Some Things Change, Some Things Don't
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Muirheid
Dec 7, 2010, 11:54:45 AM12/7/10
to Third Period AP English
Obviously, many things about the play Oedipus are foreign to us. The
basic beliefs and values that the characters hold are quite different
from our own. However, it can be argued that Sophocles' play Oedipus
is quite relevant for our time. Do you agree or disagree and why?
basic beliefs and values that the characters hold are quite different
from our own. However, it can be argued that Sophocles' play Oedipus
is quite relevant for our time. Do you agree or disagree and why?
Shannon
Dec 7, 2010, 1:36:02 PM12/7/10
to Third Period AP English
I agree that Sophocles’ play Oedipus the King is still relevant in
today’s society, even though some things are definitely not relevant.
For example, the time when Jocasta tells Oedipus that it is extremely
common for sons to dream of sleeping with their mothers strikes me as
bizarre. Maybe that was a common thing for people of ancient Greece,
but I know that no one nowadays, even if they do dream of that, would
ever think of admitting something like that. It’s almost a taboo in
this day and age. However, I think that the audience is supposed to
look past the weird plotline of the play and contemplate the true
quest of Oedipus: his search for identity. Countless books have been
written through the ages about this search for one’s identity, and in
many ways I think Oedipus the King was groundbreaking for the whole
field of psychology and Freudian theory. Obviously, it is not every
day that someone kills his father and marries his mother, but it is
quite common for people, especially teenagers, to lose track of who
they are or find themselves stuck in an “identity crisis.” Clearly,
Oedipus’s search for identity ends badly when he realizes that he
actually killed his father and married his mother, which prompts
Jocasta to kill herself and Oedipus to gouge his own eyes out and
exile himself. The ending of this tragedy seems to say that one can’t
mess with Fate or try to defy the gods, as Jocasta does. This belief
is prevalent today as well, although it is a little different. In
general, society no longer believes in the Greek gods and the
personification of Fate, but we do believe in God and disapprove of
anyone trying to “play God” with one’s own life or that of someone
else.
Message has been deleted
Jenna Sharp
Dec 7, 2010, 11:02:34 PM12/7/10
to Third Period AP English
When I initially thought about the question, I was going over the
plot
in my head and I realized that honestly the plot itself does not have
an abundance of relevance to our time. First of all, the accepted
practice of Greek mythology as a religion is not longer
overwhelmingly
accepted. Second of all, we do not rely on "fortune tellers" and
oracles to ascertain the future or wisdom. So, solely based on plot,
I think that the play Oedipus is not immediately relevant to the
21st Century.
It seems to hold true that literature really only survives and
receives "classical" status when it is relatable and timeless. With
that in mind, I realized that the play Oedipus may not relate in plot,
but it does relate in human emotion. We can all relate to having a
burden on our shoulders, knowing a secret but opting to stay reticent
for fear of consequence and finding out a secret that hurts or upset
us. Although many of our problems do not contain a complete identity
crisis and the revelation of terrible life-destroying things, the
feelings and emotions can be at the least understood. What I realized
was that the severity is irrelevant, because if the playwright can
evoke some type of pathos from his audience, then the viewers will
automatically be interested and invested in a relatable plot.
plot
in my head and I realized that honestly the plot itself does not have
an abundance of relevance to our time. First of all, the accepted
practice of Greek mythology as a religion is not longer
overwhelmingly
accepted. Second of all, we do not rely on "fortune tellers" and
oracles to ascertain the future or wisdom. So, solely based on plot,
I think that the play Oedipus is not immediately relevant to the
21st Century.
It seems to hold true that literature really only survives and
receives "classical" status when it is relatable and timeless. With
that in mind, I realized that the play Oedipus may not relate in plot,
but it does relate in human emotion. We can all relate to having a
burden on our shoulders, knowing a secret but opting to stay reticent
for fear of consequence and finding out a secret that hurts or upset
us. Although many of our problems do not contain a complete identity
crisis and the revelation of terrible life-destroying things, the
feelings and emotions can be at the least understood. What I realized
was that the severity is irrelevant, because if the playwright can
evoke some type of pathos from his audience, then the viewers will
automatically be interested and invested in a relatable plot.
Nicole
Dec 8, 2010, 5:44:57 PM12/8/10
to Third Period AP English
Killing your father and marrying your mother is an awful fate, but
people still make similar sins today. The circumstances might not be
as drastic as Oedipus's fate, but people still kill their parents,
siblings, or spouses. The murderers are not necessarily fated to kill
their relatives, but driven by madness, rage, or longing for power.
Although Oedipus was unaware that he killed his father and married his
mother, he still killed several men without regret, and he will be
punished for his sin. Nowadays, violence seems to be very common; it
also seems to be encouraged through video games, TV, etc. There are
people today like Jocasta who do think little about the increase in
violence; they do not worry about the consequences. In fact, they do
not believe that there will be any consequences. Similar to Jocasta,
they are agnostic in their faith, so they do not care about murders.
However, Sophocles play can show them that they simply cannot ignore
the violence in the world. Eventually, they will be punished either by
others or their own self through regret. Although Sophocles's play was
written centuries ago, it can still be applied to present day life.
people still make similar sins today. The circumstances might not be
as drastic as Oedipus's fate, but people still kill their parents,
siblings, or spouses. The murderers are not necessarily fated to kill
their relatives, but driven by madness, rage, or longing for power.
Although Oedipus was unaware that he killed his father and married his
mother, he still killed several men without regret, and he will be
punished for his sin. Nowadays, violence seems to be very common; it
also seems to be encouraged through video games, TV, etc. There are
people today like Jocasta who do think little about the increase in
violence; they do not worry about the consequences. In fact, they do
not believe that there will be any consequences. Similar to Jocasta,
they are agnostic in their faith, so they do not care about murders.
