The rabble call him “lord,” And, as the world were now but to begin, Antiquity forgot, custom not known, The ratifiers and props of every word, (They) cry “Choose we, Laertes shall be king!” (4.5.111-116) Without even stopping to consider other possible causes to the murder, Laertes assumes that the King is responsible for his father’s death. He infuriatedly approaches the King and threatens to take over the kingdom without thinking about other people that may have killed his father. Laertes’ aggression ultimately leads to his demise, since he does not think about the situations he is in and instead chooses to act on his fury. As soon as Laertes enters the kingdom, he starts to scream about the betrayal his father faced as a result of showing loyalty to the King. Before the King receives a chance to explain the cause of his father’s death,
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 makes Oedipus doubt himself and he decides to find out the truth about the killer of Liaus. In doing so he tells his people “Or if any man’s conscience is guilty, let him give himself up. He will suffer the less. His fate will be nothing worse than banishment. No other harm will touch him.” Ironically he condemned himself unknowingly.
He promises to tell Claudius all that he learns. When Polonius leaves, the king is alone, and he immediately expresses his guilt and grief over his sin. A brother’s murder, he says, is the oldest sin and “hath the primal eldest curse upon’t” (III.iii.37). He longs to ask for forgiveness, but says that he is unprepared to give up that which he gained by committing the murder, namely, the crown and the queen. He falls to his knees and begins to pray.
King Oedipus sends his brother-in-law, Creon, to seek the advice of Apollo aware of the fact that a terrible curse has been put upon Thebes. Creon informs Oedipus that the curse will be lifted if the murderer of Laius, who was the king prior to Oedipus, is found and prosecuted. Laius is known to be murdered many years ago at a crossroads. Therefore, Oedipus assigns himself to discover and prosecute whoever it was that murdered Laius. Oedipus begins his quest by questioning a series of citizens.
He has lost the ability to sense right and wrong. He has become twisted and evil. Macbeth has got what he has worked for and promised. He becomes king by killing and is unwanted by the people. With all of his murders, it lead someone to become suspicious of him.
Ignorance is Bliss Oedipus the King by Sophocles is a play about a good king who has successfully ruled his city of Thebes for many years, but is now confronted with a plague and he is searching for a way to help end the suffering of his people. This king, Oedipus, came to the city of Thebes from Corinth, under unfortunate circumstances, arriving when the city was also being plagued with misery. A Sphinx, sent down by the goddess Hera, was terrorizing Thebes by posing a riddle of anyone trying to enter or leave—“What walks four legs in the morning, two legs at noon, and three legs in the evening?”--and killing the traveler when unable to answer. Oedipus approached the Sphinx and solved her riddle answering “Man,” and was hailed as the hero of the city. As a reward, he was given the throne to the city, and married the widowed queen.
His final words are particularly moving – “A plague o’ both your houses” (act 3, scene 1) – as they are condemning both families (Capulet and Montague) because of the feud that ended his life. It was the actions of Tybalt that killed Mercutio, not fate. There is no doubt that fate plays a huge role in the story of Romeo and Juliet; however, their death could have been avoided if certain people took control of their lives and chose their own actions, rather than believing that fate had set everything out and there was nothing they could do about it – an example of which is shown in act 3, scene 1, line 41 – ‘Can heaven be so
For example, when Oidipous talks to Jokasta to find out more about Liaus, the facts only create more suspicion. Oidipous’s initial intention of clearing up the possibility of the prophecy being true, only raises more questions. Moreover, when the messenger delivers news to Oidipous about the natural death of his “Corinthian” parents the plot is further reversed. Lastly, when Oidipous is informed that he was given up as an infant and killed his own father at the road fork, he comes to a realization that his sin is so great that the whole city of Thebes is being punished. Against all odds Oidipous has fulfilled the prophecy and recognizes his hamartia -ignorance.
Now Macbeth has fear of losing his power so he must act by sending out to murder Banquo and his sons. By this time he has already begun to lose his guilt induced conscious as if killing had just become second nature. Thus is the case when he murders all of Macduff’s family, creating one of his largest flaws thus far. It is not illustrated on how the murders were done, rather Macduff’s reaction is shown which creates a hatred towards