...Tragic Flaws of Oedipus “Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness” (King Jr). Currently, we are living in an era that is filled with much greed and selfishness. However, selfishness and greed is a natural trait of the human population. The difference maker in each individual person is amount of selfishness that is chosen to be revealed. For example, in World War II, Hitler’s choice to invade Russia was what ultimately caused his own defeat (Bullock). The dictator of Germany had already conquered the majority of Europe and had no intentions of stopping. This greed and selfishness of Hitler was what ultimately dug himself his own grave. This has been a continuous act throughout history as shown in the story “Oedipus Rex”. This story written in 430 B.C, revolves around a man named Oedipus that has a strange fate (Senaca, Boyle). His unfortunate fate will eventually cause him to act in selfish manner that will ruin his life. In this story, Oedipus is a born into royalty but daunted with a fate that is unforgiveable. Once born, a prophet gave the information to the parents that Oedipus would kill his father and marry his mother. With this horrendous information, the parents made the decision to kill Oedipus. As the servant went into the woods to kill the infant, his conscious would not allow him to finish the execution. Scared to go back with the infant, the servant handed the baby off to Polybus...
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...Traumatic experiences that cause severe emotional distress often transform a person’s “self.” Specifically, through traumatic experiences the self transforms by becoming less selfish and more reflective of their actions and their past. Human beings have both an absorbed self, the part of us that is primarily concerned with our own well being, and a reflective self, which is our ability to reflect on how our actions affect others. When we withstand a traumatic experience, parts of the absorbed self fades away, while the reflective self matures. We become less selfish and more compassionate towards others. Three literary works -- The Epic of Gilgamesh, Sophocles' Oedipus the King and Plato’s Phaedo, -- show this transformation of self. In The Epic Of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh transforms himself from an unruly king who is unaware of his own death into a compassionate friend who reflects on the idea of his death. This transformation in self derives from the gods’ creation of Enkidu. Enkidu is created to match Gilgamesh. Before Gilgamesh meets Enkidu, he is characterized as a reckless leader, who “tramples his citizens like a wild bull ”(Mitchell 2004: 72). He neglects to think about his mortal side, and rules his people as if his days did not truly count. Once Enkidu comes into his life, Gilgamesh’s unjust actions stop. Although Gilgamesh is still stronger than Enkidu, “they walked side by side, they truly became friends ”(Mitchell 2004: 90). This is a significant for Gilgamesh because...
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...September 2013 Oedipus Tragic Hero Webster’s dictionary defines a hero as a person, who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. Although this definition accurately describes Oedipus’ character, tragic hero is more of an apt description. A tragic hero is defined usually by the following: One, A man of noble stature. Two, A selfless man who is not afraid to come under scrutiny. Three, The hero honorably receives the punishment given to him. From the beginning to end of the play Oedipus The King, by Sophocles, Oedipus truly defines himself as a hero, a tragic hero. Oedipus is first introduced as the sole ruler of Thebes. Kings/Dictators are usually looked down upon due to their brash and selfish behavior, but Oedipus is the opposite. A priest say, “Therefore, O mighty power, we turn to you: find us our safety, find us a remedy, whether by counsel of the gods or of men. A king of wisdom tested in the past can act in a time of troubles, and act well. Noblest of men, restore life to your city! “(Sophocles 2) when Oedipus makes a declaration to save the city of Thebes from the ongoing plague. The priest calls him the “Noblest of men” in marvel, at the fact, a man of such high stature and importance takes the time to address the concerns of his people. The words used to describe Oedipus such as liberator, noblest of men, boldness, and mighty power show that the people of Thebes rely on and look to Oedipus for safety and guidance...
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...Oedipus is the second of three Theban plays that Sophocles wrote. The play is set in Thebes, an ancient Egyptian city. There is a plague over the city and will not be lifted until the death of the former King Laius is solved. Throughout Oedipus there are four recurring characters: Jocasta, Creon, Tiresias, and Oedipus. These characters are the ones that get close to Oedipus and help him figure out the plague of Thebes. To better understand the story of Oedipus the characters, the theme and the plot need to be examined. The protagonist of the play is Oedipus. He is the king of Thebes and was made king by solving the riddle of the Sphinx. Jocasta is the wife of Oedipus and mother, who is later revealed in the play. She tries to make...
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...Oedipus’ push to find out the truth is rooted in the search for identity. Oedipus is reactive and determined, which can lead to anger and pride. His outward determination can at times be a cover up for root to his actions, a shaky identity. He doesn’t have a firm concept of who he is, after finding out that he is adopted. He is also paranoid about the prophecy that he is going to kill his biological father, as told by Tiresias. This internal battle and searching leads to outward actions such as anger and pride. It can also be proven that is search for the truth is rooted in pride. After being lied to in the past, and again being paranoid about the prophecy, Oedipus does not like the unknown. He does not like for anything to be out of his...
