Oedipus the King by Sophocles - 1393 Words

Sophocles’ play, Oedipus the King, has risen many questions concerning the main character and whether or not he acts on free will or if his future is predestined by the gods. I am going to test the theory that although Oedipus believes he is acting on his own free will, he is in fact a victim of the gods. I will analyze several different sources that discuss fate and human agency in Oedipus the King and then proceed to build my original argument on the archaic debate. There has been a great deal of criticism on the topic of fate versus human agency in Oedipus the King. In 1968, Herbert Weil Jr. argued that Oedipus cannot be labeled as â€Å"innocent† due to ignorance as many scholars have tried to claim. Weil discusses how both Oedipus and Laius were told the truth directly from the oracle and any ignorance seen from either character would therefore be self-willed. Weil is also the only source I could locate that points out how Oedipus claims to not believe or rely on oracles. However, when the city of Thebes is plagued and the priest requests that someone be sent to the oracle at Delphi, Oedipus reveals that he has already sent Creon to visit the prophet. This scene reveals to the audience that although Oedipus proclaims that all prophecies are false, he still relies on the oracles enough to turn to them during Thebes’ plague (Weil). Laszlo Versà ©nyi is the author of â€Å"Oedipus: Tragedy of Self-Knowledge†. Versà ©nyi states, â€Å"The play is a tragedy not of divine fate but of humanShow MoreRelatedOedipus The King By Sophocles848 Words   |  4 PagesOedipus the King, written by Sophocles, follows the tragic story of a king named Oedipus who goes from an all-powerful ruler to a hopeless blind peasant. Oedipus the King was written as a play and performed in front of an audience. Sophocles shows in Oedipus the King that one cannot escape the fate of the gods. Throughout the play Oedipus struggles to find a solution and change all the troubles in his life. The play observes the story of Oedipus who defies the gods and through the journey experiencesRead MoreSophocles Oedipus The King1714 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"ideal tragedy† is the play â€Å"Oedipus the King† written by Sophocles. In this play, Sophocles utilizes the concept of tragedy as well the theory of the importance of scenes of recognition and reversal to create a setting, tone, and mood throughout the play. Oedipus, the mythi cal king of Thebes, goes through a horrendous tragedy which includes moments of recognition and reversal. These moments are key to the fame and appreciation for the play, â€Å"Oedipus the King†. Sophocles’ use of Aristotle’s conceptsRead MoreSophocles Oedipus The King884 Words   |  4 PagesKing of Thebes, owner of a family tree that identically resembles Medusa on a bad hair day, and the inspiration for a psychologically-riveting complex, Oedipus, tragic hero of Sophocles’ Oedipus the King, exposes troubling truths about the human condition and, acting as an exemplary precaution for the entirety of humanity, demonstrates how a self-destructive struggle between love, anger, and fate, conveyed through an unorthodox love affair between mother and son (Who gets custody in a divorce?),Read MoreSophocles Oedipus The King992 Words   |  4 PagesThroughout tragedies in Greek literature, the hero always has one tragic flaw. In Sophocles’ Oedipus the King, Oedipus’ main flaw is his overactive hubris, which in turn clouds his overall judgment. This is evident in the Chorus’ first ode to the city of Thebes as they try to ask the Gods for the banishment of the plague. Their answer does not come from a deity, but from Oedipus himself as he enters the palace and says, â€Å"You have prayed; and you prayers shall be answered with help and release ifRead MoreOedipus The King By Sophocles950 Words   |  4 PagesThe people throughout Oedipus’ life trues very hard to allow him to escape his fate of killing his father and then marrying his mother. In the epic poem Oedipus the King, Sophocles tells the story of the tragic downfall of Oedipus. Although many people see the role of free will that brought upon Oedipus’ doom, no matter what choices were made throughout his life, his ultimate fate would always return. The choices made at the beginning of Oedipus’ life set him up to fulfill his prophecy. His parentsRead MoreOedipus The King By Sophocles904 Words   |  4 Pages In Sophocles play â€Å"Oedipus the King† a deadly plague has descended upon the kingdom of Thebes, and because of this plague a dark and iniquitous secret begins to unravel itself only to reveal a web of events connecting Oedipus and others as the culprits behind all the havoc ensued. No one is the sole source responsible for the unfortunate events that befall Thebes, as well as the royal family; In fact, those who unknowingly paved the path of destruction were themselves trying to prevent it fromRead MoreSophocles Oedipus The King Essay1960 Words   |  8 Pages This would have been excellent advice for the main character in Sophocles drama, Oedipus the King. However, the drama was written as a result of Sophocles life and the influence of the humanistic culture in which he lived. Throughout Sophocles life, he gained military knowledge as the son of a wealthy armor manufacturer and received an excellent Greek education with emphasis on Homeric poetry (textbook). Furthe rmore, Sophocles was very involved in politics and served as a treasurer, a generalRead MoreOedipus The King, By Sophocles1407 Words   |  6 PagesWhen we think about a tragic play or protagonist, most people would think Shakespeare for his common theme of his plays to end with a tragedy. In