Compare Odysseus and Oedipus Essay - 1739 Words

Odysseus and Oedipus There are many legendary epic stories have been passed on from generation to generation in the Greek culture. Even though each story has different outcomes, every epic character has certain features in common. Odysseus in The Odyssesy and Oedipus in Oedipus the King are great examples of epic heroes with a variety of similarities. Odysseus and Oedipus are similar in which they both god-like men who are considered heroes because of their cautious ways and relentless tenacity. On the other hand, Odysseus and Oedipus also demonstrate their crude habits with their hubris behavior throughout their own prophecy. In addition to the similarities, the powerful gods play a significant role which drastically affects†¦show more content†¦Oedipus assumes that Creon desires to have him killed so that he could be King of Thebes. Oedipus also does not want to believe what Teiresias said because that would indicate that the prophecy has came true; he will be the one killed or thrown into e xile. He does not believe the truth until he hears from a messenger and a herdsman. When Oedipus asks where the child came from the herdsman replies, It was a child, them, of the house of Laius (Sophocles 141). He is finally no longer suspicious of Creon. Without suspicion these characters would have failed terrible in their pursuit to live. Another trait Oedipus and Odysseus have in common is their relentless persistence. Persistence is the key for both characters to find out imperative information from other characters. For example, Oedipus questions Teiresias about his knowledge of the late King Laiuss murder. Fearing that the information he possesses will upset the new king, Teiresias refuses to say what he knows. Teiresias also recognizes that even if he does give Oedipus the information that he longs to hear it will not change the final result. Teiresias says, The future will come of itself though I shroud it in silence, (Homer 120). Oedipus persists by saying, Then seeing that it must come, you on your part tell me of it, (Homer 120). Teiresias finally gives in and says, Your are the accursed defiler of this land†¦I say you are the slayer of the man whose slayer you seek,Show MoreRelatedThe Role Of Changing Perception Of The Hero1137 Words   |  5 Pagesaudience, while The Odyssey, and Oedipus the King cam e many centuries later. However, they all have a hero that represents the values of the society at the time. This paper is going to compare and contrast the ideal of the hero from ancient Mesopotamia in Gilgamesh in approximately 2000 BC, The Odyssey, from the close of the 8th century BC focusing on Odysseus’ long journey home to Ithaca, and Oedipus the King written in about 430 BC and telling the story of the King, Oedipus who fulfills a prophecy. TheRead MoreOdysseus From The Odyssey, And Oedipus2046 Words   |  9 Pagescharacters who can be analyze this was are Odysseus from the Odyssey, and Oedipus from Oedipus Rex. The Odysseus is the story of a warrior, Odysseus, who journeys to his native land of Ithaca despite many obstacles and succeeds in driving out suitors who are present in his home/ Oedipus Rex is the story of Oedipus, a man who has accidentally married his mother and killed his father, and learning the truth, becomes blind and is exiled. 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