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In Oedipus the King, we see before us a wise, intelligent and brave leader of Thebes who is willing to help his people at any moment to ensure their safety under his leadership. His strong persistence to solve the plague has resulted him to find the truth of his birth that lead to his own demise. His desire to prove his innocence has lead him to reveal his own sin and eventually isolate from Thebes. Similarly in Middlesex, Callie’s desire of wanting the Obscure Object will only end up in misery because the society rejects homosexual and is against the idea of a woman liking another woman. Both Oedipus and Callie will not get want they want because both of them end up in misery. As for Oedipus, he blind himself after find out he is the “scourge” of his people. He choose to exile from Thebes because he commit incest and patricide. On the other hand, Callie desires the Object and entered to Rex’s mind to have sex with the Object. She feels that “I didn’t have to feel guilty, didn’t have to ask myself if I was having unnatural desires” (375). This shows that she blame on Rex for her unnatural desire toward the Object instead of herself. Her desire of wanting the Object grow when she start having secret love affairs with the Object at night. Her unnatural desire will not only lead her to isolate from the society but as well as to figure out that she is not “normal” girl but something in between. At the end of chapter, The Gun on the Wall, we see that the Object looked “cold, skinny, out of place, lost. It was almost as if she knew we would never see each other again” (394). This reveals that since the society is in Callie’s way to having the Object, her relationship with the Object has come to the end. Callie lose what she desire because it is unnatural for a woman to like another woman. On the other hand, Oedipus lose his role as King because the society reject incest and people believe incest is unbelievable crime. What both character desire is against the society and is a violation of human moral. 

Current Event

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/03/30/endometriosis-is-often-ignored-in-teenage-girls/?_r=0

Abby Ellin’s “Endometriosis Is Often Ignored in Teenage Girls” tells us about a teenager girl Senie Byrne who begin menstruating at age 15.  Every month, she suffer from her cramp as if “1,000 darts had plunged into her abdomen.” Not only so, she also passed out from the cramps. During that time, she had diarrhea and she saw 22 doctors over the years and none of took her seriously. When Byrne was 21, a doctor performed a laparoscopy and find out that she has severe endometriosis, “a hormone and immune system disease in which uterine tissue is found outside the uterus, causing lesions in the ovaries, fallopian tubes, abdominal lining, bowel or bladder” and will result in “painful bowel movements with menstruation, inflammation, internal bleeding, scar tissue and infertility.” No one understand Byrne’s pain and frustration because she knew something was wrong with her when she was 15, however no one pay attention to her. More over, many physicians do not believe such disease will have affect teenagers, so they rarely give a diagnosis of endometriosis. Similar to Byrne situation, Jill Fuersich, 31, first had her period when she was 12. She often skipped school and social event because she was in agony and the doctor just told her that it is normal to have a period that painful. For Callie in Middlesex, she will never understand the real pain of having a period and will never get a chance to experience the pain of endometriosis since she is a male. Callie never thought about how painful a woman have to go through when having cramp since she is faking her period. She simply think about it is like “somebody’s twisting something inside me” (358) and “there was the twinge, the dull ache, the sucker punch that made ma curl up on my bed” (361). She is doing this in order to calm her mother’s anxieties and to fit into the society in order not be an outsider. On the other hand, Byrne and Fuersich suffer so much pain from their cramps  that lead them to missed school day or important social event. Women with endometriosis are infertile and suffer from ovulation and menstruation. This is something that Callie will never experience or understand how disappointed of a woman will be of not having a chance to bear a child.

Key Passage Response

Key Passage Response

Quote:

“I started shaving me legs and underarms. I plucked my eyebrows. The dress code at my school forbade cosmetics. But on weekends I got to experiment, within limits, Retina and I painted our faces in her bedroom, passing a hand mirror back and forth. I was particularly given to dramatic eyeliner. My model here was Maria Callas, or possibly Barbra Streisand In Funny Girl. The triumphant, long-nosed girl”(311).

At this point, Callie has gone to Sophie Sassoon’s Salon to get her facial hair done. Now, she started to shave her legs, underarms and putting up make-up. The images of Callie putting up cosmetics makeup and doing experiment with Retina shows that she start to care about her looks and is in transition to womanhood. Callie “was particularly given to dramatic eyeliner” because trying on beauty products are the only way to make her feel like she is female. By painting her face and “passing a hand mirror back and forth” makes her feel like she is going to puberty. The word “triumphant” represent that Callie is happy about her change because she is starting to look like a model. She says that, “my model here was Maria Callas…Barbra Streisand” shows that she want to be as beautiful as a model because it is every girl’s dream to become a model and be pretty. She is self-satisfy about her changes because this is only way that she can be in control of her puberty by trying beauty products. She is also hopeful because she can finally look like a female and be treat like an adult by shaving her legs and underarms. She feel like an adult because only adult goes to the salon and wax their hair. Callie is happy about her changes because she is doing for herself and she don’t want to be an outsider. She want to fit into the society’s expectation of what a female should look like. The passage develop the themes of transition into womanhood and adulthood because Callie has transform from a short, undeveloped beautiful girl into a adult who are shaving her unwanted hair and putting on cosmetics make-ups. 

