Corruption In Oedipus The King And Antigone - 988 Words

In Sophocles’ Oedipus The King and Antigone, Sophocles used two tragic stories to explore issues and themes involving that can be interpreted in several ways depending on the readers understanding of the play and the main theme in focus. From a personal view point, themes such as corruption, injustice, civil disobedience and power drunkenness were explored rampantly by Sophocles to further dramatize a story that conveys so much messages. The ancient Greeks are well recognized for gifting the modern world with democracy, yet the system of government merely as perfect as their leaders. In both Oedipus The King and Antigone, Sophocles demonstrates a few flaws in their governing system. The theme of corruption in Oedipus the king come in a†¦show more content†¦It also so showed how far he was willing to go to display and exert his power upon his people and Antigone in particular. Considering the fact that Oedipus displayed a similar abuse of power, it would have been a wi se move by making an attempt to be just ruler, instead he decided to sink lower. Just like his predecessor, Creon did not make heed to any advice from anyone, including his only son, because he internalized any advice from his son as a lecture from a boy, and men of his age has no business being lectured by a boy; after all he was so power drunk that he asked Haemon â€Å"Am I to rule this land for others—or myself?† (Fag. 29). While Sophocles maintained male dominance throughout both plays, his characterization of women in both plays is admirable at times, but for the most part, the women seem to take on a subordinate role as did most women in ancient Greek society. Antigone’s character certainly is the only standout female character in both plays. Antigone’s defiance of Creon’s edict, and he outspoken personality project an overview of Sophocles view of women. In a perfect contradicting clash of character, both Creon and Antigone’s charact er open a door into the thought process of Sophocles. On one hand, Sophocles introduces his readers to King Creon, a power drunken man who creates edicts against the laws of the gods to prove himself king, on the other you have a strong-willed woman, not easily swayed by the voiceShow MoreRelatedEssay on The Arrogance and Hubris of Oedipus and Creon724 Words   |  3 PagesIn ‘Antigone†, Ismene says, â€Å"To them that walk in power; to exceed is madness, and not wisdom†. Her statement makes it clear, those who â€Å"walk in power†, allow it to corrupt them. Throughout the history of humanity there has been a correlation between those who have excessive power and corruption. Webster’s Dictionary defines corruption as, â€Å"impairment of integrity, virtue, or moral principle†. In the story of Antigone the tragic hero Creon, shows all of the common characteristics of corruption. BeforeRead MoreCreons Role of King and His Responsibilities1273 W ords   |  6 PagesCreons Role Of King and His Responsibilities The role of the king in the time of Greek tragedies was simultaneously desired and dreaded because of the kings responsibility to the people and because of the effects of the position on the kings character. Creon reveals such ambivalent thoughts towards the kingship in his speech defending himself from Oedipuss conspiracy accusation in Oedipus the King; these ambivalent thoughts reveal much about the nature of the kingship, especially in conjunctionRead MoreOedipus The King And Oedipus At Colonus Essay1261 Words   |  6 Pagescomplicated. In Antigone, we can clearly distinguish the conflict between Antigone and Creon, family and politics. However, in Oedipus at Colonus, the play merges all the conflicts happened to former plays and enhances the theme of the story. The later part of this trilogy, especially the ending of Oedipus the King and Oedipus at Colonus, reveals a darker and deeper phenomenon of Thebes and projects it to Oedipus. The prophet plays important role of forming the story line and tragic image of Oedipus, but theRead MoreLove Is Characterized By Oedipus The King And Diotima s Definition Of Love1221 Words   |  5 Pageshis conclusion with the help of a woman named Diotima. Although their views of love are similar, they are also different and can be seen through another philosopher’s stories; Antigone and Oedipus. Socratesà ¢â‚¬â„¢ definition of love is characterized by Oedipus the King and Diotima’s definition of love is characterized by Antigone. Socrates’ understanding of love is that love is a desire to be conscious of what you need for something you do not have and for what you have because once you have it you willRead MoreComparing Creon, Antigone, And Oedipus1318 Words   |  6 PagesCreon, Antigone, and Oedipus have different personalities and roles, but they also share similarities. Oedipus and Creon were two different types of rulers where the transition into power had effected them and had an infringement of prophecies. While Antigone was never in a leadership role all three show acts of pride she has some similarities with Creon and Oedipus in the fight within oneself. The pride allows civil laws to be created over the divine laws, which is seen by power corruption. FateRead MoreSophocles The King And Antigone Essay1566 