Irony #12

Oedipus the King starts off with Oedipus portraying his leadership qualities of caring for his people and his willingness to do anything for them. “I am ready to help, I’ll do anything. I would be blind to misery not to pity my people kneeling at my feet” (13-15). Oedipus wants to be known as a kind-hearted and sympathetic man to further gain the support of his people. He wants the fame and the love, “the whole world knows my fame” (8).

            When Creon comes back with the oracle that says the plague will only end if the killer of Laius is killed, Oedipus right away states, “I never saw the man myself” (121). That line contains dramatic irony. The audience should know that Oedipus himself was the one that killed Laius to grab power. Obviously if he murdered Laius, he has seen him in person before. Every word spoken by Oedipus at that moment was filled with irony. Pretending to be innocent, Oedipus makes threats to the killer of Laius which is extremely ironic because he essentially is making a threat to himself and he fakes being angry to make it seem like he is caring for his people. “Whoever killed the king may decide to kill me too, with the same violent hand—by avenging Laius I defend myself” (158-160).

            This moment of irony affects the whole plot of the story by showing the characteristic of Oedipus being dishonest and sneaky, plus he has the citizens’ full trust. If there is a corrupt leader, such as Oedipus, the story plot will most likely have to do with a tragedy and will all come down moments before or after the truth is revealed about them. The characters will be impacted by this irony too. One can compare Oedipus to Iago. In both cases, their friends and people believed that they were great, honest, and trustworthy. The characters will be affected by trusting Oedipus too much. 

Blog Post 2

In the beginning of the Greek play Oedipus the King, Oedipus is characterized as the savior of Thebes. As the king , Oedipus is looked upon to end the plague. The Priest and the citizens of Thebes "thought of [Oedipus] as a God" (35). This characterization portrays Oedipus of a great man. The audience knows this is not necessarily the case. Once the Oracle evinces the only way to end the plague is to kill the murderer of Laius, dramatic irony is introduced.  The citizens of Thebes expect him the find and kill the murderer but the audience knows this will never happen as Oedipus himself is the killer. Despite this fact, Oedipus declares he will end the plague by saying " I will bring this to light again" (161) and "you will see in me an ally, a champion of my country and the God" (164-165). Oedipus tries to characterize himself as this great man and it works as the priest says "it was this we came to seek" (177). Oedipus is comparable King Claudius of Hamlet. Both kings kill the previous king in order to gain the crown. To contrast, Oedipus is characterized as a valiant king and Claudius is characterized as a coward. This difference in characterization will cause for a bigger downfall in Oedipus's reputation than Claudius's. By creating such a glorious stature, Oedipus will be looked at worst by his people when his downfall occurs. This downfall is bound to happen as he will never be able to end the plague.

Hamlet notes that the killer of his father now wears his crown. In Oedipus the King, Oedipus "stung"  King Laius and now wears his crown.

Oedipus

In Oedipus, Apollo stands out as the supreme God of the Athenians. The city of Thebes "cries for a healer and (Wales) for the dead  (5). The citizens carry branches in wool that they offer the Gods as gifts. Apollo is the immortal healer while Oedipus is the mortal healer.  Oedipus can be described as a compassionate leader who who displays a sense of justice within his community. He is so confident that he goes as far as saying "I'll bring it to the light myself" (150). Other than Apollo, the citizens of Thebes looks to Oedipus as a God. Oedipus is clearly concerned with the plague in Thebes killing off his people. He is known as a ruler who truly cares for the well-being of his people. To prevent this plague from wiping out the Athenians, Oedipus consults Creon for advice to stop it. Upon consulting Creon, Oedipus discovers the murderer of Laius is in Thebes. Laius was the ruler before Oedipus. Oedipus resorts his attention to solving the mystery of Lauis's murder. This displays a character traits crucial to any leader which is determination. In fact, Oedipus is so determined that he tells the people of Thebes that he will end the plague himself. 
  Further in the play, Oedipus displays another characteristic which happens to be extreme anger as he gets extremely hostile when Tiresias holds information from Oedipus.

Conflict and Characterization

The opening of Oedipus the King launches immediately into a world of conflict and despair. The people of Thebes are sick and dying, and the unsolved murder of a king has left citizens, leaders, and even Apollo himself angry and vengeful. As a result of this strife. Oedipus' character is portrayed as decisive and valiant--so much so that it leaves the reader to wonder if all is as it seems.

"Thebes is dying," declares a priest near the beginning of the play (31). "And black Death luxuriates in the raw, wailing miseries of Thebes." (37-38). Instantly, the reader learns just how dire the situation is; the sick and dying beg their king, Oedipus, for "strength, rescue!" (52).

To make matters worse, long-awaited Creon arrives with news from the Oracle of Delphi: The plague is punishment for allowing the murderer of former King Laius to slip away. But, never fear--the all-powerful Oedipus will save the day. "I'll bring it all to light myself!" he declares vehemently (150).

