Truth in Literature

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Sophocles, Ibsen & Truth What is truth? Is the truth part of fate, or is fate part of the truth? Sophocles clearly states that the truth is revealed because of fate. The fate of a person is already determined, even before they here their truth. Truth is like a puzzle to Sophocles, and there are multiple steps to finding out the truth. Ibsen, on the other hand, states that the truth is simple and can be avoided, and that there is no fate. Ibsen uses one character to reveal truth in his play, while Sophocles uses multiple characters to reveal truth. Sophocles’ and Ibsen’s plays focus on the truth and how the truth is revealed. The truth is comparable to a puzzle in Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, while it is simple and clear and in The Wild Duck by Ibsen. Sophocles’ play, Oedipus Rex, revolves around the main character Oedipus. Oedipus’ goal throughout the whole play is to find truth, and in this case, truth is a puzzle. Oedipus must ask multiple people for little bits of information to find out the truth about himself and about who killed the king. Truth does not come to him, but rather he strives to find the truth. Oedipus’ drive to find the truth and his fate lead to his demise by the end of the play. The first example of truth as a puzzle in Oedipus Rex is when Oedipus solves the riddle of the Sphinx. The riddle is similar to a puzzle because it is not straight forward and takes much thinking to solve. Solving the riddle is similar to finding the truth throughout the rest of the play. The oracle sends a riddle out to all the citizens of Thebes to see if they can solve it. Oedipus is the one who solves the riddle. Sophocles uses the solving of the riddle as a metaphor to finding truth throughout the rest of the play. Finding the truth will be long and complicated, similar to a puzzle. The next truth that must be solved comes from Tiresias. Oedipus summons Tiresias,
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