12/2/2019 Jeffrey Zeng PD 7

12/2/2019

Jeffrey Zeng, Period 7

Aim: How does the unraveling of the truth create an epiphany and tragic reversal

(peripeteia) for Oedipus?

The lesson began with two extreme hypotheticals:

A. You discover your real grandfather was Adolf Hitler

B.Your parents were siblings

We were told to think about how we would react and what we would do with this

newfound information. For scenario A, people were mostly indifferent saying how

although Hitler was undoubtedly a terrible person, it did not affect who you are as a

person and the values you hold. For scenario B, I’d like to highlight Terrance’s response.

He said he’d feel disgusted towards his parents, but ultimately just live with the situation

because he could not change what they already did and everyone agreed they’d feel the

same way. This ties into Oedipus Rex. The two scenarios put us in a similar scenario to

Oedipus, where he is uncovering the fact that he is married to his mother. The two

scenarios given to us help us figure out how we would react, as well as giving us insight as

to what Oedipus would feel the moment he finds out.

We also discussed about peripeteia and how it was different from anagnorisis.

Peripeteia is “The reversal as it functions in a plot”. By using peripeteia within

literature and movies, it allows for character growth as well as a change in motivation.

Anagnorisis however is when a character discovers the true nature of himself or another

characters.

Peripeteia:

- Change in plot which facilitates character growth, change in motivation, or
- progression of plot.
- a plot twist

Anagnorisis:

- Change within a character's identity or situation which facilitates character growth, change in motivation, or progression of plot.
- a twist within the character

Peripeteia can be found in a lot of literature, including Oedipus Rex. For example:

“Because Polybus was no kin to you in blood.”

- Messenger, Page 154

This was when Oedipus was expecting the prophecy where he murders his father to be

false, but the messenger tells him that Polybus was not his father in blood. This twist leads

Oedipus to dig deeper to find his origin, which ultimately leads to him discovering the prophecy

has been completed the entire time. The use of peripeteia can be found everywhere,

especially in movies because the twist in the plot allows for a more interesting story. This

can be seen in Oedipus Rex, where the big twist is revealed right before Oedipus discovers

his true origins and how he fulfilled the prophecy.