The modern reader can immediately identify the hubris--excessive pride--which radiates off Oedipus. He/she knows that hubris is a common "fatal flaw" for Greek tragic heroes. Often their confidence leads to their premature fall from grace. Oedipus' strong words--"I am the land's avenger by all rights" (154) and "Now you have me to fight for you" (153) indicate his heightened opinion of himself and foreshadow a great fall headed his way. The immediate characterization of Oedipus as prideful and "invincible" results from the conflicts presented at the start of the play, and leads the reader to suspect this hubris could become a big problem for the King.

Oedipus 1

 As Oedipus the King begins we are immediately thrown into the world and explained the conflict. Oedipus is a new ruler to his land, following the late King Laius. King Laius one day was found dead, and thus a new ruler, Oedipus, was found. However, after many pleas by the people and messages from the priest, it is found that Oedipus' people are dealing with tough times. They are cursed with famine and plague. As Oedipus truly cares for his people, he sends his step brother Creon to the temples to speak with the gods. He is informed that the is unrest because no justice has been brought to the late kind Laius' killers. Oedipus thus vows to discover their identities and bring them to justice so to help his people.

In true Greek play style, the main conflict and overall goal is displayed in the first couple pages. It is shown as an almost murder mystery/revenge story, and will probably play out with common themes as one. Just as Mystic River, a tale inspired by Greek literature, ended in tragedy and a symbolic connection to a past conflict, I believe the same will happen here. While I obviously haven't read far yet, I will predict based on the central story it is playing out, that an attack such as the one towards Laius will occur to Oedipus, and the play will end in a bitter but somehow sweet way. Even if he isn't attacked like Laius, It's safe to say that he will face hardships in death as most Greek plays undergo.

Oedipus

    Oedipus’ people define him as a hero. Ever since Oedipus figures out the riddle of the Sphinx and takes throne, the people look up to him for any problems that occur in the future. Later in his time of rule, a plague finds his city and curses and makes crops refuse to grow, woman die while giving birth, and children born stillborn. Since the people look up to Oedipus, they go to him to resolve their problem. The priest says, “Act now-we beg you, best of men, raise up to our city! Act, defend yourself, your former glory! Your country calls you savior now for your zeal, your former glory!”(l. 57-60). Oedipus cares only for his people’s safety because he says, “I grieve for these, my people, far more than i fear for my whole life”(l. 105).

    Oedipus’ character traits include him being easily angered. As Tiresias tells Oedipus that he is the murderer, Oedipus tell Tiresias, “you are the curse, the corruption of the land”(l. 401). Tiresias’ words displeases Oedipus so much, Oedipus tells Tiresias, “you, shameless- aren't you appalled to start up such a story? You think you can get away with this?”(l. 401-403). As Tiresias and Oedipus continue to bicker back and forth with each other, Oedipus’ anger enrages as far as getting Tiresias thrown away because his anger was peaking. Oedipus says, “yes, take him away. You're a nuisance here. Out of the way, the irritation’s gone”(l. 506-507). Oedipus then makes a statement to the chorus as if he were talking to all his people.

Encountering Conflict

From the beginning of the play, it is evident that Oedipus is a highly respected and honorable king, who is dedicated to his people and seeks to alleviate their troubles. One characteristic that seems constant throughout the beginning is Oedipus’ knack for overcoming conflict. The people of Thebes place Oedipus on a pedestal, which is evident when the Priest claims, “Your country calls you savior now for your zeal, your actions long ago” (59-60). One action to which the priest is referring is the solving of the Sphinx’s riddle, which rescued the people of Thebes from the torture of the Sphinx. When Thebes encountered this conflict of solving the riddle, Oedipus stepped up and succeeded in vanquishing the Sphinx. The Priest tells Oedipus that he is considered “first of men” (41) because he is highly regarded, but cannot reach the same status as the gods.

Now that Thebes is facing a deadly plague, the people turn once again to Oedipus, who discovers that the plague will disappear if the killer of Laius is found. The chorus cries out to the gods in their anguish, calling Thebes a “city of death” (211) and pleading with the gods to end their struggles. Oedipus, once again, steps up to the plate and volunteers to answer their prayers and rid the Theban people of their plague. Oedipus is confident he will uncover Laius’ murderer and bring peace again to the people of Thebes. He rid them of trouble once, and jumps at the opportunity to do so again, expecting to surmount this conflict as he did the previous one.

Sacrifice (Question #8)

King Oedipus shows that sacrifice is a prevalent role in this play. He shows this the element of sacrifice while attempting to comfort the people of Thebes. He tells them that Jocasta’s brother, Creon has been sent to seek the advice of Apollo to find out how to stop the plague that has been ravaging the kingdom of Thebes. When speaking to the chorus about the murderer of Laius, he threatens that if anyone knows who he is and does not speak up, he orders the citizens to “banish this man- whoever he may be- never shelter him, never speak a word to him” (270-272). He is shows his determination to find Laius’s murderer and make certain that he is punished and more importantly, solve the mystery of the murder to lift the curse of the plague. He essentially sacrifices the person responsible of Laius’s death. He even goes as far as saying that this person “is the plague, the heart of our corruption” (276). Oedipus also shows this role when he sacrifices himself. He declares “I curse myself as well… if by any chance he proves to be an intimate of our house, here at my hearth, with my full knowledge, may the curse I just called down on him strike me!” (284-287). This value of sacrifice is important to Oedipus because he believes that he is the only one who can stop the plague from destroying the kingdom and protect the citizens of Thebes. Oedipus sees that the people of Thebes trust that he will save them and that the fate of Thebes rests in his hands, when the priest says “Oedipus, king, we bend to you, your power- we implore you, all of us on our knees: find us strength, rescue!” (50-52).

