Monday, September 2, 2013

The complexity of Oedipus's origins

Relating Oedipus to his parents can be tricky because through much of his journey Oedipus doesn't know who his real parents are. It's precisely this conundrum that reveals him to be quite similar to his kin who abandoned him in the mountains.

Throughout the story Oedipus is in search of the truth of his origins. "But I account myself a child of Fortune, beneficent Fortune, and I shall not be dishonoured. She's the mother from whom I spring... . Such is my breeding, and I shall never prove so false to it, as not to find the secret of my birth." (Lines 1080-1086) The Greek culture that values family and understands a link between parent and child is shown by Oedipus's strong belief that he will be true to his breeding and "never prove false to it". Unfortunately Oedipus is subject to dramatic irony when he states he will be fortunate to uncover where he comes from, as the audience knows he is true to the character of his parents but the outcome is not so good.

Though we don't know much of anything about Oedipus's father, and his mother/wife doesn't partake in the same thirst for knowledge and truth as her son, the royal family shares a passionate recklessness. After hearing the oracle's grim prophecy, both father/mother and son react without a thought to avoid the situation, and in turn place themselves directly in the spot they were trying to avoid.


1 comment:

  1. Good thinking and summation, try to work in more textual detail as support, example, non-example.

    ReplyDelete