The Theme Of Self-knowledge In Sophocles' Oedipus Tyrannus

Sophocles' Oedipus Tyrannus is always considered the model of tragedy and throughout history countless efforts have been made to explore its moral and meaning to the universal human status. In modern China, ever since its first introduction, the Oedipus Tyrannus has been interpreted as the tragedy of fete all the time.This paper ventures to say that the great tragedy has been misinterpreted in China and its theme is not that of the conflict between human will and the inevitable fate but that of self-knowledge and its consequences. Meanwhile, efforts are made to explore its profound meaning to modern readers.In the first chapter, the major misunderstandings of the Oedipus Tyrannus will be listed and efforts will be made to refute each of them and clear up the haunting confusions. The Oedipus Tyrannus is neither a meaningless masterpiece nor a tragedy of fete or of character. Its theme of self-knowledge will be explored.In the second chapter, the text of the play Oedipus Tyrannus itself will be closely examined. Through a detailed analysis of the protagonist's resolute pursuit of his true identity in contrast with the differing attitudes towards truth of other characters, the lesson of self-knowledge that we can learn from Oedipus will be discovered and it will be revealed that the dramatist is in praise of the unyielding quest of Oedipus. Oedipus is depicted as the paradigm of self-knowledge.In the third chapter, three other Sophoclean plays, Ajax, the Woman ofTrachis, and Philoctetes are discussed in their relation to Oedipus Tyrannus in terms of the self-knowledge theme. Each play portrays a hero or heroine exerting the same demand for true knowledge and complete clarity thus a complemented and unified attitude toward self-knowledge of Sophocles could be perceived. The historical background of Sophocles' writing this tragedy is discussed too and that gives us some clues of not only the prevalent thoughts of his age but also its timeless meaning to us.