Refusal to Believe

Tensions run high as Tiresias withholds the information Oedipus seeks and instead gives him answers he does not want to hear. In light of this, Oedipus’ hubris is exposed as his pride blinds him from the truth and he criticizes Tiresias and his power. As Oedipus’ frustration grows he becomes more and more agitated, and he ultimately accuses Tiresias of treason. Up until now, Oedipus has behaved rationally. He considers what is best for the people of Thebes and is passionate about doing what needs to be done to return them to a state of bliss. But in this very moment, pride diverts his attention away from the good of Thebes and directs it towards defending his honor. He is convinced that Creon and Tiresias are plotting against him, but Tiresias sets him straight, “Creon is not your downfall,no, you are your own” (432). 

In Oedipus the King, Tiresias represents the truth rejected by a proud King. He is the blind prophet Oedipus summons to tell him the name of the murderer he seeks, but fails to accept “you are the murderer you hunt” as an adequate response  (413). Although he is blind, Tiresias has the ability to see better than anyone in Thebes. He sees the truth that either they cannot see or they refuse to see. Oedipus refuses to see that he himself is the curse that plagues the people of Thebes, and his adamancy enhances the theme of refusal to believe prophecies. Therefore, it is quite ironic how he puts a curse on the murderer and a curse on himself “if by any chance he proves to be an intimate in [their] house,”because unbeknownst to him, he and the murderer are one in the same (284-285).

Great Expectations

When an individual does something right, it is only natural for others to want to follow that individual’s footsteps.  In Oedipus the King, Oedipus is the individual who people flock to in time of trouble. “Raise up our city, save it and raise it up.” The Priest exclaims this to Oedipus with a mere hope of optimism from the once-hero-of-Thebes (Line 59).  With a treasured history of dominance as a leader in Thebes and pressure on him to prevail, the weight lies on Oedipus’s shoulders.  Reviving a city in such a downfall is not a task one can simply complete.  It takes the right person. A person who has the support of a multitude of people in the community. A person who is capable of defeating difficult tasks. Because of Oedipus’s wisdom and experience, the people of Thebes look to him in a way similar to how Jesus is to Christianity and Lebron James is to the city of Cleveland; a savior.  How can one individual bear the burden of overcoming a famine and disease-stricken plague on his own? “Now Oedipus, Greatest in all men’s eyes, here falling at your feet we all entreat you, find us some strength for rescue” (lines 46-48).  When the Priest unveils this statement to Oedipus, it becomes apparent how heavily the people of Thebes depend on him.  People run to his support because of his decorated resumé, including his prior victory over the Sphinx.  Oedipus is like a shepherd, with a herd of sheep following him. They seek his guidance and reverence in this treacherous struggle. He faces the challenge of returning his city to a desirable place.

Blog Post #2

Oedipus is an admirable leader for the city of Thebes. He indubitably cares for his people; he “wept through the nights” (77) while trying to concoct a plan to help save them from the plague. Before the citizens begged him to help, Oedipus had already sent Creon to find a solution to the predicament. He is on top of things and is determined to take immediate action. During the play, Oedipus’s deterministic personality shines through. When Creon tells him how to save Thebes, Oedipus immediately offers a “handsome award” (265) to anyone who has information about the murder of Laius. He even places a prolong curse on the murderer exclaiming that no matter who he is, he will not get away with it, and he will have a “life in agony” (282). Oedipus’s determination makes him a great leader, but it may also be his flaw. When he finally talks with the prophet, Oedipus quickly loses his temper. Oedipus certainly wants answers, but when he found out that Tiresias would not talk, he becomes enraged. Caught up in trying to help his people and to seek justice for Laius’s death, Oedipus declares Tiresias to be nothing but the “scum of the earth” (380). Finally when Tiresias tells him the truth, Oedipus accuses him of lying. Instead of talking rationally to Tiresias, Oedipus just throws insults at the man. Tiresias is well known for seeing “with the eyes of Lord Apollo” (323), but still, Oedipus hastily loses respect for the prophet. Even though Oedipus, as a whole, is a commendable king, he is not perfect. His short-temper and determination may end up being his flaw, just like Jimmy in Mystic River.

A Qualified Leader

As a leader, one should expect to sacrifice his or her preferences for the better. This person should be reliable and knowledgeable in leading. Early in the play, qualities of a leader manifest in Oedipus. The Priest calls on Oedipus to save Thebes. He knows Oedipus successfully saves Thebes in the past. The Priest says, “ Once you have brought us luck with happy omen; be no less now in fortune,” (60-61). He thinks Oedipus has the most experience to defeat the plague and famine the Sphinx strikes on Thebes. Oedipus acquires wisdom through his past encounter with the Sphinx.

