While reading about Oedipus Rex whose importance is capital for Western civilization. In addition to being a masterpiece from the theatrical point of view, I understood that Jocasta also influences as a protagonist of this reading since she is his mother. His experience or his timeless human behavior gave me a lot of intrigue as I read because he talks about where we come from and that makes me think of a family tree; although his wife asked him not to continue with the same investigation. Reading about the couple that the mother commits suicide when the marriage comes to light and suicide is generally associated with an individual act, with a very clear purpose despite the fact that there are ways to prevent it, it is usually difficult because perhaps not everyone has support powerful enough to prevent it. Oedipus orders an investigation and urges the people to hand over the culprit.
Monthly Archives: October 2022
In the play Oedipus showed many emotions but the one that stood out to me was his curiosity and strong will to find out the truth about his birth even if he knew it might end up badly. In the play his wife Jocasta tries to stop him from going any further to seek the truth after he learns that he was adopted by Polybus. She says things like, “O be persuaded by me, I entreat you; do not do this” at this point she probably already knew the truth and didn’t want Oedipus to find out since it was such a bad thing. Oedipus however was too curious and fixated on the truth of the matter that he disregarded Jocasta’s care and in the end she was resigned to telling him that he was, “…unhappy Oedipus…”. He wasn’t satisfied with what he already had/knew and ended up destroying his family for it.
When the play opens, Oedipus and the Priest are speaking about the sickness that is plaguing the city “The town is heavy with a mingled burden of sounds and smells, of groans and hymns and incense…” (Lines 3,4 spoken by Oedipus), 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; a God that carries fire, a deadly pestilence, is on our town (lines 26-30 spoken by the priest). Sickness is a timeless human experience to varying degrees from individual influenza to the l typhoid fever outbreak of NYC in 1906 lest we forget our own recent pandemic outbreak of 2020 from the year of 541 to present day humans have always experienced some sort of plague/epidemic or mass sickness. Another experience is death and murder. Murder is the oldest crime in history, and we’ve all been exposed to it either via firsthand experience or secondary through media such as news. Death takes many forms including suicide (which has a yearly average of 800,000 deaths documented globally). Death is the only constant in life. In the play Oedipus Rex kills King Laius, Oedipus’s Wife/Mother dies by her own hand after she learns of the incestuous relationship she had with her son.
After reading the rest of the story I got a better insight and understanding of the king’s personality. He as an individual was just a human being made out of flesh and mortal and with many flaws of his own. While he might not be the wisest king, but one of his biggest flaws is that he was so conceited. His arrogance was ironically blinding for him and I think it’s one of the timeless problems for the humanity. Both his and queen’s reactions that followed after they learned the truth illustrated how emotionally undeveloped they are. Additionally their decisions also highlight a universal issue of being selfish, because no matter of how hard the situation or the circumstances sometimes might be, one should be capable of caring of how their actions going to affect others. Jocasta takes her own life without giving a thought about her children and not taking the responsibility to stay and help them cope with the aftermath of their mistakes.
Oedipus the king has many emotions and behaviors, one that stood out to me was when Creon was worried that the King accused him of a serious scandal that tarnished his character. He goes on to say that he can’t live with the burden which sounds like a guilty conscience in the moment. Creon goes on demanding evidence for what he is being accused of. The reaction by Creon made me feel connected to the drama that unfolded. It is normal human behavior to feel offended and request for evidence for such serious claims. I admired that there was so much wisdom and emotional intelligence when Creon asked the King to Reflect on the situation. Creon’s character radiates strength which I admire a lot. The self-awareness that he acquires within shows his maturity and discipline as a person with great integrity.
Greek tragedies were plays that had themes around human nature as a way to make the audience feel connected and involved in the performances. While there are many examples of timeless human experiences in Oedipus the King by Sophocles, the experience I choose to speak on is curiosity. Even more specifically curiosity about finding out who your biological parents are. Adoption is very common in todays world but I’m sure was not common and probably even frowned upon in 429 BC. Since adoption is so common today, a lot of children are left wondering who their blood parents could be. Sometimes biological parents might not want to be found, but the child could be dying to know so they could get their closure about the situation. In todays world it’s become easier to find people with technology and social media, Oedipus would have probably had a much easier time finding out the truth in 2022. Curiosity is what makes us human and keeps us evolving, you never know until you try or find out!
