COVID was a plague that affected the modern world. Think back to those days and compare/contrast the behaviors of the American population that you personally witnessed during this plague with the behaviors of the people of Thebes as seen in Oedipus the King. Refer to specific scenes/quotes from the play. If you were in another country, please discuss the behaviors you witnessed personally among the people of that country. To submit your Week 6 post, follow the steps below. 1. Scroll up to the black strip at the top of the screen and click the black “plus” sign inside the white circle. It is located to the right of the course title. 2. In the box that appears, type in a title that includes your first name, last name, and the words “Discussion 6 (example: John Hart Discussion 6). 3. Type your response in the text box. Remember that your first post must be at least 150 words in order to receive full credit. 4. Navigate to the right side of the screen and choose the Post Category “Week 7 Discussion.” 5. Publish the post by clicking the blue button on the right. 6. Please leave a thoughtful reply to the post of one other classmate. Remember that your comments to others should be at least 75 words in order to receive full credit.
Week 6 Discussion
When Covid had started, I was in the middle of sophomore year in high school. All i remember was hearing every single day on news about the progression of the virus, where a mask, 6 feet apart, etc. It hit us pretty bad in NYC, as everything was shut down for a while. Living in the bronx with my family we tried to be as isolated as possible from one another and keep our distance to remain safe. There are many deli’s and small stores close by to where i live. The streets when passing by on occasion were completely dead, which it NYC is impossible to see. There were videos flowing around the internet, many of which were towards asians, as many thought to take out their anger and blame it on them, no matter where they were from originally, almost all were scrutinized by ignorant people. Businesses were trashed and vandalized and you would see non stop hateful comments against asians. In the story of Thebes, the king was beloved by the people. This led them to side with him and put blame on Creon. This relates to the idea of placing blame on the innocent, which occurs in the story and in the USA.
It was junior year of high school when COVID had first began. At first I was scared, I didn’t know what this virus was and how deadly it really was. I lived in the Bronx, in a small apartment with my mom and little sister. Next to our apartment was a local Chinese restaurant. When the lockdown first started, I noticed that the store was no longer open. The inside had looked cleaned out and completely abandoned. My trips into the city had been similar, as the other local stores had been closed way before other local shops. On social media, there had been a lot of hate towards Chinese people, even in NYC. I had seen many videos of Americans blaming the Chinese for COVID. They were expressing their hate physically, with some businesses being vandalized and others being rated poorly online. The people of Thebes follow the king, and the love him. In the story, the people sided with their king and blamed Creon. When people panic, they look for the most blamable person to calm their fears and give them explanation. The people of Thebes and America are no different.
The pandemic started at the end of 2019 while I was still in Nepal. People’s behavior varied widely depending on factors such as location, government guidelines, and individual beliefs. Many people in Nepal initially underestimated the severity of the virus, comparing it to the flu, but as the situation worsened and more information became available, they began to take it more seriously. Everyone was anxious and worried about the plague but could do nothing but wait patiently and follow follow public health guidelines such as wearing masks, social distancing, and getting vaccinated to prevent the spread of the virus. People looked to their government and healthcare authorities for guidance and support, similar to how the people of Thebes turned to Oedipus for help.
COVID-19, like the plague in “Oedipus the King,” made people act in various ways in the United States. At first, Americans, like Thebes citizens praying to their king, relied on the government and doctors for help. But as the pandemic continued, things changed. Just as Thebes citizens went from being desperate to unsure, some Americans became skeptical too. The key difference was unity: Thebes people stuck together because they were loyal to their king, while Americans had diverse opinions due to their different cultures and politics. Some followed safety rules, while others wanted personal freedom. Still, both stories show how people kept searching for answers, like Oedipus discovering his past and scientists working hard to find a cure to COVID-19.
Many people faced the worst catastrophe during COVID-19, forcing a large number of people in our country to act out in a variety of ways. People worried and stored up on as much as they could; most stayed indoors; many babies were delivered inside and are now known as “covid – 19 babies.” This pandemic also had an impact on people’s emotional and physical health; individuals became fearful of contracting the virus next. Oedipus behavior examines daily activities of citizens, focusing on their desire to be recognized as heroes and problem solvers. However, he couldn’t help those who harmed them, a sentiment similar to how we all sought assistance during the pandemic but couldn’t, requiring self-help and growth.
