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What happens to the Sphinx when Oedipus solves the riddle in 'Oedipus Rex'?
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∙ 12y ago
Suicide is what happens to the Sphinx when Oedipus solves the riddle in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).
Specifically, the Sphinx demands upon pain of death the answer to an impossible riddle. Oedipus figures out the answer and thereby deprives the Sphinx of her food supply. In despair, she throws herself over a nearby cliff.
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∙ 12y ago
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What happens to the Sphinx in 'Oedipus Rex'?
Suicide is what happens to the Sphinx in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, the monstrous Sphinx is terrorizing Thebes by killing and devouring all Thebans who cannot answer her riddle. No one knows the answer. The Sphinx is parked right outside the city's main entrance. This is bad for business, because no one wants to enter Thebes, and no one can leave ... until Oedipus comes along and solves the riddle. The Sphinx is so upset that her terrorist days are over that she throws herself over a nearby cliff.
Why does the Sphinx destroy Thebes in 'Oedipus Rex'?
The Sphinx does not destroy the city of Thebes in "Oedipus Rex."Specifically, the monster sets up camp outside the city and forces everyone coming and going to answer a seemingly unanswerable riddle. Those who have no answer are killed by her. But Oedipus comes along and solves the riddle before the Sphinx can devour every last Theban or destroy the city.
Why did the citizens of Thebes make Oedipus their king in Oedipus king?
The Sphinx was holding Thebes captive until someone answered it's riddle. Desperate for relief, Creon offers whoever can answer the riddle the hand of his sister Jocasta, recently widowed. Oedipus comes along and solves the riddle, earning himself the throne.
Why did the citizens of Thebes make Oedipus the king?
The Sphinx was holding Thebes captive until someone answered it's riddle. Desperate for relief, Creon offers whoever can answer the riddle the hand of his sister Jocasta, recently widowed. Oedipus comes along and solves the riddle, earning himself the throne.
What happens to the Sphinx after Oedipus solves her riddle?
The Sphinx throws herself over a cliff once her riddle is solved by Oedipus. Her livelihood is gone, with the riddle's solution. The Sphinx is in the habit of terrorizing all who try to pass her by on the way in or out of Thebes. She terrifies Thebans into paying her heavy taxes. She agrees to let into Thebes only those who solve her riddle.But no one gets into Thebes, because no one knows what the Sphinx looks for as an answer. Until Oedipus, no one guesses that man is the living being that gets about on all fours in the morning, twos in the afternoon, and threes in the evening. No one realizes that the morning represents the crawling of an infant, the afternoon the steady stride of the adult, and the evening the need of an elder for a walking stick.
What happens to the Sphinx in 'Oedipus Rex'?
Suicide is what happens to the Sphinx in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, the monstrous Sphinx is terrorizing Thebes by killing and devouring all Thebans who cannot answer her riddle. No one knows the answer. The Sphinx is parked right outside the city's main entrance. This is bad for business, because no one wants to enter Thebes, and no one can leave ... until Oedipus comes along and solves the riddle. The Sphinx is so upset that her terrorist days are over that she throws herself over a nearby cliff.
Why does the Sphinx destroy Thebes in 'Oedipus Rex'?
The Sphinx does not destroy the city of Thebes in "Oedipus Rex."Specifically, the monster sets up camp outside the city and forces everyone coming and going to answer a seemingly unanswerable riddle. Those who have no answer are killed by her. But Oedipus comes along and solves the riddle before the Sphinx can devour every last Theban or destroy the city.
Why did the citizens of Thebes make Oedipus their king in Oedipus king?
The Sphinx was holding Thebes captive until someone answered it's riddle. Desperate for relief, Creon offers whoever can answer the riddle the hand of his sister Jocasta, recently widowed. Oedipus comes along and solves the riddle, earning himself the throne.
Why did the citizens of Thebes make Oedipus the king?
The Sphinx was holding Thebes captive until someone answered it's riddle. Desperate for relief, Creon offers whoever can answer the riddle the hand of his sister Jocasta, recently widowed. Oedipus comes along and solves the riddle, earning himself the throne.
What happens to the sphinx after Oedipus solves the riddle?
The Sphinx throws herself over a cliff once her riddle is solved by Oedipus. Her livelihood is gone, with the riddle's solution. The Sphinx is in the habit of terrorizing all who try to pass her by on the way in or out of Thebes. She terrifies Thebans into paying her heavy taxes. She agrees to let into Thebes only those who solve her riddle.But no one gets into Thebes, because no one knows what the Sphinx looks for as an answer. Until Oedipus, no one guesses that man is the living being that gets about on all fours in the morning, twos in the afternoon, and threes in the evening. No one realizes that the morning represents the crawling of an infant, the afternoon the steady stride of the adult, and the evening the need of an elder for a walking stick.
