Death By Sophocles And The Holy Bible - 953 Words

Death is a very popular theme in world literature; authors seem to feed off the anguish it causes readers. However, there are many types of deaths from many different eras. For example, in its broadest sense death has two forms homicide and suicide. Homicide for instance, dates all the way back to the two earliest works of literature known to man; The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Holy Bible. Suicide is also ancient, but has a much darker feel to it. Despite death being universal throughout time, there are some striking similarities in today’s world. Firstly, the story of Antigone, written by Sophocles in 441 B.C., is the epitome of literary death. One of the main homicides in the story is the main character’s brother, Polynices. In summary, King Oedipus had four children-- Antigone, Ismene, Polynices, and Eteocles. Moreover, upon the king’s death it was decided that his sons would cycle leadership each year. However, Eteocles refused to step down, and after a fierc e duel, both brothers were dead. Furthermore, this makes Polynices’ death an honorable death in battle. Polynices died fighting for something he believed in and while essentially fighting a war. In modern day, this death is comparable to that of a solider. The United States has lost many brave men and women over time in the line of duty. Furthermore, all of these individuals died fighting for what they believed in: the safety and security of the United States. Towards the end of the story, one death causes a dominoShow MoreRelated Tragedy in Oedipus Rex, Hamlet, and the Book of Job Essay examples998 Words   |  4 PagesTragedy in Oedipus Rex, Hamlet, and the Book of Job In works of literature involving a tragedy, the question of the cause of the tragedy is often raised. The play Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, and the book of Job from the Bible all involve a tragedy resulting from different things. In Oedipus Rex the tragedy is a result of Oedipuss fate. In Hamlet the tragedy is caused by human folly. The divine intervention of God is what causes the tragedy in Job.Read More A Comparison of Tragedy in Hamlet, The Book of Job, and Oedipus Rex1246 Words   |  5 Pagesand failings, the meddling of a divine power, or simple fate? Shakespeares Hamlet made the argument that tragedy is caused by human folly. The idea that divine intervention is at the root of human suffering is put forth in the Book of Job. In Sophocles Oedipus Rex, fate is given as the root of mans suffering. Three divergent perspectives on the origins of calamity exist within the tragedies Hamlet, Job, and Oedipus Rex. Shakespeares Hamlet enforced the idea that Human suffering is a resultRead More Essay on Jocasta in Oedipus the King653 Words   |  3 PagesJocasta in Oedipus the King Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him. nbsp;(James 1:12) nbsp;Such is the proclamation in the Holy Bible, and so was the proclamation in ancient Greece. Since the founding of religion, the gods have sought to test those with power. Jocasta was sent by Apollo to do just that: to test Oedipus - the king of Thebes - faith and conviction. ThroughoutRead MoreGreek Theatre And Medieval Drama1587 Words   |  7 Pagesduring mass as a way to depict text, plots, and characters derived from the Bible. As a result, medieval theatre became a more interesting approach to illustrate the prescribed forms of Christian. Although the religious motivations for Greek theatre and medieval drama have structured purposes, the foundations surrounding the treatment of violence also comprise distinct conditions. When writing Greek plays, authors such as Sophocles had no problem including violence into their works to further extend andRead MoreOedipus Rex Research Paper2420 Words   |  10 PagesDramatic Research Paper (Grade 92) â€Å"Oedipus Rex† by Sophocles Introduction/Thesis â€Å"Oedipus Rex† was a Greek Tragedy written by Sophocles in the fifth century BC. It was the first of a trilogy of plays surrounding the life of Oedipus. Sophocles wrote over 120 plays approximately 100 years before Aristotle even defined a tragedy and the tragic hero. Aristotle’s definition of a tragedy is â€Å"†¦ an imitation of an action of high importance, complete and of some amplitude; in language enhancedRead MoreAnalysis Of Shakespeare s Hamlet 1799 Words   |  8 Pagesgive much time to remorse about the death of the king. This is until he finds out that his father was killed by his uncle, and his uncle had stolen the throne from him. Hamlet was known before all of these issues to already be a short fuse. He had threatened to kill himself several times, and he would have random spurts of rage. Hamlet was filled with so much hate, therefore it led him down a dark path. All he could think about was avenging his father’s death by killing his uncle. Although it wouldRead MoreEssay about What it means to be human1895 Words   |  8 Pagespeace and he go to the war, The rites for which I love him are bereft me, And I a heavy interim shall support By his dear absence. Let me go with him. ( 1.3. 248-259). Now, in John Gunther’s novel, Death Be Not Proud, this type of love is family based. Johnny’s love is strong and death will not tear his family apart. â€Å" Nobody else was in the room, and Johnny looked straight at him. ‘Do my parents know this? How shall we break it to them?’ Then, some months later, when he seemed to be gettingRead MoreHow to Read Lit Like a Prof Notes3608 Words   |  15 Pagesindecision, melancholy nature ii. Henry IV—a young man who must grow up to become king, take on his responsibilities iii. Othello—jealousy iv. Merchant of Venice—justice vs. mercy v. King Lear—aging parent, greedy children, a wise fool 7. †¦Or the Bible a. Before the mid 20th century, writers could count on people being very familiar with Biblical stories, a common touchstone a writer can tap b. Common Biblical stories with symbolic implications i. Garden of Eden: women tempting men and causing their