Essay Oedipus as Scapegoat in Oedipus the King - 1492 Words

Oedipus as Scapegoat in Oedipus the King The great psychologist-philosopher Carl Jung was briefly a student of Freud. Because Jung felt that Freuds approach to psychoanalysis was by far too narrow, he broke off from his teachings, and made significant contributions to mythological criticism. Jungs greatest contribution was his theory of archetypes. His proposal of archetypes argues that there is one original pattern or model of all things of the same type. According to Jung, beneath the personal unconscious is a collective unconscious that is in the psychic inheritance of all humans. Jung thought of the collective unconscious as a sort of memory bank that stores images and ideas that humans have accumulated over the course†¦show more content†¦The archetype is further fulfilled by the sacrificial scapegoat being permitted to engage in sexual intercourse with a woman usually forbidden to him (Vickery 44). The scapegoat is a person blessed with special attributes - courage, strength, dedication - who is summoned by a calling which rouses him from the comfortable routines of his daily life and sets him on a road of adventure (Brunel 321). In some instances the herald that provokes the scapegoat to take action is an incident which unexpectedly disrupts his day-to-day existence. In response to the calling the scapegoat leaves his familiar surroundings and ventures out into a foreign world. This point within the scapegoats quest is referred to as the crossing of the threshold because he is entering a region of mystery and danger (Brunel 321). Once the scapegoat has passed into the foreign world he immediately endures adventures, which often times involve his encounter with other archetypal figures (Brunel 322). Because the world that the scapegoat enters is so full of danger, he is often assisted in his adventure by various helpful beings. The hero, it is clear, needs all the help he can get on the Quest, for whatever leads him, his journey is always, in a sense, a voyage to hell, a descent into a nightmarish landscape where he must survive a series of ordeals (Brunel 323). The quest often leads the sacrificial scapegoat to self-discovery, allowing him to examine the depths of his unexploredShow MoreRelatedOedipus: The Scapegoat or The Murderer?1359 Words   |  6 PagesIn the Sophocles play, â€Å"Oedipus Rex,† discrepancy between whether Oedipus is the main culprit for murdering King Laius or if Oedipus has become the scapegoat for the cause of the city’s plague that took many lives. The murder of King Laius strikes the interest of many readers and therefore creating the discussion of who would be a culprit for the crime. One side of the argument shows the Greek Gods set a curse upon Oedipus making his destiny one of wrongful conviction for a murderous crime. On theRead MoreOedipus The King : A Classical Tragedy1272 Words   |  6 PagesSophocles’ Oedipus the King is a classical tragedy that derives its meaning through the experiences of its tragic he ro, Oedipus. Throughout the play, the eminent characteristic of Oedipus is his ignorance of the truth that inevitably leads to his downfall. This ignorance of truth is a characteristic found within the Aristotelian definition of a tragedy. Tragedy, as defined by Aristotle in his Poetics, are imitations of actions and are not narrative. This means that tragedies are often demonstratedRead MoreAn Analysis Of The Of Oedipus And Oedipus Rex Essay1229 Words   |  5 Pagesgreed and malice. Throughout the framework of history, humans have willingly paid a price to obtain power, glory, and wealth. The price for this achievement could include the loss of friends, family, monetary goods, and social status. The story of Oedipus Rex is no exception. 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Oedipus hubris traps him to fulfil the oracle and intensifies his punishment.    Oedipus pride is an innate characteristicRead MoreThe Iliad And The Odyssey1615 Words   |  7 PagesOdysseus, is the King of Ithaca and is called to serve and lead the Greeks in the Trojan War. Odysseus receives help from Athena and is told that he must serve in the Trojan War for he is destined to bring them victory, in which he does. After winning the war Odysseus is cursed to never go home, thankfully he makes amends with the gods and returns home in ten years. Correlating to Greek literature a famous tragedy, is the play â€Å"Oedipus the King† by Sophocles, where the main character, Oedipus, is destinedRead MoreOedipus The King Essay1360 Words   |  6 Pagesabout by the suffering of a heroic figure. In Oedipus The King, by Sophocles, the agony of pain attacking the protagonist is a result of his tragic flaw. Sophocles often uses a characters hamartia to alter or influence the future or outcome of the hero, in this case, Oedipus. Oedipus hubris traps him into fulfillin g the vision and intensifies his punishment. Oedipus pride is an inherited characteristic. Even before his glory and power as King of Thebes, he allowed his conceit to affectRead MoreOedipus As A Tragic Hero1506 Words   |  7 PagesIn Sophocles’ tragic drama, Oedipus displays heroic characteristics as well as those which hinder him. â€Å"There remains then the man who occupies the mean between saintliness and depravity. He is not extraordinary in virtue and righteousness and yet does not fall into fortune because of evil and wickedness† (Ahenkora et al, 2012, p. 12). This drama has influenced many great thinkers such as Freud. The downfall of a tragic hero consumes the audience with emotion. Oedipus exemplifies Aristotle’s definitionRead MoreThe Hubris of Oedipus in Oedipus the King Essay1865 Words   |  8 Pages(Miriam-Webster Dictionary) in Oedipus the King, by Sophocles, In Oedipus The King, by Sophocles, the onslaught of pain assailing the protagonist is a result of his tragic flaw. Sophoc les often used a characters’ flaw to alter or influence the outcome or future of the hero. Oedipus hubris influences him to fulfill the oracle and further intensify his punishment from the Gods. Oedipus pride is an essential characteristic throughout the play. Even before Oedipus came into power as the King of Thebes he allowed