Oedipus the King, written by Sophocles, tells the tale of the protagonist Oedipus. Throughout the play, Oedipus searched for his past to discover the reason why his kingdom is plagued with wilting crops and illnesses. In the end, he becomes a tragic protagonist after discovering his past was related to the previous king’s death. While the search progressedRead MoreSophocles Oedipus The King871 Words   |  4 PagesThe plays written by Sophocles, â€Å"Oedipus the King â€Å"and â€Å"Antigone† are bodies of work displayed the meaning of what Aristotle defined as a tragedy. â€Å"Oedipus the King† is a story of a king trying to avoid the fate of his life that has been p rophesized before his birth. In â€Å"Antigone† is story of a girl who devoted to her family, and regardless of the orders made the king Creon. In these stories the archetypes and hamartia of Antigone and Oedipus play a major role in the story. In â€Å"Antigone† the characterRead MoreSophocles Oedipus The King2037 Words   |  9 PagesSophocles’s Oedipus the King features a chorus that sings several odes over the course of the play. In Sophocles’s play, the chorus is composed of old Theban men and represents the population of Thebes as a whole. The chorus recites a parodos, four stasima, and a brief exodus. Through the choral odes, Sophocles reflects on the events and motifs of the play, including piety and faith in the Gods, the inevitability and the uncertainty of fate, and the dichotomy of right and wrong. After Sophocles establishes

The Westerner vs “The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky” Free Essays

Claire Schneider Joseph Libis English 1002 May 30, 2009 Two works of Literature, â€Å"The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky†, the short story, and â€Å"The Westerner†, the film, try to convey the civilization of the old west, which allows for settlement and development of traditional American values, which are associated with honest and hard working people in the West Texas frontier. Although, one of these works does a better job of conveying overall theme. Between â€Å"The Bride comes to Yellow Sky† and â€Å"The Westerner†, I would say that â€Å"The Westerner did a better job of civilizing on the Western frontier. We will write a custom essay sample on The Westerner vs â€Å"The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky† or any similar topic only for you Order Now Throughout the film, it seemed as they were always arguing with each other, but in the end Jane Ellen Mathews, and Carl Hardin became friends. One way to prove this would be that Carl had said that he thought Jane Ellen’s hair was the most beautiful hair he had ever seen. He wanted to keep a lock of her hair. To me, that says a lot if you want to keep a lock of some ones hair. There was a scene in which there was a play in which Judge Roy Bean purchased all of the tickets for. Before the play began, Carl Hardin appeared, and they started to have a shooting match. I’m not sure what the reason was. After a long match, they both decided to call it even and make up. It’s always great when movies wind up having a great ending. Two of the characters, Jane Ellen, and Carl Hardin, wanted to have a home together. In Bride Comes to Yellow Sky, two people have just gotten married, and are on board a train to Yellow Sky. When they arrive back in Yellow Sky, they rush towards Jack Potter’s house, but they see, on their way six men sitting at a bar, and a man comes out and announces that Scratchy Wilson has been drinking again. In the very beginning of â€Å"The Westerner† there were men sitting at a bar drinking. This would be one similarity that the two works of literature share. How to cite The Westerner vs â€Å"The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky†, Papers

Documentary Film Primarily Documents

Question: Discuss about theDocumentary for Film Primarily Documents. Answer: Introduction: According to Sherman (2015), a documentary film primarily documents reality for the purpose of edutainment and preservation of history. The Polish filmmaker and writer Boleslaw Matuszewski first identified the genre. As discussed by Chapman (2007), his books A New Source of History and Animated Photography, published in 1898 in French Language highlighted the value of documentary. Over the ages, filmmakers have shown interest in documentary and their experiments have enriched the history of world cinema. In this essay, one of the finest documentaries Nanook of the North by John Grierson will be analyzed based on documentary as a genre and the particular mode of documentary filmmaking technique used by Grierson to channelize his ideas. Documentary as a Genre As discussed by Chapman (2007), to understand the difference between a fiction feature film and a non-fiction documentary one must identify the components that outline the features of a documentary. These are as follows: Story telling Information Factual and fictional conventions Narration Mis-en-scene Character Rhetoric Journalistic conventions- interviews/ subjects Curatorial/History- archives and records According to Walker (2013), the documentary Nanook of the North includes all these elements. However, the contemporary documentaries utilize the new age technologies and Medias to address various socio-cultural, economical and political issues of the day. The objective of a documentary, as analyzed by Michael Renov in his book Toward a poetics of Documentary, has four modalities: Record, reveal or preserve Persuade or promote Analyze or interrogate Express As discussed by Juhasz Lebow (2015), Nanook of the North records the real events in the lives of the characters in the North Pole through which it reveals their struggle for