oedipus ...........?

Question

Long afterward, Oedipus, old and blinded, walked the roads. He smelled a familiar smell. It was the Sphinx. Oedipus said, "I want to ask one question. Why didn't I recognize my mother?" "You gave the wrong answer," said the Sphinx. "But that was what made everything possible," said Oedipus. "No," she said. "When I asked, What walks on four legs in the morning, two at noon, and three in the evening, you answered, Man. You didn't say anything about woman." "When you say Man," said Oedipus, "you include women too. Everyone knows that." She said, "That's what you think."
can someone explain this to me? why do they include women as man.......................

Answer 1

Hu-man

A woman is a human, just like a man

Answer 2

Oedipus Rex / Oedipus the King - Sophocles

I have found 10 summaries for you to look at, via the link below.

These links will give you a summary of the book, character analysis, plot and much more, so that you will be able to answer literary questions.

http://www.antistudy.com/search.php?title=Oedipus+Rex

http://www.freebooknotes.com/book.php3?id=497

Oedipus: Oedipus is the central figure and tragic hero of Sophocles' play. Though he is initially the majestic king of Thebes, he soon becomes a dejected man, humbled by his horrible fate. As the oracle predicts, Oedipus kills his father and sleeps with his mother. When Oedipus learns what he has done, he chooses exile, leaving Creon to be king.

http://www.freebooknotes.com/page.php?link=http://www.novelguide.com/oedipustheking/index.html&book=497

Oedipus King of Thebes. As a young man, he saved the city of Thebes by solving the riddle of the Sphinx and destroying the monster. He now sets about finding the murderer of the former king Laius to save Thebes from plague.

http://www.cliffsnotes.com/WileyCDA/LitNote/id-100,pageNum-9.html

The shepherd arrives and tells Oedipus that he was a servant of Laios and that Laios gave him his child to kill because of the prophecy that his son would kill him. Since the shepherd felt sorry for the child, he did not kill him, but gave him to the other shepherd. After this, Oedipus finds out that the prophecy came true. Iocaste commits suicide, and Oedipus gouges out his eyes. Then he says bye to his children, and leaves the city.

http://summarycentral.tripod.com/oedipusrex.htm

Good luck.

Kevin, Liverpool, England.

Answer 3

Oedipus tells the Sphinx that the word "man" includes both men and women. (Like the word "mankind".) The Sphinx answers, "That's what you think." to let Oedipus know that she doesn't agree with him.

Answer 4

In many languages the word for a specie is masculine in gender. Even homo sapien means wise man. As for the Sphinx, it was female so what else would you expect.