In the second half of Odepius The King Sophocles there are many timeless human experiences and behaviors. a couple that stood out to me was when the mother hung herself when the marriage came to light. Suicide is sometimes a human behavior when someone becomes severely depressed due to pressure from society, a lot of people tend to think about suicide. a great deal don’t attempt and try to find a way to figure out their problems but sadly for her she successfully committed suicide. The kids felt like a disgrace and felt like no one would want to marry them being as they are Odepius kids, and everyone viewed him as a monster. I understand why they would feel that way. Anyone that would want to marry them may be treated badly due to Odepius incestuous history with his mother and no one wants to be judged which is definitely a timeless human experience.
Oedipus the king has a wide range of emotions and human experiences and behaviors one that stood out to me was the citizens praying to Zeus to protect their king and to make anyone that would bring harm to him to be struck down. This is still somewhat common in terms of people believing and religion and praying to help a family member or someone they know to be protected during surgery or for them to be healthy religion and a higher power has been a thing for thousands of years in human history and will continue to be so. Another experience that I noticed is Oediupus’s curiosity and wanting to find the truth on who killed Jocasta only to find out that Jocasta hung herself after finding this out Oedipus becomes quite emotional and ends up doing what happens in the rest of the story this is also a timeless human experience because he acted out of emotion after losing someone they cared about which still happens today because humans are emotional and care about the ones they love deeply so when something happens especially the loss of someone humans do crazy things out of emotion and from the pain of the loss.
Literature is the story of what is universal in the human experience. Reading Oedipus the King I could identify several timeless human behaviors. Human beings are emotional creators; it is clear to see that in this story since it is very dramatic. The characters in this story are very impulsive, and moved by passion. The most outstanding behaviors are Oedipus’s and Jocasta’s when the truth comes to light. Jocasta hanged herself and put an end to her life while Oedipus blinded himself claiming that there is nothing for him to see. They both were frightened by the terrible discovery and that lead them to their deeds. I find these behaviors as timeless human behaviors because at the end of the day they are both human beings who reacted by their emotions. I feel like this type of story comes as a mirror for human behavior in an exaggerated way in order to make us wonder about how our mind works. How will people act when they’re suffering, where is the limit?
Alex Barrios Professor Conway ENG 201 Sec. 0517 October 3, 2022 “I say with those you love best you live in foulest shame unconsciously and do not see where you are n calamity.” – Line 416 TEIRESIAS conversing with OEDIPUS. This line catches my attention the most because for Teiresias she warned Oedipus that the knowledge she had on her king about what he had done would stir his anger to which she confirmed. The line flows very beautifully and there’s a particular contrast between love and shame along with a bit of irony as she mentions that he “does not see where he is the calamity.” while she herself is blind because she has no eyes. It’s a good example of people who ask for truth often aren’t really prepared to accept it-let alone hear it. So, Oedipus responds by almost in a threatening tone in Line 426, “Do you imagine you can always talk like this and live to laugh at it hereafter”. The two lines for encapsulates the idea that a man can ask and seek guidance and yet choose to remain closed-minded.
While reading the second half of the assignment, my view of Oedipus shifted. The timeless human behavior/experience that stood out for me was his curiosity in seeking the truth.. Especially the truth that tells where we comes from, our lineage, our family history. His wife had begged him multiple times not to follow through in his search. Ignorance is bliss but, it seemed that as a king, he needed to know the truth not only for himself but to be worthy of his position and the admiration and love of his people. I gathered that point of view towards the end of the play based off his extreme expression of disappointment and the actions he took out of the shame he felt. Knowing the truth creates an irresistible urge to do so no matter the costs. Scientists trying to make new discoveries, detectives solving a murder, etc. In Oedipus’ case, he knew the possibility of the rumors being true would lead to his possible downfall, yet he could not stop until he knew for sure. He left his home out of fear that the prophecy would come to pass, he took actions to avoid what he feared the most. He could have easily stopped the search and continued to rule Thebes. However knowing the truth was stronger than his desire to keep his title.