Words   |  7 Pages Sophocles wrote about kings. M ythological, or at least long dead, the regal protagonists of fraction of Sophocles’ surviving work embody the political realities of the ancients’ time. By examining and analyzing the origins and nature of kingship in Sophocles, one can glean a sliver of insight into a civilization that has all but disappeared. Sophocles’s kings were great human leaders, reaching their position through impressive deeds or standing in the community. Although they wielded great powerRead MoreMovie Analysis : Remember That You 1607 Words   |  7 Pageslooking at Oedipus in both Oedipus the King and Oedipus at Colonus. In Oedipus the King, Oedipus is blinded by pride and can’t see that his prophesy that he so desperately tried to escape has indeed come true. Tiresias, a blind soothsayer, tells Oedipus, â€Å"You with your precious eyes, you re blind to the corruption of your life, to the house you live in, those you live with— who are your parents?† (Sophoc les 470) Even when Tiresias is trying to tell him that he is the plague on Thebes, Oedipus is tooRead MoreAnalysis Of Oedipus The King And Antigone1170 Words   |  5 Pagesnot fatal. Sophocles Oedipus the King and Antigone exemplify three distinct female Athenian characters who approach this battle with different fronts. Through analysis of Ismene, Antigone and Jocasta’s distinct characters, the reader better understands how Sophocles uses a feminine voice to break away from the tradition discerned in Athenian life to advocate for the rise of a matriarchal influence. Ismene’s emotional facade overpowers her drive for defeating corruption, which prompts her to pleadRead MoreOedipus and Antigone2785 Words   |  12 Pagesencompassed many aspects that reflected the moral values and ideals of society. Their customs were tightly woven into the scripts of plays. Antigone and Oedipus the King, two renowned works of the Greek playwright Sophocles, explore these values through a plot thick with corruption, virtue, and determination. These plays reveal the burdens two Theban kings, Oedipus and Creon, as their lies and poor judgment corrode the integrity of their city, their families and themselves. Possessing a strong faithRead MoreSophocles Antigone By Sophocles1892 Words   |  8 PagesAntigone †¢ Title: Antigone by Sophocles †¢ Genre: Play; Tragic drama †¢ Historical context: Written circa, 442 B.C.E. in Athens Greece. Performed circa, 441 B.C.A. Its literary period was classical. While Antigone was the first written of Sophocles’ three Theban plays, it was the last of the trilogy. It was performed during a time of national unrest. Sophocles was appointed to serve as a general in a military crusade against Samos. The significance of the historical events during that time

Poe An Analysis of His Work - 862 Words

The Portable Edgar Allen Poe, edited by J. Gerald Kennedy, is a phenomenal compilation of works from one of Americas greatest writers of the nineteenth century. Published in 2006, the book contains short stories, poems, and letters, written by Edgar Allen Poe. Full of lies, hope, revenge, and guilt, the stories in this assemblage are suspenseful and convey powerful messages. Of all the amazing stories that comprise this anthology, â€Å"The Tell-Tale Heart†, â€Å"The Black Cat†, and â€Å"The Pit and the Pendulum† are the best three in the compendium. Written by Edgar Allen Poe, â€Å"The Tell-Tale Heart† is a thrilling story about a man who commits an atrocious deed. With an illness infecting his mind, the narrator plots and carries out the murder†¦show more content†¦Having moved into a new house, the narrator happens across a black cat, which then follows him home. Nerves rattled, the narrator does his best to avoid the cat. When that fails he tries to kill it, accidentally killing his wife in the process. After sealing his wifes body into the basement wall, he is interviewed by the police. Not unlike in â€Å"The Tell-Tale Heart†, the narrator of â€Å"The Black Cat† cracks under the pressure of his guilt and gives himself up. Symbolism and suspense make â€Å"The Black Cat† worth reading. Additionally, â€Å"The Pit and the Pendulum† is a nail-biting narration of a prisoner being kept in a dungeon. Unaware of what his fate will be, the narrator assumes he will suffer death by hanging, until he explores his unlit surroundings and finds he is in a dungeon with a deep pit in the floor and a pendulum like scythe swinging from the ceiling above. Left to die, the narrator is saved in his last moments of despair by General Laselle who has taken over the prison as part of his crusade to end the inquisition. Perhaps one of Poes most aspirant pieces of writing, the narrator in the â₠¬Å"The Pit and Pendulum† never relinquishes himself to what the reader may view as an inevitable, certain death. All three of these narratives offer a similar point of view through first person narration. Narrative motifs of sounds and symbols, such as the sound of theShow MoreRelatedBrianna Ruiz-Vannerson. Leonard Miller. Enc1102. Feb. 231548 Words   |  7 Pages2017 The Compelling Mind of Edgar Allan Poe Through: â€Å"Lenore† and â€Å"The Raven† Throughout the life of esteemed author Edgar Allan Poe, there have been many time that this extraordinary