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Vincent Kundrik Mrs. Sipos Honors English 10 3 December 2012 Victim of Victimization Bad things happen to good people. Missed opportunities turn into misfortune, creating guilt when a person isnt guilty. Sometimes people cant control what happens to them, yet they are still blamed for something that isnt their fault. In Oedipus the King, Sophocles wants the audience to understand that everyone is a victim of someone with more power. The consequence of an action will occur regardless whether its deserved. Oedipus doesnt deserve to suffer for trying to deny the prophecy because at heart he is denying it to protect the people he loves. Some may argue that as Oedipus is confronted with the truth, his selfless feelings become selfish. Oedipuss refusal to accept reality leads him to throw false accusations of betrayal at Creon: Exactly! Which is why you make so false a friend (33). Oedipus and Creon are brothers. Their background is clean, without any fights or cheating which makes it unreal that Oedipus throws such words at Creon. Creon came into a situation, hoping to help Oedipus understand his own fate and the fate of Thebes. Creon is a victim to Oedipuss poor behavior, proving that Oedipus only wants to defend himself from being discovered as Laiuss murderer. Oedipus is seemingly ready to dispose of Creon, like a used tissue or a bug in a windshield; forgetting that Creon has done nothing, only using arrogance to self-promote himself. Despite appearances, Oedipus is more selfless than not. Oedipus only antagonizes Creon out of stress. It

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doesnt make sense that the same person, who would feel cold-blooded for a city, wouldnt feel the same for his brother. Usually when one is stressed they do things out of their control. One may feel short tempered or overwhelmed. Oedipus clearly feels short tempered, claiming his own brother is a false friend. Oedipuss search for truth isnt because of selfish actions, more so the actions of selfless feelings towards the town of Thebes. Sophocles wants the reader to understand that Oedipus feels pity for the city of Thebes. Mine is treble anguish crying out for the city, for myself, for you. / It was no man asleep you wake ah no! - / But one in bitter tears and perplexed in thought, found wandering (7). Oedipus wants to put the man who caused the city of Thebes pain to rest. Crying represents a release of negative emotions caused by a lingering situation. The fact that his thoughts are wandering represents a confusing struggle, something that hasnt been faced before. The news of the prophecy is new, but the plague is old news. Oedipuss realizes that the plague has gone on long enough, and that it needs to end. The phrase, for myself for you, represents the empathy Oedipus feels. As a king, he feels that it is his job to defend Thebes. When Oedipus defeats the sphinx, he is named the citys king. Thus, Oedipus has grown a personal connection with the town. He doesnt want to abandon in the city of Thebes; he wants to fight with it until the plague is resolved. Selflessness means to put oneself ahead of others. Oedipus, while battling a horrible fate keeps fighting to save a city that wont last without him. Battered by stress and ignorance, Oedipus denies the prophecy hoping it turns out to be false. Fighting to save a city in anguish, Oedipus is driven to his own downfall. In the end, one may be forced to selfishness in times of stress, but selflessness is something that will always exist at heart.

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