuses worldwide. Presidents from over 100 universities have voted to lower the drinking age in order to cut the amount of underage drinking on campuses. Frequent users† will drink anywhere from three times a week to everyday. A â€Å"moderate user† is someone who drinks anywhere from once a week to once a month. The decision of whether or not to keep the drinking age at 21 or lower it to 18 is continually discussed between groups such as MADD, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, who fight to keep the drinking age at 21 and LAFAA, Legalize Alcohol For All Adults, who fight to lower the drinking age. Karl Marx’s Conflict Theory is one way to explain the disagreements between those who want to lower the drinking age, and those who don’t. His theory states that social organization and change is based upon conflicts within the society. People between the ages of 18 and 21, called stakeholders, feel that they aren’t getting to exercise all of their rights to being an adult by government definition. They given all of the responsibilities and consequences of adults such as the right to vote, the ability to adopt, the right to join the military, the right to be charged with the highest punishment if accused of a crime, the right to get married, the right to buy and create pornography, etc. LAFAA would argue that with given all of these rights, government defined adults would also have to right to choose whether or not to consume alcohol. The families that allow their children to drink give a conflicting message to those who are a part of the underage drinking. Children then grow up thinking that underage drinking isn’t a big deal and is also a fun and â€Å"cool† thing to do. A large part of the â€Å"cool† factor, some would say, has to do with it being illegal to their age group. The thrill is what makes the drinking more exciting. The law also states that government usually follows majority opinion, and if this is fact, then the drinking age would be lowered seeing that two-thirds of Americans consume alcohol. Those arguing for keeping the drinking age at or above 21, such as MADD, argue that lowering the drinking age would enable younger adults to be able to purchase and drink alcohol legally, which would inevitably result in higher mortality rates. Although 18 year olds are considered adults, some think that they are still not mature enough to make to correct choices about alcohol. Those who think that keeping the drinking age at a higher minimum are trying to keep the demand for alcohol down and are also trying to keep the roads safer from drunk drivers. People between the ages of 18 and 20 will have just started college for the most part and don’t need alcohol interfering with their studies and their ability to succeed in life. Condoning the drinking of newly formed adults would only cause chaos and cause more fatalities. To MADD the cost of drinking outweighs the benefits since the highest numbers of fatalities in the United States are due to alcohol related deaths. Evidence tends to support the notion that keeping the drinking age at 21 is the safest and most responsible thing to do. Although it is taking some of Americans rights away, it is also ensuring the safety of thousands of citizens. Depending on whether you are liberal or conservative, opinions on how many rights government should take away will differ tremendously. The safety of American people should always be the most important aspect of keeping the United States a safe and enjoyable place to live. No matter whether the age is kept at 21 or lowered to 18, the controversy between the groups will never end. References http://www.druglibrary.org/Schaffer/LIBRARY/studies/nc/nc2a.htm How to cite Drinking Age Controversy, Essay examples

Epic Heroes Archetypes throughout History free essay sample

After Athena tricked Hector into facing Achilles, their sparring battle resulted in Achilles as the winner. His rage and strength was so prominent that the God of Fire touched his spear tip just as he attacked, â€Å"Brightest star that rides the heavens, so fire flared from the sharp point of spear Achilles brandished high in his right hand. † As Hector lay dying, Homer, the author, describes him as, â€Å"Godlike Achilles gloried over him. † Gilgamesh too had god-like strength that helped him succeed. Gilgamesh’s adventures were based on the god-like strength he had. He had fought and won every battle he’d been in and soon became bored. The Gods sensed this and sent Enkidu, a stronger, better version of Gilgamesh, to fight and entertain the bored king. They fought for a while, but after neither could one up the other, they decided to become best friends. To put their strengths to the test, and to also entertain themselves, Gilgamesh and Enkidu set out to defeat Humbaba, a monster from the forest. Humbaba almost got the better of Enkidu, but Gilgamesh used his god-like strength to cut off his head. Besides strength, all three epic heroes shared the trait of bravery as well. The thing about superheroes isn’t just that they tend to have amazing superpowers. It’s that they have the bravery to risk their lives for the benefit of others. Beowulf’s