Leadership attributes reveal from Oedipus as the city depends on him to solve the problems in Thebes. Among the children of Thebes, Oedipus develops the image, and respect, of a god. Although his persona remains the same, the children approach him wearing “suppliant crowns,” asking him to restore the city (2). With these crowns upon him, Oedipus delivers the impression of a higher power, someone who can fix all of the issues Thebes faces. The Priest suggest Oedipus may “hear a wise word from some God” telling him how to resurrect the city from its ill conditions (49).

Oedipus asks what he can do to save the city and tries to take action. He says, “For when I drive pollution from the land I will not serve a distant friend’s advantage, but act in my own interest” (166-168). His choice to help the people of Thebes is his own choice. Oedipus is naturally genuine and passionate about saving Thebes. He believes it is his duty to rid the famine and plague in the city. He explains, “since after all was finished, I became a citizen among you, citizens” (239-240). He feels an inclination to protect Thebes.

"Honorable" Oedipus

After Oedipus rid the city of Thebes of the Sphinx, he is looked at so nobly and celestial that he does not quite "equal the gods" (39), but he is close, being rated "first of men" (41) by his priests. From the moment Oedipus is introduced, priests are pouring their bodies over him "clinging to [his] altars" (18), begging him to help them with the plague. Oedipus' reputation of knowledge, wisdom, and honor spawns the cities hope in him to "find [them] strength" (52) and "raise up [their] city" (57). He lets his fame get to him when provided a solution to the plague.

Oedipus response to the prophecy is an honorable one yet very arrogant and full of hubris. He says "I'll bring it all to light myself!" (150). He thinks just because he has defeated the Sphinx he can do anything -- even find Laius' killer. His over-excessive pride is expressed even more through his dialogue when he speaks of finding the killer saying, "now you have me to fight for you" (153), "the lands avenger" (154), and "Apollo's champion"(155). Although it seems that Oedipus truly cares about his people, he seems to be headed down a bad path -- after-all this is a Greek tragedy. To "drive the corruption from the land" (109) does not necessarily mean  kill a man. Creon brings banishment up as a possibility, but Oedipus shakes that idea off. If only Oedipus could allow his knowledge not his pride to control him like he did with the Sphinx's riddle, then the future events to come may be avoided.

Blog Post #1: The Chorus

In Greek Drama, the chorus has a function equal to a character. In Oedipus The King, the Chorus’ role is to represent the Thebans as a whole. Their words embody the concerns, uncertainties and thoughts of all of the townspeople of Thebes. We can tell that the Chorus is characterized as townspeople through the context and phrasing of their words. They describe the misery the Thebans have been suffering through, begging the gods to “come down once more” because “we are all dying o my people” (189-193). The use of “we” (192) expresses that the Chorus is speaking from a community’s standpoint as one. The Chorus has a personality of loyalty. When they are told that Tiresias accused Oedipus, the Thebans great king who freed them from the Sphinx, of killing the former king, Laius, they are torn with conflicting thoughts. They are unsure of their feelings of Tiresias “I can’t accept him, can’t deny him, don’t know what to say” (551), even though Tiresias he is a great prophet it is impossible for them to believe that Oedipus would ever kill Laius. Prophets were highly praised in Greek Literature, Oedipus at first considered Tiresias as “the one shield, the one savior we can find” (346). This is why the Chorus is so conflicted, they don’t know who they should trust; their great king or their wise prophet. Ultimately, the Chorus loyalty to their king is shown when they decide “Never will I convict my king, never in my heart” (572).

Blog Post #2- Oedipus the King (Question #6)

     The chorus functions as one character throughout the beginning of the play. This is obvious, being as it speaks in first person and considers the chorus as a whole to be "I". After Tiresias accuses Oedipus of being Laius' murderer, the chorus is confused and doesn't know who to believe in this situation. They eventually come to the conclusion that they won't consider Oedipus guilty of the crime until they have substantial proof, saying "No, not till I see/ these charges proved will I side with his accusers." (568-569).
      This statement reveals many things about the Chorus as a character. It shows that they were able to take both sides of the argument and come to a reasonable agreement. We also see amidst the confusion that the Chorus is very loyal to Oedipus when they claim that they don't think the man who saved Thebes from the Sphinx, becoming "the joy of Thebes" (571) would ever be capable of murdering Laius. The Chorus again proves their loyalty to Oedipus when they close their justification to their reasoning, saying "Never will I convict my king, never in my heart."(572). As the play moves forward, the Chorus' true feelings towards Oedipus will show if these accusations become more serious, and if any proof is shown.

Allusion of the Sphinx

By using allusions, Greek plays are able to become much more magnified, for they add a connection from an outside work of literature into the current piece. Within the play Oedipus The King, an allusion to the Sphinx is used to convey the storyline, and is the reason for Oedipus’s kingship. The Sphinx has seized the city, spreading a plague, and taking the lives of those who cannot solve her riddle. “In the unnumbered death of its people the city dies..”(203-204). The old ruler of the land, Kreon, offers a position of kingship to whoever can stop this reign of terror, so Oedipus accepts the challenge. “You came and by your coming saved our city, freed us from the tribute which we paid of old to the Sphinx, cruel singer.” (39-41). Once he had solved her riddle, she had cast away into the mountains, ashamed of herself – Oedipus was now king of this land.

