A King for the People
Autor: Jannisthomas • November 25, 2017 • 1,012 Words (5 Pages) • 698 Views
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Oedipus appeals his pathos to the citizens to spark hope for a solution to their famine and reassurance that he can make the country at peace again. He has evoked much reassurance to the citizens by explaining how he feels their suffering even more so than they do, “…none suffers more than I,” (27). He takes their sorrows upon himself to motivate and reason his desire to find the murderer of their beloved king Laius. He is very convincing and presents a strong pathos with much meaning.
The citizens credit Oedipus as their new king that they believe and trust, and if he saved them from disaster once before, he can save them again. The priest reacts soundly to the beginning of Oedipus’ speech, before Creon arrives by announcing, “Well said.” Once Oedipus’ concludes his entire speech and recedes back into his palace the priest proclaims, “Up, children, Now the King has promised us / All that we came to ask. Let us pray that Phoebus, / From whom the answer came, himself may come / To save and deliver us out of our heavy afflictions.”(30). The priest offers his words up as one last assertion to the confidence of Oedipus and the reassurance that the citizens’ dismay will soon come to an end. After all is said, the citizens disperse.
Oedipus uses strong tone, favorable ethos, and evident pathos to reassure the people that he will find a solution to their suffering and famine. Sophocles has used Oedipus’ speech for much added dramatic irony. It is evident from what Oedipus says that he is set and certain that he can find the murderer to exile him and stop his peoples suffering, but what is ironic is the readers already know that Oedipus is the murderer of Laius, and would actually be looking for himself to exile, as he is the killer that is in Thebes. Sophocles has thoroughly written Oedipus’ speech filled with tone, ethos, and pathos for the overall effect of strong dramatic irony.
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Works Cited
Sophocles. The Theban Plays. Trans. E.F. Watling. London: Penguin Books, 1947. Print.\
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