Oedipus the King A myth andThe mythological critic easily evaluates the written version of Oedipus the King, finding the prevalent mythological or archetypal characteristics in the text as well as common hero characteristics in Oedipus. The myth begins with a journey as Oedipus arrives in Thebes from his home in Corinth as the son of King Plybus. The ideas of heaven and hell are visible in the text.
A heavenly atmosphere is presented upon the arrival of Oedipus in Thebes after he solving the Sphinx’s riddle, saving the citizens from her wrechedness. In the end of the story Oedipus departs Thebes to Kithairon to spend the remainder of his life blinded and disabled and to avoid being seen by anyone. This place represents a hell on earth that Oedipus must live through many years until his awaited death. The texts presents several examples of water and sky imagery.
Throughout the play violent sea and ship imagery emerge when speaking of the plague and its effects. For example “Thebes is tossed on a murdering sea”(prologue 27), , and using words like bowstring. . Again, sky imagery is seen. Teresias plays the role of te mythological old wise man. Teresias is a blind prophet who speaks nothing but the truth and he warns Oedipus of hi fate.
Finally, the myth has an overall god ending. The tragedy and disgrace of Oedipus leaves the reader felling sorry for him and almost sick about his ironic tragedies, but overall, in the end the reader is left feeling good about the city of Thebes, and the reader knows that Thebes will get back to normal free of the plague. Though Oedipus brings an awful plague to Thebes, kills its previous king, and changes the lives of his mother and daughters forever he still processes the characteristics of a mythological hero. He his parents, King Laius and Jocasta, can be considered divine parents do to their royalty.
The disgracing fate of Oedipus leads him into exile from Thebes. Oedipus attempts to escape his terrible fa
