Word-association in Oedipus The King

1262 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Connect oedipus to human condition

Word-association in Oedipus The King

Let us play a little game, shall we? We have all played this at one point in our lives; it's the word-association game. Think red- you may think apple. Now think green- you may once again think apple. Wait a minute, how can that be? How can two words that are unrelated have the same picture in the mind of an individual? This is the basic idea of perception. Now let us apply this basic concept to the text of Oedipus Tyrannus. The main character, Oedipus, has lived his entire life with basic preconceived notion of his own existence. Sophocles manipulates the audience's perception of Oedipus through oral dramatic presentation.

"Lacan insists that dialogue is the place where a certain subject comes into being, or perhaps more properly, where the subject comes into being in a certain kind of way" (Lee 38)

Jacques Lacan deals with the perception of individuals as well. However Lacan's perceptions are those dealt with in the mind of his subjects. Let us introduce Oedipus, as the subject, to Lacan the psychoanalyst. Now that the two have met in our minds' we can continue with the forum of one man's perception, Lacan's, of another man's life, Oedipus's.

Lacan has two complex theories. The first is the mirror theory. This theory deals with the internal world of the subject, and the phases of the conscious as well as the unconscious mind. The second is the inability to communicate one's desires adequately through the usage of oral communication- language. In both of these simplified concepts we will delve into the mind, and the actions of Oedipus the character.

Let us first discuss the mirror stage, with application to Oedipus the man. Within the mirror stage there are five phases. The first of which is the "fragmented body stage." While existing in this stage man is unaware of himself. In this dark, 'lost' state man is unaware of his surroundings as well as himself as a being. Oedipus prior to the opening of the play lives his entire life in this "fragmented" state; he is completely unaware of himself and his actions on his society. In this state Oedipus is caught up in the pomp of his title. The role of King carries an elevated perception of an idealized life (Lee 19).

The next movement in the five phases is the "spatial identity.

Show More
Related

  • Hasidic Jew and Orthodox Jew: Is Friendship Possible Between the Two?

    750 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Chosen, a novel written by Chaim Potok, is filled with a variety of themes that are brought together through each individual chapter. Chapter 7 in the book had a major impact in bringing forth the novel’s theme. For instance, in this chapter, the narrator, Reuven, starts by establishing the basic plot. He states, “The next day, I met Danny’s father” (Potok 112). Having this plot established is key in the chapter for it is the day that could make or break their friendship in a matter of seconds. Reuven and Danny Saunders have become friends since the incident during the ball game. Yet, there is a conflict in their friendship. Danny is a Hasidic Jew and follows the strict rules and beliefs of the Hasidic faith. Reuven, on the other hand, is an Orthodox Jew who does not follow all of the traditional customs, but does honor his faith. Rev Saunders, Danny’s father, hears from his son about his relationship with Reuven Matler, and wants to meet the young teen to approve of this companionship. Danny has never had a comrade who had not been a Hasidic Jew. This begins to show part of how the two must work through numerous hurdles in order to sustain their friendship and let it grow. Another example in this chapter that supports the basic plot is how Rev Saunders not only quizzes Danny on the Talmud lecture, but unexpectedly quizzes Reuven. He needed to test the boy, not only to approve of him as a friend for Danny, but to see what the son of David Malter knew. Rev Saunders approaches Reuven and says, “I am happy my Daniel has chosen you for a friend. My son has many friends. But he does not talk about them the way he talks about you” (141). He approves of his son’s friendship with Reuven Malter.

