Indeed a father-killer and a mother-lover, Oedipus tries to cope with this realization, but proves quite unsuccessful. He wittingly lets out a few exclamations coinciding with his newly found familial relationships as he tries to wrap his head all that has been unveiled within the short period of time. He was truly "cursed in his birth (1420. 1310)" as well as "cursed in marriage (1420. 1310)" as he killed his own father and married and made love to his own mother. If Oedipus would have never been so eager to please and never so insecure to blindly believe a blind prophet, then he possibly could have lived his life as a brilliant ruler. Here lies his hamartia, the need to always be right and always prove he is the best. It launched him into a frenzy to find the truth to the prophecy, but in the end of solving the great riddle all the king was rewarded with was a deep set grief, a dead wife, and no sight.
(http://www.jantoo.com/cartoons/keywords/ignorance-is-bliss)
Oedipus contains too much pride to accept his wrongdoings, and his “know-it-all” nature lead to the demise of his own mother/wife. As you clearly stated within your blog, if Oedipus hadn’t been so insecure, there could have been a possible outcome of him becoming an extravagant leader. Oedipus, the once mighty ruler of Thebes, had been held captive by his hamartia, which led to the downfall of his kingship. Oedipus received what he asked for, the truth behind his prophecy, and in the end, he is left in despair and sorrow.
ReplyDeleteYour post points out that yes, ignorance IS bliss, and I agree--not just for Oedipus, but for Jocasta as well. Had she never found out her "husband's" true identity, she'd still be alive. As it were, however, she winds up with a disgraced name and takes her own life. If it weren't for Oedipus' hubris, the pair could have lived forever in ignorant bliss.
ReplyDeleteIn Oedipus’ case, ignorance is bliss. If he did not know the truth about him killing his biological father and committing incest, then he would have continued ruling as king. He forces himself to find out about his history when a plague starts to kill the citizens of Thebes. If the plague did not occur, then maybe Oedipus would have continued to live in ignorance.
ReplyDeleteAs your post proves, in Oedipus' case, ignorance is bliss. Oedipus' downfall could have been avoided if he never learned of his true family tree. It was better off left untold but unstead, he realized his true parents and suffered from finding this. His bliss ended as his ingnorance did.
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