Option Two: Oedipus the King
a. Can Oedipus’ hubris and his hamartia be interpreted as something that was avoidable or unavoidable through the lenses of freewill, fate, and fortune (peripeteia)? Give specific illustrations.
b. Evaluate how trust and honesty led to the tragedy. Did Oedipus and his parents surpass their limits as mortals by trying to defy the prediction from the Oracle of Delphi? Why or why not?
c. Based on your reading of the tragedy, explain Sophocles’ definition of truth through Oedipus’ journey to find his true identity. d. How is Aristotelian ethics displayed in Oedipus the King, as Oedipus places the safety of his city as a priority while he strives to serve his kingdom for what he sees as the betterment of his people. Nevertheless, how does his naivety and relentless quest for the truth lead to the tragedy? How is this symbolic of blindness as a theme?
