Uniform Chaos Essay, Research Paper
In Sopohocles’ tragedy “Oedipus the King”, Oedipus proclaims ” it was I who have pronounced these curses on myself” (Madden 37). With this announcement, Oedipus is aware that his pursuit for order has led to a life of chaos. The central thesis is that the presumption of order establishes physical, intellectual, and spiritual chaos. The text’s reference to the sphinx, Oedipus, and Tiresias creates this notion. These three literal signifiers are the metaphoric symbolizers of physical, intellectual, and spiritual chaos.
The concept of physical chaos is first introduced during the first speech of the priest when reference is made to the “harsh singer” (Madden 37), the sphinx. In greek mythology, the sphinx is recognised as a hybrid creature with a woman’s head, a lion’s body, an eagle’s wings, and a serpent’s tail. In reality, “the virgin with the crooked talons” (Madden 48), is a unique archetype for many things in one single being. The sphinx is an epitome of destruction and chaos who establishes “the tax [they] had to pay [her]” (Madden 17) because she devourers all who fail to answer her riddle. Her domination of Thebes causes havoc and melancholic responses that are directly related to the degree of her physical chaos. The confrontation between Oedipus and the sphinx ends with the latter destroying herself, “the winged maiden came against him: he was seen then to be skilled” (Madden 29), due to Oedipus answering her riddle. By destroying herself, the sphinx makes it possible for the oracles to come true. With her reign of terror at an end, the sphinx makes it possible for Oedipus to continue with his life in pursuit of order. Chaos is established because of the opportunity for the prophecies to become an actuality. The physical appearance of the sphinx and her self-destruction foreshadow chaos for Oedipus in the near future.
As the sphinx is the measure of highest physical chaos, so Oedipus is a measure of utmost intellectual chaos. Oedipus, being the king of Thebes, portrays qualities that signify intelligence, fortitude, and freedom from doubt. Oedipus’ intelligence is prominent upon knowledge of his ill faith; Oedipus, in his present state of mind, interprets the prophecies made to him literally. This course of action assists in the accomplishment of the oracles.
“[Phoebus] said [Oedipus] would be [his] mother’s lover,
show offspring to mankind [that] they could not look at, and
be his [father's] murderer. When [Oedipus] heard this, and
ever since, [he] gauged the way to Corinth by the stars alone,
running to a place where [he] would never see the disgrace in
the oracle’s words come true.” (Madden 37).”
By trying to set down a systematic life, Oedipus ironically commits the “wretched horrors” (Madden 37) he intends to avoid, thus coming to the realization that “[he] struck them with his hand”(Madden 52). Oedipus answers the riddle of the sphinx “and stopped her-by using thought” (Madden 26). By doing so, Oedipus’ reward for freeing Thebes was the throne and the hand in marriage of the widowed Jocasta. His intelligence-driven fulfilment of the prophecies induced chaos because “[her] riddle wasn’t for a man chancing by to interpret, prophetic art was needed” (Madden 26). The realization that “[he has] pronounced these curses on [himself]” (Madden 37) depicts how Oedipus establishes intellectual chaos because the choices he makes to secure order in his life strangely enough provoke a chaotic time to come.
The mention of Tiresias in the play signifies spiritual chaos. He is a blind but wise prophet who “sees more [ ] than Lord Phoebus” (Madden 24). Tiresias knows the truth about Oedipus and states: “he’ll be shown a father who is also brother; to the one who bore him, son and husband; to his father, his seed-fellow and killer” (Madden 28). Tiresias has “the strength of the truth” (Madden 25) and chaos evolves when he does not speak of the truth he knows. With this, Oedipus accuses him of being “[part] of [the] plot [to murder Laius]” (Madden 26), when in reality, “[Oedipus is the] enemy” (Madden 27). Tiresias is blind due to natural causes, but when Oedipus tries to achieve his level of wisdom, all that is obtained is chaos. “[H]e snatched the pins [ ] and struck
[them] into [his eyeballs]” (Madden 50) in attempt to see spiritually. Tiresias deceives Oedipus unintentionally into believing that wisdom can be achieved by blindness; Tiresias says: “since you have thrown my blindness at me: Your eyes can’t see the evil to which you’ve come” (Madden 27). This incident depicts how Tiresias’ order establishes chaos for Oedipus.
Acquiring order cannot exist without the concept of chaos. The realization that order leads to chaos manifests man’s pursuit for an unreachable end. The challenge to accomplish a life of order involves smart decision making, and this process is essential for physical, intellectual and spiritual chaos.
Другие работы по теме:
That School Uniforms Are Necessary Essay Research
Paper That School Uniforms are Necessary The Macquarie dictionary defines the concept of uniform as; dress of the same style, materials and colour worn by a group. One particular type of group that uniforms are necessary for are students. Uniforms are a good idea for schools because they make life easier for school children.
