1. Waylon Coufal, Allen Vedan, Nathan Lee
Oedipus
Waylon Coufal, Allen Vedan, Nathan Lee

2. Literal meaning of the prompt
Prompt: It has often been said that what we value can be determined by what we sacrifice. Consider how this statement applies to a character from “Oedipus the King” Select a character that has deliberately sacrificed, surrendered, or forfeiting something in a way that highlights that character’s values. Then analyze how that particular sacrifice illuminates that character’s values and provides a deeper understanding of the meaning of the work as a whole.
Literal meaning: Chose a character from “Oedipus the King” that has made a sacrifice that shows their values. Explain why this is so, and how this allows a better understanding of the novel.

3. How it relates to the novel
In “Oedipus the King” characters make sacrifices in order to end their suffering and/or accept responsibility for their actions , such as Jocasta suiciding, as she couldn’t live with the shame of knowing what she did with her son and husband Oedipus and of not knowing of it sooner. And Oedipus, blinding and banishing himself, in order to punish himself for his hubris and arrogance.
“You will not see,” he said, “the horrors I have suffered and done. Be dark forever now- eyes that saw those you should never have seen, and failed to recognize those you longed to see.” – Oedipus, Pg. 93
In this quote from the novel, Oedipus blinds himself for ignoring the signs of his involvement in the tragedy and had refused to see.

4. Sacrifice
Oedipus, the former king of Thebes, surrendered his eyesight and banished himself as a result of his ignorance. By exiling himself, Oedipus shows that he has the value of upholding the law, no matter what. He had promised to the people of Thebes during the beginning of the novel that he would punish the killer of King Laius, and he had done so. By blinding himself Oedipus shows that he had realized that he was the one that caused the plague upon Thebes, and he takes responsibility for his actions. This allows a deeper understanding of the novel because it shows us typical Greek values at the time.

5. Situational Irony
Oedipus throughout the novel blames everyone but himself revealing himself to be more blind and unaware than an actual blindman such as Tiresias. Whenever Oedipus blinds himself purposefully and literally, Oedipus is only then aware of what is truly going on. The answer was in front of him the whole time, he just avoided the truth because he couldn’t handle the idea of it.

6. Archetype: Tragic Hero
In the novel, Oedipus, the King of Thebes , is a hero to the people of Thebes, since he embodies the ideal qualities of his people. But throughout the novel it shows he is very arrogant. Attempting to avoid his prophecy, vowing to find the killer of Lanius while not knowing he himself is the killer. And also not admitting to his faults and gets angry at the prophet Tiresias. As a result of all his actions, the prophecy is fulfilled and Oedipus blinds and exiles himself.
“As for the murderer himself, I call down a curse on him” – Oedipus Pg. 15
“You are blind, your ears an mind as well as eyes.” – Oedipus Pg. 25

7. Symbolism in Oedipus
One of the most prominent themes in Oedipus is Sight, whether it’s the Blind Tiresias being the only one able to see the truth, or the Foresight of the oracles both Laius and Oedipus provide that comes true despite their efforts.
A specific symbol for this sight is Oedipus’ eyes. Only he is the one unable to see the truth, despite ironically meeting blind Tiresias. He calls the blind seer foolish, but as time follows, so does Oedipus’ realization of how right Tiresias was and how blind he was. It all comes to a head once Jocasta kills herself, and Oedipus forfeits his own eyesight that “failed to recognize those {he} longed to see” (93) as a way to atone for his ignorance in the matter, and banishes himself as he had promised in the beginning

8. Significant Moment: Meeting Tiresias the Blind
Oedipus, after declaring he would banish the person responsible, meets with the blind man Tiresias, known for his social knowledge. Oedipus reached out to him for help in investigating Laius’ death. Tiresias refuses to at first, but eventually gives Oedipus a mere part of the truth, revealing to him that he played part in Laius’ death,
Significance: Tiresias would reveal to Oedipus just how blind to the truth he was, showing how much of a “pitiful figure” (25) he was, and how ignorant he was despite being given an answer.

9. Significant Moment: The fall of Oedipus
Whenever Oedipus finds Jocasta dead, this marks the beginning of his mental break down being pushed over the edge. Oedipus blinds himself and proceeds to tell Creon to take care of his daughters before banishing himself. This sense of dread significantly reveals how Oedipus had learned a harsh lesson as a result of his hubris, illuminating as stated before, how his own ignorance only made it harder to find a solution sooner.

10. Significant Moment: Corinthian Messenger
The arrival of the Corinthian Messenger is a significant moment because he brings news of the death of Oedipus’s father, and that the people want Oedipus as king. He quickly recognizes Oedipus as a child he had found, and this then leads to the discovery of the terrible truth. Which then results in Jocasta’s suicide, and in Oedipus blinding and exiling himself.

11. Prompt
“In Oedipus Rex, some of the significant events are mental or psychological; for example, awakenings, discoveries, changes in consciousness. Describe how Sophocles manages to give these internal events the sense of excitement, and climax usually associated with external action”
Sophocles creates a good stimulus from specifically Oedipus’ revelations by creating a sense of dread through his diction as he comes to realize the misdeeds he has committed against his family and the kingdom of Thebes. Oedipus calls this slow revelation a “stain of misfortune” upon him (Sophocles 57)
The very truth that was fogged over for Oedipus begins to become very clear, and he finally begins to realize the very criminal he’s been attempting to capture is he himself, and builds up to the conclusion to this tragic tale

12. Prompt 2000
Prompt: In “Oedipus Red” identify the mystery and explain how the investigation illuminates the meaning of the work as a whole.
In Oedipus, the mystery involves looking for the person who killed king Laius. As Oedipus searches and investigates to find out who did it, he blames everyone but himself. At the same time, Oedipus is constantly pushing away the people close to him. This illuminates Oedipus’s hubris, revealing how ignorance can lead to ones own downfall.

13. Works cited
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