In the play “Oedipus the King,” the people of Thebes are struck by a deadly plague that leaves them desperate and vulnerable. They plead with their king, Oedipus, to find a solution to the epidemic. Meanwhile, Jocasta enters and criticizes Oedipus and Creon for their insignificant arguments during the crisis, asking, “Are you not ashamed to air your private griefs when the country’s sick?” (Lines 741-743). This emphasizes their mutual sense of urgency and the need to prioritize the greater good over personal disagreements. Similarly, during the COVID-19 pandemic, some Americans followed public health guidelines eagerly, while others opposed restrictions and emphasized personal liberation. This reflects the tensions in Thebes, where some characters, like the Priest and Jocasta, prioritize addressing the plague as a community. In difference, others, like Oedipus and Creon, are consumed by personal disagreements regardless of the bigger crisis. Both situations showcase the complicatedness of balancing individual rights with coordinated well-being during times of crisis.
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4 thoughts on “Amen Qureshi, Week 7”
Hi Amen, I really liked your post. I liked the quote that you chose to make the connection between the people from Thebes and how the world behaved during the COVID pandemic. Just as you mentioned, the plague that is described in the story made people desperate, and to be under a lot of tension. They were desperate for help, a feeling that I would say, we all can relate, because during COVID, the whole world was nervous, and nobody knew what was going to happen, or if we were going to live without face masks covering our faces and so on…
Your comparison between the themes in “Oedipus the King” and the reaction to the Coronavirus pandemic offers a convincing understanding into the complexities of crisis management and cultural needs. Similar as the characters in the play, people during the pandemic have confronted a strain between individual flexibilities and aggregate liabilities. Similarly as Jocasta admonishes Oedipus and Creon for their petty debates in the midst of the plague, many have censured the people who focus on private complaints over everyone’s benefit during the pandemic. The two circumstances highlight the need of fortitude and shared penance in tending to emergencies, featuring the continuous significance of ageless subjects in literature to contemporary difficulties.
Hi , Amen I liked and related to your post because the quote that you chose actually connected with the example you gave . I remember exactly what happened when COVID 19 hit I was actually in Highschool when it started or was like I went to school one day and then the next day schools got shut down , stores got shut down only the essential workers were aloud to work and everyone also had to follow guidelines. The people of America would panic everyday and everyone were losing loved ones . I also was scared for my mom who worked at a hospital so she was always exposed to Covid 19 .
Hii Amen, In “Oedipus the King,” Thebans face a deadly plague, urging King Oedipus to prioritize communal well-being. Jocasta criticizes personal disputes amid the crisis, echoing the need for unity. Similarly, the COVID-19 pandemic divided my country(India)1—some prioritized public health, while others emphasizespersonal freedom. Both scenarios highlight the challenge of harmonizing individual rights with collective welfare during crisesunderscoring the complexity of societal priorities.i really like the post and quote you used