Basic English Prepositions At, In, On, and To

Oedipus the King Fate vs. Free Will Essay examples

Sophocles’ Oedipus the King: Fate vs. Free Will In Oedipus the King, one of Sophocles’ most popular plays, Sophocles clearly depicts the Greek’s popular belief that fate will control a man’s life despite of man’s free will. Man was free to choose and was ultimately held responsible for his own actions. Throughout Oedipus the King, the concept of fate and free will plays an integral part in Oedipus destruction. Destined to marry his mother and murder his father, Oedipus was partly guided by fate. This prophecy, as warned by the Oracle of Apollo at Delphi, was absolute and would inevitably come to pass. As for free will, Oedipus’ actions, temper, impulsive nature and pride (hubris) as well as his erroneous judgment (hamartia) all†¦show more content†¦Not knowing he was the murderer, Oedipus had now cursed himself. Whoever he is, a lone man unknown in his crime or one among many, let that man drag out his life in agony, step by painful step – I curse myself as well†¦ if by any chance he proves to be an intimate of our house, here at my hearth, with my full knowledge, may the curse I just called down on him strike me! (606) Oedipus journey in search of Laius’ murderer has merely helped the prophecy become reality. His ignorance, pride and remorseless quest for the truth ultimately contributed to his destruction. An explicit example can be seen when Oedipus was told (after threatening Tiresias), that he was responsible for Laius’ murder. Oedipus became enraged and called the blind prophet a liar. Oedipus thought he could overcome the gods, but in fact, his every action moved him closer to his destiny. Upon unearthing of the truth of his birth from the shepherd, Oedipus cries out, â€Å"O god all come true, all burst to light! O light now let me look my last on you! I stand revealed at last cursed in my birth, cursed in marriage, cursed in the lives I cut down with these hands†. (631). Oedipus now knew that his fate had indeed come to pass, and feels cursed by it. Due to the crimes he committed, Oedipus punishes himself (free will) by stabbing his eyes with one of Jocasta’s brooches. Overall, Oedipus achieves his foremost sin when he attempts toShow MoreRelatedOedipus the King: Fate Vs Free Will Essay639 Words   |  3 Pages Oedipus the King, was written by Sophocles between C.A.496-406B.C. In this play, Oedipus is a great example of Sophocles’ belief that fate will control a man’s life no matter how much free will exists. Oedipus is a man of unflagging determination and perseverance, but one who must learn through the working out of a terrible prophecy that there are forces beyond any man’s conceptualization or control. Oedipus’ actions were determined before his birth, yet Oedipus’ actions are entirely determinedRead MoreThe Value Of Leadership In Oedipus Rex By Sophocles1326 Words   |  6 PagesBased on evidence, Athenians valued bravery, confidence and heroic strength in their leaders. For example, the entire reason Oedipus from Oedipus Rex by Sophocles became king of Thebes is because he defeated the Sphinx that was guarding the city, saving the citizens (info from the backstory). On page 11, a senator makes the comment, â€Å"if his bosom holds a grain of fear, curses like yours he never will abide.† The reader can assume the Athenians valued bravery because the senator makes a comment againstRead MoreFate vs Free Will1663 Words   |  7 PagesOedipus The King: Fate Vs. Free Will The ancient Greek writer, Sophocles suggests that while there are factors beyond mankind’s control that we have the power to make choices that affect our destiny. In his play, Oedipus the King, Sophocles makes it quite clear that although everyone is born with a fate, you have the ability to alter its direction and toll. The main character of the play, Oedipus, is based on the way Sophocles portrays the equilibrium between fate and freewill, and shows theRead MoreWhat Does Oedipus the King Show Us About Greek Thought on Fate, Gods, and Free Will?1321 Words   |  5 PagesWhat does Oedipus the King show us about Greek thought on Fate, the gods, and free will? Oedipus is a play that explores the styles of freewill and fate throughout its totality. This is the tale of a guy and how he tries to resist his own fate and thus focuses on his defense of the future that he needs. Oedipus wished to reject his personal predestination and wanted make a life of his own choosing. The tale all started by a prediction upon Oedipus life that therw will come a day when he wouldRead MoreAn Analysis of Fate vs. Free Will in the Theban Plays1392 Words   |  6 PagesAn Analysis of Fate vs. Free Will in the Theban Plays When Teiresias asks in Antigone (line 1051), What prize outweighs the priceless worth of prudence? he strikes (as usual) to the heart of the matter in Sophocles Theban Plays. Sophocles dramatizes the struggle between fate and free will, in one sense, but in another sense the drama might be better understood as the struggle between the will of the goods (which it is prudent to follow, according to Teiresias) and mans will (which is oftenRead MoreEssay about Fate vs. Free Will (Oedipus Rex)607 Words   |  3 PagesFate vs. Free Will Sophocles creates a world that makes the reader think about the complex and mysterious battle between fate and free will in his play Oedipus The King. To the characters, fate is real and that’s what they believe in. The audience sees that Oedipus is the one making the divisions and altimetry it is himself that leads to his downfall. Apollo, the Greek god of prophecy, intellectual pursuits and pelage, told Oedipus about his tragic future. When we first encounter OedipusRead MoreOedipus Fate And Fate Essay777 Words   |  4 PagesFate as defined by the Merriam Webster dictionary is ‘an inevitable and often adverse outcome, condition, or end’. Sophocles discusses fate vs free will in his plays. In the play Oedipus Rex there was a prophecy that Oedipus was destined to kill his father and marry his mother, he attempts to escape his destiny by running away to Thebes where he meets his fate. In the play Antigone, that main character Antigone decides to go against Creon’s (her uncle who has inherited the throne) decree and buryRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Oedipus The King 909 Words   |  4 PagesEnglish Assignment – Oedipus The King In the story, Oedipus The King, written by Sophocles, two important aspects of Oedipus’ character that lead to his demise are his determination to find the truth of his origin, as well as his anger. These are flaws that negatively affect the tragic outcome at the end of the plot. Oedipus first shows signs of anger when he does not want to hear what Tiresias has to say about the murderer of Laius, even after the ruler begs for the truth. Oedipus yells, Enough! IRead MoreCan You Truly Ever Escape?2156 Words   |  9 PagesThe most memorable of his warnings was in Sophocles’ Oedipus the King, king of Thebes that he was the land’s pollution. The prophet Tiresias spoke the truth about Oedipus—â€Å"God within reckon that out, and if you find me mistaken, say I have no skill in prophecy†Ã¢â‚¬â€denouncing the tragedy, as the angry Oedipus begins his painful search for the truth about himself. However, the prophecy is Oedipus’s ultimate demise. Oed ipus fought the limits of free will by ignoring social ques, and even disbelieving respectedRead MoreOedipus the King by Sophocles Essay example615 Words   |  3 PagesIn the story of â€Å"Oedipus the King† by Sophocles portrays theme, symbolism, and imagery. With these in mind, they had influence the character to do a few things we wouldn’t normally be doing in today’s society. By showing us the way he acts leads us to knowing the difference between what is right and wrong. Back in the day, we never knew what was shown as being truthful unless someone told you. So not realizing the importance role Oedipus plays is has a significant impact on the audience’s reactions

