Sophocles Play Oedipus the King in 60 Seconds

A tragic story from the Greek dramatist, Sophocles,  Oedipus the King is a well-known and studied play filled with murder, incest, and one mans discovery of the truth about his life. It is the story that you may know because Oedipus murdered his father and married his mother (unknowingly, of course). Also known as Oedipus Rex, this drama has symbolism and hidden meanings scattered throughout. This makes it a compelling study for the theater as well as high school and college students. The story also contributed to the naming of Sigmund Freuds most controversial theory in psychology, the Oedipus complex. Appropriately, the theory tries to explain why a child might have sexual desire for a parent of the opposite sex. This play has alluded to psychological drama long before Freud. Written around 430 BCE, Oedipus the King has long thrilled audiences with its plot twists and compelling characters and an unbelievably tragic ending. It is a production that will remain in classical theaters register of the greatest plays ever written. The Backstory First of all, to understand Sophocles’ play, Oedipus the King, a bit of Greek Mythology is in order. Oedipus was a strong, young man who was walking down the road when all of a sudden, an arrogant rich guy nearly runs him over with a chariot. The two fight – the rich guy dies. Further down the road, Oedipus meets a Sphinx who has been plaguing the city of Thebes  and challenging pedestrians with riddles. (Anyone who guesses wrong gets gobbled up.) Oedipus solves the riddle correctly  and becomes the King of Thebes. Not only that, he marries an attractive older gal named Jocasta – the recently widowed queen of Thebes. The Play Begins The setting is Thebes, over a decade after Oedipus has become king. The Chorus (a bunch of citizens who talk and move in unison) complains to their king about the terrible plague.King Oedipus wants to solve the city’s problems.Apparently, Zeus and the rest of the Olympian Gods are angry that the previous king was murdered and no one bothered to find the murderer. Oedipus vows to find the killer and bring justice. He will punish the killer no matter who the culprit is†¦ even if it is a friend  or a relative, even if he himself turns out to be the killer. (But that couldn’t possibly happen, now could it) The Plot Thickens Oedipus requests help from a local prophet, an old-timer named Tiresias. The aging psychic tells Oedipus to stop looking for the killer. But this just makes Oedipus all the more determined to find out who slew the previous king. Finally, Tiresias gets fed up and spills the beans. The old man claims that Oedipus is the murderer. Then, he declares that the murderer is Theban-born, and (this part gets seriously disturbing) that he killed his father and married his mother. Ooh! Gross! Yuck! Yes, Oedipus is a bit freaked out by Tiresias’ claims. Yet, this isn’t the only time he has heard this sort of prophecy. When he was a young man living in Corinth, another soothsayer claimed that he would kill his father and marry his mother. That prompted Oedipus to run away from Corinth to save his parents and himself from murder and incest. Oedipus’ wife tells him to relax. She says that many prophecies do not come true. A messenger arrives with news that Oedipus’ dad is dead. This seems to imply that all of the icky curses and destinies are not ordained. More Bad News for Oedipus Just when they think that life is fine (except for the deadly plague, of course) a shepherd arrives with a story to tell. The shepherd explains that long ago he found Oedipus as a child, a little baby left out in the wilderness. The shepherd took him back to Corinth where young Oedipus was raised by his adoptive parents. With a few more disturbing puzzle pieces, Oedipus figures out that when he ran away from his adoptive parents, he bumped into his biological father (King Laius) and killed him during their roadside argument. (Nothing is worse than chariot road rage mixed with patricide). Then, when Oedipus became king and married Jocasta, Laius’ wife, he was actually marrying his biological mother. Wrapping Things Up The chorus is filled with shock and pity. Jocasta hangs herself. And Oedipus uses the pins from her dress to gauge out his eyes. We all cope in different ways. Creon, Jocasta’s brother, takes over the throne. Oedipus will wander around Greece as a wretched example of man’s folly. (And, on can assume, Zeus and his fellow Olympians enjoy a mean-spirited chuckle.)