    Read More

  • Comparing Danny And Reuven In Chaim Potok's The Chosen

    548 Words  | 2 Pages

    Both Danny and Reuven’s view of the world changed forever because of one petty baseball game. Danny used to be terrified to speak to his father, for fear of rejection. He told Reuven that he practically had to win the game, leaving the specific reason up to his friend’s imagination (Potok pg. 71). Danny had grown up knowing his father’s plan for him to be a tzaddik and he had accepted it at a young age. He would have never dared to go against his father’s Hasidic teachings. He had been, in a way, cut off from the real world. All he knew was what his father and church told him. The only way he was able to control his life was when he read. He would often sneak off the library and read books that he knew his father would not approve of. He thought

    Read More

  • Misconception in Oedipus the King

    755 Words  | 2 Pages

    take the boy out and kill him when he was still a child.  The kind old shepard

    Read More

  • Oedipus: Riddle of the Sphinx as a Metaphor of Life

    1059 Words  | 3 Pages

    Oedipus Rex (the King), written by Sophocles, is the tragic play depicting the disastrous existence to which Oedipus, an Athenian, is 'fated' to endure. With a little help from the gods and the 'fated' actions and decisions of Oedipus, an almost unthinkable misfortune unfolds. Athenian perfection can consist of intelligence, self-confidence, and a strong will. Oedipus, the embodiment of such perfection, and his tragedy are common place to Athenians. Ironically, the very same exact characteristics that bring about the ominous discovery of Oedipus' fate: to kill his father and marry his mother. Oedipus' 'fated' decisions entangle everyone whom is of any significance to him within a quagmire of spiraling tragedy. Sophocles uses the riddle of the Sphinx as a metaphor for the three phases of Oedipus' entangled life, the three phases of human life, and to describe how every life-changing action or decision can influence other lives.

    Read More

  • Oedipus the King: A Painful Path to Truth

    742 Words  | 2 Pages

    The play "Oedipus Rex" is a very full and lively one to say the least. Everything a reader could ask for is included in this play. There is excitement, suspense, happiness, sorrow, and much more. Truth is the main theme of the play. Oedipus cannot accept the truth as it comes to him or even where it comes from. He is blinded in his own life, trying to ignore the truth of his life. Oedipus will find out that truth is rock solid. The story is mainly about a young man named Oedipus who is trying to find out more knowledge than he can handle. The story starts off by telling us that Oedipus has seen his moira, his fate, and finds out that in the future he will end up killing his father and marrying his mother. Thinking that his mother and father were Polybos and Merope, the only parents he knew, he ran away from home and went far away so he could change his fate and not end up harming his family. Oedipus will later find out that he cannot change fate because he has no control over it, only the God's can control what happens. Oedipus is a very healthy person with a strong willed mind who will never give up until he gets what he wants. Unfortunately, in this story these will not be good trait to have.

    Read More

  • I Love and I Hate. Who Can Tell me Why?

    855 Words  | 2 Pages

    The source of Danny’s rage towards Jews seems to stem from his lack of respect for their passivity in regard to their worship of God and their lifestyle choices. From the opening scene, where Abraham’s submission to God is voiced by Danny as an extremely embarrassing base for Judaism, to the sensitivity meetings where the seeming indifference of the Jewish father over the death of his 3 year old son at the hands of the Nazis enrages Danny, he perceives Jews to suffer with no attempt to oppose their persecution. As a child Danny even says, “all that Jews are good at is being afraid, at being sacrificed...

    Read More

  • The Chosen Review

    672 Words  | 2 Pages

    History plays a large role in shaping the character of Rueven and Danny’s characters because they each have strong spiritual fathers that laid a foundation for them, their respective religions have very different roots, and they find that they have differences from these religions.

    Read More

  • Summary Of The Chosen By Chaim Potok

    235 Words  | 1 Pages

    Reuven and Danny are loyal to their parent; Mr. Malter does not rat out Danny and Reuven does not tell Mr. Saunders about Danny's plan after college.

    Read More

  • Internal Blaze

    1213 Words  | 3 Pages

    Bombs bursting brilliantly with a fiery passion within oneself. This is a common experience that everyone faces throughout their lives, internal conflict. In The Chosen, by Chaim Potok, Internal conflict is oozed through this paper throughout that is shared with many of the characters that struggle through the persecution and murder of six million Jews in the Holocaust by the Nazis during World War II. One of the characters who fight through internal conflict is Danny Saunders, who is the friend of the main character, Reuven Malter. Danny Saunders experiences internal conflict through a rift of secular and religious worlds, an internal relationship with his father, and Danny’s Internal conflict with friendship.

