Thursday, September 2, 2010
Greek Time
World Literature will begin its study of "Allegory of the Cave," "Oedipus Rex," and "Antigone," in the next few days. I have been teaching these works for 25 years, and when I think about Sophocles' writing them in the middle of the 4th century BC, I pause to consider what relevance they have for my seniors. How far removed are we from the Greek ideal? Can a story about a man whose horrendous prophecy propels his entire life make sense to 18 year olds? I think in a very real way that the story of Oedipus and his campaign to be his own man, not to give into the oracle's declaration may ring true with our times in a profound way. At his best, Oedipus is a man dealt a wretched hand who refuses to accept the situation. Even though fate and the gods' wills formed the basis of faith, Oedipus maintains the facade of free will. He believes in his heart he is, in fact, free. Isn't that what we all hope?
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I adore Oedipus Rex and Antigone. I touch briefly on Oedipus Rex before reading Antigone with my sophomores. One of the reasons I included Antigone was because so much of our sophomore reading list was male character driven; it's refreshing to talk about a strong female character for a change! I've always felt that once my students get past the shock of the prophecy/legacy Oedipus has been given, they strongly identify with him, and Antigone as well, as each struggles to be their own person despite what others have planned for them. I've taught several kids who have been dealt a truly rotten hand in life, and what better inspiration than Oedipus? They don't have to be tied to or defined by their circumstances. As for Antigone, even though she takes her own life in the end, she is an inspiration in her own right. She is strong, unwavering in her religious beliefs and her love for her brother - truly admirable traits in a young woman today....
ReplyDeleteNicole, what a wonderful way to say exactly how I feel about Antigone; she is clearly a woman who lives and dies on her own terms. She doesn't wait on anyone to take the action she knows to be correct, whether it is in burying her brother or ending her life. I agree, dead white males dominate the canon. Medea is a fabulous play, but the whole serving the kids in a gumbo doesn't play well with teenagers. Although I do have several AP seniors who read it thoughtfully. Thanks for your insightful comments.
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