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...At the entrance of the temple of Apollo at Delphi there were three Maxims inscribed: “Know Yourself”, “Nothing in Excess”, and “A Promise will be Your Ruin”. When the Greeks said “Nothing in Excess” they meant in all aspects of life. The Greek maxim “Nothing in Excess” reflects the idea of moderation and reasonable sufficiency which influences behaviors and choices. Defiance of the maxim “Nothing in Excess” invited discord, catastrophe and repudiation of living wholly with beauty and truth. The maxim, “Nothing in Excess”, is exemplified and defied in Greek myths through the figures Heracles, Niobe, Oedipus and Creon. Heracles, son of Zeus and Alcmena, exhibited excessive mortal strength from infant to adult. When Heracles was eight months old, Hera, desiring his death, sent two serpents to Heracles’ bed; but because of his excessive strength he strangled the serpents with his bare hands. Another example of “the strength of stout Heracles” (Theogony 332) is when he kills Linus, his tutor, in self-defense. Hera, still persecuting Heracles, drove him mad, and as a result he killed his wife, Megara, and his children, flinging them into the fire. Arriving at the temple of Apollo at Delphi, the Pythian priestess told Heracles to reside in Tiryns, serving Eurystheus for twelve years and to perform ten labors to be purified for his crime (Parada). His first labor was to destroy the Nemean Lion. Heracles first shot him with an arrow, but when he perceived that the animal was invincible...
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...is introduced to a completely different environment when he comes to Uruk. His human side comes in to play when he sees how Gilgamesh is treating the people. Enkidu and Gilgamesh became good friends and partners in adventures. He gains a great lot of experiences and a kind of love from Gilgamesh. Through his adventures with Gilgamesh he ends up loosing his life and right before he dies he wishes that he had stayed in his animal world and not join the world of man. Enkidu gets sick and tells Shamash that he wishes the hunter never met him, “…he cursed the hunter to his heart’s content” (p129). He ends up gaining a great friend and looses his life, through the friendship. Achilles comes off as a tragic hero. He comes off as a selfish warrior who does not care for his people. He is all for himself. He can be seen as heroic for his frightening skills and his part-god abilities. In the lliad Achilles, does not improve over time. He acts on his own rage and personal feelings. You can feel sorrow for Achilles,...
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...Searching for the Self Miss Emily in A Rose for Emily is the classic outsider, controlling and limiting the town’s access to her true identity by remaining hidden. The house that shields Emily from the world suggests the mind of the woman who inhabits it: shuttered, dusty, and dark. On one level, she exhibits the qualities of the stereotypical southern “eccentric”: unbalanced, excessively tragic, and subject to bizarre behavior. Emily enforces her own sense of law and conduct, such as when she refuses to pay her taxes or state her purpose for buying the poison. Emily also avoids the law when she refuses to have numbers attached to her house when federal mail service is delivering. Her dismissal of the law eventually takes on more threatening consequences, as she takes the life of the man whom she refuses to allow abandon her. Emily’s anxiety, however, lead she in a different direction and the final scene of the story suggests that she is a necrophiliac. Necrophilia typically means a sexual attraction to dead bodies. In a broader sense, the term also describes a powerful desire to control another, usually in the context of a romantic or deeply personal relationship. Necrophilia’s tend to be so controlling in their relationships that they ultimately resort to bonding with unresponsive individual with no resistance with dead bodies. Mr. Grierson controlled Emily, and after his death, Emily temporarily controls him by refusing to give up his dead body. She ultimately transfers...
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...World Mythology March 5th, 2012 Arabian Nights Essay Fantasy our Daily Determination The art of storytelling is the oldest and most captivating art form man has ever produced. Each and every one of us has been lead on a path by a story so unique that each path can only be traveled once with no chance of return or pause along the way. The reason these stories create a one-time offer is due to the mysterious element of fantasy that no man can ever lack or cease to exist. Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Though formal in definition the fantasy defined above is only the tip of the iceberg because fantasy can be created in one’s mind at a moments notice. Kieran Egan an education professor at Simon Fraser University states that, “fantasy is the most valuable attribute of the human mind; it enriches children’s spiritual development, and is the most important tool for orienting ourselves to reality”(3). This quote pinpoints why fantasy stories have been with us since the start of man and why books like “The Arabian Nights” are so popular thousands of years after there first dictations. Each story read from “Arabian Nights” has different fantasy elements in it, these elements captivate us and bring us inside the stories and are exactly what we connect to, not as a form of “escapism” but to help fuel our own determination to fulfilling our own fantasies. Many of these stories...
