As the plot in Sophocles' famous play Oedipus Rex unfolds, many aspects of the relationship between ancient Greeks and their gods are revealed. It demonstrates that the people could call upon the gods in times of distress, how the gods could cause widespread disasters if a population displeased them, how arrogance and ignorance of the gods' powers would lead to disaster, and most importantly, how the gods were believed to control the individual destinies of each and every one of their mortal subjects. It is also important to note that what Sophocles implies about morality applies more within human relationships than it does in a religious context.
In the first scene of the play, it is very apparent that the city of Thebes is experiencing rough times. Oedipus, the city's ruler, leaves his palace and sees the priests and citizens troubled about the plague that has ravaged their community. It is obvious that many of them are appealing to the gods for mercy and help. They are......
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Approximate Word Count: 1385
Approximate Pages: 6 (260 words per double-spaced page) |