man’s life has been turned upside down with grief. His first encounter with this wretched demon was when he was no older than three years of age. The mother who birthed him dies and his father abandons them before her death (â€Å"Edgar Allan Poe†). He then is separated from his brother and sister, William and Rosalie,Read MoreEdgar Allan Poe s The Tell Tale Heart857 Words   |  4 PagesHumans fear what they can t control. Author, Edgar Allan Poe wrote short stories that evoked emotions of fear of the unknown in a way that speaks to the reader. Some of Poe s stories were not well accepted in his day because people were just not ready for them- they were scary. Poe s works The Tell-Tale Heart, The Premature Burial and The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar evoke emotions of fear of the unknown for the reader Edgar Allan Poe s The Tell-Tale Heart, is a short story that illustratesRead MoreAnalysis of Edgar Allen Poes The Raven Essay917 Words   |  4 PagesEdgar Allan Poe is one of the most well-known gothic writers around. He has written many form of writing from poems to short stories. One of his most famous narrative poems is â€Å"The Raven.† There are many reasons to read the â€Å"The Raven.† One reason to read the poem is because it is a classic. Secondly, reading â€Å"The Raven† can give sight to Poe’s thoughts and feelings towards his life. Thirdly, the poem is a good example of the mind set of someone who has faced a loss. Another reason would be thatRead MoreEssay on Edgar Allan Poe: Youth, Beauty, and Death697 Words   |  3 Pagesrelationship with Edgar Allan Poe and the woman in his life – his mother, adoptive mother, and wife, Virginia Clemm – were disastrous (DiLorenzo). Yet, they provided the inspiration for some of the best go thic pieces to date. Poe often combines the romantic, long lasting love in fairy tales and the hard truth of real life. Such elements are portrayed within â€Å"Annabel Lee† and â€Å"Ulalume†. His poems refrain from creating a false paradise, and instead represent an allegory of his tribulations – the death ofRead MoreEdgar Allan. Poe and H. L. Mencken’s Uses of Humor in Negative Reviews1120 Words   |  5 PagesEdgar Allan Poe and H. L. Mencken can write reviews bursting at the seams with sarcasm and humor. These pieces of criticism speak novels about their judgment of these works that don’t â€Å"make the cut† of perceived greatness, and of the types of people who would indulge themselves with them. However, Noà «l Carrol does not speak about the use of humor in arts criticism, for good or for bad. If we are to use Carrol’s definition of arts criticism, then we can’t judge the effectiveness of Poe and Mencken’sRead MoreThe Cask of Amontialldo1026 Words   |  5 Pagesstory â€Å"The Cask of Amontillado† by Edgar Allan Poe. The story is about a man, Montresor, who receives a wine that Fortunato, the wine expert, is looking for. During a carnival, Montresor persuades Fortunato to take him to his personal wine cellars, located in the catacombs. Fortunato became impaired, Montresor takes this opportunity to chain him to the catacomb wall. He then proceeds to build a brick wall, isolating Fortunato, which eventually leads to his despairing death. The theme to this short storyRead MoreAging, Death, And Dying1746 Words   |  7 Pagestelevision shows. Edgar Allan Poe s For Annie happens to be one piece that relates to the topic of aging, death, and dying. An analysis opens up the background of Edgar Allan Poe, the meaning of the piece as a whole, and the different views of the piece. Edgar Allan Poe was born January 19, 1809 in Boston, Massachusetts. His parents were both known actors. Poe was a fiction writer, a critic, and a poet. He writes in a unique and dark way with emotion and drama. His works have a theme that occurs continuouslyRead MoreDeath Is Death And The Idea Of Death1290 Words   |  6 Pagesthat death, one day, will come to you. When you begin to think of the death motif in writings one author that immediately comes to mind is Edgar Allen Poe. Poe often talks about death and beauty where the much of the focus and narration is placed on a recently deceased younger woman character without the woman’s physical presence in the poem. Works like â€Å"The Raven† â€Å"Annabel Lee† and â€Å"The Tell Tale Heart† have obvious implications to death. Let us consider â€Å"Annabel Lee†, â€Å"The Raven†, and â€Å"Lenore†.Read MoreEdgar Allan Poe and Love 1059 Words   |  5 Pages Edger Allan Poe is one of the most influential authors of his time. Well known for his short storys The Raven and A Tell-Tale Heart, Poe also wrote poems that reflected his struggles through out his life. Poe was born in 1809, Thomas Jefferson was president. Lots of events occurred during Poe’s life with the beginning of the war of 1812, to the writing of â€Å"Frankenstein† by Mary Shelley, and â€Å"The Vampyre† written by John Polidori. Slavery was banned in England in 1833 and a year later, The SpanishRead More Edgar Allen Poes The Fall of the House of Usher Essay1678 Words   |  7 PagesHeritage Dictionary). Edgar Allen Poe uses this description in The Fall of the House of Usher in different ways. Poes intention when writing The Fall of the House of Usher was not to present a moral, lesson, or truth to the reader; he was simply trying to bring forth a sense of terror to the reader. Poes mind works this way, and critics believe this statement, especially when related to this story.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Edgar Allen Poe was born in Boston on January 19, 1809. His life was filled with tragedies