    Read More

  • The Real Identity of Oedipus

    612 Words  | 2 Pages

    Prompt: How does Oedipus see himself? How do others perceive him? Explain how the author uses this juxtaposition to communicate theme?

    Read More

  • Sight vs. Blindness in Oedipus the King

    459 Words  | 1 Pages

    Ancient Greeks cared deeply about the pursuit of knowledge. Although the truth was often a terrifying concept, they still saw it as a critical virtue. One of the main underlying themes in Oedipus the King is the struggle of sight vs. blindness. Oedipus’ blindness is not just physical blindness, but intellectual blindness as well. Sophocles has broken blindness into two distinct components. The first component, Oedipus's ability to "see" (ignorance or lack thereof), is a physical characteristic. The second component is Oedipus's willingness to "see", his ability to accept and understand his fate. Throughout the play, Sophocles demonstrates to us how these components.

    Read More

  • Archetypal Review of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

    537 Words  | 2 Pages

    The theme of this book is fantasy. Fantasy, in a sense, does not connect with reality. While imagination, on the other hand, is based off of events from reality. This book is considered to be such a theme because of Lucy’s discovery of the magical world of Narnia inside the wardrobe. She walked inside to find moth balls and fur coats. As she ventured further into the wardrobe, she soon discovered pine needles, coldness, and snow at her feet. An entirely different world was lain out before her. How strange it must’ve been for Lucy to discover such a thing! As the story goes on, the four children meet several characters who all happen to be tal...

    Read More

  • Sight and Blindness in Oedipus Tyrannus

    342 Words  | 1 Pages

    " Sight" and "Blindness" can be considered one of the main and most important themes in Oedipus Tyrannus. The themes of blindness and sight can be looked at both metaphorically and literally. When defining both physical and Metaphorical blindness, the following definitions are very useful: to be physically blind is, naturally, to be "unable to see," and metaphorical blindness is an " inability or unwillingness to understand or discern." Throughout the play, throughout the play Sophocles keeps these two components at the center of the action and uses them to create dramatic irony. When reading this play the reader must take in to account who can "see" and who is "blind" either figuratively and literally.

    Read More

  • Sigmund Freud And The Oedipus Complex

    1630 Words  | 4 Pages

    Lacan once said, in an unpublished seminar, “the Oedipus Complex is a dream of Freud” (Felman, 1034). It is a questionable theory and a so-called ‘dream’ because Sigmund Freud developed the Oedipus complex in such a way that allowed him to stand as an example of his own theory. It begins with what Freud would call ‘introspection’; the analysis of one’s self. He developed terms to use in his psychoanalysis; terms that divide the self and attempt to explain aspects of the human personality. Adding to the questionability of the theory is the category of myth with which the theory was named. The story of Oedipus happens to be one of the few Greek stories that do not fall under the sinful and incestuous category. Alternatively, the Theogony offers myths that do fall into the incestuous category and are ideal for Freud’s conception. By exploring Freud himself and dissecting the underlying myth, this paper will demonstrate that the legendary character of Oedipus did not possess the well-known complex named after him. Furthermore, it will demonstrate that there are many other myths with greater applicability to Freud’s ideas.

    Read More

  • Lacanian Mirror Stage: Oedipus the King

    1264 Words  | 3 Pages

    The essence of this paper is to determine whether or not Jocasta played a more important role in the rise and fall of the title character. The paper will examine the play Oedipus Tyrannus through the eyes of the French theorist Jacques Lacan. Specifically the paper will focus on the mirror stage of Lacan's theories.

    Read More

More about Word-association in Oedipus The King

Open Document