Oedipus king: preparing man for the polis

Authors

  • José Joaquim Pereira Melo Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Paraná
  • Renan Willian Fernandes Gomes Universidade Estadual de Maringá

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5902/198464447000

Keywords:

Sophocles, Man, Education, Polis.

Abstract

Having Sophoclean play Oedipus King as a frame of reference, the purpose of this paper is to discuss the educative proposal conceived to the Greek Man as preparation for life in the polis. Although not intentionally, Sophocles pointed out an ideal of Man which, in his perspective, would fulfill Greek societal demands of that time. Such society was divided between myth and rationality and, as a result, Man found Himself in conflict and lacking direction for His life. Given that, Oedipus’ character represented the ideal behavior of that society, and it also made it possible for citizens to reflect and to discuss social, economic and political transformations taking place at that period. Thus Sophocles came up with a hero who was an educational model and a citizen’s as well. Furthermore, such hero differed from that one of the archaic Greek thought.

Author Biographies

José Joaquim Pereira Melo, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Paraná

Professor Pos-Doutor do Departamento de Fundamentos da Educação e do Programa de Pos-Graduação em Educação da Universidade Estadual de Maringá.

Renan Willian Fernandes Gomes, Universidade Estadual de Maringá

Mestrando do Programa de Pos-Graduação em Educação pela Universidade Estadual de Maringá.

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Published

2013-09-27

How to Cite

Melo, J. J. P., & Gomes, R. W. F. (2013). Oedipus king: preparing man for the polis. Education, 38(3), 593–604. https://doi.org/10.5902/198464447000

Issue

educação, v. 38, n. 3, set./dez. 2013

Section

Continuous Demand

License

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