Amalia Lima Discussion 7

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)

1. 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. 
2. 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, fear of the truth. He is afraid and, therefore, he gets angry. Anger and rage, which would seem to be inherent in strong characters, is actually a sign of weakness.
3. Questions about the family and relationships between its members have been of concern to us since its very appearance. The relationship between fathers and children. The father, having learned that he will fall at the hands of his son, orders to kill him. Thus, plunging him into the abyss of suffering and incurring punishment. The question is raised about whether children are responsible for the sins of their parents? The example of the relationship between Oedipus and his mother formed the basis of the syndrome of the same name in Freud’s works and is one of the key definitions in the theory of psychoanalysis.
4. I believe that the dialogues and behavior of the choir and Oedipus show us the idea of the foundations of democracy. In the litter of Oedipus and Creon, the citizens personified by the choir reminds that the king first of all serves his land, his people and gods, and encourages him to be rational and remember that the main goal is the well-being of people. Even being a king, a person is subject to emotions, selfishness and weaknesses. The behavior of the king and the behavior of the chorus contrast with each other, making the reader wonder if the power of one person is so reliable if he is so weak and subject to emotions.