During the COVID-19 pandemic, health fears and social restrictions changed individuals’ communications and behaviors. Whether a person has lost their loved ones, struggled with isolation, was personally sick, or lost their job, each was affected differently. Throughout the pandemic, I observed many behaviors among the American people that can be likened to some characters in the play Oedipus the King. After the government commanded that people uphold various measures like wearing masks, maintaining social distancing, and adhering to stay-at-home instructions, several individuals did exactly what was required. Conversely, some Americans did not strictly follow the government guidelines. In the play, there are instances of individual and collective suffering due to the plague; just like during COVID-19, people suffered individually and collectively.
Accordingly, the American people turned to their leaders to save them from the pandemic, just like the people in the play turned to their king, Oedipus, to be saved. The priest pleads on behave of the people of Thebe, saying, “And now, Oedipus, our peerless king, all we thy votaries beseech thee, find, some succor, whether by a voice from heaven, Whispered, or haply known by human wit” (Lines 46-48). This is an indication of collective suffering denoted by the outbreak of Covid-19. Just like in the play, American people suffered collectively, leading to regular quarantines of people from the same families and different families. The obedience among the majority of Americans is likened to the character Creon in the play, which emphasizes obeying the government and the gods. His decision to follow Apollo’s prophecy and enforce the laid-down measures to rid Thebes of the plague can be likened to the American people who followed the WHO directives. On the other hand, there were various instances of defiance among individual Americans, just the Thebes. Some Americans went against the health measures of keeping distance and wearing masks. For example, Oedipus fails to heed Teiresias’s advice, which later results in his downfall. The quote, “The man you are hunting with curses and threats for Laius’ murder is right here. In here!” (line 135), portrays Oedipus’s ignorance of accepting the truth, which later results in his downfall.
In conclusion, the behavior of Americans during the pandemic can be likened to the characters in the play. While some people obeyed the rules of the government, some chose to go against the laid rules and regulations deliberately. This is the same case in the play, where Oedipus ignored Teiresias’ warnings, which led to his downfall.
One thought on “Gustave Jacky Discussion 7”
hi Gustave
Yes, during the pandemic, people suffered just like those afflicted by the plague in the story, regardless of whether the policies were effective for them or not. There will always be individuals who break these policies for their own desires, and there will also always be people who lose their lives due to the selfishness of others. However, I believe that the choices of the people are more important than some policies. During the pandemic, countless people lost their dearest ones, but because of quarantine, they could never see each other’s faces for the last time. In such moments, it’s difficult for anyone to continue adhering to the rules without breaking them.