What happens to the Sphinx after Oedipus solves her riddle?
The Sphinx throws herself over a cliff once her riddle is solved by Oedipus. Her livelihood is gone, with the riddle's solution. The Sphinx is in the habit of terrorizing all who try to pass her by on the way in or out of Thebes. She terrifies Thebans into paying her heavy taxes. She agrees to let into Thebes only those who solve her riddle.But no one gets into Thebes, because no one knows what the Sphinx looks for as an answer. Until Oedipus, no one guesses that man is the living being that gets about on all fours in the morning, twos in the afternoon, and threes in the evening. No one realizes that the morning represents the crawling of an infant, the afternoon the steady stride of the adult, and the evening the need of an elder for a walking stick.
Why is Oedipus considered the wisest man on earth in 'Oedipus Rex'?
That he solves the Sphinx's riddle is the reason why Oedipus is considered the wisest man on earth in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, the Sphinx asks what life form moves on fours in the morning, twos in the afternoon and threes in the evening. No one can figure out the answer. But Oedipus figures out that it is a man crawling as a baby, getting around independently as an adult and needing assistance as a senior citizen.
Who helps Oedipus defeat the Sphinx in 'Oedipus Rex'?
No one overtly helps Oedipus defeat the Sphinx in the play "Oedipus Rex" by ancient Greek playwright Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Oedipus runs away from Corinth because the Delphic Oracle says that he will kill his father and marry his mother. Oedipus therefore decides to cut all contact with his presumed parents, King Polybus and Queen Merope of Corinth, and to live out his life elsewhere. Somehow, he ends up at Thebes, which he can enter only if he solves the monstroux Sphinx's riddle. At the beginning of the play, it is explained that Oedipus is the best of humans and figures things out on his own.
What service does Oedipus give the city upon his arrival?
Ending the bullying, taxing ways of the Sphinx is the service that subsequent Theban King Oedipus gives Thebes upon his arrival. The Sphinx sets up camp outside the city. The people are forced to pay heavy taxes. Additionally, everyone coming into or leaving from Thebes is forced to answer the Sphinx's riddle or be killed.Oedipus is the only one who solves the riddle. He realizes that a human is the life form that gets around on fours in the morning of life, on twos in the afternoon, and on threes in the evening. The Sphinx's tyranny thereby ends with her jumping over a cliff to her death.
Why does Oedipus marry his mother in 'Oedipus Rex'?
Because of the reality of the situation and because of his culture, Oedipus ends up marrying his own mother in the play "Oedipus Rex."Specifically, according to the facts of the situation, Oedipus solves the riddle of the Sphinx and thereby saves the entire city of Thebes from destruction and death. The reward is marriage to widowed Theban Queen Jocasta and the throne of Thebes. But an additional explanation is that Oedipus' fate is being carried out inexorably despite all attempts to the contrary. In fact, according to prophecy, he will end up killing his father and sovereign and marrying his mother. That is exactly what happens.
What happened to Thebes as a result of solving the riddle being solved in Oedipus?
Freedom from torment but disrespect to the gods are what happens to Thebes once the riddle of the Sphinx is solved in the play "Oedipus Rex."Specifically, Thebans are free to come and go as they please without fear of bodily harm once subsequent Theban King Oedipus solves the riddle and the Sphinx kills herself. But Oedipus pollutes the Theban environment since he comes to Thebes straight from having killed an arrogant, elderly stranger and not having carried out any of the required cleansing rituals. He allows himself to be persuaded by Thebans to marry the widow of the previous king who never returns from a sacred journey to Delphi.Oedipus is wrong not to have revealed his crime and made amends. He and all Thebans are wrong not to have identified and punished Theban King Laius' murderer(s). Everyone therefore becomes free of one danger only to end up facing another through their own disrespect to and disobedience of the rigid rules of gods and of kings.
What are four examples of how Oedipus acts as a good king in 'Oedipus Rex'?
Defeating the Sphinx, meeting with his people, sending Creon to Delphi and solving Laius' death are four examples of how Oedipus acts as a good king in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Oedipus acts to end the Sphinx's reign of terror when he solves the riddle. He is accessible to his people, who know that he will meet with them when they gather outside the main entrance to the Theban royal palace. He knows of the pestilence and sends Creon, his brother-in-law and royal colleague, to consult with the Delphic oracle as to causes and solutions. He persists in investigating King Laius' murder even though he becomes a prime suspect.