The First Day Of School - 1588 Words

â€Å"Arrg!† I cried out in frustration as I tried to make a decision between the pink shirt with black polka dots and the green shirt with the floral design. Sinking into my bed, my chest swelled with not only every breath I managed to take, but with anxiety and fear. Unlike my roommates, I’d already been through the usual chaos that preceded that day— the last minute packing, labeling all those new binders like voids waiting to be filled with overwhelming homework assignments, and the running around for this and that two weeks ago. Contrary to popular opinion, the first day of school isn’t as bad as everyone makes it seem. For me the anticipation, the glow, the joy, and the eventual let down when it’s over are all what makes it one of my†¦show more content†¦As soon as we walked through the doors of Gracemor Elementary School, I noticed how the hallways were packed with children my age and older with the same glint of excitement in their eyes as they cheerfully greeted their friends. When I finally mustered up the courage to look at the teachers, I noticed that they all had the same expression as the children. My teacher walked up to us and introduced herself to my uncle and then to me, even though she knew I couldn’t understand a word she said, and my uncle translated for her. As my uncle was leaving he knelt down and looked me straight in the eyes and gave me the what has now become â€Å"The Value of Education† speech. My teacher, Mrs. Decker, offered me her hand as she began walking down the hall to her classroom and I gratefully took it. When we reached the entrance to her classroom, she introduced me to the ecstatic looking women who would soon become my ELL teacher and then satisfied the inquisitive looks my classmates directed our way. As Mrs. Decker got class started, Ms. Paden led me outside and into another classroom and once again introduced me to the strange people that would soon become m y colleagues. After Ms. Paden had instructed the other students, she lead me to the most decorated corner of the room teeming with bean bags placed side by side next a little book shelf replete with all kinds of books with colorful covers. When she started speaking I, as expected, couldn’t understand the words coming out of herShow MoreRelatedThe First Day Of School Day709 Words   |  3 Pagesher first day of school. Both parents and the future scholar are beyond excited as they pack a healthy lunch to head out the door. Mother and child review a checklist of needed supplies. Crayons? Check. Pencils? Check. Backpack ready, they head out the door. Besides the jittery nerves of a new experience, the day goes perfectly. The child shares the same experience as the other students, with one minor exception: stopping by the nurse’s office for a â€Å"snack† after recess. Since it’s the first dayRead MoreThe First Day Of School825 Words   |  4 Pagesfoggy Thursday morning, I was up earlier than normal for the first day of school. Hardly any sleep was received throughout the night as the excitement for the next day sat in. The hallway was dark as I made my way to the kitchen. Within the next hour, my life would change drastically. The first day of school can always be problematic. However, the first day of high school is especially hard. Youthful children are always looking up to high school students. They seem like they are so old and mature. ItRead MoreThe First Day Of School Essay968 Words   |  4 PagesThe first day of school has the major influence on the way an individual will eventually turn out in the future. Many actions have occurred in my life long ago; some fail to recall, and some I still clearly remember. I was going into my first school in America. 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When I woke up early I jumped out of the bed. I opened the blinds and sprinted my way to the bathroom. Normally I would not be so ecstatic for school, but it s something about this year that really makes me ready. As I went in the bathroom, I noticed it was still dark outside. It was 6:00 in the morning. I should have not gotten up that early. But I dismissedRead MoreThe First Day Of School994 Words   |  4 PagesHigh school and even history 1 because the way my teachers used to teach me I always found it boring. Now that I am in this class all of the sudden history became more interesting because the teacher used our everyday environment, she used the events that were currently happening and tried to tie it back to the old time. As we started on the first day of school I did not think I would learn so much in such a little amount of time. 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The thought of leaving my home to acquire education seemed like nonsense for my 4 years old self. Since it was my first day of school my parents had to stay with me to make me comfortable. Being nervous, I passed through the main entrance. I saw a couple of kids playing with their small trucks in the playground and others were running

Sex Industry Free Essays

The term sex industry refers to the people and organizations that provide sexual products, services, or performances in exchange for monetary compensation. The term encompasses a variety of enterprises, including print, video, and Internet pornography, prostitution, phone sex operations, sex shops, massage parlors, and strip clubs. Those employed in the sex industry are typically known as sex workers and might include street prostitutes, call girls, escorts, strippers, exotic dancers, phone sex operators, brothel workers, erotic masseuses, and actors/actresses in pornographic films. We will write a custom essay sample on Sex Industry or any similar topic only for you Order Now The sex industry also includes the managers, staff, owners, producers, directors, photographers, pimps, madams, businesses, organizations, and enterprises that provide the infrastructure and support necessary to this multi-billion-dollar industry. As a male my outlook on the sex industry will be much different than if I were a female, due to the profession or the lack there of, being 80% female according to The Spot Light on the Sex Industry by Patrick McDonald. In today’s society it is still considered immoral and illegal in most places to participate in the sex trade, although it has been around for hundreds of years. Contrary to the ugly stereotypes of prostitutes as fallen women, dope addicts, or disease carriers,* sex workers are women at work supporting children as single parents, trying to save money to go to school, surviving economically in a job market that underpays women at every economic level. Because of the nature of the sex industry, in which many enterprises are illegal or only semi- legitimate and in which much earnings and activity goes unreported, estimates of the scope of the industry are necessarily flawed. Nonetheless, all available data suggest that the sex industry plays a very significant role in the U. S. economy, as in other countries. Since the rise of video recording technology and home videocassette players in the early 1980s, the consumption of hard-core pornographic videos in the United States has increased dramatically. A federal study in the 1970s estimated that the total value of hard-core porn in the United States was under $10 million; by 1996 estimates indicated Americans were spending more than $8 billion per year on pornographic videos and magazines, sex shows, peep shows, and sex toys (Schlosser 1997). This figure included 665 million hardcore video rentals, $150 million spent on pay-per-view adult movies, and $175 million on pornographic movies viewed in hotel rooms. How to cite Sex Industry, Essay examples