However, Sophocles play can show them that they simply cannot ignore
the violence in the world. Eventually, they will be punished either by
others or their own self through regret. Although Sophocles's play was
written centuries ago, it can still be applied to present day life.
Tori Lewis
Dec 8, 2010, 6:23:58 PM12/8/10
to Third Period AP English
In some aspects, the play Oedipus is relevant; however, there are also
certain aspects of it that are not relevant to life today. The idea
of killing one’s father and then marrying his mother is very foreign
to us today. I do not think that most men fantasize about their
mothers. Also the idea of oracles and sphinxes and riddles are a
rather far off concept. We know there are no gods that will call down
to us and tell us what we must do or else our fate will be doomed. We
do not have the means of knowing the future like Jocasta and Laios.
There are no giant sphinxes watching over with a riddle for someone to
solve. As far as all of those things go, the story of Oedipus is not
so relevant. However, the emotional and painful side of things is
relevant today. There is the aspect of denial and how one deals with
hearing things that he/she may not want to hear. Hearing things that
sometimes we do not want to hear can be hard, especially if what we do
not want to hear is something that we need to hear. Oedipus goes on
an emotional roller coaster throughout the play, and that is something
that a lot of people can relate to. He goes from high to low very
quickly. Life today takes us through twists and turns, and although
Oedipus’ way of dealing with his low was a bit extreme, that was his
way of moving on. We all have different ways of dealing with things;
however, dealing with our personal problems is timless.
certain aspects of it that are not relevant to life today. The idea
of killing one’s father and then marrying his mother is very foreign
to us today. I do not think that most men fantasize about their
mothers. Also the idea of oracles and sphinxes and riddles are a
rather far off concept. We know there are no gods that will call down
to us and tell us what we must do or else our fate will be doomed. We
do not have the means of knowing the future like Jocasta and Laios.
There are no giant sphinxes watching over with a riddle for someone to
solve. As far as all of those things go, the story of Oedipus is not
so relevant. However, the emotional and painful side of things is
relevant today. There is the aspect of denial and how one deals with
hearing things that he/she may not want to hear. Hearing things that
sometimes we do not want to hear can be hard, especially if what we do
not want to hear is something that we need to hear. Oedipus goes on
an emotional roller coaster throughout the play, and that is something
that a lot of people can relate to. He goes from high to low very
quickly. Life today takes us through twists and turns, and although
Oedipus’ way of dealing with his low was a bit extreme, that was his
way of moving on. We all have different ways of dealing with things;
however, dealing with our personal problems is timless.
Ed
Dec 8, 2010, 7:58:27 PM12/8/10
to Third Period AP English
The classic play Oedipus definitely holds relevance to us today.
Obviously, the sexual tension between mother and son is nonexistent in
today's society, but other things that were true in Oedipus still hold
true today. Once Oedipus realizes what he has done, he disfigures and
exiles himself, making him a tragic hero. This sort of self-sacrifice
is still seen as noble in today’s society. In Armageddon, Bruce
Willis allows himself to be blown up so that the world may survive,
and he is seen as a noble hero, much like Oedipus is seen as a noble
hero for handling his fate in such a manner that benefits the rest of
his community. Not only does Oedipus exile himself to release his
kingdom from his atrocious behavior, but he exiles himself to release
his family from the curse the gods set upon them. Also, Oedipus cares
not for himself but makes Creon promise that he will take care of
Oedipus’s children. Like in today’s society, familial matters still
took precedence in ancient times. One can also argue that Jocasta was
skeptical of religion, just like many people in modern times are
skeptical of religion. All these things prove the relevancy of
Oedipus in today’s society.
Obviously, the sexual tension between mother and son is nonexistent in
today's society, but other things that were true in Oedipus still hold
true today. Once Oedipus realizes what he has done, he disfigures and
exiles himself, making him a tragic hero. This sort of self-sacrifice
is still seen as noble in today’s society. In Armageddon, Bruce
Willis allows himself to be blown up so that the world may survive,
and he is seen as a noble hero, much like Oedipus is seen as a noble
hero for handling his fate in such a manner that benefits the rest of
his community. Not only does Oedipus exile himself to release his
kingdom from his atrocious behavior, but he exiles himself to release
his family from the curse the gods set upon them. Also, Oedipus cares
not for himself but makes Creon promise that he will take care of
Oedipus’s children. Like in today’s society, familial matters still
took precedence in ancient times. One can also argue that Jocasta was
skeptical of religion, just like many people in modern times are
skeptical of religion. All these things prove the relevancy of
Oedipus in today’s society.
Michael Bryant
Dec 8, 2010, 8:38:00 PM12/8/10
to Third Period AP English
I believe Oedipus the King has some relevance to its meaning today as
well as ideas that are irrelevant to today’s standards. Although the
practice and beliefs of Greek mythology do not have an overbearing
presence today, the play does portray the extremities to which people
practice and believe in their religion which can still be seen in
modern times. Also most people today do not believe in oracles or
prophecies and do not seek a fortune teller to predict their future.
Even if one were so inclined to do so, they would not entirely believe
this prediction because there is no way of proving it true. I also
believe that Oedipus’ denial towards the end of the play is a timeless
characteristic that almost everyone can relate to. Oedipus, an
extremely smart person, was able to solve the riddle of the sphinx but
was unable to add up all of the details pointing to him murdering his
father, fulfilling the prophecies. This evidence of denial seen in the
play is a relevant and contemporary characteristic that people still
experience today.
> > is quite relevant for our time. Do you agree or disagree and why?- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
well as ideas that are irrelevant to today’s standards. Although the
practice and beliefs of Greek mythology do not have an overbearing
presence today, the play does portray the extremities to which people
practice and believe in their religion which can still be seen in
modern times. Also most people today do not believe in oracles or
prophecies and do not seek a fortune teller to predict their future.
