Shen 1 Adele Shen Mr.

Boegman English 10H Period 2 6 March 2014 Word Count: 513 Two Tragic Heroes, Two Inspiring Stories In the Theban trilogy by Sophocles and translated by Paul Roche, Oedipus and Antigone are two tragic figures tightly bound together. Both represent the perfect tragic hero. They suffer the same grievances but play out their fates separately. Ultimately, they regain their honor and die a noble death. The steadfastness that they maintain throughout their tortured lives and onto their tragic deaths inspire their audience. Oedipus and Antigone were born into the Cadmus line, a noble family cursed by Ares. Oedipus leaves Corinth to protect his parents and avoid the prophecy that foretells of him killing his father and marrying his mother. In Thebes, he saves the citizens from the sphinx and becomes king. However, he could not escape the unraveling of fate and discovers his unwitting sins, dumping him unceremoniously from being an omnipotent ruler to a city-less wanderer. He takes responsibility by banishing himself from Thebes and stabbing his eyes out (Oedipus the King, Sophocles 5-81). The vortex of Oedipuss downfall sucks Antigone into misfortune as well. The curse of the Cadmus line also demotes Antigone by tarnishing her royal blood. However, she stands by her father even while her brothers clash and try to use Oedipus for power. In Oedipus at Colonus, Oedipus foretells the demise of his fickle sons and praises his loyal daughters: You [sons] expelled me, you arranged

Shen 2 that I should beg my daily bread. But for my two girls I should not even be alive if left to you. Its they who tend me, they preserve me. They are the ones who play a mans and not a womans part (Oedipus at Colonus, Sophocles 163). Antigones world falls as her father is reduced into a crippled outlaw. However, she does not hide in shame or prey on Oedipuss throne; instead, she supports and guides her father until he finds citizenship and solace at Athens. Oedipus not only nullifies his crimes, he purifies his character. His fatal flaw drove him to kill a headstrong traveler and unswervingly take Jocasta as his wife. To neutralize this hubris, he humbles himself until he must rely completely on his daughter and others pity. Theseus looks upon Oedipuss helpless frame and reassures him, I was a child of exile too, / fighting for my life in foreign lands / So never could I turn my back on some poor exile / such as you are now (Oedipus at Colonus, Sophocles 120). After Oedipuss death, Antigone also takes responsibility of her crimes by confessing to burying Polyneices. She prioritizes fulfilling her promise to her brother and following through on her morals over safety, and she ultimately takes her life in her own hands. Though the mighty have fallen, tragic figures empower the audience in their redemption. Despite the miseries thrown upon them, their courage and morality do not falter; they regain their honor against all odds. Oedipus atones for his unwitting sins and Antigone repeals her twisted birthright. Both have trouble thrust upon them, but the way they resolve their dilemmas lead them to greatness.