Similarities Between Exodus And Oedipus

What is tradition? Tradition is a story about the past that reminds us how to act in the present. Although the dictionary defines it as the handing down of information, beliefs and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another. There are many cultures that still follow their old traditions, like the Hebrews and Greeks. Famous stories like Exodus and Oedipus show how these cultures became who they are and why they act the way they do. Exodus and Oedipus Rex serve as traditional stories for the Hebrews and Greeks because both stories set a tradition for rituals and laws to follow.

Exodus served as a traditional story for the Hebrews because it set a tradition for rituals and laws to follow. The Hebrews received the Ten

Commandments from Moses, as written in Exodus, which they were told to follow in order to get to heaven. These were the laws the Hebrews had to follow so their culture was largely centered on them and making sure to please God. A ritual passed through Hebrew tradition is Passover which the Lord explained in this passage: “When you enter the land that the LORD will give you as he promised, observe this ceremony. And when your children ask you, ‘What does this ceremony mean to you?’ then tell them, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the LORD, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.” (Exodus 12:25-27) This passage talks about the importance of the Passover sacrifice to God because he spared the lives of the Hebrews when he was punishing the Egyptians. Exodus makes for a great tradition story because it shows the past family connection of the Hebrews (where they came from) and the covenant between God and his people, which was solidified by the Ten Commandments. “Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.” (Exodus 19:5) God directed this passage to his people, which says that if his people keep the covenant with him they will be his treasured possessions out of everyone. This illustrates just how essential the bond is between God and the Hebrews.
Oedipus served as a traditional story for the Greeks because it set a tradition for rituals and laws to follow.

In Ancient Greece theater was a necessary part of Greek culture; it was almost law that everyone from every city-state had to go watch the public performances. Oedipus itself is a play, written by Sophocles, which means that all the Greeks knew of his story and through Sophocles’ plays the Greek theater continued to develop. During the Greek festivals, that had the performances of the plays, there would actually be sacrifices to the gods because each theater was dedicated to a god. Although this is one form of a ritual, Oedipus himself is like a sacrifice because he was fated from the beginning to be punished in order to save Thebes from its plague. “Upon the murderer I invoke this curse- whether he is one man and all unknown, or one of many- may he wear out his life in misery to miserable doom! On you I lay my charge to fulfill all this for me, for the God, and for this land of ours destroyed and blighted, by the God forsaken.” (Oedipus Rex 246-249) During the play, there is a plague on Thebes which can only be stopped by killing the murderer of the previous king; this quote is Oedipus unknowingly cursing himself and being a sacrifice for the peace of Thebes. Oedipus makes for a great tradition story because it shows the key values the Greeks practiced which was love of the polis (city-state) and respect for the gods. “Oedipus: I’m sane enough to defend my interests. Creon: You should be protecting mine as well.” (Oedipus Rex 760,761) This quote is important because Sophocles is saying how leaders make a good city and people should also help each other in order to be a good city; Oedipus is showing how he is not being a good leader by not caring for Creon so Oedipus is an example, to the Greeks, of how not to act.“Creon, my old trusted family friend, has secretly conspired to overthrow me and paid off a

double-dealing quack like this, a crafty bogus priest, who can only see his own advantage, who in his special art is absolutely blind.” (Oedipus Rex 462-467) This quote is about Oedipus accusing Creon of betraying him by paying the priest to say that Oedipus is the killer of the previous king and Oedipus also insults the prophet. This is important because Oedipus is completely disrespecting the oracle, gods and the prophet which the Greeks know to never do.
Exodus and Oedipus Rex both set a tradition for rituals and laws to follow in their cultures. Although Exodus and Oedipus Rex are very different tradition stories, they both have the common belief that their God/gods are highest above all which is very important in both cultures. Tradition is important for these cultures because it teaches value and it is a source of identity for their people. Without Greek tradition, society would not have developed a democracy or even have theaters. Tradition is what shapes societies through generations.