Oedipus the King (Greek Tragedy in New Translations)《Who could EVER tra

(homework at hkust)

1. what's the cause of tragedy? A flaw in central character? A

mistake? An outside force? or fate?

--I think paradox (contradiction) is the cause of tragedy. For human

human is imperfect has in-born paradoxes thus can cause tragedy. We

should call the in-born imperfectness as "from outside".

Some say "tragedy is the highest form of arts" I think that's

because tragedy fully exposes the contrast and to some sense the

absurdity. Tragedy is like a big wave function going through a big

number finally ending with zero --peace (that's important). Other

forms of art might not fully expose this big contrast.

2 Does the tragic character achieve any sort of wisdom at the end of play?

Yes he gains the answer to "Know Thyself". He comes to know his destiny.

He knows what's the ultimate choice at the bottom of his heart. Only

through that choice could he find peace. (and peace is happiness i

think)

3 Is the play depressing?

Oedipus is never depressing. Because *hope* or *the will to control

the destiny of self* goes throughout the story. We should assume

Oedipus is happy all throughout because he never gives up controlling

his destiny. The selfpunishment is a part of the controlling. He's

peaceful at last. "everything is all right".

The assumptions and startpoints of all the tragedies are that the

heros have no choice. e.g. Oedipus Sysiphus. Hamlet asks "to be or

not to be" but he actually knows "what's the only thing to do" he

has choice only because his lack of courage to "do". Sysiphus has no

choice he is determined. He is happy because he knows clearly his

destiny even at a very early time. We are not so lucky. At least I am

not so clear about my destiny:)

Maybe in our life we always have no choice aren't we? We always

know what's the right *attitude* vaguely therefore we're bound to

find out a way somehow --if we want to follow the attitude. We want

to be peaceful but sometimes achieving it by avoiding life thus

gaining fake peace. That's a fake choice. Sysiphus lives at the

assumption that he has no choice; we have no enough bravery to give us

this assumption(or faith) thus have a lot of choices and thus have

no rock to roll no hill to climb :)

Faith is always absurd if examined halfway. e.g. Sysiphus The old

man and the sea Don Quixote. The absurdity is that we are all facing

death but the degree of absurdity of tragic heros is more than that

of average people.

As for Don Quixote I guess humor comes from absurdity as well. I

can see some relationship among tragedy absurdity and humor.

----------------------------

"man after man after man

generation after generation

we are on the abyss

we are the abyss

...

"

i can't find better readings than this book series "The Greek tragedy in new translations". It gave me the most joyful and deepest experience of reading. Sometimes only these books can help outlet my emotions. Thank you Muse.