Venus Aphrodite Essay Research Paper In the
Venus (Aphrodite) Essay, Research Paper In the begining, there was Chaos. From Chaos and Mother Earth came the first race of Greek deities, the Titans. These first gods were ruled by Saturn, who had received the prophesy that his son will over throw him. Well, he ate all his children save one, the one his wife, Mother Earth (Gaia) placed on an island.
Oedipus Essay Research Paper In Sopohocles
Oedipus Essay, Research Paper In Sopohocles’ tragedy "Oedipus the King", Oedipus proclaims " it was I who have pronounced these curses on myself" (Madden 37). With this
Napolean Bonaparte Essay Research Paper Napoleon Bonaparte
Napolean Bonaparte Essay, Research Paper Napoleon Bonaparte ? French Revolution Napoleon was the cure of the French Revolution when he came to power. It would be impossible to put them together. From what was chaos throughout France during the Revolution, came a new government that Napoleon created. He was able to balance the government?s budgets and setting up national banks thus helping and supporting the economy of France.
Press Censorship Essay Research Paper There are
Press Censorship Essay, Research Paper There are many kinds of censorship within our school system. Such as press Censorship, we aren’t aloud to express freely among our school?s newspaper nor
Chaos Vs Order Essay Research Paper The
Chaos Vs. Order Essay, Research Paper The short story by James Thurber, “The Catbird Seat”, describes a man, Mr. Erwin Martin, who is very precise and logical in everything he does including his job and
BaseBall Essay Research Paper I never did
BaseBall Essay, Research Paper I never did like the taste of dirt, but I had a mouthful of it from diving head first into second after smacking a line drive down the right field line. Sweat was trickling down my face and stinging my eyes as I wearily got up and wiped the dust off of my uniform. It was the top of the last inning and we were up 9-8.
Democracy Essay Research Paper DemocracyThesis Is democracy
Democracy Essay, Research Paper Democracy Thesis: Is democracy a possible form of government? With out it the world would be full of chaos and injustice. Democracy is the form of government that America has today. We are able to vote on whom we want to run our government. We have a say in what goes on in our lives and our future.
Chaos Making A New Science Essay Research
Paper Chaos: Making A New Science Chaos by James Gleick presents to its readers the idea of a new science. Gleick shows this new science as a deviation of old conventional science; which gives rise to new ideas and new ways to look at old problems. In order to make his point; Gleick traces the lives of many different scientists throughout history.
Charlotte Bronte Essay Research Paper EnglishCharlotte Bronte
Charlotte Bronte Essay, Research Paper English Charlotte Bronte was born in Thornton in the West Riding of Yorkshire on April 21,1816, the third child of Patrick Bronte and Maria Branwell Bronte. The major event of her young life was the death of her mother in 1821, which created a lot of chaos.
Importance Of Priority In Today
’s Society Essay, Research Paper Importance of Priority in Today’s Society In today’s society it is of the ultimate importance to keep self- discipline as a major priority. Right now we may not realize it, but we are not
Ralph Waldo Emerson Essay Research Paper Analysis
Ralph Waldo Emerson Essay, Research Paper Analysis of Genius Ralph Waldo Emerson was a brilliant man who took the meaning of self-reliance to another uniform. His convoluted conceptions on Genius and Transdentalism are more in touch with self. His inhabitants and whereabouts such as the Waldon pond were very substantial to him.
Chaos Theory Essay Research Paper Chaos TheoryWhen
Chaos Theory Essay, Research Paper Chaos Theory When Edward Lorenz decided to run his meteorology test from a halfway point in order to save time he had no idea that he would stumble on one of the largest theories of our time. In 1961 he took the data from a computer printout and entered it into the system. The information he was using was the data sheets from a previous test he had run.
Comparison Essay Essay Research Paper Comparison EssayThere
Comparison Essay Essay, Research Paper Comparison Essay There are many different ways to explain the beginning and creation. Genesis and Edith Hamilton?s ?Mythology,? are two of many literary works you can find. Both show how characters were created and formed. They give detailed understanding and examples of creation.
Society And Chaos Essay Research Paper Society
Society And Chaos Essay, Research Paper Society and Chaos When William Butler Yeats wrote, ” I don’t care how orderly the rotation of the planets and the sun may be, I am beginning to think that ultimately everything tends toward chaos.”, he was way ahead of his time in predicting the ultimate outcome of society as a whole.
Honest Iago Essay Research Paper Honest Iago
Honest Iago Essay, Research Paper Honest Iago In William Shakespeare’s Othello, despicable Iago, the ultimate villain, uses his intelligence and resourcefulness to exact his vengeance. By creating chaos and causing people to doubt each other Iago rises to power. In the deaths he causes as he achieves his revenge, he provides a shocking representation of absolute evil and a metaphor a out human nature.Iago’s extreme villainy, originally fueled by his jealousy of Cassio’s position, bloomed into a much greater passion.