Jocasta is a very important character because she is Oedipus mother and wife. Jocasta didn’t believe in the prophecy that was told by the Oracle she said 815 “do not concern yourself about this matter listen to me and learn that human beings have no part in the craft of prophecy”. when the messenger came by to bring to Oedipus that his father Polybus was dead he was relief because the prophecy didn’t come through, Polybus was his father after all and him dyeing of old age was a good thing. Oedipus fear mislead him Why should man fear since chance is all in all for him, and he can clearly foreknow nothing?1101 Best to live lightly, as one can, unthinkingly. As to your mother’s marriage bed, —don’t fear it. Before this, in dreams too, as well as oracles, many a man has lain with his own mother. But he to whom such things are nothing bears his life most easily.1105
“Who is the man proclaimed by Delphi’s prophetic rock as the bloody handed murderer,545 the doer of deeds that none dare name? Now is the time for him to run with a stronger foot than Pegasus, for the child of Zeus leaps in arms upon him 550 with fire and the lightning bolt, and terribly close on his heels are the Fates that never miss. “ To me this passage poses the question as to who the murderer is. Also, it warns that they should leave the kingdom as quickly as possible to avoid the inevitable outcome of them being brought to justice for their crime, “Now is the time to run with stronger foot than Pegasus” In Greek mythology the “Pegasus” was a winged horse capable of swift and speedy travel via flight. “For the child of Zeus leaps in arms upon him with fire and the Lightning bolt” Zeus was depicted as the King of the Greek Gods Upon the death of Laius his essence returned to the God he worshiped “Zeus” and because of his servitude the “Lightning Bolt” or Justice of the Gods will be done because the Fates(fate) deems it so and the Fates are never wrong, “Fates that never miss.”
“…a war God ringed with the cries of men, savage God who burns us; grant that he turn in racing course backwards out of our country’s bounds to the great palace of Amphitrite or where the waves of the Thracian Sea 215 deny the stranger safe anchorage. Whatsoever escapes the night at last the light of day revisits; so smite the War God, Father Zeus, beneath you are thunderbolt, 220 for you are the Lord of the lightning, the lightning that carries fire.” This is after oedipus talks about the king he had killed and said he would not have the same fate. But you can’t escape Gods plan for you or want different. “Oedipus the king” is a Greek mythology. It’s about how Oedipus unknowingly killed his father and married his mother. The king of Thebes was warned by oracle about how his son was going to kill him. When Jocasta birth her son he was taken away, but the shepherd felt bad and gave him away to be adopted by King Polybus. When Oedipus entered adulthood, he visited Delphi and learned his faith to kill his father and marry his mother. He chooses to leave his home, Corinth, and never return. When he was traveling towards Thebes, he ran into Laius and killed him. He was rewarded in becoming king of Thebes and married Jocasta and birthed his kids. He couldn’t get away from his faith.
OEDIPUS: For what you ask me—if you hear my words and welcome them and fight the plague, you will find strength and lightening your load. Hark to me; what I say to you, I say 235 as a stranger to the story as a stranger to the deed, for I would not be far upon the track if I alone were tracing it without a clue. But now, since after all was finished, I became 240 a citizen among you, citizens— now I proclaim to all the men of Thebes: who so among you knows the murderer by whose hand Laius, son of Labdacus, died—I command him to tell everything 245 to me,– yes. However, he fears himself taking the blame. (4) This passage talks about how the King of Thebes tries to get rid of the evil of Thebes. “I Proclaim to all the men of Thebes who so among you knows the murderer by whose hand Laius, son of Labdacus, died” I believe in this passage, he is informing this person, Fighting with Oedipus will bring you great powers of strength and things will be easier to handle
“I am stretched on the rack of doubt, and terror and trembling hold my heart, O Delian Healer, and I worship full of fears for what doom you will bring to pass, new or renewed in the revolving years. Speak to me, immortal voice, child of golden Hope” (Grene, 3 182-188). This is passage is from the very beginning of the play. The chorus represents the citizens, the average onlookers, who aren’t playing a major role, just only able to watch. So right now, they are very anxious, stressed, and filled with overwhelming fear because their home is in ruins and there is nothing they can do about it but watch. In this passage, they show their fear through their creative language. The chorus describes how their fear “holds my heart”. This language allows the listener to see how these feelings are taking over their whole being. How they are all consumed in their fear. The chorus is also showing their faith in this verse. Even though they are scared, they still are praying. They refer to Apollo, by calling him the “Delian Healer” and the “child of Golden Hope”. Showing how he is their savior, their end to this suffering, much like the raising sun is to the night.
