Oedipus Rex, to me, can only be enjoyed as a fable.It is an over exaggeration,much like The Boy who Cried Wolf, that shows an extreme fault and shows the consequences that arise from it.Readers are supposed to read the play and come with an understanding that we all have flaws(some more tragic than others), but the most important thing is to not let them ruin your life.And that sometimes,no matter how hard we go against it,fate will rule all of us. Keeping the idea of it being a fable in mind,I don't quite mind the play as much anymore.Oedipus,although he's very blah to me,represents a lot of what humans are.Many times in literature we are inclined to put in our heads that there's a good guy and a bad guy.Oedipus is neither.I personally don't hate him nor like him and that's what makes the story the teeniest bit good.We are shown a man that although prideful,is sincere and and earnest and are left to wonder if he is good or bad.By not showing us the actual violence and tragedy,we are more focused on the characters and their reaction to the evils around them.
Oedipus,the best momma's boy there is, reflects many human errors and bad judgment.His refusal to realize his true self is like many of us;we all don't want to admit our faults and sometimes we push ideas out of head because we don't want to think about it(starving children in third world countries,anyone?).He is prideful as seen in the scene where he is told about the degeneration of his people and replies,"As sick as you are,not one is as sick as I".Is he really sad for his people or because this reflects poorly on him as a leader?I think it's the latter.It is said that Oedipus is brought down not because of his faults,but because of his ignorance.I agree with that in the sense that his fault is his ignorance.We cant use the excuse that we didn't know for everything," Well,I didn't your name on this jar of Nutella before I ate it.Sorry" is not a good excuse.I wills shank you.Ignorence wont always save you.Sometimes,in a lucky fashion,Oedipus isn't ignorant.He cries that Creon want to kill him and take over.Now this is the rumblings of a man who has just heard bad news,but the reader of Antigone knows it's the truth.In the end,he gouges his eyes because he doesn't want to see the world now because he knows he truth.It's interesting because everything that has happened to him now has been because of ignorance and fate;this is the first act that he truly,knowingly did to himself.Not that I'd recommend that,but its good to see a character who has a flaw,take control and in any way,get rid of that flaw.He is now blind like the prophet and will hopefully gain the wisdom that the prophet has.But it sucks because now he cant watch t.v.As the play ends,I still feel like I cant relate to him but maybe that's not the point.I am shown a character that although at times unrealistic, grows and changes.That's what we like to see in people so it's nice to see it in a character.
Now for the other playas. Jocasta is a pretty flat character because she doesn't change during the play,she just finds out information and then kills herself.Not that that is her fault, the play is really about Oedipus and his internal struggles.Considering that she's not the evil Creon or the harbinger of doom,she surprisingly has a good number of lines,so that's something.Yay women!The gods in the play bring justice and teach people in an unconventional way.Although they bring some good,a lot of people suffer through that good,just like in real life.Sometimes messages are not strong enough so you have to do something that will make people listen.That's why I always carry a gun so people wont cut me in line.In the end,this play does end on a sad note.However,its not dismal,at least for me.I have learned a lesson and so has Oedipus.Often times we learn lessons through unfortunate circumstances like when I realized that you will be sent to juvie even if you pretend cry....long story.
No comments:
Post a Comment