Compare and Contrast Between Odipius the King and Doubt a Parable

Comparison Contrast between “Oedipus the King” and “Doubt: A parable” “Oedipus the King” and “Doubt a Parable” are two very well-known plays that have made themselves very popular throughout the world. These plays have touched the hearts of many and have brought out the inner most opinions and discussions of thousands of individuals. These two plays have been acted out many times since the time they were first released. Although these plays are both very popular and loved by many, they both have their similarities and differences.

First and foremost the differences between “Oedipus the King” and “Doubt: A Parable” are very easily noticed. For example, “Oedipus the King’s” setting takes place outside of a palace, while on the other hand “Doubt: A parable’s’ setting is much more religious and takes place at a church, a school located in the Bronx of Manhattan. Another difference between the two plays is that “Doubt: A parable” was developed in modern theatre, while “Oedipus the King” was originated in the ancient Greek theatre. This Greek theatre was part of a religious ancient festival celebration.

To attend a performance of one of these plays was an act of worship. It wasn’t intended for self-entertainment or as a hobby to pass time. Another way that this Greek theatre was different is that every citizen would attend these plays. Also, “Doubt: A Parable” was developed in 2004 while “Oedipus the King” was believed to first be developed in the year 430 B. C. Another example of a difference between “Oedipus the King” and “Doubt: A Parable” is that the plots of the two plays are totally different. For example, the plot for “Oedipus the King” is that a plague has stricken Thebes.

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All of the citizens of Thebes gather outside the palace of Oedipus, wanting him to take care of this horrid problem. In response, the King responds by sending Creon to the oracle at Delphi to learn of how he can help the city. When he returns, he tells Oedipus that the plague will end when the murderer of Laius is caught and exiled from the city. Oedipus then promises to solve all of this hysteria, vowing to drive the murderer out of the city. The irony is that Oedipus will eventually learn that he is actually the murderer and will soon be punished.

The plot for “Doubt: A parable is that it opens with a sermon by Father Flynn, a very respectable priest, addressing the importance of doubt. The school’s principle, Sister Aloysius insists upon constant vigilance. During a meeting with a younger nun, Sister Aloysius learns that Father Flynn has been messing around with one of the altar boys. After this, Aloysius and father Flynn are into direct conflict. After this accusation has been made, Father Flynn threatens to remove Aloysius from her position, but Aloysius has found a lot of dirt on Father Flynn and so he is finally forced to transfer somewhere else.

There are also many other differences between these two famous plays. For example, in the movie version of “Doubt: A Parable, it actually takes the form of how modern day American movies are made, while “Oedipus the King” still takes the form of a play on film. Another difference between these two plays is that “Oedipus the King” deals with a more royal background, while “Doubt: A Parable” is a more strict, quiet and religious background. Also, “Oedipus the King” was not necessarily invented by Sophocles.

In fact the plays most important affects often depend on the aspect that the audience already knows everything about the story. In contrast, “Doubt: A Parable” follows a more traditional type of story in which the audience learns as the plot of the story takes place. For example, in “Oedipus the King,” the audience must know what was already going on to understand the play. The words the actors would speak should normally do this, but some things must be seen in order to fully understand what is going on in the play.

There were many times during this play when the hypocrites wouldn’t say anything at all, and it was completely up to their actions to tell the audience everything they needed to know. On the contrary, in “Doubt: A parable” the audience had to completely rely on the actors choice of words rather than the actions of the actors to fully understand what was going on in the play. Another major difference between these two plays would be the different stage directions.

For instance, Oedipus the King originating from the ancient Greek theatre, so the way the actors would come onto stage was totally different from that of “Doubt: A Parable. ” For example, in “Oedipus the King,” the way the actors would enter the stage would often help tell the audience about what was going on in the play. An example of this is that in most Greek theatres were one or three entrances. There were normally two parodos, or entrances. If the actors came in from the parados, then they had just come from a city or port.

If they came in from the left parody, then the actors just came from the fields or a mountainous area. “Doubt: A parody is different from this in that it uses modern theatre techniques. In modern theatre, entrances are just entrances. Also, “Doubt: A Parable” only lasted approximately 90 minutes, while “Oedipus the King” lasts much longer than this. Another big difference between these two plays is that “Doubt A Parable” has been nominated and awarded many awards since its first opening in 2004, while “Oedipus the King” has not.

The awards for “Doubt: A Parable include: Drama Desk Award for best new play, Drama Desk Award best actor in a play, Drama Desk Award outstanding actress in a play, Drama Desk Award outstanding featured actress in a play, Drama Desk Award outstanding director of a play, Lucille Lortell Award for outstanding play, New York Drama Critics Circle best play, Pulitzer Prize for drama, Tony Award for best featured actress in a play, Tony Award best direction of a play, and World Theatre. All of these awards were awarded to “Doubt: A Parable in 2005.

Also in 2005 it had many nominations as well, such as Tony Award Best Actor in a play, Tony Award best featured actress in a play, Tony Award best scenic design of a play, and Tony Award best lighting of a play. Although “Doubt: A Parable” and “Oedipus the King” had many differences, they also shared many similarities as well. One example of a similarity is that both plays are tragedies. They both are literary works in which the main characters are brought to ruins or suffers extreme sorrows, especially as a consequence of a tragic flaw, moral weakness, or inability to cope with unfavorable circumstances.

Another similarity between these two popular plays is that they were both performed in one act. The cast of both plays agreed that the second act took place when the audience left the theatre and began to discuss their differing opinions of the events that have taken place. Both of these plays have been experienced by many and so there are tons of differing points that the audiences will argue about. Another similarity between these two plays is that “Doubt A Parable” and “Oedipus the King” are both very popular and well-known plays in not only the United States, but all around the world.

Both of these plays have premiered all around the world and have become a very important part of setting the tone for all of the future plays to come. Another similarity between the two plays id that both of them deal with a priest and altar boys, although the priest and altar boys in “Doubt: A Parable” are more of the traditional type that most modern day people are used to seeing in today’s world. These two plays are also similar in that they are both set in fictional places, and deal with fictional characters.

An example of this is that ‘Doubt: A Parable” is set in the fictional St. Nicholas Church school located in the Bronx of Manhattan. “Oedipus the King” the king is fictional in in its characters that it uses. For instance, the sphinx which is the character that will not free the city of Thebes of the horrid plague unless her riddle is answered is a fictional character. Another similarity that both of these plays share is that the directors of both plays are very well-known for many of their other works in the arts.

For example, Sophocles is well-known for many other for many of his other plays in ancient Athens, while Shanley is a much respected director for his newer modern day films. Also, there have been many versions of both of these plays come out since they were first acted out on stage. Another example of a similarity is that both of these two plays are written in the present tense, and they both have an antagonist in the story that help contribute to the tragic end of each of the two playwrights.

Though they have their differences and similarities, both of these plays are wonderful playwrights and will only get more popular as the time passes. These plays will continue to grow and will be acted out still for more generations to come. These plays will continue to greatly entertain their audiences and put on a wonderful show. ? Works Cited Shanley, John P. “Doubt: A Parable. ” Literature to Go. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martins. 2011. 871-904. Sophocles. “Oedipus the King. ” Literature to Go. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martins, 2011. 639-685.

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