A New Miss America Nina Davuluri Free Essays

Born in Syracuse, New York, and raised in Oklahoma and Michigan, it is hard to pick a more American story than that of Davuluri. The daughter of Indian doctors who immigrated to the United States in the early 1980s, Miss America embodies all ideas of the great American Dream. But an uneducated public is trying to crush that dream with their negativity. We will write a custom essay sample on A New Miss America: Nina Davuluri or any similar topic only for you Order Now Misidentifying Davuluri as Muslim, Arab, Egyptian, and Indonesian, among other ethnicities, Twitter users did not Just stop at proclaiming hat, essentially, non-white participants of the pageant should be disqualified. They also linked her to terrorist organizations, such as A1 Qaeda. Some took it even further, outraged that she should be crowned in the same week as September 1 1 . Those who correctly acknowledged her Indian heritage made racist Jokes, playing on the stereotype that Indian-Americans often work in the grocery and food industries. It is ironic that the 24-year-old New Yorker is bullied about her race after her answer in the question round of this weekend’s pageant. Asked by Miss America udge Carla Hall about TV host Julie Chen’s plastic surgery to appear â€Å"less Asian,† Davuluri responded, â€Å"I’ve always viewed Miss America as the girl next door. And the girl next door is evolving as the diversity in America evolves†¦ Definitely be confident in who you are. † One has to question if Davuluri is staying confident after her crowning considering the negative feedback from the public, although she is putting on a brave face. â€Å"I’m so happy this organization has embraced diversity,† she told The Associated Press. â€Å"There are children watching at home who can finally relate to a new Miss America. Addressing her â€Å"non-American† haters, she said, â€Å"l always viewed myself as first and foremost American. † Davuluri was not the only contestant rebuffed for her race. Fellow Top 5 runners- up Miss California Crystal Lee and Miss Minnesota Rebecca Yeh got backlash for their Asian roots. Exactly thirty years after Vanessa Williams was crowned as the first black Miss America, it was refreshing to see the racial diversity at this year’s pageant, with 13 non-white contestants. It showed a forward-thinking Miss America, focused more on intelligence, drive, talent, and poise and an attempt to move the pageant into the 1st century. Yet the American people were not yet ready for the group of diverse, educated young women who are the face of the future America. According to Census Bureau reports, America will be much less white than it is today, with the percentage of blacks, Asians, and Hispanics increasing in our population. ) These women are independent and strong, they represent many ditterent backgrounds, they are accessible, they are role models, they are real. They do not fit the stereotypical 1950s pageant queen archetype. They are more than that. The Judges could see that, choosing to focus on inner beauty and accomplishments. Some of those who verbally fought Miss America’s title were firmly set on who they believed should be queen bee: Miss Kansas Theresa Vail. The 22-year-old blonde beauty is only the second military woman to participate in the pageant. As a sergeant in the U. S. Army and the first Miss America contestant to bear tattoos, Vail was a fan favorite long before the cameras starting rolling at the Atlantic City show. A humorous and highly talented young woman, Vail made it to the Top 10 but was cut from the competition after the talent round. Online, she was well-like because she mbodied the â€Å"real† American woman: she can sing, she has tattoos, she likes to hunt, she is poised but goofy and self-deprecating. She represents middle America. But on closer inspection, she does not embody America as it is today. She embodies what an ideal America used to be: middle class, white, Christian, rural, the picture- perfect WASP woman. So for all the progress the pageant made to depict a well- rounded, diverse America, the public still gravitated, predictably, to the â€Å"All American Beauty. † â€Å"l swear I’m not racist but this is America. † How has this come to define America, a ountry renown for its opportunities, for its freedoms, and for being the greatest melting pot in the world? How dare you deny Miss America, a talented and intelligent woman, her shot at the American dream? Why are we stuck in archaic mindsets of who deserves to be praised for their accomplishments and then rewarded with scholarship funds to pursue their passions? Who are we to Judge? To Twitter user @JAyres15 and to all of those ganging up on Nina Davuluri: you may swear you are not a racist, but I swear that you are. You hide behind prejudice and bigotry, you are close-minded, and you are the non-American. How to cite A New Miss America: Nina Davuluri, Papers