main fight was to save a kingdom that he was not apart of. Herot’s king was a friend of his father, so Beowulf courageously took it upon himself to help them out. He succeeded too, taking Herot out of harm’s way. Then, when Grendel’s mother came for revenge, Beowulf once again decided to risk his like to protect the kingdom. He nearly lost it too, if not for his chain mail and a sword. Then, during his last battle, Beowulf and a group of knights went to fight a dragon. Though he did not succeed on his own, and lost his life after the dragon was dead, he bravely faced the beast in hopes of protecting his kingdom. But bravery doesn’t just have to do with fighting monsters, it also has to do with facing your mortal enemies. Achilles’ bravery was fueled by his desire to avenge his dead friend. He chased Hector, the murderer, for a long time, never faltering but never catching up either. When Athena helped him out, he bravely stood his ground against Hector. When the two came face to face, Hector offerened him a pact, return the body of the one who is killed. Knowing there was a chance he might not win, Achilles turned down the offer so he could get his full vengence. Achilles’ first strike missed Hector, he taunted him for it afterwards. But he kept a cool head and continued fight his hardest, thus coming out on top as the victor. Sometimes bravery isn’t always shown at first, especially when Gilgamesh and Enkidu face Humababa. Gligamesh fought many battles with his friend Enkidu, defeating many monsters along the way. But their biggest battle tested their bravery the most. Not only was Humbaba the most fearsome monster in the land, but his forest that he lived in was almost just as dangerous. During the night, Enkidu and Gilgamesh both had nightmares of the fight to come. Enkidu tried to calm Gilgamesh by turning all of his bad dreams into good signs, such as, â€Å"’What does that mean, Enkidu? ‘That you will be victorious against Humbaba’ Enkidu said. † He proved right too. In the morning Humbaba came barreling through the forest, his sights set on attacking the duo. Gilgamesh stood paralyzed with fear as Humbaba started beating Enkidu to a pulp, but bravery flooded back into him when he realized he wanted Enkidu to live more than he was afraid. After saving him and decapitating the head, Gilgamesh and Enkidu head home to plan for more adventures. All of these epic heroes seem perfect, but they each have their flaws that give them a weakness. Beowulf was perfect in everyone’s eyes, including his own but he also had small but crucial flaws that made him not so perfect. For one, he had a mortal’s body. Though he was god-like strong and extremely brave, when he went to fight Grendel’s mother she almost got the best of him. If not for his chain mail and the beast’s sword, Beowulf would have been another snack in her stomach. He was also cocky, which he had every right to be since he won all of his battles. But as old age dawned upon him and he took a group to fight a dragon, Beowulf’s mortal body couldn’t finish off the beast by himself. His sword, which he used in every battle, was apart of his downfall, â€Å"infallible before that day, failed when he unsheathed it, as it never should have. † After the dragon was dead, and Beowulf lay dying, he passed his throne onto Wiglaf, who reminded Beowulf of himself when he was younger. Achilles’ downfall also had to do with his body, but their were other factors in it. When his mother dipped him into the River Styx and gave him his god-like strength, she submerged everything but his ankle. Though it was not in the passage of him killing Hector, that was the ultimate downfall of Achilles. Shot in the ankle with an arrow was the death of him. But he also had other weaknesses too. For one, he was not nearly as god-like as everyone thought, for if he was then there should have been no reason why couldn’t he catch up to Hector as he was chasing him. The only way that he did finally manage to reach Hector was with the help of his ally Athena, who tricked Hector into turning around and facing him. So though Achilles was a very powerful individual, he couldn’t have gotten anywhere without the help of others. Gilgamesh was a strong, brave individual with an insecurity issue. As he and Enkidu sleep in the forest before the battle with Humbaba, both are whimpering in fear. Enkidu has to calm Gilgamesh’s nerves by telling him that all his dreams mean good omens. And when the battle finally did come, Gilgamesh was frozen in fear and Humbaba beat Enkidu. It wasn’t until Enkidu was crying for help and he realized he didn’t want his friend dead that he finally stepped up and helped him out. So though he was strong and adventurous, he wasn’t sure in himself enough to go fight out on his own. Archetypes throughout history have shaped the modern day superhero. Strength, bravery, and a potential weakness are all things many epic heroes have in common. Beowulf, Achilles, and Gilgamesh are three different heroes that find common ground in their character traits. So if becoming a superhero is in anyone’s future plans, they can look to epic poems for the aspects they’ll need.