The allusion to the Sphinx is the foundation of the beginning portion of the play and is used to set the overall plot. Through this allusion, it is proved that Oedipus contains compassion for the citizens of Thebes. Although, he values his social status, and desires to achieve a position much higher than others. The Sphinx was used as Oedipus’s motivation to alter this plague-infested land into a safe haven. His intentions also become very clear as a result of this allusion - his intentions of curing the land, achieving justice, and proving his integrity to the individuals of Thebes. This allusion to the Sphinx serves multiple purposes, but overall, it enhances the story of Oedipus, making it more comprehensible.

"What is the creature that walks on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon and three in the evening?". This riddle is the reason for the death of many men and women. The simple word “Man” had saved the city of Thebes.

Blog Post #1 Oedipus and the gods

The opening of the play shows the relationship between the citizens and the gods. The reader does not find out why the plague has affected the Thebes until a little bit in. The god Apollo is revealed as the reason. Laius, the ruler before Oedipus arrived, was murdered by thieves. Apollo will not remove the plague on the city until Oedipus will “Pay the killers back—whoever is responsible (1.122).” Soon after when the Chorus comes in, they complain to the gods of their current state. They spit out most of the prominent gods such as Zeus, Apollo, Athena, and Artemis. The point of their whole speech is that Thebes is a “city of death (1.211).”                                                                                      The citizens believe the gods will help them and the story characterizes the Chorus as somewhat weak and helpless. Besides their reason for complaining their speech portrays them as helpless people who depend on the gods for everything. Just the opening shows that the people have a strong connection to the gods and depend on them to survive and for advice and problems. They may depend on the gods, but they don’t seem to understand them. The citizens just say what they want with no politeness or meaning. They just want all their problems to be wiped away. “Apollo, lord of the light, I beg you—whip your long bow’s golden cord showering arrows on our enemies (1.231-233).” They rely on the gods and not on themselves. When it comes to the gods’ instructions Oedipus and the Chorus follow them because they fear them and respect that they have the power and the citizens should not abuse the gods’ powers.

A Painful Truth

     “Anyone searching for the truth, my king, might learn it from the prophet…” (324-325). In Oedipus The King, the prophet plays a very important role. In Greek literature, a prophecy possesses an individual’s fate, which cannot be avoided. An individual may try to avoid their fate anyway they can, but eventually it will happen. The prophet is the key to the mystery behind Thebe’s plague. Tiresias is the man who knows all, the man who “sees with the eyes of Apollo” (323). Although blind, this is why the people of Thebes value him as being one of the wisest men in the land. The reader understands the prophet is important because of how Oedipus praises him. He says he is, the “master of all the mysteries of our life” (341) and “the one shield, the one savior we can find” (346). Once Tiresias explains the prophecy and who the killer is, Thebes problems will vanish.  However, when Oedipus asks for the killer, Tiresias gives a suspicious answer. Tiresias says, “How terrible-to see the truth when the truth is only pain to him who sees!” (359-360). Why is the truth painful and who is it painful for? Could the truth also be painful for Oedipus?  From the conversation, the reader may imply the prophecy has something to do with Oedipus. This intensifies the plot of the play because the revealment of Laius’ killer will be tragic for him. Tiresias refusal to answer makes Oedipus’ determination to find Laius’ killer even stronger. He will figure out the truth even if it kills him.

Hubris

As the Greek play opens, Oedipus portrays himself as the hero and caretaker for the land of Thebes. He rescues the citizens by eliminating the Sphinx and begins to cure the awful plague which spread across the land. Although his actions are commendable, he does not work his miracles alone. The priest tells Oedipus, “this you did in virtue of no knowledge we could give you, in virtue of no teaching; it was God that aided you, men say, and you are held with God’s assistance to have saved our lives” (41-45). God guides Oedipus on his journeys to benefit others, but Oedipus insists he is capable of aiding the public independently.

In many Greek plays, hubris is the culprit for an overall fall. Oedipus falls and becomes a victim to hubris in the first three hundred lines of the play. While solving the murder of the previous king, Laius, Oedipus avoids any assistance from the Gods. “For what you ask me – if you will hear my words, and hearing welcome them and fight the plague, you will find strength and lightening of your load” (231-233). He plans to make the citizens lives easier and less stressful with solely his power, proving his gargantuan amount of pride. In doing this, Oedipus is in a sense abandoning the Gods and disbelieving in their excellent power to provide wisdom and assistance.

In this picture, the man can represent Oedipus who is holding onto his pride tightly averting from the God’s helping hands. This man suffers from the same condition Oedipus has – dreadful hubris.

