Reflection

Reflection

Title : Oedipus

Author : Sophocles

Year : 430 BC

Adopted by : John Dryden and Nathaniel Lee

Period : Restoration

Published : 1679

Summary :

Oedipus was the son of The King Thebes Laius and Queen Jocasta. When he was born, his parents threw him away because he was prophesied that he would murder his father and marry his mother. Luckily he was found by a peasant who took him to his master The King of Corinth Polybus and adopted him as his own son. Many years later Oedipus heard from an oracle about that prediction. He was frightened and decided to flee from home to Thebes. On his way, he met a chariot on the crossroad. A dispute arose between them that caused Oedipus killed his unrecognized father. Then Oedipus married the widow Queen Jocasta because he had defeated the Sphinx by solving mysterious riddle. Soon after, a plague struck the city of Thebes. Then he discovered the truth, that he had killed his own father Laius and married his own mother Jocasta. At his realization, Jocasta killed herself and Oedipus blinded himself.

Comment :

Since the first time I read this story, I think that it is full with mystery. It recounts about sadness, love, slaying and tragedy. It also provides a psychological conflict among the character. This story teaches me about life that I cannot avoid my fate. Because how much I am trying to avoid it, it will become true.

Experience :

After reading the story of Oedipus, it reminds me with other stories that I have ever read. One of them is Electra. Although there is not relation between the story of Electra and Oedipus on their plot or their author, but psychology they have similarity in their behavior deviation. Both of them killed their unrecognized parents. Nevertheless, they have different aim. Electra killed her own mother Clytemnestra to revenge his father death King Agamemnon. Oedipus killed his own father Laius to protect himself.

Oedipus also reminds me with the story of Zeus. Same with Oedipus, Zeus also was prophesied that he would murder his own father Cronus for taking his throne. Cronus (Zeus’ father) and Laius (Oedipus’ father) were afraid if the prophecy become true. So they avoided the calamity by throwing their sons away. Moreover, their own sons killed both of them.

In Oedipus story, there is the incestuous marriage between Oedipus and Jocasta. That thing reminds me with the other story that has similarity. It is Sangkuriang. Sangkuriang is one of the popular stories of Sundanese. Same with Oedipus, Sangkuriang also loved his own mother Dayang Sumbi but Sangkuriang failed to marry her since Dayang Sumbi realized that Sangkuriang was her own son.