survival. Further discussion will focus on the use of this mode by Flaherty to evoke the thought present in the content. According to Barclay (2015), John Flaherty documented through this film the lives of the Eskimos. It was in the years from 1910 to 1916 when he set out to make an expedition in place of Sir William Mackenzie and ended up by making this famous documentary. During this expedition, he lived with three Eskimos in the North Pole. All his experiences and findings found voice in the format of the genre profoundly. A detailed analysis of the particular mode that he has used which is the documentation of the true-life stories will justify the relation between the content and various components of documentary filmmaking. ("Nanook of the North - Best quality (HD) - Nanook el Esquimal HD - Full", 2016) The Mis-en-scene of the movie, i.e. the setting is North Pole of the planet. In the barren and desolate islands, Nanook and his family live struggle for survival. The condition is extreme because of too much coldness. The vast place breeds moss which they burn to warm themselves. The scarcity of food has made their struggles even tougher. Sometimes they get to eat salmon fish; otherwise, they have to hunt polar bear and Walrus for food. All these struggles are contradicted with the humanity found in them. It is not always that they live a humans life but all the time they remain cheerful, and care for each another. Nanook of the North and Performative Mode of Documentary Filmmaking As discussed by McClintock (2015), whereas Renov identified four documentary modes, Bill Nichols had categorized five modes of documentary filmmaking styles. Nanook of the North can be viewed as applying the Performative Mode of documentary. The priority of this style is to project an atmosphere in which all the characters act. The depiction of a particular mood of the atmosphere is what the style aims at. In the Nanook of the North, Flaherty focuses mainly on the vastness of the land, the desolation, and the emotions of the characters, their actions and reactions. According to Winston (2013), another aspect of the performative style is that it presents the reality in an expressive and stylized way to evoke the mood. The Mis-en-scene is the focus here. The performative style used in Nanook of the North will now be explored. Locale: the film ends with the display of vastness of the barren land. During the fight scene of Nanook and his followers with the Walrus Flahertys setting was the half-frozen lake only. Rarely did he show anything other than ice or half-frozen water. Character: At the very beginning, the close up shot of the people smiling at the camera evocatively establishes the inner nature of their soul. These people live with nature, with other animals and this is portrayed when the child and the dog in captured in the same frame. The way they eat after a long fight with the Walrus is portrayed in a stylistic way by focusing the camera only on the actor and his action. There is one scene in which the mother carries her child on her back. The viewers can understand their struggle from this scene. The smiling face of the child after sipping the castor oil, Nanooks happy face after hunting the salmon evoke the true nature of the Eskimos. Prop: Flaherty has used the boat as a prop. This is an expressive way to describe their struggle. By using this almost torn boat they sail through the half-frozen lake to search their food, they also use it to cross the lakes. Without this boat, Nanook has no other way of conveyance. The struggle is so hard that they carry as many people as many people as possible, even if it is quite an impossible task. Flaherty has shown how they stitch the torn areas of this boat with salmon flesh. Costume: All the characters wear heavy woolen dress. Sometimes they shiver due to the extreme coldness, yet they have no other cloth to wear. Actions: At the backdrop of such a setting, all the characters perform their regular duties. They interact with one another, although silently, yet it brings out the regular struggle of their livelihood. Conclusion Robert. J. Flaherty made this documentary at a time when cinema had not developed much and documentary style had started grabbing the eyeballs. Despite all the technological depravity, Flaherty dared to show the true-life stories of the Eskimos. The contradiction between the struggle and the true nature of these people is a successful application of Flaherty. Through this expressive and stylized mode, he achieved his desired objectives. Over the ages, this documentary is been analyzed and discussed as one of the finest documentaries of World Cinema. The discussion made in this assignment has tried to relate how the performative style enabled Robert Flaherty to project the lives of the Eskimos. Reference Barclay, B. (2015).Our own image. University of Minnesota Press. Chapman, J. (2007).Documentary in practice: filmmakers and production choices. Polity. Juhasz, A., Lebow, A. (Eds.). (2015).A companion to contemporary documentary film. John Wiley Sons. McClintock, M. A. (2015).Performative non-fiction film and the future landscape of documentary filmmaking(Doctoral dissertation, Montana State University-Bozeman, College of Arts Architecture). Nanook of the North - Best quality (HD) - Nanook el Esquimal HD - Full. (2016). YouTube. Retrieved 31 August 2016, from https://youtu.be/uoUafjAH0cg Sherman, S. R. (2015).Documenting ourselves: Film, video, and culture. University Press of Kentucky. Walker K. L., (2013). I have beene a reall Actor: Analyzing the Writings of John Smith Through the Lens of Performative Documentary Theory. Winston, B. (2013).The documentary film book. British Film Institute.

