Premium Essay

Fate, Fall, and Death

In: Novels

Submitted By mm2012
Words 783
Pages 4
Fate, Fall, and Death An ancient Greek tragedy can be described as sad and unhappy. The typical ending for a Greek tragedy is death. Ancient Greek tragedy is developed on the reliance that in human relationships it is rule that reigns, not chance. Relationships are full of emotion just like tragedies. It is difficult to describe what a tragedy actually is, but it is apparent that a tragedy has something to do with thought and human choices. Oedipus the King by Sophocles fits the mold of an ancient Greek tragedy because it is a play that depicts the fall and death of a noble character in conflict with forces beyond his control. The tragedy begins by Oedipus becoming the King of Thebes. He has become the King of Thebes because he brought freedom to the people from the existence of the riddling Sphinx. Shortly before Oedipus became king, Laius, who was the previous King of Thebes, was killed. “Oedipus was further honored by the hand of Queen Jocasta.” Now a deadly disease is very strong and the people want Oedipus to rescue them just like before. Oedipus wants to meet their needs. Meanwhile, Creon, Jocasta’s brother returns from the oracle. The oracle has said that everything will be well again if Laius’s murderer be found and taken from Thebes. Oedipus states, “For the worst penalty that shall befall him/ Is banishment—unscathed he shall depart,” (pg.16). The worst penalty for Lauis’s murderer is banishment and he shall leave unharmed. Oedipus says, “But if an alien from a foreign land be known to any as the murderer/ Let him who speaks out, and he shall have/ Due recompense from me and thanks to boot,” (pg.16). Oedipus is saying that if someone knows the murderer, another, a foreigner, still let him speak the truth and I will pay him and be grateful, too. This is the start of the fall for Oedipus.
Oedipus begins his tragic decent by sending for

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Fate In Romeo And Juliet

...Fate is hidden, yet beyond any person’s control. It may lead to positive events, or it may lead to certain consequences in the future. The theme of fate plays a big role for the characters of the play, Romeo, and Juliet by William Shakespeare. Fate plays a big role in moving the plot along, it does this by guiding them together. Romeo and Juliet share a destiny, that they try to test. Fate has also lead Tybalt and Mercutio to a terrible death if fate didn’t bring Romeo, Mercutio, and Tybalt together who knows what would’ve happened. With fate, the two lovers were meant to be in order to restore the peace in Verona. Their destiny dooms them in the end to a tragic death. In the play, fate plays a crucial role in uniting the two lovers...

Words: 841 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

A Separate Peace Literary Analysis

...a book or a series or maybe even in the next chapter, authors give all major characters a fate. While the term fate suggests a negative connotation, they can be favorable and uplifting such as all of the “...and they lived happily ever after” at the end of most fairy tales. Though this would be a great hault for all books, some characters are not as fortunate with their fates. Often times characters are given more detrimental outcome. This could be something as simple as a broken limb or as severe as a fatality. One example of a less fortunate kismet is recorded in A Separate Peace by John Knowles. Gene Forrester is the narrator and alumni of Devon: a prep school...

Words: 893 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Romeo and Juliet

...How does Fate play a role in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet  Change Slide: What is fate? Fate is the idea that the future is already planned even if people do not know what is going to happen to them. I’m going to talk about Romeo and Juliet, a play by William Shakespeare's, one of the greatest love stories of all time. This story has been known to be timeless even though it was written around 1595. This play is a story of forbidden love that is resolved in two tragic deaths of Romeo and Juliet, who come from feuding families. Their ignorance of defy and falling in love is not accepted by their families. For the five short days they share love, many events take place. All of the events surround characters from both the Montague and Capulet families. The powers and affects of love and hate are also very evident between the two families throughout the play. In the end, Romeo and Juliet's love finds a tragic way to overcome the hate between their families. The story mainly revolves around Juliet while she grows up and falls in love, only to have fate keep her from complete happiness. Change Slide: Juliet is the beautiful, courageous young daughter of Capulet, a rich man in Verona. Shakespeare made her character a mere thirteen years old, but she acts very mature compared to her age. She appears to be practical, honest, and loyal to herself and her family. The play is about how she discovers and loses love. She appears to have thought very little about love and marriage...

Words: 1812 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Fate In Romeo And Juliet

...young people fall in love. Problems arise because their families are enemies, and it makes it very difficult for them to be together. Fate has a greater impact on the characters in the play than their own personal choices. Fate took its toll on Romeo and Juliet from when they first met each other. They were destined to eventually be torn apart by family conflict. Fate ultimately lead both Romeo and Juliet to their deaths. It was fate from the very beginning for Romeo to fall in love with Juliet of all girls. Romeo’s first sign to meet Juliet is when a servant walked up to him. “ I pray, can you read…” (Shakespeare, Page 192). Romeo would of never found out about the party if the servant didn't ask him what the party paper said. Romeo arrived at the party and saw Juliet. They began to interact with one another, but then they noticed who they really were. “ Prodigious love to me is my enemy”(Shakespeare. Page 204). They realized that their families were enemies, but they still loved each other. They wanted their love to prosper without their families knowing. They were destined to meet, but their love would be difficult....