Shakespeare Biography Essay Example For Students

Shakespeare: Biography Essay Shakespeare: BiographyWilliam Shakespeare was a great English playwright, dramatist and poetwho lived during the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. Shakespeare is considered to be the greatest playwright of all time. No otherwriters plays have been produced so many times or read so widely in so manycountries as his. Shakespeare was born to middle class parents. His father, John, was aStratford businessman. He was a glove maker who owned a leather shop. JohnShakespeare was a well known and respected man in the town. He held severalimportant local governmental positions. William Shakespeares mother was MaryArden. Though she was the daughter of a local farmer, she was related to afamily of considerable wealth and social standing. Mary Arden and JohnShakespeare were married in 1557. William Shakespeare went to a very good grammar school in Stratford-upon- Avon. Two of his instructors were Oxford graduates, Simon Hunt and Thomas Jenkins. Williams studies were in Greek and Latin. He developed the ability of keen observation of both nature and mankind. It is said that his education ended here. On November 27, 1582, when William was 18 years old, he married Anne Hathaway. She was ten years older than him. Their first daughter, named Susanna, was born the next year on May 26, 1583. The couple also had twins, Hamnet and Judith, in 1585. Hamnet died at the age of eleven, but it is unknown how. Between the years of 1585 and 1592 no evidence of what happened in Shakespeares life is known. These years are called The Hidden Years. It is said that during this stretch of time, he ran away from the law or was the apprentice of a butcher, although a man named John Aubry was told by Christopher Beston that Shakespeare was a school teacher up until 1592 somewhere in London. Beginning in 1592, in London, he became known as an established playwright. In 1593 he found a patron, Henry Wriothsley, to sponsor him. William Shakespeare was also an actor, writer, director, and stockholder in The Kings Men company. He acted for a company called The Kings Men. This company became the largest and most famous acting company simply because William was performing and working for them. Shakespeare wrote two long poems. His first, Venus and Adonius, was written in the year 1593. Then a year later he wrote, Rape of Lucrece. These were written at a time when theatres were closed because of the contagious epidemic known as the plague.In the late 1590s he wrote many plays. Most of them being comedies, the major ones are: The Taming of the Shrew, The Comedy of Errors, As You Like It, Much Ado About Nothing, and The Two Gentlemen of Verona. Romeo and Juliet was his only tragedy written during this time. In 1599 a theatre called the Globe was built by Shakespeares company. Som e of his most prominent tragedies written and performed were Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth. Since Shakespeare was established playwright, he was wealthy because of multiple income sources. In 1597 he bought his family a huge house called New Place, located in Stratford-upon-Avon. Shakespeare retired from theatre in 1610 and returned to Stratford. On the 25th of March, 1616, he wrote his will. On April 23, 1616, the same date as his birthday, William Shakespeare died.He was buried at the chancel of the Church of the Holy Trinity in Stratford. The cause of his death is unknown. Many people believe that he knew that his death was near, but did not want anybody to know. Seven years after he died, in 1623 William Shakespeares first folio was published including 154 sonnets, 36 plays, and his two long poems. The folio was put together by his friends so that nobody could take his work as theirs.BIBLIOGRAPHY1.Torstenson,Casey. William Shakespeare. Internet 2.Shah, Ravi P.Life of Shakespeare. Internet,19973.Booth,Beth.Shakespeares Life. Internet4. Editors of the Grolier Universal En cyclopedia. Shakespeare, Stratford Press,Inc: New York,1966

