However, would Oedipus be placed even deeper in the eighth circle for pretending to be someone he’s not (Polybus’s son) if he didn’t know the truth about himself? Or possibly the ninth circle for treachery because he killed his own father—even if he didn’t know who Laius was? My question is, is it still a sin if it’s unintentional? There’s no doubt in my mind that Oedipus wouldn’t have killed his father or slept with his mother if he knew his identity—he ran away from his beloved adopted parents to avoid that very fate. What circle do y’all think he belongs in?
Saturday, November 17, 2018
Where Would Oedipus Be in Hell?
Oedipus is a pretty complex character. His most grievous sins (killing his father and marrying his mother) take place because he doesn’t know his true identity. However, he would definitely be placed in the seventh circle at the very least—he is very violent against his neighbors. He kills Laius (even though he doesn’t know him to be his father) and almost Laius’s ENTIRE entourage simply because of some Ancient Greek road rage! Oedipus jumps to conclusions and says he wants his brother-in-law dead after he only SUSPECTS that Creon is plotting against him. Oedipus would definitely be up to his eyeballs in the River Phlegethon.
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3 comments:
I had never considered which layer of Hell Oedipus would be in! Based off of what I've seen in Inferno, I believe Dante would place him in the ninth circle (in Caina) as there seems to be no consideration for individual intent, if you've "committed the sin" you're pretty much done for. If babies can be put in the first circle of hell because they aren't baptized, just as virtuous Pagans are put in the same circle due to the time in which they were born, I have no doubt Dante wouldn't think twice about damning Oedipus to the deepest level possible. Though Hell is supposed to be revolving around the idea of divine justice, it doesn't seem fair in the least (then again, maybe I'm just mad about the quiz results;) ).
Another interesting thing to pursue would be the placing of Media in Dante's hell. Media is very sinful in my opinion and it would probably be pretty hard to pick a circle for her. First of all, she might be placed in the second circle with the lustful, because of her betrayal to her family and homeland due to her love for Jason. But it also could be circle 7 because we see here murder and commit violence towards her neighbors and family. One could also make an argument to put her in circle 8.8 because she is rather deceitful, we see this specifically when she speaks with Aegius, king of Athens. One might also make a rather valid argument for her to be in the deepest circle of hell, where she is treacherous not only to her kindred but also to her country. She killed her brother for her own self-interest and even her own children. The guard might never stop wrapping his tail.
I believe it is hard to imagine what circle of Hell Oedipus would classify under because most of his actions were out of ignorance or oblivion. I think his rage would be the first thing to place him in hell. However, I would have to say that Dante would not emote any pity for him, unlike Dante the Pilgrim.
Furthermore, in comparison to Medea, I recently watched an episode of Law and Order: SVU (best show in the world.. highly recommend... 10/10) where a mother killed her two children and husband because she thought it was "saving" her children from the real world. However, there was also the possible aspect of the nanny sleeping with the husband, so who knows?? Overall, she fully believed her intentions were just, and unfortunately, so did the jury. She was only found guilty for the murder of her husband and not her two children?? seems ridiculous to me..but maybe not to Medea
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