Even if one were so inclined to do so, they would not entirely believe
this prediction because there is no way of proving it true. I also
believe that Oedipus’ denial towards the end of the play is a timeless
characteristic that almost everyone can relate to. Oedipus, an
extremely smart person, was able to solve the riddle of the sphinx but
was unable to add up all of the details pointing to him murdering his
father, fulfilling the prophecies. This evidence of denial seen in the
play is a relevant and contemporary characteristic that people still
experience today.
>
> - Show quoted text -
Daniel Gutowski
Dec 8, 2010, 8:51:07 PM12/8/10
to Third Period AP English
Yes, the opinion that the story of Oedipus can still be held because
the ideas of evil and denial are still very applicable to modern day
society. Oedipus and Jocasta live in denial of the truth, Oedipus
making certainty of the truth while Jocasta denies it and tries to
flee from, committing suicide as her final escape. Old evils are often
more treacherous to recently committed ones because we are able to
convince ourselves that the lie is the truth. Once we have got
ourselves convinced, the truth is hard to bring back to the surface
and often never can reach the surface, as with the case of Jocasta.
However i feel that the commonality shown towards incest in the story
cannot be fairly compared modern society. Incest is not viewed in our
society as even close to normal; Freud says that there is a natural
disposition against one having feelings of the sexual kind for their
own mother.
the ideas of evil and denial are still very applicable to modern day
society. Oedipus and Jocasta live in denial of the truth, Oedipus
making certainty of the truth while Jocasta denies it and tries to
flee from, committing suicide as her final escape. Old evils are often
more treacherous to recently committed ones because we are able to
convince ourselves that the lie is the truth. Once we have got
ourselves convinced, the truth is hard to bring back to the surface
and often never can reach the surface, as with the case of Jocasta.
However i feel that the commonality shown towards incest in the story
cannot be fairly compared modern society. Incest is not viewed in our
society as even close to normal; Freud says that there is a natural
disposition against one having feelings of the sexual kind for their
own mother.
Cristina Rocca
Dec 8, 2010, 10:18:13 PM12/8/10
to Third Period AP English
Many things have certainly changed from the time of Ancient Greece to
our modern era. There are a myriad of aspects of the play that could
not even be related to our society today. I do not think there would
be any situation comparable to this today. There are instances where
people murder their relatives, but most of the time the murder is
chalked up to insanity and poor mental-health. Oedipus seemed to have
just accidently fallen into his horrible fate as if completely by
chance.
However, many other underlying themes do have relevance in today's
society. The idea of the denial of one's fate is a common idea today.
Personally, I know that when I hear bad news, I try to figure out any
other way the news could have been interpreted so as to not be so
awful (though I may be denying the truth). I also believe the actions
of Oedipus after he finally discovers and accepts the truth
demonstrate a reaction that would probably occur in today's society
(though probably not so drastic). But the ideas of repentance and self-
sacrifice are ideas that are still apparent in today's society.
I do not believe that Oedipus is super relevant for our time. There
are many aspects of Oedipus that have no basis in our time, but there
are also some that are still ideas today. I think that in order to
connect Oedipus to today's society, ideas must be stretched and
manipulated, so it actually only has some relevance today.
our modern era. There are a myriad of aspects of the play that could
not even be related to our society today. I do not think there would
be any situation comparable to this today. There are instances where
people murder their relatives, but most of the time the murder is
chalked up to insanity and poor mental-health. Oedipus seemed to have
just accidently fallen into his horrible fate as if completely by
chance.
However, many other underlying themes do have relevance in today's
society. The idea of the denial of one's fate is a common idea today.
Personally, I know that when I hear bad news, I try to figure out any
other way the news could have been interpreted so as to not be so
awful (though I may be denying the truth). I also believe the actions
of Oedipus after he finally discovers and accepts the truth
demonstrate a reaction that would probably occur in today's society
(though probably not so drastic). But the ideas of repentance and self-
sacrifice are ideas that are still apparent in today's society.
I do not believe that Oedipus is super relevant for our time. There
are many aspects of Oedipus that have no basis in our time, but there
are also some that are still ideas today. I think that in order to
connect Oedipus to today's society, ideas must be stretched and
manipulated, so it actually only has some relevance today.
alex whelan
Dec 9, 2010, 9:52:06 AM12/9/10
to third-perio...@googlegroups.com
I agree that Oedipus the King has relevant significance to the world today. The basic concepts and themes of the play hold true in many situations. Maybe we don't face the exact same strange situation, but many of us are in denial and are blind to the truth. When we are faced with something horrific or scary, we often revert back, and we don't face the truth. Sometimes it is very difficult to face the truth, because it means that we have to take the blame for something or we have to face feelings that we hide. Also, honesty and honor are themes of the play, and those values are very relevant for the world today. Many times, it is hard to be honest because we are afraid of consequences, but in the end, honesty and honor allows us to be free from guilt and worry so that we can move on.
Chase
Dec 9, 2010, 11:19:51 AM12/9/10
to Third Period AP English
As someone who consistently uses the phrase "Freudian slip" when
uttering a thought that probably should not have been stated outloud,
it would be incredibly remiss of me to dismiss Oedipus's literary
value in the modern world despite the many changes that have occured
since its inception. Sigmund Freud famously pointed to this piece of
work as the proof of his theory that even as an infant, our actions
are driven mainly by our sex drives as men desire their mother and are
jealous when their father gets the attention he feels he deserves.
Freud's theories concerning the sex drive of infants has been largely
discredited, mostly because they're infants, and it is incredibly hard
to believe that babies are actively looking to "get some". Still, in
my own life, I have found that the offspring of this theory is true:
as I have found myself attracted to different females, the qualities
that jump out to me the most are qualities either strongly present in
my own mother or the exact opposite concerning qualities in my mother
I see as flaws. Oedipus goes as far as to actually fall in love with
his own mother, which is obviously the extreme, but the love is
genuine for these reasons, creepy as that may be. The psychological
implications of the play are alive and well if one believes in the
basic essence of psychology, and Sophocles's ability to discover these
traits long before any real studies on the subject were made is quite
remarkable.
