Write an essay (3-5 pages) in which you agree or disagree that Sophoclesʼ Oedipus suffers from an Oedipus
complex. Every time you make a claim, provide proof of what you say in the form of carefully chosen quotes.
You must include quotes from both of your primary sources, Freud and Sophocles.
Topic Sentence: We’ll take how he runs from Oracle for the first example:
AGREE: If he didnʼt feel capable of committing such crimes, he wouldnʼt have run away = proof heʼs guilty. Add
quotes as supporting evidence.
DISAGREE: Runs away from Oracle because, having detached from his mom and forgotten his jealousy for
dad, heʼs disgusted by the prophecy = proof heʼs innocent. Add quotes as supporting evidence.
Paragraph 3
Point 2
Topic Sentence: Your second and third points MUST discuss either Mom (Caretaker) or Dad (Rival) because
the complex involves loving one parent and hating the other, but it doesn’t matter what order you put them in.
We’ll use Dad as the second example:
AGREE: Oedipus kills his dad in a battle over “right-of-way” and gains access to mom = proof heʼs guilty. Add
quotes as supporting evidence.
DISAGREE: Kills dad, but as an act of self-defense, not jealousy = proof heʼs innocent. Add quotes as
supporting evidence.
Paragraph 4
Point 3
Topic Sentence: Put mom and dad in any order you wish.
We’ll use Mom as our last example:
AGREE: Whether or not Iocastê is his biological mother is irrelevant, sheʼs an older queen, and therefore
serves as a fitting substitute for his adoptive mother Queen Merope of Corinth = proof heʼs guilty. Add quotes
as supporting evidence.
DISAGREE Oedipus detached from his adoptive mother at the appropriate age, and that he marries his
biological mother is a mere coincidence that came about, not from a passionate desire, but because it was his
duty to marry the widowed queen = proof heʼs innocent. Add quotes as supporting evidence.
Paragraph 5
CONCLUSION
Reconfirmed Thesis:_ .
Work Cited
How to Quote a Play
Indent one inch.
Type the characterʼs name in all capitals, followed by a period.
Indent any additional lines of a speech a quarter inch, and be careful to respect the line breaks.
Sample Solution
