12/3/19 Yaying Zhao PD 7

December 3, 2019 

Yaying Zhao, Period 7

Note: Class started with a pop quiz on Oedipus

Aim: How does Oedipus’ self-mutilation highlight the tragedy of metaphorical blindness?

Do Now: Who is truly at fault for the fall of the house of Oedipus?

Should be blame Jocasta? Laius? 

Odeipus, himself?

Tiresias? Apollo?

The Messenger of Herdsmen?

Kanye?

(You can’t really place blame on any one person because the blame itself would be

paradoxical. It ultimately comes down to each person’s role) 

Steven believed that Oedipus himself was to blame because he was the one

that had slept with his own mother and killed his own father. The factor that had

ultimately led to the downfall of the house of Oedipus was his choice to “leave his

adopted parents, kill his father, and go to Thebes to become king.”

Shannon and Kelly believe that Fate was at fault for the events that played out.

Kelly had said that the actions taken had little influence, as prophecies will always

come true because of fate. Shannon added on by stating that no matter what leads

you to your course of actions, hubris or not, the end result is fate. She also believes

that it was not just the fault of fate, as Laius had a role to play too. It was Laius’ fault

because he took the action to send Oedpius away— setting off the prophecy. 

Billy shared the belief that the fall of the house of Oedipus was Laius’ fault. He

stated that Laius “believed more in the prophecy than his own bloodline, and

paranoia triggered the rest of this event.”  

Violence in Ancient Greece

Displaying acts of violence in ancient Greece was often considered profane, crude, or gauche. Instead of showing any violence, characters would often act as messengers sharing the shocking story. As you can see from Oedipus Rex, the Second Messenger runs in to inform the Chorus that Oedipus has gouged out his own eyes, and Jocasta has hanged herself. 

(This is interesting compared to modern day movie which are packed with explicit violence)

Language is important

“The same womb where i was sowed, I sow my children”

The gauging of Oedipus’ eyes

As the conversation turns to discuss the gauging of Oedipus’ eyes, the class

agrees upon the conclusion of the action being left to interpretation. 

Iandra suggests that this was to emphasize reason and not the act itself.

He’s so ashamed, so the scene would want empathy and raw emotions

William suggests that it is left up to interpretation because it allows your own judgement

for severity. 

Shannon suggests that if the authors had written it out, it would not do it justice. 

Corneila relates it back to today’s entertainment which often contains too

many details which takes away from the author’s main message. 

**Allan mentions the difference between horror vs terror. Horror is something

you become desensitized to while terror plays on the emotions. 

The Appeal of Oedipus By Dr. Eva Cybulska, Psychiatrist.(https://docs.google.com/document/d/1derMgVEfa13bM7GBlRGY2kpa8CwQZn8_T

xDX3paevVw/edit)

Why is the story appealing and relevant, even 3000 years later?

Kelly starts off by relating it back to what Billy said a few days ago,

“when you lose the ability to see, you actually end up seeing more.” The irony of

Oedipus’ blindness is that he gains insight. 

Billy mentioned that throughout the entire story his obsession with finding

the truth although he could have lived without it, was his fatal flaw. In the end, the truth

did not make him happy— it had only worsen the situation. 

Cornelia adds on by stating that after all the time he spent seeking the truth

and learning to not doubt oracles and fate, after he had gouged his eyes out he still

claims that he did it out of his own will. 

Shannon says that ignorance is bliss, sometimes the truth is better unknown. 

Andrew pointed out that though their marriage was not a happy one, what they

had before was definitely happier than what they had after the truth revealed itself. 

Student Reflection: 

The act of Oedipus gouging his own eyes out with Jocasta’s brooches plays on

the tragedy of metaphorical blindness. Throughout the novel, Oedipus had made

fun of Tiresias because how can a prophet without sight see truth? Meanwhile,

Oedipus himself contributed to the dramatic irony of the play by not seeing the

clues clearly in front of his own eyes. Throughout the play, he was obsessed

with the truth. When he finally found the truth, it lead to his ultimate doom.

As a punishment for himself, he gouged his eyes out. As Billy had stated in

a previous class, “when you lose the ability to see, you end up seeing more.”

In summary, the tragedy of metaphorical blindness is that sometimes it's better

off not knowing the truth.