Of course, if the desire to sleep with his own mother was the only
purpose of "Oedipus Rex", I strongly doubt we would be reading it in
and AP English course (though it would be interesting to hear the
pitch given to the parents on Parents' Night at the beginning of the
year as the teacher tries to justify such a choice, but I digress).
The most prevalent non-psychological theme is that of fate, and those
who attempt to say that such strong beliefs in fate and destiny are no
longer in the present world have never heard a born-again Christian or
Christian Scientist who "puts their fate with God", never believed
that he or she was "meant to be" with their significant other, and
never believed that "everything happens for a reason". Without a
belief in fate, life is nothing but a series of unlikely coincidences
in which anything is truly possibel at the end of the day; not to
sound overly normative (AP Economics, anybody?), but that sounds
rather bleak to me. The belief that their is a higher power looking
out for us and making sure that things turn out okay is probably the
biggest reason I am able to get up every morning with a smile on my
face instead of blind paranoia that everything will go horribly wrong
the minute I step outside and those crazy coincidences can started
raining on my parade and messing my life up in catastrophic ways. Yes,
belief in fate is a good thing when compared to the belief that the
world is constantly in a state of blind entropy.
That is, belief in a GOOD fate is a good thing compared to blind
entropy. I am almost positive that I would rather not have faith in
anything than have faith in the knowledge that all those who I have
ever loved were going to die a violent death and it would be entirely
my fault. Entropy sounds pretty good compared to a fate of, say,
killing my father and having children by my mother. That fate would be
awful. Good thing no one got that one assigned to them, huh?
Oh, right. Sorry Oedipus. Guess you wish you lived in a time where
atheism was acceptable, don't you? Well, unfortunately for Oedipus, he
doesn't live in such a world, and his fate is made known to him by an
oracle, which of course causes him to flee from what he thinks is his
home in terror. Clearly, he had never paid attention in Sunday School
over at the Temple of Apollo because those who attempt to run from
their fate don't tend to have a good success rate. In fact, by
avoiding their fate, most of them end up fulfilling their fate in an
even more painful way. Of course, I suppose it would have been a much
more boring story if Oedipus had just stayed in Corinth and took what
he originally thought would be too much of a risk only to end up
actually avoiding his fate. Note to self: if I think something bad is
going to happen to me if I walk right, walk right anyway. Maybe I'll
get hit by a bike, but if the Greek gods run this world, walking left
will cause me to get hit by an eighteen-wheeler.
In the end, Oedipus discovers his past and learns that he has
fulfilled his unavoidable fate, and his torment at the end is
something with which most teenagers could relate. How many of us have
been torn apart because a significant other broke up with us even when
we had seen the signs and knew it couldn't last forever? What about
those of us who will not get into a school that we knew was a reach
but will still spend the night locked in our rooms cursing the days we
took out our Xbox instead of our textbook? When we know our fate, our
naive belief that we can somehow overcome it only magnifies the loss
when our inevitable fate is sealed.
(start) Clearly, Sophocles shows us that the best thing we can do is
maintain our belief that we do have a fate and that it is a good one
despite our lack of evidence. We are all special, after all. That's
why we're not allowed to fail out of public schools (end of satire/
social commentary)
Still, it is perhaps best to not know our fate at all. Heck, think of
how much Oedipus's life would have been better had he not known he
would kill his father and sleep with his mother. I mean, sure, he
still would have killed his dad and be sleeping with his mom, but at
least he'd be able to see her instead of having to be blind at her
funeral.
Maybe I'm wrong about that last part...
uttering a thought that probably should not have been stated outloud,
it would be incredibly remiss of me to dismiss Oedipus's literary
value in the modern world despite the many changes that have occured
since its inception. Sigmund Freud famously pointed to this piece of
work as the proof of his theory that even as an infant, our actions
are driven mainly by our sex drives as men desire their mother and are
jealous when their father gets the attention he feels he deserves.
Freud's theories concerning the sex drive of infants has been largely
discredited, mostly because they're infants, and it is incredibly hard
to believe that babies are actively looking to "get some". Still, in
my own life, I have found that the offspring of this theory is true:
as I have found myself attracted to different females, the qualities
that jump out to me the most are qualities either strongly present in
my own mother or the exact opposite concerning qualities in my mother
I see as flaws. Oedipus goes as far as to actually fall in love with
his own mother, which is obviously the extreme, but the love is
genuine for these reasons, creepy as that may be. The psychological
implications of the play are alive and well if one believes in the
basic essence of psychology, and Sophocles's ability to discover these
traits long before any real studies on the subject were made is quite
remarkable.
Of course, if the desire to sleep with his own mother was the only
purpose of "Oedipus Rex", I strongly doubt we would be reading it in
and AP English course (though it would be interesting to hear the
pitch given to the parents on Parents' Night at the beginning of the
year as the teacher tries to justify such a choice, but I digress).
The most prevalent non-psychological theme is that of fate, and those
who attempt to say that such strong beliefs in fate and destiny are no
longer in the present world have never heard a born-again Christian or
Christian Scientist who "puts their fate with God", never believed
that he or she was "meant to be" with their significant other, and
never believed that "everything happens for a reason". Without a
belief in fate, life is nothing but a series of unlikely coincidences
in which anything is truly possibel at the end of the day; not to
sound overly normative (AP Economics, anybody?), but that sounds
rather bleak to me. The belief that their is a higher power looking
out for us and making sure that things turn out okay is probably the
biggest reason I am able to get up every morning with a smile on my
face instead of blind paranoia that everything will go horribly wrong
the minute I step outside and those crazy coincidences can started
raining on my parade and messing my life up in catastrophic ways. Yes,
belief in fate is a good thing when compared to the belief that the
world is constantly in a state of blind entropy.