The Count Of Monte Cristo By Alexandre Dumas Is A Story Which Begins I

The Count Of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas is a story which begins in 19th century France. The Main character, Edmond Dantes begins the story as a happy man. He has everything going for him. ?you're a lucky man, Edmond, and you have a very pretty mistress, sir? ?she's not my mistress, sir ? ? she's my fiancee.? This changes quickly when Dantes is imprisoned. Four people plot against him. The people are Gaspard Caderousse, he want's Dantes imprisoned because Second was Monsieur de Villefort, He wanted to put Dantes into prison because Villefort found out that Dantes had a letter from the island of Elba, that stated that villefort was a Bonapartist. Villefort was afraid that this would ruin him in society. The third person was Monsieur Danglars. He wanted Dantes imprisoned because Dantes was younger, more capable, more assured because he was a young man. Last but not least Fernand Mondego (alias the Count De Morcerf.) He wanted Dantes imprisoned because he loved Mercedes and he knew that he couldn't have her. While in prison Dantes gained knowledge from a man named Abbe Faria. He also learned of a treasure on an Island. But soon Abbe died and Dantes slipped into Abbe's sack and was thrown into the ocean. Dantes was prepared he had a knife and cut the sack open and got the cannon ball off his legs and then he swam up to the surface, were there were huge swells Dantes almost drowned if it wasn't for a man named Jacob and his ship. This ship was a smuggling ship so Daunts began to smuggle. One day they were hunting on an island and Daunts slips off in search for the treasure. But only taking a pocket full of treasure. He then puts everything back as it was, then he goes back to the ship. The ship sails to Rome where he seeks revenge on Four People Caderousse, Villefort, Dangles, and Fernando. Later on old Madame Saint-Merino And Monsieur Saint-Merino were poisoned by drinking glasses of orangeade. Then an hour later they died. They both were buried side by side next to Renee. Then Villefort makes immediate plans for his daughter to marry France d'Epinay. But then Villefort find a letter that says that France is secretly is a Bonapartist. And the Marriage is called off. The reasons for seeking revenge are Caderousse framed Daunts. He never came to Daunts aid when he was imprisoned. The Daunts escapes from prison and disguises himself as Babe Buskin and learns about the entire nature of Caderousse's conspiracy against Daunts. So then Daunts gas two body guards France D'Epinay and Albert De Mercer. These two are seeking love in Rome. So one night they stand guard over Daunts house. Caderousse tries to rob Mantis's house but does not succeed, he is stabbed by one of the body guards. Villefort gets revenge on Villefort by watching Villefort bury Bertuccio alive. But Daunts thinks it is gold so he goes and digs it up and there is a baby inside. So he raises him up and then daunts goes to Villefort and tells him this is your son and then Bertuccio becomes the main key in the divine justice and accuses and destroys Villefort forever. Dangles writes a letter assuring Daunts imprisonment. Dangles becomes a very wealthy man by using illegal banking methods. The count , however, is more clever, and he gradually goes bankrupt. But he disappeared and was captured by Luis Vamp, an old friend of Daunts. Daunts stripes 5 million francs from his pockets and then was freed. Now he is an old and weak man, worst of all he is a penniless man. Fernando mailed that letter that Dangles wrote putting Daunts into prison. He was hoping while Daunts was in prison he could marry Mercedes. Fernando became wealthy by betraying a high authority named Ail Pasha, whose daughter he sold to slavery. When Daunts gains this knowledge he realizes information to the pressthat proves that Morcerf is a traitor. When all this treachery is exposed and his wife and son run away he kills him self with a gun. Then Dantes Turn to his slave Haydee and tells her that he is entrusting her future to Valentine and Maximilien; but Haydee says that she will die without Dantes so she tells him that she loves him and the next day in the horizon the sail off into there future. Dantes changes through the novel