Section 4. Lines 963-967: “Pride breeds the tyrant violent pride, gorging, crammed to bursting with all that is overripe and rich with ruin—clawing up to the heights, headlong pride crashes down the abyss—sheer doom!” This conversation on the outcomes of pleasure happens when Oedipus is rapidly discovering extra small print about his two-edged curse and does no longer quit making an attempt to locate the truth, notwithstanding pleas from Jocasta. The sentiment of delight being Oedipus’s downfall is one that is repeated at some point in the play, with Tiresias being the first to point out it. Oedipus is a proud man, he is praised as the King of Thebes and the defeater of the Sphinx, however, it is his pride, his very own trust that he is a proper man who is liked by the gods, that leads him to unravel this very belief. In his strive to discover the historic proof to show he liked the gods, he solely proves to himself and those around him that he suffers from a merciless fate. Section 5. Lines 1188-1190: “I count myself the son of Chance, the great goddess, giver of all good things—I’ll never see myself disgraced” These lines are spoken using Oedipus earlier than he is conscious that the prophecy he tried to keep away from has come true. However, this quote is simply as authentic as the end of the play, the place Oedipus is aware of and accepts his horrible fate. In Greek mythology, Fortune is the goddess of destiny and she is depicted as veiled, as to be impartial to those to whom she was once distributing suitable or terrible luck. In the state of affairs in which he says this line, Oedipus is dealing with the newfound truth that […]
Oedipus the king is quite the interesting read with a lot of double meanings and nuances the part of the passage I picked is What is the sweet spoken word of God from the shrine of Pytho rich in gold War God ringed with the cries of men, a savage God who burns us; grant that he turn in racing course backwards out of our country’s bounds to the great palace of Amphitrite19 or where the waves of the Thracian sea 215 deny the stranger safe anchorage. Whatsoever escapes the night at last the light of day revisits; so smite the War God, Father Zeus, beneath your thunderbolt, 220 for you are the Lord of the lightning, the lightning that carries fire. This is said shortly after Oedipus talks about the previous king that was murdered and promises that he would not have the same fate as for the chorus I believe they’re trying to be optimistic somewhat and have a good outlook by saying that anyone that is trying to turn the country backwards or is trying to set it back will be taken care of by their god (Zeus) by first denying the stranger any safe anchorage to make it harder for them to get in. They even go onto to say that whatever ends up getting through at night time will pop up when the day comes and that Zeus will take care of the war god by striking them. I think that the stranger they are talking about is a metaphor for war and anyone that is trying to hurt their new king and trying to turn their country into a less stable more chaotic place and that they have full faith in Zeus to take care of it which is why I believe it has […]
545 the doer of deeds that none dare name? Now is the time for him to run with a stronger foot than Pegasus for the child of Zeus leaps in arms upon him 550 with fire and the lightning bolt, and terribly close on his heels are the Fates that never miss. This passage in “Oedipus the King” happens right after the citizens hear Teiresias talk about how he has knowledge on who killed the previous king and Oedipus tells him to share the knowledge. Teiresias refuses to tell Oedipus what he knows despite the fact that Teiresias was called here by Oedipus and they start arguing until Teiresias leaves. Since the citizens hear about it but do not know who it is they start talking about whoever it is and how they should run away instantly. They say that the killer needs to have,” a stronger foot than Pegasus.” and yet they also say that,” the Fates that never miss.” which could indicate how the citizens think that even if the killer is faster than a mythical creature it would not matter, as in the end they will get what they deserve as indicated by what the three fate sisters see.
“it is not right to think good men, without reason, bad or bad men good.” (Line 609) “time alone can make it clear a man is just while you can know a traitor in a day.” (Line 613) In “Oedipus the King,” I chose the scene which describes my feelings of unfairness for me. I have selected the scene where Oedipus accuses Creon of conspiracy because he betrayed him. In the scene, Creon asks the elders what was said about him, for he is concerned about the rumours that have started spreading. He claims that he has never caused any harm to Oedipus that he knows of, and asks why this accusation was directed at him. As Oedipus enters, he asks Creon how he could come there and accuses him of trying to steal the crown and of murdering Laios. Furthermore, he questions why Tiresias didn’t come forward at the time of the murder and says that he refuses to be convicted of murder. Oedipus is free to judge him, Creon says, but not without some proof, as it is “not right to think good men, without reason, bad or bad men good.” Creon believes it takes time to judge for: “time alone can make it clear a man is just while you can know a traitor in a day.” Creon, her brother, swears on his death that he has done nothing of what Oedipus has charged him of. At the same time, the elders agree, asking Oedipus to calm down and believe Creon, for they do not believe he is a fool. We can say that Creon simply defends himself against Oedipus’s accusation by saying that Oedipus is not wise by being stubborn and forgetting common sense.