That is, belief in a GOOD fate is a good thing compared to blind
entropy. I am almost positive that I would rather not have faith in
anything than have faith in the knowledge that all those who I have
ever loved were going to die a violent death and it would be entirely
my fault. Entropy sounds pretty good compared to a fate of, say,
killing my father and having children by my mother. That fate would be
awful. Good thing no one got that one assigned to them, huh?
Oh, right. Sorry Oedipus. Guess you wish you lived in a time where
atheism was acceptable, don't you? Well, unfortunately for Oedipus, he
doesn't live in such a world, and his fate is made known to him by an
oracle, which of course causes him to flee from what he thinks is his
home in terror. Clearly, he had never paid attention in Sunday School
over at the Temple of Apollo because those who attempt to run from
their fate don't tend to have a good success rate. In fact, by
avoiding their fate, most of them end up fulfilling their fate in an
even more painful way. Of course, I suppose it would have been a much
more boring story if Oedipus had just stayed in Corinth and took what
he originally thought would be too much of a risk only to end up
actually avoiding his fate. Note to self: if I think something bad is
going to happen to me if I walk right, walk right anyway. Maybe I'll
get hit by a bike, but if the Greek gods run this world, walking left
will cause me to get hit by an eighteen-wheeler.
In the end, Oedipus discovers his past and learns that he has
fulfilled his unavoidable fate, and his torment at the end is
something with which most teenagers could relate. How many of us have
been torn apart because a significant other broke up with us even when
we had seen the signs and knew it couldn't last forever? What about
those of us who will not get into a school that we knew was a reach
but will still spend the night locked in our rooms cursing the days we
took out our Xbox instead of our textbook? When we know our fate, our
naive belief that we can somehow overcome it only magnifies the loss
when our inevitable fate is sealed.
(start) Clearly, Sophocles shows us that the best thing we can do is
maintain our belief that we do have a fate and that it is a good one
despite our lack of evidence. We are all special, after all. That's
why we're not allowed to fail out of public schools (end of satire/
social commentary)
Still, it is perhaps best to not know our fate at all. Heck, think of
how much Oedipus's life would have been better had he not known he
would kill his father and sleep with his mother. I mean, sure, he
still would have killed his dad and be sleeping with his mom, but at
least he'd be able to see her instead of having to be blind at her
funeral.
Maybe I'm wrong about that last part...
Katie
Dec 9, 2010, 5:29:06 PM12/9/10
to Third Period AP English
Many of the ideas and customs that are present in Oedipus the King
seem extremely foreign and perhaps weird to us today. Not only does
Oedipus marry his mother, but his mother says that it is normal for
men to desire their mothers. Today, this kind of relationship is
considered incredibly odd and wrong. Also, in today's world, we do not
have prophets who are able to tell people their fates. Although many
concepts of Oedipus the King seem crazy to us, some things in the play
are definitely relevant to our time. Although killing one's parent(s)
is not heard of very often, it does happen occasionally. I remember
pretty recently hearing about two sisters that killed their mother.
Another concept in Oedipus the King, ignoring the truth or searching
for the truth, is still very relevant in our time. Throughout most of
the play, Oedipus does not realize what he has done; he is given many
clues but still ignores the truth. Jocasta does not help when she is
too afraid to let Oedipus know what really happened. This fear of
reality is probably too relevant in today's world. Other than the
rather peculiar plot, Oedipus the King is still relevant today.
seem extremely foreign and perhaps weird to us today. Not only does
Oedipus marry his mother, but his mother says that it is normal for
men to desire their mothers. Today, this kind of relationship is
considered incredibly odd and wrong. Also, in today's world, we do not
have prophets who are able to tell people their fates. Although many
concepts of Oedipus the King seem crazy to us, some things in the play
are definitely relevant to our time. Although killing one's parent(s)
is not heard of very often, it does happen occasionally. I remember
pretty recently hearing about two sisters that killed their mother.
Another concept in Oedipus the King, ignoring the truth or searching
for the truth, is still very relevant in our time. Throughout most of
the play, Oedipus does not realize what he has done; he is given many
clues but still ignores the truth. Jocasta does not help when she is
too afraid to let Oedipus know what really happened. This fear of
reality is probably too relevant in today's world. Other than the
rather peculiar plot, Oedipus the King is still relevant today.
erwo...@marist.com
Dec 9, 2010, 6:29:58 PM12/9/10
to Third Period AP English
Although times have vastly changed, human instinct and emotions have
not. Oedipus’ struggle to confront the truth demonstrates natural
human reactions and impulses in the face of a tragic reality. Dreams
and aspirations are powerful and often serve as a personal driving
force. However, these dreams sometimes do not become a reality. What
we thought to be a “dream come true” turned out to be the surface, and
a much harsher truth was obscured in the depths. We so desperately
want a certain lifestyle that we deny or ignore any objections. We
push the reality of the death of a loved one or an unrequited love
into the depths of our brains, so that we can survive. As shown in The
Things They Carried, everyone has a breaking point. The human mind can
only take so many pressures before it explodes, quits, snaps, etc.
Oedipus tried to forget about the prophecy he heard while in Corinth,
and Jocasta willingly doubted fate and prophecy with the attempted
murder of her son. When the prophecy returned, their emotions were not
immediately heightened because they had tried to forget those old
worries and anxieties for so long. People need to believe in free
will, so that they can believe in “dreams come true,” or else they
will hit the breaking point. Oedipus and Jocasta held out any hope
because the truth was so devastating that the only other option was to
rot away in mental and emotional agony.
