Lastly, Pearl’s abandonment from her father and isolation from society brings about the evil she demonstrates. Arguably, the Puritanical conception of sin confuses these main characters’ knowledge of the nature of evil. Hester and Dimmesdale’s adultery leads to Chillingworth’s transformation into a sinister being as he attempts to impose Puritanical evil on them. For example, Chillingworth’s idea of evil, influenced by the Puritans, helps him decide how to punish the lovers explaining, "I [will leave] thee to the scarlet letter. If that [has] not avenged me, I can do no more!"
He speaks to believe what is true while searching for his identity, but the audience knows that it is not the truth; this is unconscious tragic irony. Oedipus speaks "As for the criminal, I pray to God - / whether it be a lurking thief, or one of a number - / I pray that that man's life be consumed in evil and wretchedness. And as for me, this curse applies no less”(Sophocles, Parados, scene 1, line 30). This statement is both verbal and situational irony because he is just setting himself up as the audience already knows his fate. Oedipus slowly advances blindly to his destruction and the “bitterness of the doom was intensified”(A.E.
When he heard Apollo’s prophecy, he could have calmly investigated the murder of King Laius, but in his hastiness, he cursed the murder, and in so, cursing himself. “I pray that that man’s life be consumed in evil and wretchedness. And as for me, this curse applies no less” (Sophocles 13). Oedipus’ desire to know the truth about Laius’ murder and the mystery surrounding his birth, led Oedipus to his realization of his doings. Although multiple people tried to stop him from pursuing the truth, he is unable to.
This is shown when Mark Antony uses reverse psychology by stating “But Brutus is an honorable man.” His tragic flaw shapes and foreshadows his downfall. Lastly, Brutus can be seen as the tragic hero of the play because his tragic flaw leads to his death and downfall. Brutus experiences the start of his downfall when he sees Caesar’s ghost. The ghost foreshadows his downfall by
Both of them did ultimately self-destruct, but there was an enormous amount of force from outside sources that contributed to the path of self-destruction. The play Oedipus starts out with Oedipus discovering there is a curse on Thebes. Oedipus sends his brother-in-law to Apollo to find the source of the curse. Kreon returns from his journey and informs Oedipus that to end the curse they must find out how the former king Laius was murdered. Oedipus starts an investigation and discovers some strange things.
Thou methinks thou art he, Who planned the crime, aye, and performed it too, All save the assassination; and if thou Hadst not been blind, I had been sworn to boot That thou alone didst do the bloody deed". (Sophocles, 345-350). In that quote, Oedipus was determined to make the prophet Teiresias speak which then leads him to falsely accusing the prophet. The whole point of his (Oedipus) quest full of hubris was to find Laius's murderer in order to save Thebes. In comparison, Jocasta (His mother)-full of hubris, but for a just reason-criticizes and distrusts the prophecies.
I heard many things in hell.” Through his denial of the hold lunacy has on him, the Narrator establishes the very nature of his madness. His contradictions’ such as denial of being afflicted by the disease, then the very next thought is to defend the nature of the illness by praising it for moulding his senses is evidence towards his increasing madness and the inevitable doom of the Narrator. The Mad Man’s seemingly unprovoked rage towards the Old Man is blamed upon his dead, hazy eye. The Narrator in a fit of Madness trying to explain his actions, claims his motivation; “One of his eyes resembled that of a vulture – a pale blue eye, with a film over it. Whenever it fell upon me, my blood ran cold: and so by degrees – very gradually – I made up my mind to take the life of the old man, and thus rid myself of the eye forever.” The Narrator again proves his madness through his apparent lack of solid intent coupled with his explanation of the rage within him.
The stark contrast between Oedipus and Teiresias is a testimony to Oedipus’ character and how irony will get the best of Oedipus. Teiresias is a blind prophet who comes to Oedipus with the knowledge of Oedipus’ past deeds. He approaches Oedipus in silence, not telling him what he knows. This angers Oedipus and he blindly accuses Teiresias for killing Laius. With the truth being inside the “blind” prophet, Oedipus is seen as mentally blind due to the fact he does not believe Teiresias.
MOTIF: A recurrent thematic element in an artistic or literary work. A dominant theme or central idea. Blindness in Oedipus Rex An inventory of passages on blindness symbolism line 14: Oedipus speaking to the priests about him sensing trouble ahead; "I would be blind to misery," line 28-9: Priest responding to line 14; "Our city-look around you, see with your own eyes-our ship pitches wildly," line 70-1: Same subject as above; "I see-how could I fail to see what longings bring you here?" line 119: Oedipus speaking of the killing of their former king; "I never saw the man myself." line 150: Oedipus speaking of how he will try and solve the murder of their former king, Laius; "...I'll bring it all to light myself!"
Natural imagery is explored when describing Old Hamlet’s “blossom of [his] sins”. This can be interpreted that his sins are not imperative, compared to the “damnèd incest”, which goes against the bibles. Additionally plosive sound is portrayed, as “damnèd incest” as a hissing, snake-like, harsh sound to it. The “life” of Old Hamlet in the present is described as “horrible, oh horrible, most horrible”. This is significant of the incest, the murder, considering that he is the king and the king was always believed to be chosen by god himself or possibly the fact that he is in purgatory as he left “unhouseled, disappointed [and] unaneled”.