Behaviors Affect Actions

People’s personalities do not only influence how they respond to the environment, but also causes people to behave and act in a certain way. An individual’s experiences, whether good or bad, will influence his or her behavior at a later time. People “create their own realities” through their personalities, which leads to an inevitable outcome. A psychological, critical analysis will demonstrate how the personalities of Mrs. Hale from Trifles by Susan Glaspell, and Oedipus from Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, are the primary cause of their eventual destiny.

In the play Oedipus Rex, Teiresias was seen as the holy prophet who had known the secrets of heaven and earth (Sophocles, 401 BC, p. 1315). The oracle’s prophecy had foreseen Oedipus as the killer of King Laois, who was his father, and the husband of Iocaste, who was his mother. These circumstances created the impatience, anger, and violence that Oedipus demonstrated throughout the story. In the beginning of the play, Oedipus demands that King Laois’s death be justified. Oedipus demands that the citizens come forth and speak if they knew of Laois’s murderer. In addition, Oedipus demanded Teiresias to tell him what the oracle had foreseen and threatens Creon for planning a scheme with the prophet.

Oedipus demonstrated how angry he was throughout the play since he had no idea who was the murderer he continues pointing fingers at Creon. Oedipus says to Iocaste; “I have caught him squarely plotting against my life” (Sophocles, 401 BC, p. 1323). In addition, as the play progressed, Oedipus also demonstrated animosity. When Teiresias informed him of the truth that he was the murderer, Oedipus became angry and began insulting and accusing Teiresias of Laois’s murder. For instance, when ...

... middle of paper ...

...th, causing him to demonstrate anger, violence, and impatience. On the other hand, in the play Trifles, Mrs. Hale’s secretiveness, observance, and carelessness, left a murder case out in the cold- unsolved. This illustrates how behaviors may have some affect toward people’s actions.

Works Cited

Fromm, E. (1990). Man for himself: an inquiry into the psychology of ethics. New York: Henry

Holt & Co.

Glaspell, S. (1916) Trifles. In R. DiYanni (Ed.), Literature: Reading, fiction, poetry and drama

(6th ed.) Boston, MA: McGraw Hill.

Reuben, P. (2009, June 01). Pal: perspectives in american literature. Retrieved on March 09,2010

from http://www.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/chap8/glaspell.html

Sophocles. (401 BC). Oedipus rex In R. DiYanni (Ed.), Literature: Reading, fiction, poetry and

drama (6th ed.) Boston, MA: McGraw Hill.