Distant and Tragic Relatives
The process of losing everything one has ever loved is tragic; both literally and literary. The idea that a character caused him or herself to fall into such a desolate state is heart-wrenching. This style of storytelling has was created during the times of ancient civilization and has been around for hundreds of years. Oedipus the King, by Sophocles, was created in the 400’s B.C. and A Streetcar Named Desire, by Tennessee Williams, was created in 1946 A.D. The two stories are tragic tales telling of the doomed fate of a tragic hero; Oedipus Rex and Blanche Dubois. Even though their stories are over fifteen thousand years apart; there are many similarities and differences between the two tragic heroes. A long time ago, a philosopher named Aristotle created three main elements that defined a tragic hero. The first element states that the …show more content…
The tragic heroes ' genders and the time-periods in which they lived in are obvious, yet important, details. Oedipus was a rich and powerful man who sought out glory and respect. As King of Thebes, a lot was expected of him and the lives of thousands were in his hands. “Oedipus, king, we bend to you, your power - but rule a land of the living, not a wasteland” (Sophocles). There were lots of people that tried to prevent Oedipus from recklessly pursuing the bitter truth, but there was no one to stop Blanche from lying or having affairs. Blanche was an outgoing yet deceptive girl who desired sex, magic, and a happier life. The only one who had a problem with her was Stanley; who ended up becoming Blanche’s arch enemy and secondary downfall. “I’ve been on to you from the start! Not once did you pull any wool over this boy’s eyes!” (Williams, 552). Both Oedipus and Blanche had their own unique stories, and yet they bore a remarkable resemblance to each
The process of losing everything one has ever loved is tragic; both literally and literary. The idea that a character caused him or herself to fall into such a desolate state is heart-wrenching. This style of storytelling has was created during the times of ancient civilization and has been around for hundreds of years. Oedipus the King, by Sophocles, was created in the 400’s B.C. and A Streetcar Named Desire, by Tennessee Williams, was created in 1946 A.D. The two stories are tragic tales telling of the doomed fate of a tragic hero; Oedipus Rex and Blanche Dubois. Even though their stories are over fifteen thousand years apart; there are many similarities and differences between the two tragic heroes. A long time ago, a philosopher named Aristotle created three main elements that defined a tragic hero. The first element states that the …show more content…
The tragic heroes ' genders and the time-periods in which they lived in are obvious, yet important, details. Oedipus was a rich and powerful man who sought out glory and respect. As King of Thebes, a lot was expected of him and the lives of thousands were in his hands. “Oedipus, king, we bend to you, your power - but rule a land of the living, not a wasteland” (Sophocles). There were lots of people that tried to prevent Oedipus from recklessly pursuing the bitter truth, but there was no one to stop Blanche from lying or having affairs. Blanche was an outgoing yet deceptive girl who desired sex, magic, and a happier life. The only one who had a problem with her was Stanley; who ended up becoming Blanche’s arch enemy and secondary downfall. “I’ve been on to you from the start! Not once did you pull any wool over this boy’s eyes!” (Williams, 552). Both Oedipus and Blanche had their own unique stories, and yet they bore a remarkable resemblance to each