 

 

post # 1

In the beginning of the story the people of Thebes seek out the help of Oedipus. They need his help in order to combat this new plague that is haunting there city. The reason Oedipus is sought after is due to the fact that he was able to deal with the sphinx that once held the city captive until someone could solve its riddle, and that someone was Oedipus. In order to find a solution for this plague he sends Creon to seek out Apollo for wisdom and possibly a solution. After Creon returns he informs Apollo that in order to rid the city of this plague he must "Pay the killers back...whoever is responsible." (122). From that point forth Oedipus then goes to seek out who the killer may be in order to help Thebes.

Oedipus the King Post #1

     The mentioning of various Greek Gods and Goddesses appear within the first page of "Oedipus the King", and they hold their prominence throughout the story. The God that stands out above the rest is Apollo. He is the God of music, light and truth, which are all expressed in the beginning of this play. The city of Thebes "cries for the Healer and [wales] for the dead" (5); the Healer is Apollo, and also, the mortal Oedipus who has saved their city from the Sphinx once before. Just like Apollo, and his four-horse chariot that moved the sun across the sky, Oedipus is summoned to shed light on the city of Thebes. The music of the chorus symbolizes the whole population by their calling out for the help of the Gods. They proclaim, "the women cannot scream their pangs to birth-- / screams for the Healer, children dead in the womb" (197,198), crying out for Apollo once more. The chorus's music is answered by Oedipus, who sends out Creon, his wife's brother, to seek Apollo's knowledge of what he should do to save the city from this plague. When Creon returns he says he was told to "'Pay the killers back--whoever is responsible'" (122) for their former King's death. Searching for the truth, Oedipus calls forth an oracle, Tiresias, to try and summon any useful information about where the killer might be. The blind man will not reveal the future, but does respond in an manner that gives a feeling of uneasiness towards Oedipus's greatness. Regardless, he must follow a trail and figure out the truth in order to bring light and music back to his land and his people. He must follow Apollo.


http://www.greekmythology.com/Olympians/Apollo/apollo.html

Blindness- A Disability or an Advantage?

In Oedipus, Tiresias's blindness stands as a symbol. It is often said that when one of the senses is taken away, the others are heightened.  It creates a mysterious, ominous  feel about the character, and demands respect when he is still brilliant. In Tiresias's case, although he lacks vision he holds a certain cognitive state and is not intimidated by Oedipus or scared to go against him. 

Tiresias's blindness is also ironic. Although he can not literally or physically see, he can "see" the supposed corruption Oedipus has a part in, and can "see" all the king's wrongdoings and crimes, as well as the future. While Oedipus mocks Tiresias's blindness, like a bully picking on someone who is half his side, Tiresias instead fires right back, mocking the king's metaphorical blindness. While Oedipus taunts that the old man "can't hurt [him] or anyone else who sees the light (1382. 427)", the prophet claims that with "[his] precious eyes (1383. 470)", the king should not be ignorant to the fraudulence in his own accomplishments. He claims the king is blind to the corruption of his life, his family, and how he came to be how respected he is. 

Although Tiresias is lacking one of his senses, he also implies that Oedipus is lacking honesty. While Oedipus immaturely mocks Tiresias's blindness, he in return mocks the Kings greatness, calling it nothing but a scam.

Characterization of Oedipus

The people in Thebes plead to Oedipus to end the
plague that surrounds the country. They look up to
Oedipus like a father and brother who can rescue
the people from the deadly plague.

A leader, a hero, a savior - they have one thing in common- someone who takes control, commands, and saves their country or individuals from any aspect of danger. Oedipus introduces the main character, Oedipus as an individual who is notable for his compassion, sense of justice, swiftness of action, and integrity. As Thebes surrounds itself with death, Oedipus protects Thebes by finding a method to eliminate the plague by sending “Menoeceus’ son Creon, Jocasta’s brother, to Apollo, to his Pythian temple, that he might learn there by what act or word [Oedipus] could save this city” (78-82). Being King of Thebes, Oedipus constantly expresses his concern for the health and well-being of his people. He treats his people with consideration and care such as insisting Creon to “speak it to all” (106) rather than Creon’s suggestion to hear the news in private. Oedipus shows determination, leadership skills, and brilliance like a worthy king as he rescues Thebes before from the “riddling Sphinx” (158). Now, Apollo’s task to Oedipus is “banishing a man, or expiation of blood by blood, since it is murder guilt which holds [the] city in this destroying storm” (118-120). Oedipus is emphatic in his promises of dire punishments for Laius’s murderer, even if the murderer turns out to be close to Oedipus. 

A man of impeccable character such as Oedipus himself reveals his sincerity and impetuous passion for Thebes by his vehement speeches and promises. Oedipus would rather die for the benefit of Thebes and the people than have to live with the plague, endangering the innocent lives as he says, “whoever he was that killed the king may readily wish to dispatch me with his murderous hand” (168-170). Oedipus follows his will with an intellectual passion and fine characteristics that exemplifies his skills as king.

