Theme Of Light And Dark Imagery In Oedipus The King

Sophocles’ masterful work, Oedipus the King, exemplifies the significance of imagery within literature. The perpetual presence of light and dark imagery effectively strengthens the dramatic aspects of catharsis, anagnorisis and mimesis. These factors continually impose the audience to establish a personal connection with the literary work. As an individual, Oedipus possesses the unfortunate attribute of hubris; his ego ultimately causes his tragic demise and convincingly elicits catharsis, an emotional outcry from the spectators. His sight frequently sways due to his sentiments and it compels him to live ignorantly despite the calamitous truth of his origins. He profoundly disregards any indication of a secluded prophecy, one that†¦show more content†¦Me or any man who lives in light† (Sophocles 22). Within this quotation, the light metaphorically exemplifies knowledge and principle, while the darkness establishes the presence of ignorance and deception. Oedipus does not suggest that Tiraeus, a blind male, is incapable of hurting him, but rather, that the seer’s falsehood cannot damage his stature. Oedipus’ arrogance renders him to the point where he is incapable of interpreting the truth of his origins and profoundly desires to maintain his authority as the sovereign of Thebes. Consequently, his conduct incites catharsis from the audience as they witness the gradual collapse of a prominent, dramatic figure. Sophocles additionally utilises imagery to reinforce his clutch on the sentiments of the audience, during Oedipus’ revelation to the truth of his origins. In agony and grief, he states, â€Å"I am deserted, dark, and where is sorrow stumbling? Whence flits that voice so near? Where, demon, will you drive me† (Sophocles 72). Oedipus exposes his vulnerability and sorrowful nature, as he learns that his ignorance blinds his sense of practicality. Sophocles utilises the terms, â€Å"deserted† (Sophocles 72) and â€Å"dark† (Sophocles 72) to exemplify the monarch’s impression of blindness and abandonment after his horrific actions. The presence of dark imagery effectively forces an evocation of emotion from the audience as they helplessly look upon the tragic hero’s fate. With the utilization of light andShow MoreRelatedOedipus The King By Sophocles1432 Words   |  6 Pages The play â€Å"Oedipus the king† by Sophocles began with Oedipus as a King, and ended with his downfall. Oedipus’s fall from his noble status was not by accident or caused by another person, rather Oedipus himself is to be blamed for his adversity. The play uses many symbols, places, motifs, themes, ideas, and imagery to give the audience a sense of reality and foreshadow the fate of Oedipus. Symbols relating to the three way crossroad and Oedipus’s swollen foot were referred to a number of times. MotifsRead More The Search for Truth in Anton Chekhovs The C herry Orchard and Sophocles Oedipus Rex1281 Words   |  6 Pagessinful pride that leads to ignorance in their respective works, The Cherry Orchard and Oedipus Rex. In each drama, certain characters are slapped in the face with the truth; the light is revealed. However, these characters make the connection when it is too late. Their destruction is already destined to become a reality, a horrid fate that could have been prevented. Both Chekhov and Sophocles present the universal theme that an open mind, constantly in search for truth, is the mark of a worthy individualRead More Essay on Light and Dark in Antigone1194 Words   |  5 PagesUse of Light and Dark in Antigone    The Golden Age of Greece is noted for its many contributions to the creative world, especially in its development of the play. These performances strived to emphasize Greek morals, and were produced principally for this purpose. Antigone, by Sophocles, is typical. The moral focused on in Antigone is the conflict between physis (nature) and nomos (law), with physis ultimately presiding over nomos. Throughout Antigone, King Creon is a symbol for nomos, whileRead MoreThe Role Of The Chorus And Its Impact On The Audience2287 Words   |  10 Pages THE ROLE OF THE CHORUS AND ITS IMPACT ON THE AUDIENCE IN OEDIPUS THE KING Angad Dev Singh History of Drama and Theater I Optional Research Paper Tenth of December 2014 The chorus is an essential feature of Greek classical drama. Instances of various types of dance, singing, and speech are some elements of a Greek chorus. â€Å"Composed of similarly costumed men, they performed on the orchestra located beneath the stage. The chorus stayed in the orchestraRead MoreThemes of Antigone2022 Words   |  9 PagesThe Themes of Antigone Antigone is credited as one of the best works of Sophocles, ranked by most modern critics above Oedipus the King. There are many aspects of Antigone that make it the play critics love to decipher and rave about. Antigone must be received as the canon of ancient tragedy: no tragedy of antiquity that we possess approaches it in pure idealism, or in harmony of artistic development hails critic Berhardy (Theatre History). He goes on to rave It is the first poem produced byRead MoreGreek Mythology8088 Words   |  33 Pagesthat  resembled  human  society  in  its  levels  of  authority  and  power.  However,  a  crucial  difference   existed  between  gods  and  human  beings:  Humans  died,  and  gods  were  immortal.  Heroes  also  played   an  important  role  in  Greek  mythology,  and  stories  about  them  conveyed  serious  themes.  The  Greeks   considered  human  heroes  from  the  past  closer  to  themselves  than  were  the  immortal  gods.   A   Gods   Given  the  multiplicity  of  myths  that  circulated  in  Greece,  it  is  difficult  to  present  a  single  version  of  the   genealogy  (family  history)  of  the  godsRead More Modernism Essay examples3205 Words   |  13 Pageswere revealed. This provided freedom for the reader to think about what the author was presenting through the text. The work was created through the inner feelings and workings of the characters and the symbols hidden in the plot and setting. The way themes and points of view were selected went against the earlier convention also. Sigmund Freuds Interpretation of Dreams in 1899 opened the door to previously undiscovered value in the human unconscious. This led to a whole new emphasis of individualismRead Moretheme of alienation n no where man by kamala markandeya23279 Words   |  94 PagesKEY LITERARY ELEMENTS SETTING This tragedy is set against the background of the Oedipus legend. It illustrates how the curse on the House of Labdacus (who is the grandson of Cadmus, founder of Thebes, and the father of Laius, whose son is Oedipus) brought about the deaths of Oedipus and his wife-mother, Jocasta, as well as the double fratricide of Eteocles and Polynices. Furthermore, Antigone dies after defying King Creon. The play is set in Thebes, a powerful city-state north of Athens. AlthoughRead MoreAmerican Literature11652 Words   |  47 Pagescharacteristics often involve the persecution of a young woman who is forced apart from her true love Style: ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · short stories and novels hold readers attention through dread of a series of terrible possibilities feature landscapes of dark forests, extreme vegetation, concealed ruins with horrific rooms, depressed characters Effect: ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · today in literature we still see portrayals of alluring antagonists whose evil characteristics appeal to one s sense of awe today in literatureRead MoreThe Role of the Artistic Director in a Theater Production2388 Words   |  10 Pagesexecuting the artistic vision of the play. The artistic director is considered to be a creative or interpretive artist as they interpret another person’s work. Production Meeting: A production meeting is when the music director, choreographer, set, light, sound, and costume designers meet with the artistic director to discuss and create the production concept. Dramaturg: The dramaturg goes out to different cities and reads plays. He or she also tries to locate translations of the play, writes articles