Greek Myth And Play Oedipus The King Essay - 1405 Words

Throughout the movie Lone Star, the influence of the Greek myth and play Oedipus the King play an important role in the movie line. The influence that Oedipus has on the characters of Lone Star causes the movie to become a modern interpretation of Sophocles’ infamous play. Although the two are different and remain unique in their own regards, there are several key aspects that unite the movie and play. Without the presence of boundaries, the issue of relationships and the influence of lies and secrets on the characters and outlying communities Lone Star would not have connection to Oedipus the King. An important theme to both Lone Star as well as Oedipus The King if that of boundaries. This can be viewed in both a geographical sense as well as a personal journey. Sam Deeds in Lone Star recently returned home to take up the post of his late father, the Sheriff of Rio County. The town, named Frontera, lies on the border of Texas and Mexico, causing border crossing to be an app arent theme in Sam’s quest for justice. As Geoffrey W. Bakewell writes in his article Oedipus Tex: Lone Star, Tragedy and Postmodernism â€Å"Boundaries are crucial: crossing them brings knowledge and exacts a price† (39). Sam travels geographical borders in order to uncover the killer of Sheriff Charlie Wade as well as to find out more about the habits of Buddy, Sam’s late father. Sam desired to learn of the killer of Charlie Wade, even if it was his father. However, the discovery of Wade’s body openedShow MoreRelatedThe Psychological Connection to Oedipus the King1387 Words   |  6 PagesScholar Robert Graves wrote in 1995, â€Å"Myth has two main functions. The first is to answer the sort of awkward questions that children ask, such as ‘Who made the world? How will it end? Who was the first man? Where do souls go after death?’†¦The second function of myth is to justify an existing social system and account for traditional rites an d customs.† Oedipus the King written by Sophocles in 430 B.C. focuses around the second function that Graves noted. The play has been around for centuries, hasRead MoreOedipus Rex by Sophocles889 Words   |  3 PagesSophocles’s Oedipus the King, fate is primary theme in the play. The influence of fate goes beyond the play but how Greeks viewed fate entirely. Also, Oedipus somewhat represented the Athenian political system and the people of Athens by his leadership. And lastly, having the play unfold, one is able to sympathize with Oedipus and strike pity and fear rather than disgust from his sins. The power of fate in Oedipus the King was one that shaped the entire story. In the beginning of the play, Oedipus heardRead MoreThe Role Of Fate And Fate In Oedipus1075 Words   |  5 Pagesfake or a fraud, which is usually true. 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Born in 495 B.C., Sophocles â€Å"lived for nearly ninety years through the most of the turbulent events of his country during the fifteenth century B.C.† (Charters and Charters). He was born in Colonus, not farRead MoreLacan once said, in an unpublished seminar, â€Å"the Oedipus Complex is a dream of Freud† (Felman,1600 Words   |  7 Pages Lacan once said, in an unpublished seminar, â€Å"the Oedipus Complex is a dream of Freud† (Felman, 1034). It is a questionable theory and a so-called ‘dream’ because Sigmund Freud developed the Oedipus complex in such a way that allowed him to stand as an example of his own theory. It begins with what Freud would call ‘introspection’; the analysis of one’s self. He developed terms to use in his psychoanalysis; terms that divide the self and attempt to explain aspects of the human personality. AddingRead MoreAncient Greek Theater1235 Words   |  5 PagesCheese’s, or not letting you hang out with that dreamy hunk Bryan on Saturday. For Oedipus, killing his parents was not something petty he threatened when he got too worked up, but rather his fate. This suspenseful and masterful plot, conceived by the legendary playwright Sophocles, was one of the many groundbreaking works to come out of fifth century BC Greece. Works of ancient Greek theater, particularly Oedipus the King, embodied the spirit of innovation that fifth century BC Athens was known for.Read More Oedipus the King: A Tragic Hero Essay2117 Words   |  9 PagesIn most dramatic plays, tragedy usually strikes the protagonist of the play and leads him, or her, to experience devastating losses. While tragic instances can be avoided, there are other instances where one’s fate and future is out of the protagonist’s control. In Oedipus the King, written by Sophocles and first performed around 249 BC, Oedipus cannot escape his destiny and even though he tries to overcome and circumvent prophecy, he finds out that supernatural forces will get what they want inRead More Oedipus the King Essay1073 Words   |  5 PagesOedipus the King The ancient Greeks were famous for their tragedies. These dramas functioned to â€Å"ask questions about the nature of man, his position in the universe, and the powers that govern his life† (â€Å"Greek† 1). Brereton (1968) stated that tragedies typically â€Å"involved a final and impressive disaster due to an unforeseen or unrealized failure involving people who command respect and sympathy. It often entails an ironical change of fortune and usually conveys a strong impression ofRead MoreTheme Of Irony In Oedipus The King827 Words   |  4 PagesThe presence of irony in â€Å"Myth† by Muriel Rukeyser, â€Å"My Oedipus Complex† by Frank O’Connor, and â€Å"Oedipus the King† by Sophocles link these three literary pieces together. However, each of the works utilize different forms of irony in different levels to specifically present their message. In Rukeyser’s short poem, the narrator uses verbal irony through Oedipusâ€℠¢ conversation with the Sphinx and dramatic irony through Oedipus’ shorthanded conclusions. O’Connor uses situational irony in his short storyRead MoreOedipus versus Madea675 Words   |  3 PagesOedipus vs. Madea Greek mythology is the body of myths and teachings concerning the gods, goddesses, and heroes, and the world. It was the religion in ancient Greece, and the only one that they likely practiced, similar to how we practice religion today. Myths are thought to be present so that we can understand the nature of what a myth is. An important function of myths is to maintain natural and social order. Although the creation myth begins with Chaos, the story works to provide a specific