Oedipus' Prophecy
Oedipus is a gripping story about how history is not always what we believe, and how prophecies will always be fulfilled. When I started reading, I decided that once I started to get bored, I would take a break and save the rest for later. There were a few long monologues that I skimmed over a littler, but besides that I read the story all the way through. Even though I read it before for my sophomore year English class in high school, knowing what was going to happen almost made it more fun to read. One aspect of the story that is really well conveyed, even though it is a play and the only description is dialogue, is how the characters change over time as they begin to uncover certain information. Oedipus starts by being very defensive and almost even belligerent when he was accused of the murder of the old king, but as he starts to realize the truth, he becomes more worried and subdued.
I also find it so satisfying the way the story perfectly lines up with the prophecies, and the way that not of the characters knew anything of the truth. The fact that Oedipus fled his home city so that he wouldn't kill his father, just to run into his real father on his way out and kill him. If you think about it, not much actually happens in this play, it's just a lot of description from the characters of past events, yet it still keeps its audience so well. This is an example of a story where the ending is known, but we still want to read until the very end.
I also find it so satisfying the way the story perfectly lines up with the prophecies, and the way that not of the characters knew anything of the truth. The fact that Oedipus fled his home city so that he wouldn't kill his father, just to run into his real father on his way out and kill him. If you think about it, not much actually happens in this play, it's just a lot of description from the characters of past events, yet it still keeps its audience so well. This is an example of a story where the ending is known, but we still want to read until the very end.
I agree. I find it interesting that he says that he curses the one who did this to the city , even if it is himself, and when he learns that it is him, the agony just hits even harder. There is also subtle foreshadowing that he is the one who is the cause as he is unaffected by the plague. Much like a good mystery, as more of the clues sync in, the more obvious the conclusion becomes.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with the sentiment about wanting to keep reading, and at least for me knowing what happens at the end allowed me to pick up on more details and subtle clues throughout the story, and it allows you to see some of the ironic statements Oedipus makes, such as when he says that by catching the murderer he will be helping himself, as they may "wish to dispatch me with his murderous hand". In reality, the murderer does want to dispatch Oedipus at the end of the story, but completely not in the way Oedipus thinks in that moment. There are many of these subtle moments, and you really only see them when you know the answer to the mystery.
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