PSYCHOLOGISTS+2

=PSYCHOLOGISTS=

By Sam Levy, Max Weiner, Katherine Huang, Ann Kenny



IMPORTANT TERMS:
· Tragic Hero- Usually the main hero, who faces many challenges that help to move the plot along. · Hero's Downfall · Harmartia- The main character' s tragic flaw · Hubris- The hero's arrogance or overweening pride which causes the hero's transgressions against the gods · Anagnorisis- Recognition or discovery on the part of the hero; change from ignorance to knowledge · Peripeteia- Reversal of fortune · Nemesis- Fate that cannot be escaped · Cartharsis- Purgation of emotions of pity and fear which leaves the viewer both relieved and elated (think of cleansing)

BACKGROUND:
Summary: Sophocles wrote __Oedipus The King__. The story is mainly set in ancient Thebes. As the play __Oedipus Rex__ begins, Thebes is suffering from a plague, and the city's political leadership is being challenged. The play begins with an oracle. According to the propechy, if Lauis, the king of Thebes, had a son with Jocasta, his wife, that the son would kill his father and end up marrying his mother. In response to this disasterous prophecy, Lauis had a rivet driven between his only son, Oedipus' ankles, and left him on a mountain to die of starvation and the cold. The servant of the king, who was suppossed to leave him there, felt horrible and rescued the poor baby. (Oedipus' name actually means "swollen foot" and the incident forced him to walk with a cane for the rest of his life.) The servant then gave the baby, without telling anyone his true identity, to a shepard. In turn, the sheperd handed him off to Merope, the wife of Polybus, king of Corinth. Growing up, Oedipus was teased about not being the real son and heir to the throne of Polybus. Oedipus consulted an oracle about the accusations that he was tired of hearing. Horrified at what he heard, he fled to try and escape his destiny. Along the way, Oedipus met a man in a chariot whose driver demanded that he move aside. When Oedipus refused the driver ran over his foot and bumped him on the head with a goad, and then "road rage" occured. Oedipus, through his anger, killed the driver and the rider (the king of Thebes and his father) inside. Once at Thebes, he learned that a Sphinx was terrorizing the city. Before eating her victims, the Sphinx would give them a riddle. **"What is it that goes on four legs in the morning, two at midday, and three in the evening?"** Oedipus was the only one able to solve the riddle. He said that it was a person through different stages of life. The Sphinx was then defeated. To add to the chaios of the story, he was then made king, and was married to Jocasta (his new wife, but really his mother). The trouble began, however, many years after...when the oracle came true.

Tragic hero= Oedipus Hero's Downfall- When he finds out that the oracle has come true...

Other information: o **"Most human beings, consciously or unconsciously, strive to achieve happiness and avoid disaster. While that is a healthy approach to life, human imperfections and limitations inevitably interfere with such aspirations...." Guide for Interpreting, page 432** //It is saying that most people try to be perfect, but in reality, events and mistakes occur that cause them to be imperfect. What people sometimes have a hard time understanding is that everyone is "human", and we all make mistakes, including Oedipus....(killing the king (aka daddy), marrying his mother...etc.)// o **"...it is evident that good men ought not to be shown passing from prosperity to misfourtune, for this does not ensure pity or fear, but only revulsion; nor evil men rising from ill fortune to prosperity...it neither elects human sympathy nor stirs pity or fear, since the first is felt for a person whose misfortune is undeserved and the second is for someone like ourselves- pity for the man suffering undeservedly, fear for the man like ourselves- and hence neither pity nor fear would be aroused in this case. We are left with the man whose place is between these two extremes. Such is the man who on the one hand is not preeminent in virtue and justice, and yet on the other hand does not fall into misfourtune through vice or depravity, but falls because of one mistake; one among the number of the highly renowned and prosperous, such as Oedipus..." Background Info, page 430** //I think this is giving the reader some info on what might happen during the story. It is talking about Oedipus, and how one mistake can ultimately alter your whole life.//

FIRST SECTION:
Summary: Oedipus seeks out an oracle (Teiresias) to help him find the murderer of the previous king in order to free Thebes from a plague caused by unavenged blood-guiltiness. The oracle doesn't want to tell Oedipus who the murderer is because he knows Oedipus is the killer and doesn't want him to get into trouble. However, due to Oedipus's persistence, Teireias eventually gives in. Oedipus is infuriated with the suggestion of foul play on his behalf and oblivious to the connections between the time of the road rage and the king's death. Oedipus is quick to defend and ridicules the oracle. He throws a variety of insults; from the oracle's blindness, to his inability to be sufficient at his job. However, the real irony is that Teiresis is blind but can see the truth. Oedipus who has sight in both eyes is blind to the truth of his own actions (incest, murder) on account of his extreme foolishness and arrogance. He is also starting to self-doubt which leads to quick reveal of his defense mechanisms.

//Harmartia//-Oedipus's pride, arrogance (hubris) and ignorance

//Hubris//- indeed, Oedipus's harmartia is tied in with his hubris. His pride and arrogance inhibits him from seeing the truth of the king's murder and sends him down a slippery slope.