Organizations Defining Vision an Example of the Topic All Posts by

Organizations Defining Vision ABSTRACT "Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it", (Habakkuk 2:2) Christian business owners move daily in a world where many are motivated by greed and fear while they attempt to struggle with the principles of supply and demand. The world today exercises biblical principles every day but perhaps unknowingly by following the words of this verse. The instructions from that passage plainly state the necessity of a vision and the importance of writing it down. Need essay sample on "Organizations Defining Vision" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed Many Christians wrestle with the clash of values as soon as they arrive to work. Since church and state have been officially divided there is noted resistance in mixing religion with business however, today in the face of a work environment that lacks ethical behavior the question is raised to reconsider this controversial issue. Now more than ever the implementation of Christian values and beliefs to a company's vision statement is important. Identifying and communicating a clear vision is one of the most important functions to perform. Creating a clear and effective vision delivers many benefits to the business. A clear vision helps to define the values of the company and its employees. A strong vision also will lead to increased productivity within the organization. INTRODUCTION Unfortunately, today unethical behavior in the business world is often times the norm. Now more than ever the need to incorporate Christian principles in the vision statement of companies is not a choice, but necessary. Many worldly companies unknowingly have loosely placed Christian values in their company's plans and mission statements but fail to exercise their actions. It is imperative for a leader to have a clear vision for their companies and develop a strong and strategic plan to increase the possibilities of accomplishing organizational objective. A vision is basically an idea of what the future of a business or organization may look like, and is a combination of three basic elements. It must first describe the organization's fundamental reason for existing beyond the hope of financial profit. In addition, it should consist of timeless and unchanging core values, as well as, a big picture of what the future should look like. The vision of a company defines who and what the bu siness is about, why it exists, and where it is going. MPLEMENTING CHRISTIAN VALUES The question has to be asked before beginning, what does a good vision for a company look like? It should possess the following: 1. Clearly identifies the direction and purpose of the company 2. Builds loyalty through employee involvement 3. Sets standards of excellence that reflect high ideals and a sense of integrity. 4. Should be persuasive and believable 5. Inspire enthusiasm in the company and encourages employee commitment 6. Needs to be well articulated and easily understood 7. Should fit with the unique culture and values of the business 8. Reflect the company's unique strength There is one universal rule of planning the vision and that is "you will never be greater than the vision that guides you". Upon preparing a vision it is foolish not to consider the employees who will be bringing it from paper to life. The leader must examine their capabilities, aspirations and performance to create a plan that allows them to stretch and grow in addition to considering the primary goal of the company. It is important to remember that core values cannot be forced on individuals. Core values should define the business and what it stands for. In order to identify the core values of the business, consider the ideals and values held dear. If from the onset the goal is to incorporate Christian principles in the business, clearly define how they must be applied. Christian businesses should stand out automatically so one of the primary goals should include being an example in the field of choice. If Christian principles are applied, then there should be a definite distinction that would set you apart from businesses of the world. Another important thought would be to make objective and wise decisions. It is important to consider all issues before making a rash decision. This is just plain business sense and most businesses operate under this ideal. The one particular act that my set the Christian company apart from many would be the driving motivation to show outstanding personal and corporate integrity. Many companies have pretty words describing the exact same thing, however, in the midst of the company there are unspoken deals, thievery and deception occurring on a daily basis. In all that is done, it is important to demonstrate fairness, care and accountability. There was a time when every company offered a guarantee and stood behind their product. Many times today there is no warranty or if there is the time period is extremely short or there is a need for additional money to assure the product the customer has already paid for works. A Christian company should always base their business on biblical principles. Throughout the Bible there are basic instructions on the behavior that is not just acceptable but commanded of a Christian. Throughout the Scriptures it teaches people to love everyone and to treat others fairly. In fact, this is considered the second most important commandment. If a business chooses to announce to the world that it is a Christian business, then it is imperative to base business dealings on that foundation. Extensive research