“I will seize fate by the throat; it shall certainly never wholly overcome me” (Ludwig van Beethoven). The character Oedipus in Oedipus Rex can be compared in a multitude of ways, but with similarities comes differences. Oedipus’s disastrous discovery of the truth can be compared to Elton John’s song “I Know the Truth.” His problem solving and intelligence can easily be correlated to the movie The Martian, and the historical figure Joseph II of Austria has very similar ways of ruling as Oedipus does (Fate Quotes).
Elton John’s song “I Know the Truth” accurately describes Oedipus’ situation throughout the story. The song can easily be seen as though Oedipus is saying the lyrics himself. “How have I come to this? How did I slip and fall? How did I throw half a lifetime away. Without any thought at all?” This stanza in the song can be perfectly compared to the moment when Oedipus killed Laios. In Oedipus Rex, Oedipus describes that moment as “But as this charioteer lurched over towards me I …show more content…
He often calls them “My children” (Sophocles 160) and he sympathizes with them during a time of plague, “….my spirit groans for the city…” (Sophocles 162). Also, when Creon comes from the oracle with obviously bad news, Oedipus cares for his people he says to “Let them all hear it. It is for them I suffer more than for myself” (Sophocles 163). This caring nature of Oedipus is in close comparison to the way Joseph II cared for his people during his reign. Joseph II loved his people and achieved several reforms during his reign, such as giving the ability to religions, other than Catholicism, to worship freely. By doing this, and other reforms, Joseph II began limiting the power of the Catholic Church. Also, he put in place an increase in the Vienna police, which the city desperately needed. All these things, Joseph II did in protection and care of his people (Gebhardt 3, Joseph II, Oedipus Rex, Sophocles
Elton John’s song “I Know the Truth” accurately describes Oedipus’ situation throughout the story. The song can easily be seen as though Oedipus is saying the lyrics himself. “How have I come to this? How did I slip and fall? How did I throw half a lifetime away. Without any thought at all?” This stanza in the song can be perfectly compared to the moment when Oedipus killed Laios. In Oedipus Rex, Oedipus describes that moment as “But as this charioteer lurched over towards me I …show more content…
He often calls them “My children” (Sophocles 160) and he sympathizes with them during a time of plague, “….my spirit groans for the city…” (Sophocles 162). Also, when Creon comes from the oracle with obviously bad news, Oedipus cares for his people he says to “Let them all hear it. It is for them I suffer more than for myself” (Sophocles 163). This caring nature of Oedipus is in close comparison to the way Joseph II cared for his people during his reign. Joseph II loved his people and achieved several reforms during his reign, such as giving the ability to religions, other than Catholicism, to worship freely. By doing this, and other reforms, Joseph II began limiting the power of the Catholic Church. Also, he put in place an increase in the Vienna police, which the city desperately needed. All these things, Joseph II did in protection and care of his people (Gebhardt 3, Joseph II, Oedipus Rex, Sophocles