The Psychological Connection to Oedipus the King - 1387 Words

Poet and Scholar Robert Graves wrote in 1995, â€Å"Myth has two main functions. The first is to answer the sort of awkward questions that children ask, such as ‘Who made the world? How will it end? Who was the first man? Where do souls go after death?’†¦The second function of myth is to justify an existing social system and account for traditional rites and customs.† Oedipus the King written by Sophocles in 430 B.C. focuses around the second function that Graves noted. The play has been around for centuries, has evoked psychological theories, and will remain a classic. Sophocles has managed to touch on social, ethical, psychology, and more importantly philosophical issues in one play. Perhaps one of the most popularly known psychologist,†¦show more content†¦It is a feeling of helplessness which many people can relate to. The other side of the story being, Oedipus chose to pursue the details of the prophecy and finding answers despite his many warni ngs. Clinical psychologist and author Suzie Naiburg writes, Classical tragedy problematizes human agency by maintaining a dialectical tension between fate and character(28). Regardless of which end you agree with, there are direct ties to everyday human emotions. And then the story becomes more person, a question of what if it were me? And that is where the reader starts psychoanalyzing the characters and scenarios. Sophocles was able to turn the piece into a psychological drama. Anders Zachrisson analyzes it further writing, The story of Oedipus is part of ancient Greek mythology. Freud chose Oedipus as a metaphor for the passionate relationships in the family because he could observe cognate dynamics in his patients - and his own - dreams and in the myth. The myth, in Freuds view, expresses a kind of proto-knowledge over family dynamics. He wrote:... the legend of Oedipus sprang from the same primaeval dream-material which had as its content the distressing disturbance of a childs relation to his parents owing to the first stirrings of sexuality. Despite societys progression, there is still a small presence of taboo when it comes to the topic of sex. And even greater taboo, one that evokes shame and disgust is incest. Sophocles makes all of these emotions presentShow MoreRelatedThe Mythology Of The Greek Mythology1438 Words   |  6 Pagesand also a theory which explains human behavior. In his studies he proposed that the psychological development of children occurs in five stages. One of those stages being the Phallic Stage, which is when â€Å"preschoolers take pleasure in their genitals and, according to Freud, begin to struggle with sexual desires toward the opposite sex parent (boys to mothers and girls to fathers). For boys, this is called the Oedipus complex, involving a boy s desire for his mother and his urge to replace his fatherRead MoreTragic Hero1598 Words   |  7 Pagesplots arise when his downfall is the inevitable consequence of some def ect in character (or tragic flaw).The spectacle of a good man dragged to destruction by a single error arouses in the audience both pity and fear, leading to the catharsis, a psychological state through which those emotions are purged; the audience leaves the theater relieved, or even exalted, rather than depressed. Characteristics An Aristotelian tragic hero must have four characteristics: 1. Nobleness (of a noble birth)Read MoreWhy Are Things Are The Way They Are By Daniel Quinn1482 Words   |  6 Pagesblind to the truth in Sophocles play The Oedipus cycle. Oedipus and his wife/mother were blind to their fate, both tried to change their fate because of the prophecies they were told. Oedipus left his parents, Jocasta and king Laius sent their son to get killed but it all turned back on them, all the prophecies came true. Oedipus’ and Jocasta’s own ignorance did not let them see the truth about their life, leading them to their own destruction. Like Oedipus, the taker culture are leading themselvesRead MoreThe Theme Of Light And Darkness In Oedipus1293 Words   |  6 PagesMy new question is, was Oedipus blind before he saw the truth or after? When finally accepting the truth the blind prophet mentioned, Oedipus blinds himself because the truth is darkness. When he had his sight, he was blinded by ignorance, and to see the truth was to see the horro rs he had committed that caused himself to be blinded both before he saw the truth and after. I suppose in this way, Oedipus is blind throughout the entirety of the play. The theme of light and darkness is relevant beyondRead MoreMyths And Myths Of The Greek World973 Words   |  4 Pagesare many psychological reasons as to why myths were told; myths were thought to be a reflection of what humans thought, a collective conscious and even psychical manifestations of the human being (Vandiver. E, 2000). Sigmund Freud is famous for his interpretation of Sophocles’ treatment of Oedipus King. Many critics thought that this myth is composed as it has a direct connection with fate and free will (Vandiver. E, 2000). Freud, however, disagreed and developed the theory of the Oedipus ComplexRead MoreThe Superego and Hamlet Essays1435 Words   |  6 PagesAlternatives: Eros and Superego Revenge in Hamlet, the author, Joanna Montgomery Byles, focuses on the psychological origins of revenge in Hamlet. Also the concept of the superego, both individual and cultural are brought up; and the importance of understanding the dynamics of aggressive destruction in Shakespeare’s tragedies involving revenge. The Freudian superego is usually thought of as heir to the Oedipus complex. In Hamlet himself, hate and destructiveness are consuming passions; the deep movementRead MoreGreek Myths : More Than Just Shock And Entertain983 Words   |  4 Pagesare many psychological reasons as to why myths were told; myths were thought to be a reflection of what humans thought, a collective conscious and even psychical manifestations of the human being (Vandiver. E, 2000). Sigmund Freud is famous for his interpretation of Sophocles’ treatment of Oedipus King. Many critics thought that this myth is composed as it has a direct connection with fate and free will (Vandiver. E, 2000). Freud, however, disagreed and developed the theory of the Oedipus ComplexRead MoreA Practical And Solution Focused Therapy987 Words   |  4 Pagespeople become aware of when they make negative interpretations, and of behavioral patterns which reinforce the distorted thinking. Cognitive therapy helps people to develop alternative ways of thinking and behaving which aims to reduce their psychological distress. Psychoanalytic or psychodynamic psychotherapy draws on theories and practices of analytical psychology and psychoanalysis. It is a therapeutic process which helps patients understand and resolve their problems by increasing awarenessRead Moreâ€Å"Aristotle’s Definition of the Tragic Hero and Irony in Tragedy† Oedipus Rex, Othello, and Death of a Salesman3217 Words   |  13 Pagesnot. Oedipus Rex, Othello, and Death of a Salesman are three tragic and relatively prominent plays, all written in different time periods, which can be examined comparatively with Aristotle’s philosophy of the tragic hero and may draw certain parallel to one another by means of dramatic irony. Oedipus Rex, written in approx. 428 B.C., quite literally is the embodiment of Aristotle’s explanation of the tragic hero. It is also to be noted that Aristotle himself often exemplified Oedipus in hisRead MoreGreek vs. Roman Theatre Essay3174 Words   |  13 Pagestheir predecessors or based off mythological events. Unfortunately, this had lead to many speculative accusations and criticisms, as is the case with Senecan tragedies versus their Greek counterparts. Senecan and Greek interpretations of the plays Oedipus, Agamemnon, and Medea bear similar themes, being the inescapability of fate and dikà ª, and the lack of clarity between right and wrong. Nevertheless, they differ culturally, politically, and philosophically due to the differences in society as well