I know that I am not alone in saying that I harbor certain memories
which I rarely recollect because of the sadness they brought me. In
tough times, I can only survive by hope for a brighter future. What if
this hope was suddenly taken away because someone said so? What if
someone told you that you were to kill your father and marry your
mother? Would you not do the same as Oedipus?
not. Oedipus’ struggle to confront the truth demonstrates natural
human reactions and impulses in the face of a tragic reality. Dreams
and aspirations are powerful and often serve as a personal driving
force. However, these dreams sometimes do not become a reality. What
we thought to be a “dream come true” turned out to be the surface, and
a much harsher truth was obscured in the depths. We so desperately
want a certain lifestyle that we deny or ignore any objections. We
push the reality of the death of a loved one or an unrequited love
into the depths of our brains, so that we can survive. As shown in The
Things They Carried, everyone has a breaking point. The human mind can
only take so many pressures before it explodes, quits, snaps, etc.
Oedipus tried to forget about the prophecy he heard while in Corinth,
and Jocasta willingly doubted fate and prophecy with the attempted
murder of her son. When the prophecy returned, their emotions were not
immediately heightened because they had tried to forget those old
worries and anxieties for so long. People need to believe in free
will, so that they can believe in “dreams come true,” or else they
will hit the breaking point. Oedipus and Jocasta held out any hope
because the truth was so devastating that the only other option was to
rot away in mental and emotional agony.
I know that I am not alone in saying that I harbor certain memories
which I rarely recollect because of the sadness they brought me. In
tough times, I can only survive by hope for a brighter future. What if
this hope was suddenly taken away because someone said so? What if
someone told you that you were to kill your father and marry your
mother? Would you not do the same as Oedipus?
Jacob Ahearn
Dec 9, 2010, 9:05:11 PM12/9/10
to Third Period AP English
When comparing any two societies 2500 years apart, there are always
going to be differences. In the case of 425 B.C. Greece and 2010 U.S.,
a lot of the contrast seems to originate from a deeply rooted
obedience to the accepted religion(s) of the time period. For example,
Greek society used to see birth control more liberally than, say, the
Catholic church today. Nowadays, a faithful Catholic may frown upon
the use of a condom; back in the old days in Greece, piercing a baby's
ankles and leaving it to die a slow death in the woods was considered
humane (well, compared to a person actually killing it). I'm strangely
intrigued by a society where there's always that possibility of coming
across a dead baby during a peaceful stroll through the woods.
But anyways, all I'm trying to say is, there are always going to be
those very obvious differences in what's accepted and what's not. But
as I read Oedipus the King, I strangely forgot about the play's age.
As in, I wasn't reminded about it much. Sure, I found occasional
cultural differences that I had trouble relating to, but that was all
overshadowed by the plain truth that the characters are so genuinely
human. I know that comes across as one of the most obvious
observations ever, but I couldn't shake the fact that the emotions the
characters feel are emotions people have been feeling for years. That
includes today, too. Suicide and/or self-harm after learning that the
core of one's life is actually one of the most disgraceful things
imaginable? I wouldn't say it's accepted today (or in 425. B.C.
Greece), but it still happens. The blog's question asks if the 2500
year-old play is "relevant for our time." As long as a piece of
literature deals with any form of human behavior, I say it is.
going to be differences. In the case of 425 B.C. Greece and 2010 U.S.,
a lot of the contrast seems to originate from a deeply rooted
obedience to the accepted religion(s) of the time period. For example,
Greek society used to see birth control more liberally than, say, the
Catholic church today. Nowadays, a faithful Catholic may frown upon
the use of a condom; back in the old days in Greece, piercing a baby's
ankles and leaving it to die a slow death in the woods was considered
humane (well, compared to a person actually killing it). I'm strangely
intrigued by a society where there's always that possibility of coming
across a dead baby during a peaceful stroll through the woods.
But anyways, all I'm trying to say is, there are always going to be
those very obvious differences in what's accepted and what's not. But
as I read Oedipus the King, I strangely forgot about the play's age.
As in, I wasn't reminded about it much. Sure, I found occasional
cultural differences that I had trouble relating to, but that was all
overshadowed by the plain truth that the characters are so genuinely
human. I know that comes across as one of the most obvious
observations ever, but I couldn't shake the fact that the emotions the
characters feel are emotions people have been feeling for years. That
includes today, too. Suicide and/or self-harm after learning that the
core of one's life is actually one of the most disgraceful things
imaginable? I wouldn't say it's accepted today (or in 425. B.C.
Greece), but it still happens. The blog's question asks if the 2500
year-old play is "relevant for our time." As long as a piece of
literature deals with any form of human behavior, I say it is.
MaryClaire
Dec 9, 2010, 10:22:26 PM12/9/10
to Third Period AP English
In Sophocles’ play, there are aspects which are still relevant and
those which show the plays old age. Today, people still attempt to
know the future, but it seems the whole thing is less certain. The
fortune tellers today are usually not given much legitimate thought,
where as in those days the fortune seers were part of the main
religion. However, in both worlds, people attempt to know fate. People
wish to control it, or if they believe they know what will happen,
change it. The lesson holds true that we cannot change what will
happen. Also, the struggle Iocaste has with religion holds true in
today’s society. She doesn’t believe in the gods prophesies, but still
prays. Many people hold this confused sense of religion in going to
God when thing are bad but not always believing. Also, the process of
discovering truths we don’t want to know can be the same today. Some
respond in fear and stop searching, as Iocaste wished, and some pursue
more, unable to stop once the can of worms has been opened, like
Oedipus. While the plot is outdated and cannot apply anymore, a few of
the themes can still make sense.
those which show the plays old age. Today, people still attempt to
know the future, but it seems the whole thing is less certain. The
fortune tellers today are usually not given much legitimate thought,
where as in those days the fortune seers were part of the main
religion. However, in both worlds, people attempt to know fate. People
wish to control it, or if they believe they know what will happen,
change it. The lesson holds true that we cannot change what will
happen. Also, the struggle Iocaste has with religion holds true in
today’s society. She doesn’t believe in the gods prophesies, but still
prays. Many people hold this confused sense of religion in going to
God when thing are bad but not always believing. Also, the process of
discovering truths we don’t want to know can be the same today. Some
respond in fear and stop searching, as Iocaste wished, and some pursue
more, unable to stop once the can of worms has been opened, like
Oedipus. While the plot is outdated and cannot apply anymore, a few of
the themes can still make sense.
