In my opinion, the timeless human experiences and behaviors I discovered while reading Oedipus the King are the attitudes of the characters in the play, such as the behaviors of wife Jocasta and King Oedipus. In my perspective, the King is intelligent, but he also has a great sense of knowingness which can cause him to seem as if he has a big ego. I had the impression that the characters’ realistic characteristics are ingrained in their personality, as seen by their behavior throughout the play. Since he vows what he feels is right, the king displays indications of rage as well as arrogance. The play also depicts the humanistic experience of incest, as he murders his father and marries his mother. Jocasta’s discussions and conversations are another example of humanistic behaviors.
Daily Archives: March 7, 2023
In the play Oedipus the King, there are human experiences or behaviors that still occur to this day despite the story being from a very long time ago. Oedipus murdered his father in order to marry his wife. To this day, Incest has been an reoccurring human behavior and it is found in all cultures. Also, society may fear that a son in their family could possibly murder his father in order to marry his wife. Another timeless issue is that human beings tend to learn from their mistakes, however people act for the right reasons but they may fear that they are doing the wrong thing. This also relates to not having control over our lives in the real world. The fear of being manipulated by something or someone that is bigger and we cannot explain, like Oedipus with the prophets or the gods. To this day, there are people that feel or actually get controlled by their families, and their obligations at jobs. Humans manipulate each other for their own benefit and it will never end.
Overconfidence, good intentions, led by emotions, and disastrous consequences. The human experience has no shortage of these. In Oedipus the King, our protagonist is an emotional and proud man. Throughout the story, he gets his way by threatening people for information concerning his past. When the prophet Teiresias eludes to knowing Oedipus’ fate, he keeps essentially forcing him to tell him. Once he does learn of his fate, he doesn’t want to accept it. Oedipus is led by his emotions, mainly anger and fear. In his anger is how he ended up killing his father. In his fear is how he ended up right back in the land his parents were from. Overconfident that he has avoided his fate, he ends up marrying his mother. This story is littered with classic human experiences. So many time we as humans make decisions based solely on our emotions, and the lead to terrible consequences. The consequences of Oedipus’ actions are that his fate comes true. He had every intention to avoid this at all cost’s, but to no avail he walks right into his doom. The people around his also took action to make sure this fate was avoided though they weren’t successful. We sometimes believe we have more control than we do in life. Human’s have an overconfidence in our abilities, and we soon learn how human we really are. Even though I would consider Oedipus a fool, I can identify with so many of his traits. I know I’ve made some of these mistakes, thankfully not as grave. Overconfidence, good intentions, led by emotions, and disastrous consequences.
In Oedipus the King, we can see several timeless human experiences and behaviors that are still relevant today. The idea of fate and free will is one of the most important. The drama examines the question of whether or not people have any influence over their future or are at the mercy of the gods. This concept is still pertinent today as we debate issues like determinism and personal agency. The human urge to seek the truth is another common experience covered in the play. Oedipus is a character who pursues the truth with zeal, even when it threatens to ruin him. This component of the play refers to our drive as humans to comprehend our surroundings, as well as the extent we will go to seek the truth, even if it is unpleasant. The play also addresses issues of power, pride, and the repercussions of arrogance. Oedipus, a great monarch, is eventually brought down by his hubris and conviction in his own supremacy. This portion of the play emphasizes the hazards of unbridled power as well as the need of humility and self-awareness. Lastly, Oedipus the King is a contemplation on the human condition, delving into our vulnerability and death as well as our capacity for love, sacrifice, and redemption. These are timeless themes that remain relevant to readers and audiences today, making Oedipus a strong and enduring piece of literature.
Years pass, and even millennia, many things change, but man and his essence remain almost unchanged. Ancient Greek tragedy, and Oedipus Rex in particular, touches on many timeless topics that are relevant now, and in any other period of time. I can define four general themes inherent in the human experience in the text: 1. Struggle against “fatum” and its inevitability 2. Rage as a sign of weakness 3. Family relations 4. Weakness of one person and the wisdom of the “demos” (democracy issues) In the ancient Greek worldview , two contradictory concepts coexisted – fate and struggle. On the one hand, the Greek faith in fate was unconditional – that which was destined to happen. Man is infinitely weak before the gods.Gods can cause suffering or help a person, but even they cannot change fate. Everything is predetermined! A tragic hero is born when a person, even knowing his terrible fate, decides to dare before fate, challenge the gods. The hero dies. And often fate finds him from the moment of the challenge, where the hero decides to change his fate. Both Oedipus and his father tried to fight and hide from fate, but in vain. Asking the reader, do we rule our own lives? Such a question haunts people and after two millennia: “He suddenly jumps up and falls under a tram! You’re not going to tell me that he arranged to do that himself? Wouldn’t it be nearer the truth to say that someone quite different was directing his fate?” (Mikhail Bulgakov) asks the character of “Master and Margarita” in the 20th century. In Oedipus’ behavior, we can see that, blinded by rage, he ceases to see and think. It makes a foolish boy out of a great king. And rage comes to him because of fear, […]
