Literature: Compare and Contrast

Literature offers a variety of literary works by authors of all ages, writing non-fiction and fictional stories, poetry, and essays.

The act of analyzing two different authors by both comparing their work and isolating their contrasting elements, can be difficult, yet rewarding. Oedipus Rex (Sophocles'), written in 429 B. C. , offers the author's use of Greek Mythology, oracles, Greek gods, deception, and murder.

Throughout the series of events, the reader is given clues to the true identity of the murderer resulting in a traumatic climax.Sophocles' writes with certainty yet leaves the reader in virtual suspense anticipating the next event adding to the mystery. Is this done with deliberation? Can the reader actually conclude who the murderer is before the end of the story? Written in a way to confuse yet clarify the identity there is reason to believe this is purposeful and may be considered too revealing. The action is fast-paced, hurried, as though providing more background and detail is too consuming. I would offer that more detail, background, and history could enhance the effects on the reader in a positive way.

The second literary work used to compare and contrast the writings is The Yellow Wallpaper (Gilman), set in the late 19th century, offering suspense and intrigue. The lady of the house has just given birth and her husband, the physician, sweeps her off to the countryside to recover from her unusual mental and physical state. The gradual twists by the writer begin to provide evidence of her mental state caused, in part, by the controlling nature of her husband. Her continued obsession with the yellow wallpaper that, in her mind seems to move, leads to a sudden end.

Gilman presents a type of fiction that, unlike Oedipus Rex, the reader can relate to due primarily to the period of time she writes about. Narrated by the a woman who appears mentally tormented and emotionally restrained, immediately draining the reader. The anonymity of the woman meets with curiosity, reflecting her deception. The writer is resolute throughout the story for the woman's identity to remain elusive. Is there a specific reason for the mystery? The story seems to reveal the entries in a personal diary. Is this why she does not want to disclose her identity?There is an underlying fear her husband will be angry with her for writing her fantasies down on paper.

Does this actually intensify her emotional and mental instability? Independently summarizing the two stories is warranted before analyzing their comparable and contrasting aspects. Oedipus Rex Set in Ancient Greece, Oedipus Rex is King of Thebes where the people suffer from a curse that is killing their unborn children, their cattle, and their people. The streets are lifeless, and the Chorus[1] begs for its king to liberate them from this evil.The king has sent Creon, his wife's brother, to the Lord Apollo to learn how to save their city. Apollo has revealed to Creon the city can only recover by seeking out, and removing, the murderer of King Laios.

Oedipus summons the people to gather. "Oedipus is notable for his compassion, his sense of justice, his swiftness of thought and action, and his candor" (Sparknote on The Oedipus Plays, 2002).Oedipus conveys the message of Apollo and proclaims to all of Thebes, if any man knows who is responsible, reveal what they know and leave here safely...

f anyone knows of, or harbors one, and disobeys this edict, "I pray that that man's life be consumed in evil and wretchedness. And as for me, this curse applies no less if it should turn out that the culprit is my guest here sharing my hearth. You have heard the penalty" (Abcarian, Oedipus Rex (Sophocles), 2009,P. 167,para. 30).

He forbids the people to speak of this person or to stay in any home. In the midst of the city's devastation and death, Oedipus is determined to be the powerful King with his warning, and subsequent guarantee of retribution.Is it just pride that causes the relentless drive to please the people of Thebes for Oedipus? Perplexed at where to begin to find the person or persons responsible for this evil, Oedipus turns to Choragos, leader of the Chorus, for direction. At the suggestion of Choragos, Oedipus sends for the lord clairvoyant, Teiresias, to learn what he knows.

Led in by a servant, the blind clairvoyant is belligerent and refuses to tell what he knows, taking it to his grave. Oedipus is furious and demands to know or he will face dire punishment.Against his will, Teiresias reveals that it is Oedipus polluting his country. This exchange is one of Sophocles' use of metaphors.

Oedipus accuses Teiresias of having "eyes peeled for his own profit-seer blind in his craft! " (Novelguide. com). Teiresias' response is a sardonic reply telling Oedipus that "you with your precious eyes, you're blind to the corruption of your life" (Novelguide. com).

Accusations surface by the king saying Creon had suggested he seek the wisdom and knowledge of Teiresias and, after these demonic accusations, they must have invented the lies to discredit the king.Oedipus, enraged, charges Creon with envy his position and power. He tells the people Creon, whom he trusted and believed to be his friend, wants to destroy him to take his place as king. In his defense, Creon faces Oedipus, and his absurd finger-pointing, by passionately denying every word. He reminds the king that his, Creon's, position holds the same power as the king and his sister without the torment that brings sleepless nights. Iocaste', the wife of the murdered King Laios and now the wife of King Oedipus, attempts to physically separate the two who are arguing in view of all the people.

She demands Creon to leave and the king to come inside. Still in a rage, Oedipus commands Iocaste' to tell everything she knows about the murder of Laios. She pleads with the king to ignore the oracle because they are lies. Why? She relays that as King, an oracle advised Laios that his son would "murder his father and lie with his mother" (Abcarian, Oedipus Rex (Sophocles), 2009, P. 179-180).

Iocaste' relates this was impossible due to the King having pierced the ankles of his 3-day old son and then ordered he be taken to the forest and left for dead.Oedipus cried out in anger not knowing how anyone would condone such an act. Iocaste' continues saying the king was killed where three roads met, by a band of thieves says the only survivor, a former servant of the house. Inquiring the whereabouts of this servant, Iocaste' informs the king that she granted the servant's plea to send him away forever. Oedipus immediately sends for the servant against the petition of his wife.