Alyssa Boehnlein
Dec 9, 2010, 10:28:04 PM12/9/10
to Third Period AP English
Even though society as we know it has changed very much from
Sophocles' time and society, many of the aspects of the play are
relevant to society today. Yes, it's hard to relate to a prophesy that
tells you you'll kill your father and marry your mother. It's a
foreign idea to let fortune or what a "prophecy" tells you rule your
future. However, the human emotion and ideas seem very simlar to
society today. Many people worry about their future just like Oedipus
does, and many of these people take their worrying to an unhealthy
amount like Oedipus. Oedipus is so worried about the future that he
doesn't even look back to the things that he has done in his life.
Even today, people worry so much about what is to come that they won't
live in the present.
Similar to Oedipus, many people in today's society will also block off
things that they don't want to hear. At first, Oedipus refuses to
believe that he could have possibly killed Laios. It is only when he
learns so much about his past that he is able to come to terms with
what he has done, and even so he can only come to terms with this
through self-inflicted injury. Similarly, many people in society today
refuse to believe something, and unfortunately, self-inflicted injury
is a common thing in society today. This coming to terms with a
situation is very relevant to society today, even though the context
of the situation may change.
Sophocles' time and society, many of the aspects of the play are
relevant to society today. Yes, it's hard to relate to a prophesy that
tells you you'll kill your father and marry your mother. It's a
foreign idea to let fortune or what a "prophecy" tells you rule your
future. However, the human emotion and ideas seem very simlar to
society today. Many people worry about their future just like Oedipus
does, and many of these people take their worrying to an unhealthy
amount like Oedipus. Oedipus is so worried about the future that he
doesn't even look back to the things that he has done in his life.
Even today, people worry so much about what is to come that they won't
live in the present.
Similar to Oedipus, many people in today's society will also block off
things that they don't want to hear. At first, Oedipus refuses to
believe that he could have possibly killed Laios. It is only when he
learns so much about his past that he is able to come to terms with
what he has done, and even so he can only come to terms with this
through self-inflicted injury. Similarly, many people in society today
refuse to believe something, and unfortunately, self-inflicted injury
is a common thing in society today. This coming to terms with a
situation is very relevant to society today, even though the context
of the situation may change.
Daniel
Dec 9, 2010, 10:36:45 PM12/9/10
to Third Period AP English
Oedipus the King is still relevant today because it deals with ideas
and themes that are universal and not bound to one particular period
in time. While the way in which Sophocles approaches the ideas of
identity and the search for truth are different from the ways modern
playwrights and authors approach them, the ideas themselves remain
intact. A play or novel written today about the search for one’s true
identity might differ greatly in plot and resolution, but the basic
theme remains the same. Often, we even define “literature” as opposed
to “trashy novels” by the fact that it incorporates these themes we
find to be universal and recurring throughout time. In addition to the
themes found in the play, the emotions the characters experience and
the emotions the characters evoke in us are also of a timeless nature.
Desperation and despair are not limited to the domain of ancient
plays: they are emotions we deal with today as well.
and themes that are universal and not bound to one particular period
in time. While the way in which Sophocles approaches the ideas of
identity and the search for truth are different from the ways modern
playwrights and authors approach them, the ideas themselves remain
intact. A play or novel written today about the search for one’s true
identity might differ greatly in plot and resolution, but the basic
theme remains the same. Often, we even define “literature” as opposed
to “trashy novels” by the fact that it incorporates these themes we
find to be universal and recurring throughout time. In addition to the
themes found in the play, the emotions the characters experience and
the emotions the characters evoke in us are also of a timeless nature.
Desperation and despair are not limited to the domain of ancient
plays: they are emotions we deal with today as well.
Scott Selvey
Dec 9, 2010, 11:08:46 PM12/9/10
to Third Period AP English
Religion is becoming less and less important in the lives of many
people in modern times. The idea that gods and prophecies are always
right just doesn't have the relevance that it did 2500 years ago.
Palm readers and fortune tellers are laughed at more often than they
are actually taken seriously. However, some ideas, such as the taboo
of a sexual relationship between child and parents, are still very
much existent today and will probably never change. I do believe that
there is something to the idea that men may marry based on how their
relationship with a particular parent was, and certain characteristics
or flaws that that parent may have had. Some parts of Oedipus are
relvevant, while some are not at all.
people in modern times. The idea that gods and prophecies are always
right just doesn't have the relevance that it did 2500 years ago.
Palm readers and fortune tellers are laughed at more often than they
are actually taken seriously. However, some ideas, such as the taboo
of a sexual relationship between child and parents, are still very
much existent today and will probably never change. I do believe that
there is something to the idea that men may marry based on how their
relationship with a particular parent was, and certain characteristics
or flaws that that parent may have had. Some parts of Oedipus are
relvevant, while some are not at all.
Greg Ehmer
Dec 10, 2010, 8:40:57 AM12/10/10
to Third Period AP English
When one initially looks at the play Oedipus, it is kind of hard to
find a lot of similarities to our time. The idea of killing babies by
exposure, being unable to control the fate the God’s have bestowed to
you, and marrying your mother makes the story seem foreign to many.
When you dive deeper, you will find many similarities between this
story and today’s modern society. I think one of the main
similarities will be the fact that people sometimes are extremely
reluctant to face the truth that is staring at them a foot away.