During COVID-19 many people suffered through lot and went through the worst tragedy which caused many citizens in our country to act in many different ways of behaviors. Which impacted many of us around with the fellow actions being done. The pandemic has affected the public’s mental health and well-being including through isolation and loneliness, job loss and financial instability, and illness and grief. In the play, Oedipus displays many types of behavior, but the behavior that he demonstrates during key points in the drama presents the type of person he is. He puts on display acts of stress, arrogance, and confidence, Oedipus behavior analyzes each action every citizen demonstrates each day. He wanted to be seen as a hero and solver through everyone’s problems but wasn’t able to when it came to an action that affected the people. This connects to when we all wanted to help each other during the pandemic but couldn’t instead had to help ourselves through the problem and thrive through it.
The modern world suffered from the COVID pandemic. I was in the United States at the time that COVID occurred. During the play “Oedipus the King”, when Oedipus first arrived at Thebes, he saw the city to be in terrible suffering. The people were being tormented by the Sphynx, who would tell a riddle and murder everyone who didn’t know the answer. By solving the riddle, Oedipus overcame the Sphynx, which then self- isolated in anger. The king and hero of the city was Oedipus. Our government in the United States is comparable to Oedipus ruling the city because they gave us vaccinations to keep the majority of us from getting sick. The next best thing you can do to prevent infections is to wash your hands, avoid touching your face, and disinfect your home and the items you use on a daily basis. Oedipus, also known as the King, is honored for his strength and bravery when he overcame a monster-like antagonist. Unfortunately, the majority of people, particularly the elderly, lack healthy immune systems and were at risk of infection.
Pandemic it comes every 100 years in 1800 C.E choloreo pandemic happem in 1900 C.E plague was there and in 2000 C.E. we have covid so like every 100 year world suffer from big pandemic. In the play “Oedipus the King” plague story has been describe how the people were suffer from the plague and they have hero oedipus people he will help him and he will be the only who can find the vaccine for it so they were happy . In the same Covid 19 was come and half of the populatuon die beacuse of the pandemic it was very scary time for all the people. I was in india and india is the second highest populated country so due to that it was very bad phase for all the people beacuse they are not getting the bad in the hospital and all the people are dying. President closs the whole country only essential things shop will be open like dairy and medical shops for specific time and people are scared to go out and take medicine. Hope this hard time bever come again because ot was very hard for people. We don’t have hero like oedipus who can find vaccine imediately so it was good for them.
When COVID-19 began to ravage the country I remember how people in the United States acted in different ways. Many people were frightened never experiencing a plague in their lifetime. A lot of people also felt hopeless and depressed due to lack of social interaction, and being secluded inside. The people of Thebes felt a similar hopelessness and depression. “Why do you sit here with your suppliant crowns? The town is heavy with a mingled burden of sounds and smells, of groans and hymns and incense” (Sophocles 1) They turned to their king, Oedipus, and trusted him to solve their problems, because he had saved the people from a sphinx once before. The people of Thebes are different from the people of the USA in this aspect. I feel like we often find it difficult to trust our political leaders. And turn against each other as a collective in times of turmoil.
In the play “Oedipus the King” the city’s people are being tormented by a sphynx that was eating them when they couldn’t answer its riddle. The people, authority figures, and their priest had begun to ignore all other business that needed to be done around the city because of the sphynx. They devoted their time and efforts towards a solution to eliminate the sphynx. They also trusted their king Oedipus to be able to handle the situation and guide them. The behavior of the people in the play reminded me of the behavior of everyone in this country during the pandemic. The entire country was in a health crisis resulting in us relying on the government for a vaccine as well as financial support. The entire country was shut down trying to contain a deadly virus. I witnessed everyone around me wearing masks and wiping down all surfaces trying their best not to catch and spread the virus. Health officials all around the country were devoted to treating infected people in overcrowded hospitals. In many ways, the city and the king in the play reflect on the actions of society and those in power when there is a crisis in actuality.
In Oedipus ,the citizens search for the cause of the plague and ask Oedipus for help in finding a solution. Although they are hopeless, they still have hope in the king for help. Judging from this, it appears that the citizens had tremendous support and trust in him, and they relied on him. Even in the literature, it is written that “Oedipus is great in the eyes of all people,” and he is treated like a god. Oedipus himself loves Thebes and pursues the truth. Looking at the impact the pandemic has had on modern society, here again people sought information and support, and sought answers from their countries, communities, and country rulers. In Japan, reactions to the coronavirus have been mixed. The rulers of the country at the time were exhausted from dealing with various difficulties, but they were still working hard. After that, we generally saw a lot of behavior that followed government guidelines, such as wearing masks and social distancing. Additionally, online tools have rapidly become popular in business and education settings. These two situations share common leadership expectations. Both Oedipus and modern leaders tried to overcome a crisis in the face of a people seeking answers and reassurance. Oedipus sought an oracle, and modern leaders base their decisions on science, data, and public opinion. Both of these stories reveal the moral and ethical dilemmas faced by society and individuals as they search for solutions. Comparing and considering these may provide clues to understanding the various approaches and reactions to the crises facing humanity, and their complexity.