Personal Experience

When I was in 5th grade, I still had no idea what was puberty. I have often heard of the word puberty around me but never really understand what the word mean. I am just like Callie who don’t know what exactly puberty mean and had to figure it out myself. Callie had to figure out things herself because Tessie “avoided bodily matters, too. She never spoken openly about sex…Milton was unable to discuss the birds and the bees with his young daughter” (284). Callie’s situation was very similar to mine because I came to New York City with my dad, living with my grandma and grandpa. I am often curious about why are some of my friends growing so tall. I remember one of my best friend grow 3 inches over the summer. I asked her how did she grow so tall all of the sudden and she told me the answer “puberty.” I want to ask someone about what was puberty but no one was able to answer for me because I feel awkward asking dad. Another reason I can not ask them because my family speak chinese, I didn’t know what is puberty in chinese. Even if I do, I won’t ask my grandparent because they move to New York City before I was born, so at that time, I still didn’t feel that close to them. It was my first time living with them and grandma won’t talk about sex or puberty with me anyway. When I was eating lunch at the cafeteria, I saw the girl who sits next to me has some light black hair on her legs. I wonder when did it appear and how it happen? Did it happen overnight? After I got home, I find out I also have some hair on the leg. So, I figure out maybe it just normal for people to have hair on their legs and arms. The next thing I notice was that some of the girls in the class were wearing bras. This was just like how Callie goes to school and found out that “during the growing months, quite a few of my schoolmates had-as adults liked to say- ‘developed’”(282). Instead of being ‘developed’ like my classmates, I start noticing pimples on my forehead. The pimples start to grow rapidly during spring of 5th grade. Sometimes the pimples were reddish and big and sometimes it small. At first, I was scare why there are reddish dots on my forehead. So, I called my mom and she told me the same answer“puberty.” So, I start to know what puberty is but not exactly. I still had to learn more about puberty before I totally understand it. 

Middlesex creative response

"The following morning, as the smoke cleared, the city's flag could once again be seen. Remember the symbol on it? A phoenix rising from its ashes. And the words beneath? Speramus meliora; resurget cineribus.'We hope for better things; it will rise from the ashes'"(251).

This creative piece of artwork conveys that a new start will begin for Calliope. I draw the phoenix coming out of the ashes to represent the new beginning and to conveys that everything will get better. This will shows that Calliope's life will be changing and hopefully everything will get better. Also, there will be collapsing building around the phoenix to show the chaos that the riots cause. I will use blue and grey colors for the sky, showing that the smoke is almost about to cleared and the chaos has coming to an end. 

How have your emotions affected your learning?

Prompt #2: How have your emotions affected your learning?

       I think that emotion has a huge impact on my learning because when I get angry, I really don’t want to do anything. I remember one time I am trying to teach my brother numbers one and two. I tell him that this is one and that is two and he repeated after me. That moment, I am happy because he is listening to me. So, I decide to test him which number is one and he gets it right. I tell him “good job, brother.” But, when I test him which number is two, he pointed at one. I am like what, how could my brother get it wrong because the numbers look different. One is written on a light blue star shape while the number two is written on a pink rectangle shape. The numbers is printed bold and big. Then, I teach him few more times and he still didn't get it right and it pissed me off. I feel like he is guessing by pointing at any number since you have 50% to guess it right. When I try to force him keep learning the numbers, he start crying unstop. I was wondering why he cries so much. I went back to my room and I was mad because my brother couldn't even remember just two numbers. I lie on my bed and was staring at the roof. I don’t feel like doing homework or studying for my test because I hate when my brother cries. It loud, annoying and make me unable to focus on doing homework. Do all the kids act that way? Why is my brother unable to focus and remember the number? Maybe he is distracted by the toys around him. There are more than 30 toys in the living room, including car and airplane. He is even holding two cars at his hand. What is he thinking when I am trying to teach him? Since he is only three years old, he mind is probably want to watch TV, play his toys and fool around the room. Was I like that when I am young? Probably, since all kids want to play and can to easier distracted. Let put that aside, I am going to focus on my exhibition first. I open my computer and start researching about my exhibition topic. I find some interesting things about sexual assault. I read one of the articles and it surprises me that “one out of five women will be rape in their life time on campus.” I keep on reading different articles for an hour unstop until I heard “Bing-Dong, Bing-Dong.” What is that noise? I open my door and I see my brother throwing his cars all over the place. Suddenly, he throws his cars at me and it hit my leg. I yelled at him to stop and tell my mom to bring him back to his room because I am trying to focus on exhibition research. I open a Microsoft document and starting typing up some ideas about my outline. Then, I heard loud TV noise outside the living room. I walk to the living room and see my grandma watching Asian show about fighting against the Japanese. I tell my grandma to low down the volume and I went back to my room. But I don’t remember what I am trying to write again, so I decide to take a nap. This shows that if you get distracted too many times, it is impossible to focus back to what you doing. Well, thats how I am. 

