The catharsis, or cleansing, in the play was most evident to me when Oedipus finally left the city at the end of the production.
The gods gave instruction to Creon that the city needed to be 'cleansed' to recover from the plague that was destroying it's citizens. Oedipus fought to find who it was that killed the king and to remove him from the city. He slowly began to realize that it was he who needed to remove himself. I think that is why he got as angry as he did about the prophecy being true. He knew that because he killed the king, he would have to follow his own admonition to leave the city forever.
The actors did a very good job at building the intensity of the situation throughout the entire production. When Jocasta hangs herself and Oedipus stabs his eyes out, I felt like we were all at an emotional high. Everyone was so concentrated on what had just happened, it was easy to forget that Oedipus would have to leave the city. Creon dramatically put a walking stick in front of Oedipus and it was then we knew that the city would finally be cleansed of the murderer of the king. Oedipus stumbled off stage, and the cleansing was complete. The gods called for cleansing, and it came to pass, just like they said it would.
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Monday, September 23, 2013
Oedipus' Hamartia
I think that Oedipus' hamartia is something that can be both good and bad for a person. I believe his downfall was that he was too curious. He recounts an experience from his childhood to his wife, when a drunken man "accused [him] in his drink of being a bastard." He later asks his parents about it and they are upset he would even mention it to them. Instead of putting the matter to rest, he goes to Pytho and learns about the prophecy that he will kill his father and marry his mother. To be curious is not a bad thing, but in Oedipus' case he should have held back. His curiosity leads him to more and more information that eventually prove too much to handle.
When speaking with Teiresias, Oedipus wants to learn more about the death of king Laius. Teiresias tells him small bits and pieces of the kings murder, but Oedipus wants to know everything. Teiresias is a priest and knows about what Oedipus has done, but it seems he doesn't want to tell Oedipus everything he knows. But Oedipus' curiosity won't let it rest.
Teiresias: "I will not bring this pain upon us both, neither on you nor on myself. Why is it you question me and waste your labour? I will tell you nothing."
Oedipus: "You would provoke a stone! Tell us, you villain, tell us, and do not stand there quietly unmoved and balking at the issue."
Oedipus clearly wants to know more than Teiresias will tell him, even though it would be better if he did not know. His prying for information eventually leads him to the knowledge that he did indeed kill his father on the highway and is now married to his mother. Curiosity killed the cat (and led Oedipus to stab his own eyes out).
When speaking with Teiresias, Oedipus wants to learn more about the death of king Laius. Teiresias tells him small bits and pieces of the kings murder, but Oedipus wants to know everything. Teiresias is a priest and knows about what Oedipus has done, but it seems he doesn't want to tell Oedipus everything he knows. But Oedipus' curiosity won't let it rest.
Teiresias: "I will not bring this pain upon us both, neither on you nor on myself. Why is it you question me and waste your labour? I will tell you nothing."
Oedipus: "You would provoke a stone! Tell us, you villain, tell us, and do not stand there quietly unmoved and balking at the issue."
Oedipus clearly wants to know more than Teiresias will tell him, even though it would be better if he did not know. His prying for information eventually leads him to the knowledge that he did indeed kill his father on the highway and is now married to his mother. Curiosity killed the cat (and led Oedipus to stab his own eyes out).
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Epithets
Epithets
Player of Sports
Since I was young I have played a lot of sports. As I've gotten older I haven't had the time to play as many as I would like, but I have focused the time I do have on ice hockey. It has been the most fun of any sports that I have played growing up.
Lover of Outdoors
I have always loved camping and backpacking. Being outside always beats sitting inside for me. I would rather be backpacking or camping in the mountains for a week than almost anything else.
Eater of Food
Although there aren't a lot of meals that I can make, I love to eat food. Whether it be going out to a nice restaurant or making a home-cooked meal, I love to eat. There is almost nothing that I don't like or won't try. Serving a mission in southern Arizona gave me the chance to try a lot of authentic Mexican food. I grew to love spicy Mexican meals and I continue to try new foods.
Writer of Sports
Not only have I played sports, but I am passionate about writing about them. I work for BYUtv Sports and get to participate in live game broadcasts and it is the best job I have ever had. I love to talk about and write about sports, especially college football. Being a member of the broadcasting team has quickly become one of my passions.
Player of Sports
Since I was young I have played a lot of sports. As I've gotten older I haven't had the time to play as many as I would like, but I have focused the time I do have on ice hockey. It has been the most fun of any sports that I have played growing up.
Lover of Outdoors
I have always loved camping and backpacking. Being outside always beats sitting inside for me. I would rather be backpacking or camping in the mountains for a week than almost anything else.
Eater of Food
Although there aren't a lot of meals that I can make, I love to eat food. Whether it be going out to a nice restaurant or making a home-cooked meal, I love to eat. There is almost nothing that I don't like or won't try. Serving a mission in southern Arizona gave me the chance to try a lot of authentic Mexican food. I grew to love spicy Mexican meals and I continue to try new foods.
Writer of Sports
Not only have I played sports, but I am passionate about writing about them. I work for BYUtv Sports and get to participate in live game broadcasts and it is the best job I have ever had. I love to talk about and write about sports, especially college football. Being a member of the broadcasting team has quickly become one of my passions.
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