Oedipus Themes Flashcards
importance of family relationships
tragedy interested in components making up a stable society and how they can unravel
primary unit of society = family
tragedy filled with dysfunctional families
where is importance of family relationships seen?
shows a distorted family
parents try to kill child at birth
child grows up to kill, rather than respect his father and marries his mother
why are family relationships important?
image of different member inside same womb - reflecting how Oedipus’ behaviour has contaminated his family
assumption that his daughters will not find husbands - marriage was ultimate goal for Greek woman, and father’s responsiblity to find suitable matches
Oedipus believes he has doomed his children to a miserable life, rather than providing for them
justice and revenge
founding principle was that one should help friends and harm enemies
justice is form of reciprocity –> revenge
deeply rooted in Greek culture
should not assume that Greeks saw no problems with revenge - common theme in tragedy is problems it can cause
where is justice and revenge seen?
Oedipus killing Laius - dangers of moral code inviting one to retaliate against injustice without thought of consequences
Laius tries to push Oedipus off the road, Oedipus retaliates by hitting his driver, Laius hits Oedipus with a whip, Oedipus returns a blow which kills him - at each stage the act of retaliation brings violence to new level. Neither can let go of desire for revenge
why is justice and revenge important?
Athenians proud of legal system - democracy
tragedy often shows superiority of legal process to vendetta violence - set in pre-legal age where king takes justice into own hands
drawbacks when Oedipus is entitled to decide whether Creon is guilty of deception and how he should be punished
position of men and women
position, responsibility to each other and what happens when these go wrong are common themes in tragedy
where is the position of men and women seen?
positive depiction of gender relations - Oedipus and Jocasta’s marriage is one of mutual respect
Oedipus has higher opinion of Jocasta than the chorus of elders, overturning assumptions of believing women were always inferior
Jocasta is concerned for her husband’s wellbeing
couple listen to each other, speak affectionately and Creon comments that Oedipus gives Jocasta an equal share in his power
why is position of men and women important?
audience’s knowledge of Oedipus’ identity means depiction of harmonious couple is tainted with horror
happy marriage + prosperous career makes fall from grace more pitiful - whole life is based on lives
deliberate stroke of irony that the happiest marriage in Greek tragedy is one that should never have been allowed
political ideas and ideals
tragedy set in time where cities ruled by kings
would have accepted as fact about earlier times + use kings to comment on contemporary beliefs about danger of tyranny
5th century Athenian context, government by a single ruler (tyrannos) is associated with bad old days and invasion of Persians
no coincidence that kings in tragedy are quick to anger, touchy and over emotional
where are political ideas and ideals seen?
ambiguous presentation of kingship
- Oedipus not the popular image of wicked tyrant
- rules with consent of citizens who express respect and fondness for him
- chorus speak of loyalty towards king who saved them from the Sphinx, while the priest of Zeus describes him as the ‘first of men’
- benevolent ruler who cares about citizens - expresses sorrow at plight of Thebes and addresses citizens as ‘my children’
- unwavering determination to discover Laius’ murder driven by commitment to save people
- becomes angry at Tiresias because he believes he is withholding information that will benefit Thebes
why are political ideas and ideals important?
when Oedipus is thwarted, see some stereotypes associated with tyrants
quick to anger, taking things personally, paranoia
fate and free will
wonder to what extent Oedipus’ actions have influence - fated before birth
importance principle in tragic religion is double determination - that action is simultaneously capable of two explanations - human + divine
divine influence does not diminish human responsibility - modern audience familiar with idea that someone must bear responsibility for actions and have life shaped by forces greater than them
where is fate and free will seen?
Oedipus’ seems unfair - takes steps to avoid it
e.g. abandons position as heir to Corinth
seems to have no free will - tries to prevent prophecy coming true
see response to Laius was to kill him in anger + tendency to lose temper when he does not get his way (rudeness to Tiresias, aggression with Creon, threatens to torture shepherd) –> chooses to act this way –> leading to prophecy coming true
why is fate and free will important?
Oedipus’ intelligence and dynamism leading him to his doom as much as anger - defeats sphinx, so becomes king and marries Jocasta –> see characteristics in pursuit of truth
Oedipus is victim of fate, but his own actions brought it to pass –> when asked by the chorus which of the gods led him to blind himself, he names Apollo and himself, and emphasises that both divine influence and human acted together