The Oedipus Project

Speak up, old man. Your years,

your dignity-you should speak for the others.

Why here and kneeling, what preys upon you so?

Some sudden fear? some strong desire?

You can trust me. I am ready to help. (9-13)

Analysis: 
Oedipus enters the play as a wise and intelligent leader of Thebes. He states, “Speak up, old man. Your years, / your dignity,” the tone expressed shows his pride and power as a king (9-10). Oedipus is a caring character because he offers his hand to help the priest up. The imagery of priest kneeling down at Oedipus shows people’s reliance and dependence on him. He appears to be superior and a godlike figure that shows his status in society. When Oedipus asks the priest what brings him here, is it “some sudden fear? some strong desire” reveals that he is needed by his people because his people pray for him when they need help (12). Thus, Oedipus is presented as a “savior” of Thebes. The use of telegraphic “you can trust me” demonstrates Oedipus’ confident about solving the problems in Thebes (13). He says this in order to obtain trust, faith and loyalty from his people. However, his intention is pure because he is willing to help his people at any moment to ensure their safety under his leadership. This also proves that Oedipus is a brave and fearless character due to his desire to help his people at no cost.

Reader Response:

Who are your parents? Do you know? All unknowing

you are the scourge of your own flesh and blood,

the dead below the earth and the living here above

and the double lash of you mother and father’s curse

will whip you from this land one day, their footfall

treading you down in terror, darkness shrouding

your eyes that now can see the light! (473-479)

Analysis: 
Tiresias accused Oedipus by saying that Oedipus does not even know who his parents are. Oedipus is unaware that he is the “scourge” of his family and the people of Thebes (474). The fact that he commits incest and patricide, the royal blood will be stain and ruin the family’s reputation in society. Also, Oedipus is refer as the plague who destroy the city and disgust by the “dead below the earth and the living here above,” meaning the gods, devils and human on earth (475). Once Oedipus knows the truth, the curse will punish him and exile him to the foreign land. The statement “their football/ trading you down in terror” reveals that his parents spirit will track him down and makes Oedipus live with fear and guilt (477-478). The use of words, “darkness shrouding your eyes” foreshadow Oedipus will be blind at the end of the play. This is ironic because Oedipus has insult Tiresias’ blindness who is capable to see the truth. On the other hand, Oedipus can see the “light” but is not helping him to see the truth (479).

Reader Response:

I feel bad and pity Oedipus because the more he force Tiresias to tell him the truth, the closer he is toward his own demise. I really want Oedipus to slow down and take a step back. He should talk to Tiresias privately instead in front of all people of Thebes. I feel like Tiresias and Oedipus should stop accusing each other. They should relax and calm down. I wonder if they talk privately, will Oedipus still end in misery. Will Oedipus continue to search for the truth himself after all the accuse? At first I like Tiresias who did not tell Oedipus the truth. But later on, the way he accuse Oedipus is intense. My reaction is like “Wow, Tiresias.”  and shocked by how forward Tiresias is. I think Oedipus will not believe what Tiresias is saying because they both has gone insane. Rather, Oedipus will think this as some kind of joke Tiresias is making. If I am in the same situation, I will not believe it too because the truth behind the insult just seems to be unmoral.

Wasn’t I born for torment? Look me in the eyes!

I am abomination-heart and soul!

