Oedipus Rex by Amber Jablonski

Synthesis

AmberJablonski — 2015-06-30 23:35:42 UTC

In the very beginning of the play, Oedipus Rex, there are a few key elements that correlate to what Foster said in his book, HtRLlaP. The play begins with the news of a plague spreading throughout the city of Thebes and Creon coming back with news that the people/person who killed Laius must also be killed in order to revive the city. In the first chapter of HtRLlaP, Foster describes some of the elements used in stories and plays when making it a quest such as; “(a) a quester….a real reason to go there,” in Oedipus Rex a few are already popping up like (1) the stated reason to go there is to rid the city of the plague, (2) the enemy being the people/person who murdered Laius, and (3) Oedipus being the quester (Foster). Oedipus is unsure of the trials that lay ahead of him, but he is aware that he is going on a quest to save the city. After the servant of Apollo appears, Tiresias, he tells Oedipus “ you are the murderer you are searching for,” leading readers to believe that Oedipus may now be his own enemy (Sophocles). Tiresias also states that Oedipus has no idea who his parents are which possibly reveals Oedipus’ real reason for going on the quest; to find out more about his past and/or the information regarding his birth parents. Later on in the play you find Oedipus learning more about the murder of Laius such as the location of which it took place, “a place where three highways meet,” linking to another key element Foster said that a quest storyline would have (Sophocles). During the brief discussion with Jocasta describing what Laius looked like, Oedipus slowly begins to realize that he may actually be the man responsible for Laius’ murder without actually knowing that it was Laius. Along with this, it seems as though a connection between Laius and Oedipus can be made, seeing as they are both of “the same build,” and later confirms that Laius is actually Oedipus’ father and that Oedipus killed him in anger after Laius stuck him (Sophocles). In chapter 21 of HtRLlaP, Foster describes that many main characters will have some sort of deformity, scar, or something unusual that later on would be of importance down the road. For example, Oedipus had marks on his ankles from when he was abandoned by his real parents. When Oedipus finally put the two together he realized that the prophecy had already come true without his knowledge. The parents he thought were his real one were not but Laius and Jocasta were. His real parents had abandoned him in fear that one day he would kill both of them as said by a different prophecy, which also turned out to come true. Oedipus had killed his father that day where the highways meet, he later on ended up marrying his own mother without knowing it was her, and although he did not kill his mother and wife, Jocasta, him finding out drove her to suicide connecting himself to her death. In the end, the actions taken by Oedipus lead him to complete the prophecy even if it was all unknowingly done.

Literary Tradition

AmberJablonski — 2015-07-01 01:13:39 UTC

The play, Oedipus Rex, is a Greek tragedy that follows the many traditions during the time period of which it was set in. Like many Greek tragedies, the main character of Oedipus Rex, Oedipus, did not know of the terrible crime he had committed. The crime being that he murdered his own father without knowing that the man was his father, but this information was later reviled later on by a Corinthian messenger. Oedipus, not wanting to give up his pride or superiority when Laius first struck him, had taken matters into his own hands and killed him, which later lead to tragic consciences. As in many Greek tragedies, a prophet will most likely revile a prophecy that will ultimately come true. During this time period it was not uncommon for the citizens to call upon the Greek gods and prophets in times of need, searching for advice and answers to their problems. When Oedipus killed his father and later on married his own mother (a marriage that was most likely arranged by his adoptive father), the prophecy had already become true. The main character had met his doomed fate without recollection of actually doing anything to make it come true. All of these components correlate with the key elements of which Greek tragedies usually contain and follow through with.

Word of Criticism

AmberJablonski — 2015-07-01 01:24:17 UTC

https://aoxales12.wordpress.com/2010/10/03/final-thoughts-on-oedipus-rex/

On the blog, Aoxales12, the writer refers to Oedipus as being a monster due to the fact that he was betrothed to his own mother. I would agree with this if Oedipus had known that he was wed to his mother, but his lack of knowledge does not turn him into a monster. Although Oedipus did find out later that his wife was his mother, he, himself may have had viewed himself as a monster but his people wouldn’t have the chance to due to the fact that Jocasta killed herself shortly after the truth came out. I do agree with the writer that Oedipus was bond to be cursed due the actions he had taken such as killing Laius on a whim. I also agree with the writer when they point out that Oedipus had a few things that were not normal about him such as his strength and the fact that he liked a woman that was quite a few years older than him, which could have also contributed to the curse that was laid upon him. All in all, I do agree with the writer that when the truth came out it was disturbing and that the actions Oedipus had taken ultimately lead to his fate being completed.

References

AmberJablonski — 2015-07-01 01:59:29 UTC

Aoxales12. “Final thoughts on Oedipus Rex.” Wordpress.

Wordpress, 03 Oct. 2010. Web. 20 Jun. 2015.

Foster, Thomas. How to Read Literature like a Professor. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2014. Print.

Sophocles. Oedipus the King. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2005. Print.