COVID 19 was a plague that affected the modern world. Countries like the US and India faced lots of challenges during the pandemic. I was in India when the deadly virus was infecting majority of the population. We were in quarantine with limited supplies and boundless restrictions. The country as a whole faced rapid spread of the virus causing storage of oxygen and ventilators. Due to large number of population in India people living in populated areas were unable to get beds in hospitals which led to people dying before getting any treatment. Likewise in the play “Oedipus the King” by Sophocles the people of Thebes were facing a plague. “King, you yourself have seen our city reeling like a wreck already; it can scarcely lift its prow out of the depths, out of the bloody surf. A blight is on the fruitful plants of the earth. A blight is on the cattle in the fields, a blight is on our women that no children are born to them;” (Sophocles). Due to the rising number of cases doctors and scientists questioned the core cause of the virus and acted immediately (to create a vaccine). In the same way the people of Thebes especially Oedipus were determined to find the cause of the so called cursed the kingdom was facing. “With what a plague our city is afflicted. My lord, in you alone we find a champion, in you alone that can rescue us” (Sophocles) In both cases, the parties were looking for the cause, a solution that will solve the problem faced by the people.
In “Oedipus the King” Oedipus assumed his role as leader, Deeply feeling responsibility for the well-being of his people. He was determined to find the solution to the city’s problems. Similarly, In the United States during the pandemic of COVID-19, The government was determined to find a solution to the spreading of COVID-19. The government took measures to stop the spreading of COVID-19. Some examples of measures taken by the government were lockdowns, practicing distancing from people, Vaccines, money aid, online studying, etc. But what I saw with my eye were Latinos in the US, the majority were wearing masks, But were not practicing the recommended 7-feet distancing. Some took the COVID vaccine and others didn’t. We were not happy with the government’s aid. (besides the money and for the majority of students the online classes) Because there were so many stories about the vaccine making people sick or getting people dying. Moreover, the government developed the vaccine rapidly, and the Latinos didn’t trust the vaccine because of that. Maybe other ethnicities were doing the same or had the same concerns. But as I lived around Latinos and as a high student, my perspective was limited to people I saw in the streets. Additionally, I remembered that I drank many types of tea back then.
Covid-19 was a pandemic that affected the modern world. A lot of people died because of it and everyone was scared and desperate for the virus to end. It was very new that we would have worldwide pandemic, which made us be in quarantine and most other countries were in curfew like Dominican Republic. In the story “Oedipus the King” people from Thebes were suffering from a devastating plague and were very desperate for help. The king Oedipus was a noble king and when the people of Thebes saw Oedipus as a God and hero, because he was intelligent, brave and he cared about Thebes and because he saved them once. The difference between the people of the story and us is that they went to oedipus to ask for help because they saw him as a “hero”, and they had the faith that Oedipus could save them again from the plague. But for us was different, because we were unprepared and also we didn’t have a “hero”, we felt isolated because of all precautions we had to take before going out, a lot of employment were hold, shortage of certain products, airports, restaurants and stores were closed, etc. I think we behaved accordingly to what was happening, keeping in mind all the precautions and warnings that professionals said keep ourselves safe, like wearing facemasks, gloves, hand sanitizer and not going out if it was not necessary.
Covid-19 Pandemic Experience During the COVID-19 pandemic, the behavior of the Americans undergo change .While many individuals followed public health guidelines such as wearing masks ,practicing social distancing ,and getting vaccinated, there were also instances of non-compliance to these measures .Most of us questioned the severity of the virus, which result in disagreement. In “Oedipus the King”, the people of Thebes are depicted as being afflicted by the plague. Their behavior can be seen in contrast to the pandemic we faced in America .In the play the people of thebes are desperate for relief from the plague and turn to their king, Oedipus, for a solution to save them from the suffering caused by the plague .However ,the Americans had access to scientific information, health guildlines ,an resources to protect themselves and reduce the spread of the virus. There was a general awareness of the need to take care of ourselves and to follow the public health advice.