//Anagorisis//- Oedipus realises that he is the king's murderer and as the prophecy foretold, has married his mother-transition from a blissful ignorance to a startling new knowledge/awareness.

//Peripeteia-//Oedipus goes from the position of a respected king to a shamed outcast. During his exchange with the oracle, he warns Oedipus of this very fact. His good luck has quickly become his misfortune-solving the riddle, becoming king, marrying a beautiful queen (mother). This is an example of both dramatic and situational irony.

//Nemesis//- The prophecy

//Catharsis//-*nothing as of yet*

Other Important Observations In Part 1: o In Part 1, up until line 321, the priest and Oedipus, as well as some help from the chorus, are discussing the aspect of the Black Death, and how the killing of the previous king led to it. This is interesting, and I think it falls under this category for a few reasons: o __1.__ In History, we learned that by blaming something/someone for a devastating event ultimately makes people feel better. They feel like they are then able to control the situation, and/or they feel like they have control. The priest then thinks, in the story, that the Gods are punishing them for not avenging the old king's death. He feels like by finding the murder(s) he will be able to stop the plague... o __2.__ Oedipus, like a normal human, feels sorrow for every one effected by the plague. Most people would as well: **" My spirit groans for the city and you at once. ... (1, 71)** In this part, he is using an effective metaphor to describe how sad he feels for his people. He also mentions that he wishes he could help, and that he would do anything to help. o __3.__ Creon mentions the man who was not killed when Oedipus had "road rage" (when he killed the king and his men...). During this, he mentions that numerous robbers caused the deaths, even though it was only Oedipus and his rage. The man was most definetly feeling terrified, and when most people feel terrified they tend to remember events differently than the one(s) that occurred. **"The man said the robbers they encountered were many, and the hands that did the murder were many; it was no man's single power." (1, 141)**

SECOND SECTION:
This quote is talking about how for many years Oedipus lived in good fourtune, or so he thought. However, all along, the oracle came true. When Oedipus finds out he is sick with grief and stabs his eyes, while Jocasta kills herself. This seems to be a good summary for Part 2, where things turn from good to bad, very quickly. This is an example of perpetia; Oedipus' fate has changed for the worst.
 * " So it has been broken- and not on one head but the troubles mixed for husband and for wife. The fortune of these days gone by was true good fortune- but today groans and destruction and death and shame- of all ills can be named not one is missing." (2, 1401-1405)**

Summary: A messenger informs both Jocasta and Oedipus that Oedipus's father, Polybus, is dead. Oedipus is relieved, but fears sleeping with his mother. Unfortunately, as the messenger reveals, Polybus adopted Oedipus. As Oedipus digs for the truth, he learns a sheperd handed him to Polybus. After interrogating the sheperd Oedipus learns that he is the son of Laius and that Jocasta is his mother. Realizing the horrible truth Oedipus throws a fit. A messenger arrives to tell Oedipus that Jocasta has committed suicide by hanging. Oedipus takes pins from Jocasta's clothing is gouges out his own eyes, unable to look at the world, now that he knows the truth. Creon promises to help Oedipus and his daughters any way he can. Then, Oedipus exiles himself in shame.

//Hamartia// - In the second part of Oedipus Rex, Oedipus's tragic flaws are his ignorance and his pride. He is ignorant of the truth until the last moment possible. He then proceeds to self-inflict wounds because of the immense shame he feels.

//Hubris// - In this final half, Oedipus is less arrogant than the first half.

//Anagorisis// - Oedipus realizes that he murdered his father and that he has slept with his mother.

//Peripeteia// - Oedipus goes from the position of a respected king to a shamed outcast. During his exchange with the oracle, he warns Oedipus of this very fact. His good luck has quickly become his misfortune-solving the riddle, becoming king, marrying a beautiful queen (mother). This is an example of both dramatic and situational irony.

//Nemesis// - Oedipus's destiny to sleep with his mother, murder his father, and end up an outcast.

Questions to think about:

 * Jocasta chooses the ultimate personal punishment at the end of the play. How does this connect to perepetia? (Taken from Ms. Wrede...)
 * What would you descibe as Oedipus' harmartia- or tragic flaw?
 * Describe an anagorisis- character's discovery- in the story.
 * What character, would you say, displays the most hubris (arrogance)? How does it, in turn, effect the play?
 * Describe how the characters in this story share similar personality traits with characters from other Greek stories. Do they act or think similar? If so, does this lead them to similar outcomes? Explain.
 * How is the prophecy Oedipus' nemesis- or fate that cannot be escaped?
 * Although the specific circumstances of story to story vary, the underlying themes of arrogance, pride, ignorance, fate, justice, ultimate redemption, destiny, fate, etc. present in Oedipus, resonate in most other greek novels. Explain how they play a huge role in leading the characters/plot to certain outcomes. Is there a pattern of behavior following these characters/plotlines?
 * Explain the catharsis at the end of the play. Is it positive/negative? Does it drectly reflect the feelings of our hero, Oedipus?