has revealed that a great majority of successful businesses possess the common denominator of a devotion to ethical and spiritual principles. There is a basic principle in the Bible that simply states whatever is reaped is what has been sown. This basically states that following Godly principles by showing love and concern for others will bring about positive results. Another principle in the Bible is to follow the example of Jesus and become a servant. A Christian business must be ready to serve the public. It should be a definite decision to consider the level of customer service that will be offered. There appears to be a serious decline in the delivery of excellent customer service. A Christian company must consider the way it deals with the customer. Many times it is simply the absence of common courtesy that separates good customer service from bad. Sometimes when making the decision to live and work by Christian principles can be an isolating experience. It's not always popular in the world today to rule your actions by Christian guidelines. In spite of the opposition it is important to remember that in all you do, most likely the view of your actions will be closely considered. Because of this before implementing any action within the company consider if your actions can be justified by man and more importantly, before God. Many times there is the temptation that no one may ever know about something that is done in the dark because there will always be opportunities that will be tempting to sacrifice Christian principles. This is especially true when dealing with contracts and legal documents. Even though it's possible to hide many things in "legal jargon", it is said that whatever is done in the dark will come to light and consider the reputation the company would have in this case. When forming the vision, many people often create a Mission Statement. In fact it is highly recommended that this should be done. Once the goal is clearly defined a leader must be able to articulate the vision in short, concise statements. Many companies require their employees to memorize the Mission Statement, as well as have it displayed throughout the building to remind the workers what the company stands for. Also, a customer can tell from this one statement what the business stands for. When creating a Mission Statement, the following should be remembered: 1. Include the fundamental beliefs of the company. 2. Should be future oriented and must portray the company as it will be. 3. The statement must focus on one common purpose. 4. This statement must not be a generalized statement but specific to the organization. 5. It is imperative to express the thoughts in a short statement that is not longer than one or two sentences. When developing the vision that is based on Christian principles, it is important to steer clear of tradition. Many times it is required to do something that doesn't follow tradition. In these cases it is imperative to remember that outside of tradition doesn't mean outside of God's law; the action must line up with Scripture. When creating a vision there must not be a fear of being ridiculed. Many times being a Christian and doing what is taught to be the right thing could bring on ridicule. It is important to remember to stay focused and concentrate on the goal. Another negative to consider avoiding would be short-term thinking. When faced with a decision don't get caught up in "putting out the fire at hand" but think of how the decision will affect the company in the future. CONCLUSION Most company will operate based on a vision created by the leader. Management should have a clear picture of what they expect from employees and what they should strive for according to the plan. It is often this vision that defines the organization's reason for existing. The vision normally begins with a set of strong personal core values representative of the owner. If an owner chooses to base his business on Christian values the best tool to utilize is the Bible. It is full of scriptures to support the business owner's stand to act according to the word of God. Nehemiah had plans before he successfully built the wall in record times, as quoted earlier we are instructed to write the vision and make it plain. In addition, it is asked what person doesn't sit down and consider the cost of a venture, in other words it is consistent throughout the word that a Christian should have a plan. The world has operated on this Christian principle for years and as a result many companies end up taking a place in the impressive Fortune 500 group. Major corporations implement Christian values but disguise it with words. While some may feel uncomfortable with the mixing of faith and business, others appreciate the opportunity to conduct business with a group of people who aspire to not only put the words on paper but, actually strive to meet higher standards. It is refreshing to know that a customer's satisfaction means something to a company. Sometimes conducting business as a Christian may mean a loss of profit but it's at these time owners know as long as the right thing is done according to God's law, something else somewhere will balance that loss. In conclusion Isaiah 32:8 says it well, "But a noble man makes noble plans, and by noble deeds he stands". REFERENCES Blanchard, Ken. Creating Your Organizations Future: Full Steam Ahead. Change Facilitation, Creating an Organization's Vision, 2005. Dolak, Dave. Creating and Communicating Vision: The Business Leaders PrimaryResponsibility. 2001. Ryrie, Charles, Ryrie Study Bible, Expanded Edition, Zondervan Publishing House, 1973.