Words: 565 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Who Is Responsible For Romeo And Juliet's Deaths

...Romeo and Juliet is the most epic love story of all time. It is said they were destined to fall in love, or maybe just destined to fall. Romeo and Juliet were two star-crossed lovers whose story played out in Verona, Italy. Romeo was from the family of the Montagues, whom are long-time enemies of the Capulets, the family from which Juliet came. Romeo crashed a party thrown by Capulet, Juliet’s father. At the party, he met Juliet, and they fell in love instantly. As destiny would have it, they get married, but the fateful, whirlwind love affair ultimately leads to the untimely deaths of both Romeo and Juliet. Friar Lawrence, Romeo’s priest, is often falsely accused of being responsible for the double suicide that ended the tragic love story of Romeo and Juliet. However, all of the major events that lead to the deaths...

Words: 815 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Flaws In Romeo And Juliet

...In the book Romeo and Juliet is a couple who falls in love at first sight not knowing that they will never be together.  The book describes many obstacles that came between the young couple relationship.  The flaws that were identified in the book were chance/fate, pride and being to impatience that what eventually lead to the tragic death of the couple so in love.  Although, all three flaws play a significant role in the book.  Chance/fate is the ultimate reason for such a tragic ending to a young couple who was meant to be together. The most important flaw that led to the tragic death of Romeo and Juliet was chance/fate.  Romeo reads the invitation to a masquerade ball where he is hoping that the love of life Rosaline will be there.  Romeo...

Words: 1033 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Fate In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

...was William Shakespeare’s last play, and quite possibly one of his most popular. There are many hidden themes and metaphors, one of which is fate. This play is about 2 teenages from feuding families that fall into a forbidden love, and the plot of this play describes the issues they run into and the hoops they jump through in order to be together. In this story, Shakespeare uses the age and timeline of the story to show the theme of fate through misdelivery of Friar Lawrence’s letter, the resolution between the Montagues and the Capulets, and the love between Romeo and Juliet that lead to suicide. One event that was prudent to the future of Romeo and Juliet was the delivery of Friar Lawrence’s letter, which was quite unforgiving when it came...

Words: 968 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

How Does Veergil Present Death In The Aeneid

...The presentation of death in Vergil’s work, The Aeneid, indicates the inescapable will of the gods. Written as Roman ktisis poetry, or a “foundation myth”, Vergil wrote The Aeneid to strengthen the political influence of Augustus and provide the citizens of Rome with an ethnic identity (Mianowski 68). To fulfill this purpose, throughout the poem, the themes and events Vergil presents are distinctly Roman. In The Aeneid, the scenes detailing Laocoon and his sons’ deaths, and Creusa’s suicide, show that Romans view the concept of death as a tool to serve the Gods’ purposes. Not only did The Aeneid provide the Roman citizens with a common cultural bond, it also influenced the image of the afterlife in other notable works. Creusa’s death, which...

Words: 1315 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Classics Paper

...February 14th 2013 The Heroes Death Patroclus is introduced to the Iliad as no more then a friend of Achilles but dies as one of the great Achaean heroes of the Trojan war. Like many Greek Heroes it is because he dies that he achieves his heroism in the eyes of the ancient Greeks. His death leads to him being immortalized within the pages of the Iliad along side the likes of Achilles, Hector and Ajax. Patroclus death comes in the 16th book of the Illiad and with his final moments being an exchange of words between him and his killer Hector of Troy (Iliad,16.870-897). The exchange between Hector and Patroclus is one where heroes mock each other explaining why the other one is the fool. Before death takes Patroclus from the world he is given a gift, he is able to see into the future and gaze at the death of Hector. This is a privilege not granted to many heroes even Hector the greatest of all the Trojans is not granted this when Achilles forces him to Hades. Patroclus achieved what all heroes want a glorious death. Death on the battlefield is what a great shoulder need in order to instill his name into history. Even Achilles the greatest of the Greeks was told that he would be forgotten if he did not fight and die in the Trojan war. Through his death Patrolclus was able to achieve his heroism, as he went into battle knowing that he could die, wearing Achilles armour and was even fool people into thinking that he was Achilles. In the end a great death is the only sure way to become...

