Write an 800- to 1,200-word research essay that traces the long-term significance of one of the seminal American works you read in this unit and how it connects to current issues. Your purpose should be clearly stated and well-supported by your research. Be sure to consult and properly cite at least three reliable sources of information from a variety of perspectives. Use a balance of direct quotes and paraphrasing.

What is the significance of the above statement in relation to the play’s conclusion? oedipus treats his inferiors poorly but ultimately grants them the same respect he grants to nobility. while teiresias appears to be mocking oedipus, the real message is one of warning about the forces working against the king. oedipus earns great fame for answering the riddle of the sphinx but ultimately loses his crown to a common man. just as oedipus is unable to conceive that he has done wrong in the past, he is unable to imagine that his enviable position is impermanent.