While Iocaste and Oedipus couldn’t accept the fact that they were
actually son and daughter, many people today refuse to acknowledge the
truth in everyday situations like it wasn’t their fault when they got
in the crash or their favorite athlete could not have possibly done
anything wrong in the murder when the facts are actually staring at
them right in the face. Sometimes, the situation seems so foreign to
our minds that we refuse to believe it. Another way that the play is
relevant is that Oedipus like many others is in search of himself and
his true identity. Many people today experience the same kind of
problem when it comes to either finding out about your past or their
self. Oedipus is basically one of these people who can’t find their
true self that we see throughout our society. Another way that the
play can apply to today is the reactions of Oedipus and Iocaste when
they realize who they really are. They don’t carry themselves in a
graceful, sophisticated manner like most people did during the time,
but they instead let their emotions control them after the devastating
realization similar to how most people react to a personal tragedy
today. All in all, I think this play is very applicable to today’s
modern society as much as it was for ancient Greece.
find a lot of similarities to our time. The idea of killing babies by
exposure, being unable to control the fate the God’s have bestowed to
you, and marrying your mother makes the story seem foreign to many.
When you dive deeper, you will find many similarities between this
story and today’s modern society. I think one of the main
similarities will be the fact that people sometimes are extremely
reluctant to face the truth that is staring at them a foot away.
While Iocaste and Oedipus couldn’t accept the fact that they were
actually son and daughter, many people today refuse to acknowledge the
truth in everyday situations like it wasn’t their fault when they got
in the crash or their favorite athlete could not have possibly done
anything wrong in the murder when the facts are actually staring at
them right in the face. Sometimes, the situation seems so foreign to
our minds that we refuse to believe it. Another way that the play is
relevant is that Oedipus like many others is in search of himself and
his true identity. Many people today experience the same kind of
problem when it comes to either finding out about your past or their
self. Oedipus is basically one of these people who can’t find their
true self that we see throughout our society. Another way that the
play can apply to today is the reactions of Oedipus and Iocaste when
they realize who they really are. They don’t carry themselves in a
graceful, sophisticated manner like most people did during the time,
but they instead let their emotions control them after the devastating
realization similar to how most people react to a personal tragedy
today. All in all, I think this play is very applicable to today’s
modern society as much as it was for ancient Greece.
Maria Kurilo
Dec 10, 2010, 9:25:42 PM12/10/10
to Third Period AP English
I agree that Sophocles’ play Oedipus has characteristics that are
relevant to our present time. The play focuses on the idea of destiny
and fate, which are aspects of our lives that are important to us
today. The play is initially about a series of events which Oedipus
cannot escape; similar to life today, things may come up that a person
either struggles with or cannot disregard. Oedipus suffers for the
actions and decisions made by his parents. In present time, when
individuals make certain decisions or choices, it may affect their
future generations. For example, when someone brings a great amount of
debt onto themselves that they cannot pay off, their future generation
and family will be responsible for fulfilling the payments (putting
themselves into debt sometimes). Oedipus contains many basic concepts
that are very relevant to our life today. However, the passion for
ones mother is not so relevant in our time. The difference between the
present and Oedipus is the belief system; today, we do not have the
myths and legends to explain what happens in reality. In Oedipus, the
characters had many gods and muses to explain why things happened a
certain way. Although the idea of accidentally killing ones father and
marrying ones mother unknowingly is extremely foreign to us, Oedipus’
portrayal of the inevitable hardships and barriers in life can be
related to our lives to an extent.
relevant to our present time. The play focuses on the idea of destiny
and fate, which are aspects of our lives that are important to us
today. The play is initially about a series of events which Oedipus
cannot escape; similar to life today, things may come up that a person
either struggles with or cannot disregard. Oedipus suffers for the
actions and decisions made by his parents. In present time, when
individuals make certain decisions or choices, it may affect their
future generations. For example, when someone brings a great amount of
debt onto themselves that they cannot pay off, their future generation
and family will be responsible for fulfilling the payments (putting
themselves into debt sometimes). Oedipus contains many basic concepts
that are very relevant to our life today. However, the passion for
ones mother is not so relevant in our time. The difference between the
present and Oedipus is the belief system; today, we do not have the
myths and legends to explain what happens in reality. In Oedipus, the
characters had many gods and muses to explain why things happened a
certain way. Although the idea of accidentally killing ones father and
marrying ones mother unknowingly is extremely foreign to us, Oedipus’
portrayal of the inevitable hardships and barriers in life can be
related to our lives to an extent.
Brendan Hickey
Dec 10, 2010, 9:56:05 PM12/10/10
to Third Period AP English
I believe that Oedipus is very relevant in current culture. While the
setting of the story may seem distant to us, the overall themes hold a
special significance in modern society. I thought especially of the
theme of hubris. Whether its pop stars, business leaders, politicians,
or students, the people of today often seem to think that they are
invincible and can do whatever they want without feeling the
consequences of their actions. This often leads to disaster, as the
downfalls of Britney Spears and Bernie Madoff have shown. The story of
Oedipus reminds the audience that consequences do follow your actions,
a theme that in my opinion people nowadays really need more exposure
to. Due to this, Oedipus holds a significant relevancy to the 21st
Century, and, while foreign, it teaches a lesson sorely lacking in the
world today.
setting of the story may seem distant to us, the overall themes hold a
special significance in modern society. I thought especially of the
theme of hubris. Whether its pop stars, business leaders, politicians,
or students, the people of today often seem to think that they are
invincible and can do whatever they want without feeling the
consequences of their actions. This often leads to disaster, as the
downfalls of Britney Spears and Bernie Madoff have shown. The story of
Oedipus reminds the audience that consequences do follow your actions,
a theme that in my opinion people nowadays really need more exposure
to. Due to this, Oedipus holds a significant relevancy to the 21st
Century, and, while foreign, it teaches a lesson sorely lacking in the
world today.
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