I must be exiled, and even in exile

never see my parents, never set foot

on native ground again. Else I am doomed

to couple with my mother and cut my father down. (910-915)

Analysis: 
Oedipus believes he is “abomination-heart and soul” because he will sleep with his mother and kill his father in the future (911). This reveals that his birth is cursed and born for torment which gives an idea that he is hated by all gods. However, Oedipus has only arrived at only half of the truth because he did not know Polybus and Merope are not his parents. The fact that Oedipus decides to exile from Corinth shows he compassionate toward his family. He wants to leave in order to prevent harming his parents and fulfilling the prophecy. Oedipus’s action demonstrates that he believe the prophecy will come true. This is ironic because Oedipus did not avoid his fate and is exile from Thebes. He does not know that he has fulfilled his fate through persistent searching for the truth. It also ironic that he decides to “never see [his] parents” but still end up seeing his real parents and doomed to his fate (913). This reveals that the prophet is not wrong and  the prophecy will only lead one more closer to their fate. This shows that no one is able to escape way from their fate.

Reader Response:

Dear Oedipus:

I believe you are born for torment because you will live in terror until the day you die. I really hope that you can stop searching for your origin that leads to your demise. I know people tend to search for their origin to unite with their family. I understand your fear when you learn about the prophecy. No matter who you are, you are a nice son who exile from your homeland to avoid such misery fate and to protect your family from destruction. Your intention is pure and you leave in order to maintain your family reputation. Sometimes, I really want you to slow down and connect all the puzzles together. For example, Laius twists his son’s ankle. Why can’t you connect this to your swollen foot? I feel like you just need time to think about all the clues that is being reveal to you. Anyway, I just want to tell you that. Even through, you committed incest and patricide. In my heart, you are still a good king who feels compassionate about the safety of your people. I hope you will stay strong even when you find out the truth of your birth.

Sincerely,

                    Qiao Lin

Don’t let them go begging, abandoned,

women without men. Your own flesh and blood!

Never bring them down to the level of my pains.

Pity them. Look at them, so young, so vulnerable

shorn of everything-you’re their only hope. (1649-1653)

Analysis: 
Oedipus asks Creon to promise him to take care of his daughters. Oedipus shows love and compassionate toward his daughters because he knows Antigone and Ismene will be excluded from the society. Oedipus states, “women without men” that reveals that no men will want to marry his daughters because they are the offspring of an incestuous marriage (1650). No men are willing to risk their reputation to marry a damage woman despite the fact they are innocent. The fact that Oedipus does not want his daughters to suffer as much as him, he tries to convince Creon by saying that “Look at them, so young, so vulnerable” (1652). This shows that Oedipus only hope is to beg Creon to take care of his daughters who can offers them a better life. At this point, Oedipus is powerless and helpless because he has lost his reputation and power as a king. The society rejects incest which impacts his power to help his daughters to be continue treated like a princess. But at the same time, his words “Pity them”, “Look at them”, “Don’t let them” emphasis he is still demanding Creon what to do even though he is not the king anymore. Although he lost his status, he still acts like a king because of his pride.

Reader Response:

Synthesis:

Throughout the play, Oedipus goes from one of admiration to disappointment and finally to pitiful. At the beginning of the play, I saw before me a wise, intelligent and brave leader of Thebes. Oedipus repeats, “You can trust me” and “I am ready to help” to illustrate his sincerity in helping his people at all cost and to gain their trust (13). As the play continues, Oedipus starts to criticize Creon and Tiresias of treason due to their effort to overthrow him. Moreover, he seems to care less about solving the plague but focuses on finding his origin to prove his innocence. As the play comes to the end, Oedipus blinds himself because he does not want to live through the pain seeing everything unravel before him. Then, I see Oedipus as a good father who begs Creon to “don’t let them go begging, abandoned” in society (1646). Oedipus is truly pitiful king who couldn't even give his daughters a happy life, something all fathers want their daughter to have.

The responsibility a leader has to carry around leads one to make unjust decision. For instance, Oedipus’s role as the king of Thebes puts a huge leadership role on him which also gives him a sense of pride that prevents him from seeing the truth. Oedipus’ strong persistence to find out the truth of his birth not only leads to his demise but as well as his two daughters. Since the society rejects incest, Oedipus’s daughters are greatly impacted and doom to have a misery fate. It shows that once a person committed incest, the society will ultimately discriminate against the person’s family regardless of their status in society. Not only will incest break the family apart but it also destroys one’s self image and lead the rest of the family to ruins as well. No one in society will take the burden to marry a woman whose relative committed incest because people believe incest is unbelievable crime which is disgusting and a violation of human moral. This shows that how powerful a taboo can influence one’s mind.

Citation:

Sophocles. Oedipus the King. The Three Theban Plays. Trans. Robert Fagles. New York: Penguin Classics, 1984. Print.