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...King Creon once said “the inflexible heart breaks first”. In the greek tragedy Antigone, from the trilogy Oedipus Plays, by Sophocles King Creon is an extremely cruel man. King Creon rules his kingdom with fear and force. He is cold heartless, and selfish. These traits make his life end in immense tragedy. If people live their life without an ounce of compassion, sympathy, and empathy they will be lonely and miserable. In the beginning of Antigone Creon demands from all his citizens that no one buries the “traitor” Polyneices. Creon sends his son's bride to die in a cave alone, despite what others think. He also ignores his wife’s and his child’s requests and feelings. They both end up committing suicide. Creon rules the country of Thebes. His hierarchy is fragile and his system is corrupt. His two nephews, Eteocles and Polyneices, went to battle against each other. Eteocles fought for Creon and Polyneices fought against him. Since Creon's hierarchy is already so fragile anyone who acts as a threat to his crown is considered a traitor and an outcast. Both Eteocles and Polyneices end up killing each other during their battle. Eteocles is given a proper burial ceremony, but Polyneices is left...
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...home tests her loyalty to him. In comparison to Penelope, Antigone from Sophocles’ Antigone is tested in family loyalty when a law forbids her to bury her brother. Jocasta from Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex, similarly to Penelope, is tested when her husband’s innocence in a murder case is called into question. While Antigone displays more action in her demonstration of family loyalty, Penelope exhibits the ideal way of showing loyalty to one’s family as her willpower and careful strategies are more successful than that of Antigone and Jocasta. Women in most ancient Greek societies had few rights compared to men, and were submissive to their male superiors, but both Penelope and Antigone’s actions in defense of the loved ones contradict this custom. Penelope is more passive in her actions, telling her eager suitors, “‘Young men, my suitors… go slowly… until I can finish off this web… This is a shroud for old lord Laertes, for that day when the deadly fate… will take him down’”...
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...European-centric stories have unfavoring roles of women presented. These roles also correlate to the roles that women played in the modern society. Take for example the story of Theseus. Within this story women are rarely highlighted as dimensional characters. One female character to make note of is the goddess Hera, who happens to be Zeus’s wife. She has a position of power in Olympus, and the way she is portrayed is shockingly negative. She is assertive, selfish and at times plainly rude. This perspective on a powerful female role seems not unusual to Greek mythology nor past European society. Aside from the major female characters in Theseus, it is of importance to emphasize the manner in which women are portrayed in the story more generally. The war that is taking place in the story is all attributed to Helen, a wife who was taken from her husband. Women are also depicted quite frequently as “spoils of war”; mere prizes that can be won by men in battle. This objectification of women in these stories was not also uncommon in the Greek society of that time period. The story, Oedipus Rex, also lends credit to this very same line of thinking when the character Oedipus asks Creon to take care of his daughters because they will not be able to provide for themselves since they will never marry.. This logic is lent to the idea that women are property of men and without said men they will not survive. This notion would also, more often than not, be true in the Greek and European society...
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...tragedy, that element is thought. I think through the chapter I found an answer to my question of what is imitation of an action, let me expand my question for beter understanding and my own answer through the information I gained through my reading . I think my question of what imitation of an action is pretty straightforward to understand, in literal base I know the meanings of those words-imitation means, in my mind, to mimic or copy someone or something, action means the behavior and movement of anything and everything around us, in literature though especially in tragedy I learned that ,action in point of view of Aristotle, refers to life itself not humanity, it can be true because the plays of ancient times such as Sophocles’ ‘Oedipus the King’...
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... Abstract Undoubtedly Sigmund Freud is the father of psychoanalysis. He was an influential thinker of the early twentieth century who elaborated the theory that the mind is a complex energy-system and the structural investigation of which is the proper province of psychology. Freud articulated and refined the concepts of the unconscious, infantile sexuality and repression and he proposed tripartite account of the mind ‘s structure, all as part of a radically new conceptual and therapeutic frame of reference for the understanding of human psychological development and the treatment of abnormal mental conditions. Freudian approach can be analyzed well in The short story “A Rose for Emily” which is one of the great stories by an American novelist William Faulkner. In this essay I ‘m going to analyze this short story and the characteristics of its protagonist ( Emily Grierson) from Freudian and psychoanalytic criticism. Introduction Miss Emily Grierson, the main character in William Faulkner’s short story “A Rose for Emily,” is certainly strange by any average reader’s standards and a character analysis of Emily could go in any number of directions. It is nearly impossible not to examine her in a psychoanalytical and Freudian criticism specially about: Phallic stage, Oedipus Complex and the role of Id, Ego and Superego. The Phallic Stage According to Freud, a child even a girl or a boy during her or his life passes five...
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...A true ruler is a partner and an ally of the people. The title of an effective leader is only rewarded when there is an obvious effort shown to understand and communicate with the people. A leader must take in regards the outward suggestions of his rule to govern a place in a way that is beneficial to its’ residents. In Sophocles’ play Antigone, which is a continuation of Oedipus Rex and the last play in the Oedipus Cycle, this standard is ignored. In the play, the current king of Thebes, by default is Creon. This supposed righteous king is the source of the problems that arise in his country, mainly because he displays ignorance to the Thebans. His shortly fused temper and defensive nature proves to get the best of him. Additionally, he is...
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