Oedipus – the victim of fate

Why do we cling to hope when we can do nothing about our destiny? Sophocles says, ‘it’s a terrible thing to be wise when there’s nothing you can do,’ Does that mean ignorance is bliss? The answer is of course not that simple.

Oedipus was doomed before his birth. And we can’t say it’s his fault. What can you do if gods have already decided what’s to be done with your life? You can’t thwart your destiny. Even if you try to alter it, you won’t succeed. However, one of the questions that has always bothered people after reading Oedipus Rex is: Is there justice in a world, where for no reason clear to ethical understanding, the worst happens to the best?

We often hear whatever happens, it happens for the best. It’s not so. Pick up any newspaper & you would know it. Yes, the tragedy of Oedipus is way too much for those who want to stay in a state of denial. Some are predestined to suffer & the strange thing is that they may not be such bad humans. We know that fiction has to make sense, but what happens in real life is far worse & unbelievable. Usually people hide their stories & maybe they don’t have any other option. People just don’t understand a tragedy till it happens to them.

Anyway, I was going through this play yesterday & these are some of the lines that I would like to share:

Teiresias: I did not want to speak, but you incited me.

Oedipus: What do you mean? Speak it again, so I can understand you more precisely.

Teiresias: Did you not grasp my words before, or are you trying to test me with your question?

…

Oedipus: Do you really think you can just speak out, say things like this, & still remain unpunished?

Teiresias: Yes, I can, if the truth has any strength.

…

Oedipus: Everything you speak is all so cryptic – like a riddle.

Teiresias: Well, in solving riddles, are you not the best there is?

Teiresias has been quite sarcastic, cause Oedipus was able to solve the Riddle of Sphinx. But the truth shatters him to pieces. Anyone in his place would have gone mad. In real life, the story can be different, but bad things happen & there is no turning back. Life doesn’t give you a second chance. You can do nothing about your fate.

What I find weird is that they say you watch or read a tragedy to have a good cry & it gives you an opportunity to get rid of your ideas about bad things happening to good people. I don’t think it’s that simple & I don’t understand why most people ignore what Sophocles said about gods.

‘Maybe the gods do exist…& are consciously & elaborately malicious. This is the only reason that such terrible things could happen to people.’

This kind of idea has even been uttered by Bertrand Russell, but you know how badly people judge him.

Whatever the reason is…what happened to Oedipus was, by all means, not his fault & yet this man went through hell.

I also like what the Antigone (the daughter of Oedipus) said:

‘And if I have to die before my time, well, I count that a gain. When someone has to live the way I do, surrounded by so many evil things, how can she fail to find a benefit in death? And so for me meeting this fate won’t bring any pain.’

And we still raise the question: how much can you take? Some people only suffer & that’s it. Good things never happen & they are so used to evil happenings, that they even stop complaining.

Anyway, you must read the trilogy, not just Oedipus Rex. Sophocles is really good. Although I find Euripides a little better than him, but Aeschylus is a total disappointment. I can ‘t stay away from him for obvious reason, but if you can…then do that.

I think Oedipus was a victim of fate. However, this character has been judged pretty badly by closed minds. I don’t think he committed sin. He wasn’t aware of anything till it was too late to turn back.

Canvas of Hope

Promy: Is this all there left for us? To wait for hope to blossom again; then destiny shuts another door right in your face…right in your god-damn face…and then what do we do? WE WAIT!!!

Salma: I’m tired of this waiting game. We’ve waited all our lives and now I’m kind of tired of it. So I believe whatever you’ve got to do, you must do that today & that discards the very option of waiting. I guess today in itself is more than enough. Waiting for something or nothing isn’t going to work anymore.

Promy: Then it’s safe to say we are not expecting anything now. We don’t expect great stuff to happen in our lives. So we are OK with no hope. But I still feel without hope something is missing…something crucial is missing.

Salma: We expected a lot & believed in hope. In fact, we strongly believed in it…even then we missed out almost everything. Hope just wasn’t working for me. Anyhow, things also happen when you don’t hope and yearn for them…I find such things more fun.

Promy: You know what Salma honey that is true. So I’m throwing this crappy hopeless hope out of my window today. The moment is now! We live today. We decide today. And we party today. No need to cling onto something that gives nothing but pain & misery. The agony of it is too much. So you know…we must do what we should have done a long time ago. Let’s go to the Yalaa land for a change…Though I doubt it would be any better.

Salma: Some of my pals in the Yalaa land also have a bad habit of thinking, & once you start thinking, it’s really impossible to put an end to it. It goes on and on and it’s like you’re addicted to it. You just can’t help it, so you think and think more. If we get into discussions with them, we’d feel all the more miserable. However, Yalaa land is a pretty cool place to make out though.

Promy: Like there are fewer places to make out man. Remember the fools caught in those internet cafes. Endless creativity! In fact what a waste of creative thinking & energy! Well Yalaa land is known for its baseless discussions. I met an idiot from the Yalaa land – Cody Blue. She believed that the essence of life was found in poop. She studied poops to understand life and nature. She showed some interest in me and I thought that finally there was some hope…but she wanted to study my shit man to know me better. That was it! No Cody Blue…Nobody judges me or my sacred poop huh.

Salma: Oh my God, so it’s really true! Cody Blue actually does this kind of study & I heard that her cousin Mimosa studies only suction pumps. Some cousins! I once had the misfortune to meet him in person & he neglected me as if I was some leper. He only talks to guys for obvious reason. Anyway, I also heard…I don’t know how true it is…But Cody Blue steals shit of big shots to do her extensive study. They are both intense folks I guess.

Promy: Looks like there are some intense PHDs living in the Yalaa land. It must have a special sort of sand that whoever walks on it is bound to show interest in intense elements like poops and pumps. Once upon a time, a civil war broke out in the Yalaa land too, cause there was some breach of thoughts. Apparently, there were two sects – the Pure Yalaas who believed they were above all, cause they were pure and so they could do anything. And the Lost Yalaas who were so LOST and didn’t know who they actually were.

Salma: There are still the Pure Yalaas and the Lost Yalaas to this day. The Pure Yalaas look down on the Lost Yalaas, as if it’s their birthright. I just think Yalaa land is not different from any other place. As I said earlier on, you could have all sorts of fun over there. Sex is not a big deal, & so you can make love anywhere, anytime…that is the only charm, at least in my eyes. They say the Lost Yalaas are great kissers. By the way, Cody Blue and Mimosa are the Pure Yalaas…That’s why they get away with all the illegal activities.

Promy: Oh screw the Yalaa land! I think it’s true that hope shows a colorful picture, but it’s all quite hopeless in reality. The bigger picture is ‘EXTREMELY HOPELESS’ almost every where.

Nadira & Zaira