The Eleusinian Mysteries and Oedipus Rex
Both Dr. Keller's article on Eleusinian Mysteries and Oedipus the King highlight the importance of the relationship between a mother and her child, but have different views on the purpose of death.
The Eleusinian Mysteries of Demeter and Persephone involve a nine day ceremony to reenact the timeline of Persephone's fate and the various emotions this mother and daughter feel as they are separated and brought together again. One day before the ceremony, all Greeks interested in the ceremony came together to repent their sins. Then Nine days were spent performing various rituals from a twelve mile procession and a cleanse in the ocean, to sacrificing a pig and talking to a therapist. Over these nine days the participants mourn with Demeter as she is forced to let Hades take her daughter away and celebrate as they are reunited. This cycle of emotions of the mother and daughter goddesses of Ancient Greece and the mention of "the Sacred Feminine powers of the cosmos" highlight the strength of the bond between a mother and her child.
The search of Oedipus to find his true parents and Jocasta's reaction to discovering that Oedipus is her son also reveal the strength of the bond between a mother and her child. Once Jocasta discovers that she has been sleeping with her son, the pain of this horrible relationship with her son drives her to suicide. Oedipus is so ashamed of what he has done to his parents that he blinds himself so he doesn't have to see others look upon him in shame. He then leaves the kingdom so that his father's city doesn't have to house his murderer. In addition, in Oedipus' last words he only thinks of the repercussions of his actions for his children's futures and ensures that Creon will take care of them. The actions of both Jocasta and Oedipus show the strong bond between a parent and their child.
In addition, both pieces of literature express different views on the purpose of death. In the article about Eleusinian Mysteries, the participants learn to "to remember the beloved dead, to pour libations to the memory of deceased family and friends"(39) on the final day of the ceremony. This article describes death as an avenue to come into "harmony with divine purpose"(39), and the author encourages celebrating the lives of our loved ones rather than mourning their deaths. However, death in Oedipus the King is seen as a tragedy and an escape from our mistakes. The death of King Laius drives Oedipus to exile himself from his kingdom out of shame for his actions. In addition, Jocasta escapes from the sin of sleeping with her son by committing suicide.
The Eleusinian Mysteries of Demeter and Persephone involve a nine day ceremony to reenact the timeline of Persephone's fate and the various emotions this mother and daughter feel as they are separated and brought together again. One day before the ceremony, all Greeks interested in the ceremony came together to repent their sins. Then Nine days were spent performing various rituals from a twelve mile procession and a cleanse in the ocean, to sacrificing a pig and talking to a therapist. Over these nine days the participants mourn with Demeter as she is forced to let Hades take her daughter away and celebrate as they are reunited. This cycle of emotions of the mother and daughter goddesses of Ancient Greece and the mention of "the Sacred Feminine powers of the cosmos" highlight the strength of the bond between a mother and her child.
The search of Oedipus to find his true parents and Jocasta's reaction to discovering that Oedipus is her son also reveal the strength of the bond between a mother and her child. Once Jocasta discovers that she has been sleeping with her son, the pain of this horrible relationship with her son drives her to suicide. Oedipus is so ashamed of what he has done to his parents that he blinds himself so he doesn't have to see others look upon him in shame. He then leaves the kingdom so that his father's city doesn't have to house his murderer. In addition, in Oedipus' last words he only thinks of the repercussions of his actions for his children's futures and ensures that Creon will take care of them. The actions of both Jocasta and Oedipus show the strong bond between a parent and their child.
In addition, both pieces of literature express different views on the purpose of death. In the article about Eleusinian Mysteries, the participants learn to "to remember the beloved dead, to pour libations to the memory of deceased family and friends"(39) on the final day of the ceremony. This article describes death as an avenue to come into "harmony with divine purpose"(39), and the author encourages celebrating the lives of our loved ones rather than mourning their deaths. However, death in Oedipus the King is seen as a tragedy and an escape from our mistakes. The death of King Laius drives Oedipus to exile himself from his kingdom out of shame for his actions. In addition, Jocasta escapes from the sin of sleeping with her son by committing suicide.
Not really sure if Jocasta's extreme reaction to discovering Oedipus is her son showcases a mother-son bond. Instead, it illustrates that she is rightfully surprised because she is in fact married to her son. I really enjoyed this, however
ReplyDeleteSo if suicide saves Jocasta from shame and suffering, is death really a tragedy, or is life the real tragedy here? Oedipus is so miserable that it might have been a mercy if he died rather than gouge his eyes out and hate himself forever. I agree that The Mysteries has a much more optimistic take on fate, but maybe Oedipus Rex also says that death is good, but in a really twisted way.
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