Selena Zhong 11/26/19 Period 2 - Blog #1

Selena Zhong

11/26/19

Period 2

Blog #1 - Blogger 33

Aim: How does the paradox of blindness illuminate the Oedipus' tragic flaw of hubris?

Option 3 for me: all truth should always be discovered but not always broadcasted, especially with bad intent in mind 

Audio File Link: Ms. Fusaro reviewed Oedipus' back story
Oedipus Back Story

Oedipus' children weren’t said to have had any issues (genetically like three eyes), they were all killed in later stories like the 2 brothers (Polynices & Eteocles) who killed each other to take over Thebes and the 2 sisters (Ismene & Antigone) who also inadvertently killed each other (actions led to suicide in Antigone's story).

When Oedipus figured out the truth, he gauges his own eyes out with Jocasta's hairpin and exiles himself from Thebes. 

Bobby chose option 2 (truth is a commodity) 

• Depends on if the truth is beneficial and it's subjective  
• Would choose the beneficial option for oneself like stay in the dark to not hurt ourselves, especially if it was something that happened in the past and was out of your control 

Ben says ignorance is bliss 

Ex. Government can't always tell the truth, withhold certain facts like in times of war 

• Or release info to increase patriotism and support for war efforts 
• Sometimes need to lie or tell exaggerated versions of the truth for a special reason 

Yayin chose option 1 (truth always) 

• You don't want to hurt the other person you are lying to 
• All truths should be known to hurt less now than later 

Joshua chose option 1 too

• he believes that truth is the only definite thing in society and is what we can rely on when everything else is wrong or chaotic
• Ignorance is the basis of the main problems in society so it's better knowing than not. 

Henry chose option 2 

• he points out that truth is not a constant and will change depending on who is telling or listening to it. 

Unsa also agreed with option 1 

• she says that gossip is something you should not keep from people.  
• Instead, you should tell the person to learn about what they're being gossiped about and then find some way to fix or deal with the issue.  Sometimes, it's a way to help someone improve themselves. 

Sabrina says she lies when she chooses to

• She believes that white lies are fine because they keep things acceptable and not hurt people, because they're a little more neutral and not on any extreme side (with any positive or negative effect in mind)

Basis of most mythology is that downfall of humanity came in the form of truth 

Ex. In Christianity, God told Eve and Adam to not go near the tree, but they did and ate the apple which kicked them out of the Garden of Eden. 

Pandora was told to not open the box which held many evils that would later plague humanity because of her curiosity and mistake. 

In both of these myths, the first humans' mistakes in trying to satisfy their thirst for truth led to future generations of mankind suffering. 

TRUTH IS A PARADOX AND SO ARE ORACLES AND PROPHECIES. 

If I did not learn my prophecy, would I try to change it and fight against it? 

According to Fate, it would've happened anyway but would it still have happened if you didn't know about your fate? 

Ex. Macbeth - would he have plotted against and assassinated King Duncan if he wasn't told by the witches that he would be "crowned king"? 

ALL PROPHETS AND ORACLES FALL UNDER APOLLO AND HE AND THEY CAN NOT LIE, BUT BOTH CAN STILL WITHHOLD SOME TRUTH. 

Pinnochio's nose is a paradox because when he says "My nose will grow!" - If his nose is growing, he is telling the truth, so it can't happen. If his nose will grow, he will be telling the truth, but his nose grows if he lies so it can't happen. If his nose will not grow, he is lying and it will grow but then he would be telling the truth so it can't happen. 

Here is another Paradox example =  

You can't follow the directions to ignore it if you don't look or adhere to it. 

It is significant that the play starts with a question. 

Gautaman says a question may interest the audience and sets up for the play to answer the question as the plot develops, giving the audience who probably already knows the gist of the story something else to look forward to in the drama. 

Anna was successfully ghosted by Gautaman. 

For the reading of pgs. 128 to 132 in class today:

• Yayin was Oedipus  
• Sabrina was Teiresias 
• Joshua was Creon 
• Gautaman, Bobby, Robert, Henry, and Ben made up the Chorus. 

In Line 424, the "grim equality" is that Oedipus and his own kids have the same mom. 

Chorus went from commentary to actual people responding to characters in the play.  They transitioned from talking about the characters and meanings of their dialogues/words for the audience to better understand to actually conversing with a character in the play, Creon, like real characters in the book (like movie extras).  Broke the 4th Wall to reverting back to the plot! 

Thomas commented that the Greeks need to work on killing their babies – they're always giving away their babies to someone else to kill when their children are prophesied to somehow kill them in the future.  Like why can't you wring your son's neck right after he's born and that's that? YOU HAD ONE JOB! 

Senan says that Oedipus doesn't want to listen to the prophecy anymore once he begins to not like what he's hearing, calling Teiresias' words lies. 

Joshua says that Oedipus accuses Teiresias of not being a real prophet (a quack) and that he is in cahoots with Creon to overthrow him to take power for themselves and that both are liars. 

Derrick is also successfully ghosted by Joshua. 

Anna says that his signs of rashness shown when he snapped back at the oracle and sent the oracle away when he didn't tell him everything he wanted to know. 

Emma says Teiresias is very considerate to not tell Oedipus the entire truth because he knows and repeatedly warns Oedipus that not knowing is for his own good.  Teiresias is very patient and experienced. 

Yayin agrees with Emma and adds that Teiresias is not telling Oedipus everything because he can see that Oedipus obviously can't handle the truth despite demanding to hear the "truth". 

Ms. Fusaro says that Oedipus should have had more reverence and respect for Teiresias as he is a prophet of the gods, but he doesn't and this is a sign of his great HUBRIS. 

Analogy:  The wheel is turning but the hamster is dead. 

Teiresias is physically blind but Oedipus is not.  However, Oedipus refuses to see the truth in front of him despite the efforts of those around advising him. 

DIDN'T GET TO THE ABOVE GROUP WORK ASSIGNMENT BEFORE THE BELL RANG BUT INCLUDED THE PICTURE HERE FOR THE QUOTE. 

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Student Reflection:

In the reading we did in class today, I learned that foolish pride and vanity (hubris) can make someone even more “blind” than an actual blind person.  In the case of Oedipus, he so desperately says that he wishes to know the truth about who the murderer of Laius is as he or she is apparently responsible for his people’s suffering, but his actions say otherwise.  Every chance that he gets to refute or oppose Teiresias’ good intentions of sparing him the full truth (as the truth would be far too shocking and painful for all parties involved, especially the key perpetrator himself Oedipus), Oedipus takes it, calling all of his words false slander and his divine job as a prophet undeserved.  His logic is that as the saver of Thebes from the sphinx before, he can’t possibly be the “pollution” Teiresias speaks of and stubbornly warps the truth set before him to benefit himself, accusing the prophet of working with Creon to steal his throne. I feel that Oedipus’ example in his story so far demonstrates how people may psychologically block out things that may hurt them or that they perceive a threat to in a form of self-preservation.  For example, when being accused of doing a horrible deed (like a murderer), you would immediately go on the defensive and scramble for reasons why you just CAN’T be the culprit, resorting to even attacking your accusers who you now perceive to be hostile towards you. They would continue to deny the facts in front of them even if the evidence was practically unquestionable, like Teiresias’ inability to lie as a divine messenger of the god who can’t lie Apollo.  This makes me become more aware of how myself and the people around me may face the “truths” that are thrown our way; are we as blind as Oedipus was? In all, today’s class has truly opened my eyes to how people react to important truths about themselves and I commend the Greeks for having created and taught the masses this lesson early in history.