Unraveling the Oedipus Myth: Exploring Cross-Cultural Parallels

Abstract

OEDIPUS THE KING RESEARCH PAPER (PART II) Article 1 Edmunds, Lowell. “Oedipus in Burma.” The Classical World, vol. 90, no. 1, 1996, pp. 15–22, https://doi.org/10.2307/4351896. Accessed 8 Apr. 2022. by [Name] Question &Answer What is the Thesis or Argument of the Article? Cite this thesis or Argument in Quotation from the article. The article uses a comparative approach entailing the Oedipus myth and the Burmese story. The article's thesis is: “This paper will show how two stories, one Greek and one Burmese, have used less or more of the same narrative material differently. What primary evidence does the author use to support the Argument? The author uses five motifs to prove the reality of the Argument. They include; riddle solving, monster-slaying, incestuous marriage, abandonment of both protagonists (Oedipus and Pauk) in their childhood, and intelligence of both parties in solving the riddles. Do you believe the Author makes a good, solid case for the Argument? Why or why not? What could cause the Argument better, in your opinion? The author well manifests the evidence attributed to the Argument. The evidence provides meaningful conclusions that the Oedipus and the Burmese stories are correlated in their narration. The Argument is well simplified and written to show how the two stories have mutual aspects. The Argument is the use of narrative material in different ways, and so has the author of this article done. What did you learn about Oedipus the King from reading the article? The king had a happy ending in the story. Although Oedipus was an outcasted child, he managed to beat against all odds and survived to sit on the throne. Oedipus was thrown by his parents but rescued by Polybus the King, and learning of the prophecy attributed t him, he fled, killing his father on the way and marrying his mother. Oedipus was fulfilling a prophecy; he had no wrong motives for his parents. His acts were innocent, and the force of death was driving him. He ended up living a good life. How do you intend to use the Argument in the Research Paper Part III? (Which of the Five Character Traits of the Tragic Hero best fits the Argument in the article?) In part three, the argument will be used to explain various Greek mythologies about Oedipus, the king. The hero’s flaws or effects inevitably lead to his downfall. Anger and Bad Temper lead to his biological father, Laius, without consent. Summary [Author] uses a comparative approach to the Oedipus myth using the traditional stories and myths of other cultures in Greek to research what is known in Greek mythology. The comparative method, in this case, talks more about the Oedipus myth. The myth has been told to the Greeks for centuries. In 'Oedipus the King,' Sophocles is the main source of analyzing the Oedipus myth. Sphinx is a monster told in the Oedipus myth. The monster was a nuisance t the people of Thebes since it killed them when they were unable to solve its riddles. Oedipus manages to solve the riddle, and the monster kills herself; Oedipus is awarded by the Thebans, a recently widowed queen in marriage. This act of intelligence graces the theme of the story. Sophocles ‘Oedipus the King manifests the consultation of the Delphi oracle, a prophecy that Oedipus would kill his father, Laius. Edmund attributes that the Oedipus story is told differently in its narration. Most importantly, the story of the Sphinx is omitted in most Greek mythologies. The riddle solving and monster-slaying is rare in most works that concern Greek mythology. The Burmese story tells the myth of Pauk Tyaing, a dynasty that was to reign Tagaung. The story is narrated differently in different versions and different storylines but merges almost into the same context. Pauk was lost in the forest and was found and raised by foster parents as a child. The queen of Tagaung had a dragon as her lover. Each of his husbands was slain by the dragon during the wedding night. The queens went into a magic find to find a consort and found Pauk Tyaing, who killed the dragon and married the king. Pauk was given a riddle to answer by the queen, who promised him death if he could not or end if the queen could not. Pauk found the answer to the riddle but forgave the queen. The two married, but they had sons who were blind since the dragon emanated in the womb. The Burmese story and the Oedipus myth have used the same motifs and narrative the story in different ways. His father abandoned Oedipus as a child since he was a sign of a bad omen, while the Burmese story show Pauk lost in the woods as a child. Monster slaying is manifested when Pauk kills the dragon while Oedipus kills the Sphinx. Riddle solving is also included in most stories where the Sphinx had caused havoc to the people of Thebes, and Oedipus manages to kill the monster. Pauk managers answer the riddle paused by the queen but eventually forgave the queen from dying. The incestuous marriage is common in both stories since they married their mothers. Both Pauk and Oedipus killed their fathers without the consent of their biological relations. The dragon is perceived to have been Pauk's father. The stories of Oedipus and Pauk have a happy ending. The parents never pay for their iniquities. Pauk only faces the scar of his blind sons despite all his violent proceedings. The sons of Oedipus found a new city and ruled without conflict. The two protagonists, Oedipus and Pauk, are connected with intelligence due to their abilities to solve the riddle. The Burmese and Oedipus myths are told in different versions, narrated differently but converging in the same storyline. Article 2 Barstow, Marjorie. “Oedipus Rex as the Ideal Tragic Hero of Aristotle.” The Classical Weekly, vol. 6, no. 1, 1912, pp. 2–4, https://doi.org/10.2307/4386601. Accessed 9 Apr. 2022. by Marjorie Barstow Question and Answer What is the Thesis or Argument of the Article? Cite this thesis or Argument in Quotation from the article. Aristotle has an ideal definition of a tragic hero. The Argument lies in ethics and poetics. "In other words, let us compare the ideal of ethics with the ideal of poetics.” What primary evidence does the author use to support the Argument? The Author uses Oedipus's life journey for life in the quest for happiness to prove his Argument. The prophecy at birth haunted Oedipus throughout his life because he failed to pause and think about the direction he would take despite being warned that Polybus was not his birth father. He was to fulfill the Delphic Oracle. The author uses poetics and ethics to enhance the Argument, alluding to those poets using pitiful and sympathetic language to comfort Oedipus. Still, Aristotle disputes that Oedipus was not a thinker, ignorant and doomed. He failed to achieve happiness due to uncontrolled emotions, lack of thinking and based on the laws of Gods. Ethics argue that true happiness is obtained through acting with reason. A wise man who sees all aspects in all dimensions faces all obstacles in achieving happiness. Do you believe the Author makes a good, solid case for the Argument? Why or why not? What could cause the Argument better, in your opinion? The author coherently aligns his Argument with his evidence. Aristotle supports the ideal man of ethics, while the poet supports the tragic hero. The author makes a solid argument that is satisfactory. Happiness is not obtained through pity, sympathy, and uncontrolled emotions. It is a fight for the battles of life with wisdom and true reason. There is no shortcut. What did you learn about Oedipus the King from reading the article? The article unveils Oedipus as a tragic hero. He is a king that lacks wisdom. He was accursed at birth, but if he had paused to think and analyze the oracle at birth, his life would not have taken a fatal dimension. Oedipus the King manifested pity and sympathy while acting. His happiness lies in the laws of the gods. He was an arrogant and doomed king. How do you intend to use the Argument in the Research Paper Part III? (Which of the Five Character Traits of the Tragic Hero best fits the Argument in the article?) The argument will be used to incorporate poetry in writing to create an enthusiastic feeling. Epiphany's character trait: Oedipus finally comes to terms with his flaws and realizes he has messed up due to a lack of wisdom and thinking. Summary Barstow provides an insightful description of Oedipus, the king, by Aristotle. Oedipus arouses sympathy and fear in his encounters, terming him a tragic hero. Oedipus rex portrays an ideal individual personality but at the same time has personal flaws. He depicts Aristotle’s requirements...