Parable Of The Sower By Octavia E.
. Butler Essay, Research Paper Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler This book brings forth an utterly nightmarish vision of California and the USA in 2027, but one with an almost shockingly firm grounding in reality. Los Angeles has devolved into walled island neighborhoods in a sea of utter chaos and collapse.
Crime And Resources Essay Research Paper Crime
Crime And Resources Essay, Research Paper Crime in the United States (CIUS), published annually by the FBI, is a compilation of the Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) provided by over 16,000 policing jurisdictions. It represents one of the two primary sources of data about crime in the United States, the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) being the other.
My Fist Job Essay Research Paper My
My Fist Job Essay, Research Paper My first job was a job I would never want to work again. For one year I worked at an Arby s restaurant. I heard about the job from my father who knew the owner of the restaurant. I went to apply for the opening and to my amazement there was no application or interview asked of me. I was handed a uniform and put to work.
Uniforms In School Good Or Bad Essay
, Research Paper Uniforms in School, Good or Bad? Due to misconduct and obscure nature of students, school districts have decided to create a school uniform to create an equal environment in which students have a less of a chance to cause problems. In the opinions of most students, they considered this an act against their personal rights, but then others considered it to be a reasonable idea.
Ameratsu Essay Research Paper Amaterasu is the
Ameratsu Essay, Research Paper Amaterasu is the supreme deity of the Japanese religion of Shintoism and the legendary ancestor of Japan’s imperial family. The full name of this deity is Amaterasu Omikami. This means in Japanese the Great Spirit Illuminating the Heavens.
School Uniform Essay Research Paper School UniformThroughout
School Uniform Essay, Research Paper School UniformThroughout the Japan, numerous school boards have been attempting to standardize the clothing that students wear. The school superintendents who are in favor of uniforms will argue that the children who wear them will experience many benefits. I disagree with this idea.
School Uniform Essay Research Paper Should Schools
School Uniform Essay, Research Paper Should Schools Have Uniforms Or Not? What s the big deal? Don t most students dress the same anyways, so should schools have uniform or not? School uniforms are necessary. There are two sides to this argument and a definite result. Some people say that school uniform is pointless.
For Or Against School Uniform Essay Research
Paper SCHOOL UNIFORMS Good or Bad Idea The head teacher of a local primary school is thinking of introducing a school uniform. .Can uniforms really make a difference to a child’s academic performance.
THE EDUCATION SYSTEM Essay Research Paper THE
THE EDUCATION SYSTEM Essay, Research Paper THE EDUCATION SYSTEM The education system in my country is different from U.S education; mostly it is similar to France education system. The education system in my country is very restricted and it is not easy to graduate from high school. I have been attending US colleges for almost four years now.
Poem Objects Essay Research Paper Max E
Poem: Objects Essay, Research Paper Max E. Gaytan 4-5-00 One object can unlock All secrets of the world. It can create happiness And endless piece in the World. It can cure diseases
My Diary Essay Research Paper Dear DiaryToday
My Diary Essay, Research Paper Dear Diary, Today was a pretty same old same old day. I woke up to Alia scrambling around her room at ten to seven, I was laughing cause I think she was looking for me…(she never looks hard enough) finally her cat Princess jumped on her vanity and I rolled on to the floor. Alia found me put me on……I feel so loved and needed when she does that…….and put me in the pocket of her cute Lauzares uniform…..(her private school)…….it is so cute…..it’s a short little green red and navy plaid skirt…..a white collared shirt and a red tie……high socks……..cute little mary janes…..its adorable.
Blah Essay Research Paper For my senior
Blah Essay, Research Paper For my senior thesis, I will be conducting further research on my project, and the idea from which my project came. This research will include different experimental approaches and setups, the outcomes of these new schematics, and the way in which the project was originally approached.
It Was Not Death For I Stood
Up Essay, Research Paper In the poem by Emily Dickinson “It Was Not Death, for I Stood Up,” the main character has just lost a loved one and feels such devastation that cannot be put into words, but could only be described as “not” something. She feels such loss at her loved one’s burial, that his “burial reminded [her] of [hers]“.
Evolution Essay Research Paper 1a The
Evolution Essay, Research Paper 1)a. The first stated that sedimentary rocks are laid down in a horizontal manner, and the second stated that younger rock units were deposited on top of older rock units.
Darkness Beacon Of Chaos In Macbeth Essay
, Research Paper Darkness; Beacon of Chaos in Macbeth Darkness in our society is indicative of evil. For instance, a black cat, a dark night, and a dark place are all symbolic of diablerie. Authors use these