Words: 1186 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Examples Of Free Will In Romeo And Juliet

...Fate, chance, and free will has no boundaries when it comes to love. These themes can make people in love reach high, however sometimes they can also lead to their ruin. The actions which come from fate, chance, and free will can be drastic when it comes to love, and because of this the outcome can vary from happily ever after to tragedy. In the play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare fate, chance, and free will play a major role throughout the tragic love story. Not only are these themes seen all through the play but they are particularly seen in their deaths. Fate was a main theme in the play including their deaths. There are multiple examples of fate having a hand in their deaths. One example of fate leading to their deaths is that they were fated to meet and fall in love, however due to their families feud their love was fated to not work out. This means that from the beginning their love was doomed to fail, since they loved each other more than anything else the only way for it to fail would be for them to die. Another example would be that once Juliet took the sleepy potion...

Words: 656 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Hamlet

...Fate. Is There a Method To This Madness? Fate has been a gear to our society’s motor for an eternity and will continue to be just that. It’s truly what makes the world go ‘round and is what keeps people curious “Wait, what exactly is fate?” you may already be asking. Well, fate is the development of events beyond a person's control, regarded as determined by a supernatural power. In short terms, it’s stuff happening without your control, and most often as a coincidence or for the better. This thing called “fate” was an extremely relevant concept in William Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet, back in 1599, yet is still prevalent in yours and my everyday life 500 years later. Do you ever think about all the stuff you do everyday? You get up, shower, brush your teeth, get dressed, eat breakfast, do some last minute homework, talk to your parents, and get dressed before even heading out the door to school. That’s a lot of stuff! What if you take extra long in the shower and end up missing your ride, but that same morning someone brought a gun to school? No one was hurt, fortunately, but because you took that extra time in the morning you were absent from a possible dangerous scenario. Some might say it was that “supernatural power” that made you stay in the warm shower on that cold winter morning for just a little longer. I’ll let you in on a secret, those people are right. Things like this can happen everyday, little wake me ups that remind you to count your blessings and that some things...

Words: 1174 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Examples Of Predestination In A Prayer For Owen Meany

...webster's definition of fate is; “The development of events beyond a person's control, regarded as determined by a supernatural power.” Owen Meany had no control of the events that happened to him. Throughout his whole life he was under the assumption that everything will happen for a reason, and if you avoid something one time then it will come back around and happen another time. Or that everything you do is all involved with one main ending. For example John Irving put this quote in, “He had sunk the shot in under four second” (Irving 304). Why this was important some might ask. Well, in the end Irving answers the question for you. Reading, “We’ll just have four seconds… I caught the grenade and it wasn’t as easy to handle as a basketball.” (Irving 539). In A Prayer for Owen Meany, Owen would accuse “Calvin” of bad faith. To begin to answer this question the reader must have some knowledge of what the question is actually asking. The webster's definition of faith is, “A complete trust or confidence in someone...

Words: 470 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Comparing Love In Romeo And Juliet And Twelfth Night

...opposing families unexpectedly fall in love, and prove how strong the forces of love are. On the other hand, Twelfth Night, another novel written by William Shakespeare, also explores the themes of love, but in a comical perspective. Viola and Sebastian who are twins are separated after a shipwreck, and each character has to go through their own mishaps as they begin their new life in the different country. In both novels, Shakespeare uses the theme of fate, chance and coincidence to create a deeper understanding of the love between two characters. In both novels, although the characters know that even though...

Words: 889 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Fate Vs. Decisions In Romeo And Juliet

...Alin Beane Steve Young English I 06 March 2017 Fate Versus Decisions Do you feel fate controls you? In Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, two children of rival families fall in love and commit suicide due to their corrupt lives. The question is how was the play controlled? One argument is that fate controls the play, while another is that the characters’ stupid decisions did so. While there is an argument that the decisions control the play, it is more conceivable that you cannot control your fate and fate is the responsible party in the play’s control. It is conceivable that our retarded decisions control our lives, for in Act 3, Scene 1, Tybalt’s decision to duel with Mercutio led to Romeo slaying him. There is merit in the belief...

Words: 577 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

The Role of the Gods in the Iliad

...Greek god in his lack of involvement in the Trojan War for selfish reasons, was portrayed as the father figure, being impartial and fair to both sides of the war. He remains this way to serve as a check for the other god's involvement in the war. Without the presence of fate controlling the inner circle of Olympus, it is likely that the activity of the Trojan War would have become chaotic, possibly even becoming a playground of war for the gods. The power of fate, above all of the other gods combined, is a power that not even divine intervention can prevent. This theme of fate and how it controls the god’s actions is quite befitting to the storyline of The Iliad. The Iliad, in essence, recounts the story of part of the tenth year of the Trojan War. It recounts of the anger of Achilles, the greatest warrior present at Troy, and of the background battle that is ensuing. The reoccurring theme in the Iliad is that no matter whom the character is, god or human, they are bound to their fate, and it is the gods who must be the mediators and deliverers of this fate. Throughout ten years of gruesome battling, it is obvious to see why Homer uses comedy to lighten the mood when there exists nothing else besides blood, gore, and death. Homer uses comedy when referring to the gods to offset the serious tones set forth by the reoccurring...

Words: 3197 - Pages: 13