Oedipus Journal #2

To what extent have you found it possible, in your consideration of literary works, to separate the individual from his or her public role? In your answer you should refer to any two or three works you have studied.

In my consideration of literay works, I have found it to be possible to separate the individual from his or her public role. This separation is usually possible if the individual has a means of expressing their thoughts to the reader. By expressing their thoughts, the reader can see how they truly feel and think and compare that to how others think of them.

In Oedipus the King, Oedipus' public role is that of a king and leader. In the beginning of the play, the citizens of Thebes come to Oedipus in hopes that he can solve their problems and end this curse upon the city. They call to him, saying, "Oh Oedipus, king of the land, our greatest power! [...] Now we pray to you. You cannot equal the gods, / your children know that, bending at your altar. / But we do rate you the first of men". This passage shows how the people view Oedipus as almost god-like and a man with great power. They call the altar for the gods his, showing how the people equate him to a god in power. However, Oedipus is a mere mortal, and subject to whims of the gods as anyone else. When Oedipus realizes that the prophecies surrounding his birth have come true, he expresses his agony and lack of control of his fate: "Oh again, / the misery, all at once over and over / the stabbing daggers, stab of memory / raking me insane. [...] Apollo, friends, Apollo / he ordained my agonies-these, my pains on pains!" This exclamation of despair and blame show Oedipus as powerless and hurt, and not like the noble and god-like king the citizens view him to be.

The separation of the individual from his or her public role is an issue that is also examined in The Handmaid's Tale. Offred, the protagonist, is one of many Handmaids who were chosen by the government to try to have children for the good of society. Many of the people of this society view the Handmaids as a resource that is used to benefit the rest of the society. Others view them as immoral and inferior to themselves. Regardless of their own personal feelings towards them, citizens of this society only view the Handmaids as Handmaids, and not individuals. Their public role overshadows any of their individuality. However, the reader is able to easily separate Offred from her public role in society because they are able to see and read her thoughts. As the novel is written in first person, the reader gains an intimate view of Offred and her thoughts and feelings. Being able to see her thoughts allows the reader to separate Offred her public role.

Seprating the individual from their public role is most easily done when the character expresses their thoughts and feelings, allowing the reader to see them in another way detached from their public role. In Oedipus the King, this is done as Oedipus speaks his inner thoughts to the chorus. The Handmaid's Tale is narrated by Offred, allowing the reader to see Offred's feelings that can't express aloud. These expressions allow the reader to see the individual apart from their public role.