Bryan Liceralde
Ms. Muise
ENG4U1-01
25 October 2015
Oedipus, Say Hi To Maslow
Abraham Maslow 's Hierarchy of Needs is a psychological theory that intends to demon-strate what motivates others to act. One can apply his theorem to Sophocles ' “Oedipus the King”. In each level of Maslow 's pyramid, the actors have a need to fulfil and they do so through their actions.
At the base of the pyramid, are the physiological needs, which are the vital necessities in-dividuals necessitate to survive. Maslow argues, “These physiological drives or needs are to be considered unusual rather than typical because they are isolable,” (Maslow). Jocasta recalls when the prophecy warns Laius that he is to die by his son before saying she is the wife and mother of Oedipus. She asserts, “Laius was fated to die by the hand of his son…as for the son…Laius fas-tened his ankles together and had him cast away on the pathless mountains,” (Sophocles 41-53). By deserting her son, this demonstrates Jocasta’s obliviousness and instant neediness. She solely prioritizes the fulfillment of her urgent needs during her life. …show more content…
Maslow believes “They [physiological needs] may serve as the almost exclusive organizers of behavior… and we may then fairly describe the whole organism as a safety-seeking mechanism,” (Maslow). After hearing Apollo’s prophecy, Oedipus departs for Thebes. To Jocasta, he states, “He foretold a dreadful calamitous future for me—to lie with my mother…and to be the killer of the father that gave me life...I was running to a place where I would never see that shameful prophecy come true.” (Sophocles 45). Oedipus reveals his worry and his need to meet his safety necessities. His promise to not return to Corinth demonstrates his efforts to eradicate his
Ms. Muise
ENG4U1-01
25 October 2015
Oedipus, Say Hi To Maslow
Abraham Maslow 's Hierarchy of Needs is a psychological theory that intends to demon-strate what motivates others to act. One can apply his theorem to Sophocles ' “Oedipus the King”. In each level of Maslow 's pyramid, the actors have a need to fulfil and they do so through their actions.
At the base of the pyramid, are the physiological needs, which are the vital necessities in-dividuals necessitate to survive. Maslow argues, “These physiological drives or needs are to be considered unusual rather than typical because they are isolable,” (Maslow). Jocasta recalls when the prophecy warns Laius that he is to die by his son before saying she is the wife and mother of Oedipus. She asserts, “Laius was fated to die by the hand of his son…as for the son…Laius fas-tened his ankles together and had him cast away on the pathless mountains,” (Sophocles 41-53). By deserting her son, this demonstrates Jocasta’s obliviousness and instant neediness. She solely prioritizes the fulfillment of her urgent needs during her life. …show more content…
Maslow believes “They [physiological needs] may serve as the almost exclusive organizers of behavior… and we may then fairly describe the whole organism as a safety-seeking mechanism,” (Maslow). After hearing Apollo’s prophecy, Oedipus departs for Thebes. To Jocasta, he states, “He foretold a dreadful calamitous future for me—to lie with my mother…and to be the killer of the father that gave me life...I was running to a place where I would never see that shameful prophecy come true.” (Sophocles 45). Oedipus reveals his worry and his need to meet his safety necessities. His promise to not return to Corinth demonstrates his efforts to eradicate his