This is what I believe really Oedipus, as a tragic hero,
from Medea. Because Medea is knowledgeable about her situation, there is very
little room to pity her for actions she completed due to ignorance. It is easy,
however, to pity Oedipus because his actions weren’t committed out of spite,
but simply out of ignorance.
Saturday, October 7, 2017
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
I definitely agree that Oedipus and Medea are different in the aspect of awareness. Going into extra time from the intense debate on Friday, I think it is important to note Medea's cleverness and sorcery. She is not completely helpless despite limitations on women and foreigners in Greek society. As Mrs. Quinet pointed out, she could have used magic to escape without killing her children. Also, unlike Oedipus, Medea is not punished in the end; rather, she splendidly escapes in a chariot led by dragons. These capabilities that she possess in addition to the deus ex machina make it harder for the audience to pity her than Oedipus.
For Oedipus, I think that one of the main factors that allow the audience to pity him is the fact that he regrets and punishes himself. I would not say that ignorance is the only thing that causes his actions. His character, which Sophocles emphasizes throughout the play, also plays a huge part. His temperament and actions are what cause his downfall, not the prophecy. Regardless, it is easier to pity Oedipus than Medea.
Post a Comment