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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 3 page essay that offers a defense for Oedipus of the charges of murdering his father and incest with his mother. The writer bases his defense on his lack of intention, that is, mens rea, and also by reason of insanity. Bibliography lists 3 sources.
Page Count:
3 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_khoedtri.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
belief inherent in judicial systems that "people should be punished only when they have acted in a way that makes them morally blameworthy" (Warner). For example, if an individual hits
another because he is convinced that he is defending himself then he is not guilty of assault in the eyes of the law (Warner). Considering this, Oedipus, the king
of Thebes, should be found not guilty on both the charges of murdering his father and committing incest with his mother because he did not have mens rea, as it
was never his intention to commit either act. In fact, Oedipus went to great pains, exiling himself from his beloved step-parents-the two people whom he thought were his biological parents-in
order to protect them and prevent a dire prophecy from coming true. In "Oedipus the King," the ancient Greek play, Sophocles recounts how Laius, the king of Thebes and
Oedipus biological father ordered that his infant son should be left on a hillside to die of exposure so that a prophesy that his son would grow up to become
his murderer would not be fulfilled. Taking pity on the infant, the shepherd took him to a distant city where he was raised as the adopted son of the king
and queen of Corinth. As a young man, Oedipus heard the prophecy that he would murder his father and marry his mother. Thinking that the prophecy indicated the king
and queen of Corinth, he went into self-imposed exile rather than commit these crimes. As this indicates, the bulk of Oedipuss life was constructed in direct result of his firm
resolve never to allow the horrible prophecy to come true. However, it might still be argued by a modern day prosecutor that Oedipus remains guilty of murder, as by his
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