Question #4

     "Revenge converts a little right into a great wrong." One character from Mystic River who can learn a lesson from this proverb is Dave. Dave is right to murder the child molester, especially after his troubled childhood experience of abduction. But the confession of a murder and the lack of a body connected with a murder other than than that of Jimmy's daughter gives Jimmy reason enough to kill Dave. Dave was not wrong in killing the pedophile, but in the grand scheme of things it did not bode well for him. His little right act only turned wrong because of Jimmy's "initiative" in finding the killer of his daughter.
     In the confession of murdering a pedophile, Jimmy was in disbelief that a pedophile was the actual victim of Dave's act of revenge. The body was hidden well enough that it did not turn up until the day after Dave was killed by Jimmy, a very dramatic moment. This shows that taking the law into our own hands proves wrong more often than right. If Dave hadn't killed the pedophile, Jimmy would have no reason to believe Dave killed his daughter. If Jimmy hadn't sought out to exact revenge on his daughter's killer, he would not have spilled the wrong man's blood.

Revenge

Revenge, feels good to get it doesn’t it? It sure does, but don’t be too vengeful or else it will come back ready to smack you. “Revenge converts a little right into a great wrong”. In Mystic River, there are many situations of “revenge”, but the one that sticks out the most is the murder of Dave.

After surrounding Dave in the back of the bar near the water, Jimmy quarrels with Dave and accuses him of murdering his “sweet” Katie. Dave pleads to Jimmy that he did indeed murder someone that night, but it was not Katie. Jimmy infuriated with the “made up” explanations from Dave, refuses to let Dave go until he confesses the “truth”. Finally, Dave falsely confesses only to be met with a knife piercing through his stomach and shortly after shot in the head by his former friend Jimmy.

Jimmy believed killing Dave was avenging Katie’s death, his “little right”, but it turns out he was wrong and made a mistake and Dave was indeed telling the truth. Jimmy’s actions contributed to the “great wrong” by taking action too soon and cold bloodedly kill Dave for essentially no reason. Jimmy has to live with the fact that he ended a life of an innocent man. Dave’s wife and son are now without a husband and a father. Jimmy’s wrong doing leaves an empty hole where Dave once filled up. Dave’s son will now have to grow up without a father and will have to face the reality that he will never see his dad again. One act of revenge results in the greater wrong. 

Implied Violence

Dave Boyle’s abduction catalyzes the progression of events in Mystic River. It is evident from the clips depicting his capture and the shots of him frantically running away through the forest that Dave encountered violence while trapped in his captors’ basement, but it is not explicitly stated what exactly occurred during the days of his detainment. Eastwood’s decision to leave out this violence requires that the details be left to the imagination and invokes the first sense of mystery in the film. This ambiguity leads to a contemplation of what kind of horrific situation Dave was placed in as a child to lead him to rest in his mental state as an adult.

After his release from his captors, Dave never seems to recover and continuously acts out of touch with reality. His mindset never completely returned to normal and it is because of this that he becomes wrapped up in the murder investigation. This questionable mindset is evidence of Dave’s unclear past encounter with the two men who abducted him. The violence of this childhood incident is concealed, but the effect is not, leaving the identity of the murderer logically in question.

The effect of a violent past on Dave is shown when he elicits his own act of violence the night he leaves the bar and lashes out on the man outside. This provides insight to what Dave endured as a child trapped in the basement and shows how much the memory has stayed with him. Both these encounters function at first as an implied sense of violence and provide the film with a sense of wondering about the truth of events. Their lack of obviously stated brutality aids in emphasizing the importance of the event and the impact it has on the outcome of the story.

Blog Post #1

"Revenge converts a little right into a great wrong". In Mystic River, Jimmy takes the law into his own hands in order to get revenge for his daughter's death. He suspects that his childhood friend, Dave, killed his daughter. He is so sure that Dave is the killer, that he in turn kills Dave. The "little right" is avenging his daughter's death but he creates a greater wrong. By killing Dave, he is also a killer. Jimmy should have let the authorities handle everything and Dave would have dealt with the consequences of the law. Instead, he has to constantly deal with a guilty conscience knowing that he killed one of his friends, despite the fact that he believes Dave killed his daughter. This "great wrong" turns into an either greater wrong once the police find the true killers, Silent Ray and his friend. Now Jimmy does not have any justification for killing his childhood friend. Jimmy's vengeful actions cause a troubled man to be killed. Dave leaves behind a wife and a son and Jimmy will have to think about Dave's family. Who will raise Dave's son? Who will fill the void Dave's wife now has? No one. Jimmy's actions not only complicate things in his own life but also the lives who Dave affected everyday. While Jimmy thinks he is solving all of his problems, he instead creates many more. Sean, the homicide detective and Jimmy's childhood friend, is also affected as he must deal with the burden of knowing he did not solve the case quickly enough. He will take responsibility for Dave's death for the rest of his life.