Dramatic irony. Herein is where the drama begins to truly unfold.Known for his ability to solve riddles, Oedipus has realized that hile enroute to Thebes many years ago, he encountered a man of importance with his entourage where three roads met in the forest. He lashed out killing all men, he believed, when the attendant of this man struck him for traveling too close. In a rage for having to leave his mother and father, the king of Corinth, because a priest told him he would kill his father and lie with his mother, he releases that anger violently at the strangers.

He is now certain it was him that killed King Laios but he must confirm first. Nevertheless, he has paid no mind to the knowledge of the pierced ankles.Why did this allude him at this time? Awaiting the only person able to confirm how the king died, a messenger arrives from Corinth with news of King Polybus' death. The people of Corinth want Oedipus to be their king.

Although Polybus' death is painful, Oedipus is relieved and agrees with Iocaste' that all oracles are false. His father has died a natural death and he was not involved. Although, before Oedipus can rejoice, the messenger reveals that Polybus' was not his father! Confusion and fear consume Oedipus until anger replaces his state of mind.How could someone declare he is not the son of the King of Corinth? The messenger tells the story of how he found him in the woods with his ankles bound (Abcarian, Oedipus Rex (Sophocles), 2009, P. 188; para.

110-130). The messenger refers to the scar Oedipus carries on his ankles and informs him he was so named (swollen feet) because of the piercing and binding of his ankles. He took the baby and gave him to Polybus and Merope', who were childless, and they raised him as their own. The reader knows the truth. The child left for death, with his ankles bound, in the forest was Oedipus.Teiresias prediction made earlier telling Oedipus he mocks his blindness, yet he can see clearly, when Oedipus can see clearly, yet he is blind to the truth.

Again, the use of this metaphor provides more support for the reader's opinion. Oedipus pressures the messenger to reveal all he knows, and he does. He was told by a shepherd the baby, Oedipus, was from the house of Laios. Having exhausted all the messenger knows he turns to Choragos to seek the identity of the shepherd. It is Choragos who believes the shepherd and the servant he has summoned are the same.It is this very moment that Iocaste' has solved the very riddle that her husband has been trying to unravel.

Oedipus turns to Iocaste' and demands she say if the servant is the shepherd they claim? She wavers and then begs him not to continue pursuing his true identity would be fatally wrong. May he never learn who he is (Abcarian, Oedipus Rex (Sophocles), 2009, P. 189;para. 149). Oedipus is horrified by her complacency.

Iocaste' flees to the castle as the shepherd is brought to Oedipus. With trepidation and an inability to stop himself from learning the truth, he presses the shepherd with a barrage of questions.The shepherd gives great pause not wanting to reveal what he knows, begging his death the day he gave the child to the messenger. Oedipus threatens his death unless he speak clearly now. Did he (the child), come from the house of Laios? Yes.

Was he the child from a slave woman or the line of Laios? The shepherd fears for his life whether he speaks or not. He tells Oedipus it was told him the baby was Laios' child, but his wife can tell him. She gave the child to him and told him to get rid of it! The shepherd continues unveiling the prophecies that apparently led to ridding their house of the child.It was said that the boy would kill his own father" (Abcarian, Oedipus Rex (Sophocles), 2009. P 192; para. 67).

Why, then, did he give the child to this old man, the messenger? The shepherd pitied the child and wanted to save him from sure death. For what? Enraged, disgusted, and mad out of his mind, Oedipus cries out "Ah God! It was true! All the prophecies! - Now, O Light, may I look on you for the last time! I, Oedipus, Oedipus, damned in his birth, in his marriage damned, damned in the blood he shed with his own hand! " (Abcarian, Oedipus Rex (Sophocles), 2009, P 192; para. 70).He flees to the palace, bursting through the locked bedroom doors where he finds Iocaste' hanging from a simple cord, dead at her own hand. In a fit of agonizing pain and dreadful loathing, Oedipus releases the cord and lowers her down, tearing the golden brooches from her dress, cries out that he will never have to look at the misery around him.

He takes the two brooches and thrusts the pins into his eyeballs blinding him instantly. Blindness versus inner knowledge with The horrific sight of Oedipus inflicting this self-induced condemnation, with the blood gushing from his ravished eye sockets, Oedipus is led to Choragos.Oedipus pleads with Choragos to kill him, take him far from Thebes; or throw him into the sea. Choragos hears his friends pain telling him it is for Creon to decide his fate.

He pleads with Creon to care for his daughters as they will never wed because of him and his wretched life. The play ends with Creon banishing Oedipus from Thebes, if it is the Gods will. Choragos declares to the people of Thebes that Oedipus himself brought his demise. His persistence with solving the riddle resulted in great pain and anguish that no man should have to endure.

The series of Oedipus plays, both before and after Oedipus Rex, intentionally leave the reader with questions regarding the demise of Oedipus Rex, his children, and the people of Thebes. Sophocles' has presented Oedipus Rex at the peak of his life having assumed the reader has read the play prior providing the history of the protagonist, Oedipus Rex. For the reader to understand and put into perspective Oedipus Rex, a caveat statement at the onset of the play referring to Oedipus at Colonus as a prerequisite would be helpful. In conclusion, reference to Antigone as the last play in the series should be made.