Oedipus The King Rhetorical Analysis

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The rich get richer; the poor get poorer. The gap between the two widens with time. Sophocles hyperbolizes the attitude of the ruling class in Oedipus, King of Thebes, to accentuate their gap. The rich have the privileges the poor lack. The rich have money; money is power. Oedipus, King of Thebes, is rich with power; he can influence the lives of other people. Arguing with Tiresias, Oedipus declares the shepherd will be “diest” if he does not answer (DC 61). The agonizing connotation of “diest” creates a fearful mood. Dictating life or death, Oedipus is indirectly characterized as powerful: a privilege from his position as king. The shepherd claims to find “more than death and darker” if he tells the truth (DC 60). His somber tone creates perspective; reveal or conceal, the rich …show more content…
Perspective varies with wealth. Oedipus is “stabbed” by Tiresias’s words of accusation (DC 22). Conversely, Tiresias detests the burden of knowledge (DC 19). Their juxtaposing viewpoints are symbolic of the gap in their wealth. Oedipus has the privilege of worrying about his reputation, more valuable than the truth. As a foil character to Oedipus, Tiresias faces the consequences of knowing too much, a path to destroying his life. Wealth and honor and reputation are only coveted by the rich, privileged enough to always seek more; a prime example of the Diderot Effect. Polar opposites, the poor do not have the privilege of falling into overconsumption. Their differing perspectives represent their wealth. The poor must learn to fear the fearless rich. Backed by status, Oedipus has no regard for the consequences of his actions; when encountering his father, he “smote” Liaus “in wrath” (DC 40). Oedipus’s ability to strike a person in anger indirectly characterizes his recklessness. His money is his shield; a shield from repercussions. Those without money do not have the shield; they have nothing to support their
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