Mystic River Post

The film Mystic River represents the classic Greek tragedy. A movie full of pain and accusations that even lead through decades earlier when one of the three main characters, Dave was taken into a car by a stranger while his childhood friends and also the two other main characters of the movie Sean, and Jimmy stood their and watched. Dave was never the same after that. The movie takes a major turn when Jimmy's daughter is found brutally murdered. Immediately, Jimmy is devastated. That was his beloved first child. He loved her the most but wouldn't admit it. He vows to find her murderer and kill that person himself. This is where Sean, a childhood friend steps in being a detective that is on this case. Somehow this decades long tension comes out and all eyes are pointed at Dave who is the likely suspect for this murder. He fits all the right requirements but just as life intends he has to die. Jimmy kept his word but certainly did not pick the correct person to kill. It turned out to be a disturbed teenager that is brothers with Katies boyfriend. It seems very sick that someone would do that. In the end Jimmy killed an innocent person and lost his daughter but had to continue on in life somehow. Mystic River is certainly not the type of movie you walk out of the movies after and feel good about yourself. Instead you feel the eternal misery that was present in the movie. It gives its audience an emotional depression.

Violence in Mystic River

A plethora of similarities can be found linking Clint Eastwood's Mystic River to the classic style of a Greek tragedy. One of the most prominent shared characteristics is the portrayal of violence--or, rather, the lack thereof.

As the plot unfolds in the second half of the movie, we witness an abundance of gory, on-screen violence: The fist fight between the Harris brothers and the murder of Dave Boyle are some examples. However, the first half of the movie contains three separate but violent incidents never truly depicted on-screen.

When young Dave Boyle is taken away near the start of the movie (an event which takes place in flashback format), we as the viewer never see exactly how he is abused. All we know is he is away for several days and mistreated by his captors. The extent to which Dave is harmed is up to the viewer's interpretation. Was he taunted? Hit? Tortured? The stylistic choice not to show the entire event allows the viewer to ponder just what happened to Dave. All we know is the events which occurred in that cellar changed the course of his life forever.

Similarly, the specific details of Katie Markum's murder are not shown on screen when the viewer first learns of her demise. In fact, only the smear of blood and the (rather unscathed, to the naked eye) corpse are shown. Again, we are left to ponder as to the true extent of the carnage.

Dave Boyle's return home on the same night as Katie's murder is the final instance of selective portrayal. Yes, he comes home bloodied and frantic--yet we never see his actual act of violence. This allows the viewer to make his or her own assumptions as to whom exactly Dave killed. Whether to believe his story about the mugger or to suspect him of Katie's murder is the viewer's decision, based only on circumstantial evidence.

By choosing not to explicitly display these acts of violence, Eastwood offers an air of mystery to his film. He allows the viewer to make his or her own assumptions based on vague, minuscule hints, so when the conclusion is revealed, the reader is surprised, yes, but he or she also has the
sense of closure achieved only by a great ending to a classic Greek tragedy.

Implied Violence

2.) An instance of implied violence is asserted within Mystic River during the scene when Jimmy aims his gun at Dave.  During this scene, Dave is on the ground pleading his old childhood friend to spare his life. Blood continues to spew out of Dave’s chest from the knife wounds, while Jimmy stands over his friend. As Dave looks up to Jimmy, the barrel of a gun is aimed at his head.  Once Jimmy pulls the trigger, the screen immediately fades to a bright white, as the sound of a gunshot is heard within the background. The impact of this event is that the audience is left on edge, mortified, and for some, maybe even angry. This may be referred to as dramatic irony because the audience knows that Dave did not kill the daughter of Jimmy, but Jimmy doesn’t have the slightest clue.  By not showing the actual murder of Dave, the audience is left at the edge of their seat, yet they now have the option to create their own conclusion of what happened that night. Leaving this scene unfinished allows the audience to use their own imagination to depict images of what could have possibly occurred after that gunshot. For some viewers, the respect for Jimmy, as a character, is lost, for he could have just simply fired the gun and killed Dave without hesitation. On the contrary, others may believe that Jimmy had fired the gun, but purposely missed and left Dave to bleed to death. The possible conclusions are endless, and multiple possibilities can be taken from this scene, but every viewer can assume that there was an obvious indication of violence.

The Great Fall

Greek tragedy- to start with everything and end with nothing.

This “fall from fortune” in Mystic River is most prevalent in Brendan Harris, Katie Markum’s boyfriend. He begins with a perfect story- completely head over heels in love with his girlfriend. And, believe it or not, even though he’s a Harris, Katie feels the same way. The couple even plans to elope to Las Vegas, where they will presumably tie the knot and leave their semi-dysfunctional families behind.

But don’t forget about the fall.

In a tragic turn of events, Brendan’s future is ripped away from him in a matter of days. Katie’s dead. He’s a suspect. He’ll never find that love again. And- plot twist- his little mute brother, who he spent his life protecting, is the murderer.

One could say that at one point Brendan had it all. His prized possession was Katie; she was the light of his life. Even if all were dark around him (his troubled family and home life, disapproval of his relationship, etc.) as long as she shone on him, he’d be alright. But when her light is extinguished, not only does he lose his girl, he loses his family as well. His brother killed her. How can someone you spent your whole life caring for stab you in the back like that?

Brendan is innocent in this waterfall of events. For example, while Jimmy Markum could be held responsible for his own fall (he did kill an innocent man, which haunts him), Brendan was just a kid in love. All he did was protect his brother- from learning sign language so he wouldn’t feel left out, to not being embarrassed by him in public- and what he was awarded was a dead girlfriend.