Do you believe that Oedipus should be held morally accountable for killing?

Question

his father and marrying his mother? Why do you think so (or not)? Give a clear and critical argument for your position.

Remember that Oedipus is "us", and although we do not have the dramatic life events that he has, we face the very same kinds of choices in our lives, i.e., making life-altering decisions in the absence of full information. Sometimes our decisions will cause harm. So we need to know under what circumstances we can be excused from moral responsibility for that harm.

Answer 1

I think you gave a formidable answer yourself in acknowledging the archetypes contained in mythology and how they encompass all of humanity and therefore all of us individually. And that means our answers are going to reveal more about OUR sense of responsibility than it will about any ultimate truth (if there be such a thing) about the mythical tale of Oedipus. I think the most compelling fact about such tales is the manner in which the members surrender to the idea of fate leading them, rewarding them, punishing them and going on with their lives getting jostled and jolted the whole way to death and beyond.
For me I don't weigh in on either side but rather revel in the reading of incidences of tales which explore and highlight moral ambiguity and force those of us who pay attention and are willing to THINK about such things instead of passing immediate judgment, THINKING we're acting in the best interest of a world where concrete morals would enable societies to flourish instead of hindering them. By simply stating this/that is wrong or immoral one attaches a stigma which hinders further unbiased thought about the subject and possible exceptions.
I think Oedipus walked the path of his fate and in being strong enough to continue on to exile with the knowledge of his "misdeeds" and suffer the prescribed "fate" he displayed a courage and a sense of responsibility which should, or was probably supposed to inspire a sense of accepting one's actions and their repercussions- in even the most severe and dire circumstances (dealing with family, killing, incest and exile.) And if he can do it... well, what about us?
A favorite of my quotes which I love so much in certain instances and I normally don't quote as I do not know it's author but heard it quoted by Joseph Campbell:
"fate leads him who will... him who won't, it drags."
if someone could let me know who's quote that is, I would love to be corrected and know for sure.

Answer 2

What you have to remember is that the concept of Patricde/Matricide was a huge theme in the Classics. It was considered the gravest of crimes. Also, bear in mind that the characters in the play are hostage to the world they live in; Oedipus doesn't choose to sleep with his mother. He doesn't KNOW. So how can he be held morally accountable for his actions. In a sense he is an innocent being abused by Fate. The prophecy is vague, unclear and inescapable. Had he been told: "This man is your father. You're going to kill him. THis woman is your mother. You're going to have sexual relations with her." And then proceeds to do so, yes, he would have been accountable.

Think of it this way: a 'civilized' American goes to the rain forest and lives with natives. The natives live simply and easily with the world, however, they don't know any other way: there is no choice. The American, now having lived with them, now has a choice. This is where will comes in. Oedipus didn't know any other way: he had no choice.

Answer 3

Ok, he killed his father, as a warrior in battle (not knowing it was his father), the rules are different in war. He is excused for that. However, I don't care if killing one dude makes you king, don't you think that taking a wife that's old enough to be your mother is kind of gross? I mean, damn. The killing of "the bad guy" and getting to be king as a result should have been enough. Oedipus was kind of nasty for taking an old woman for his wife, why could he have married someone more his age? I guess that part would have fallen under common sense, which would have made for no Greek tragedies if they had had any.

Answer 4

You are asking a very "modern" question.. in the myth Oedipus is not responsible for anything- he is just bound by the FATE ( Ananke, Necessity as ancient Greeks would say).
But he is harshly chastised for his deeds anyway, because destiny can be cruel and unfair.
Whether he is morally responsibile or not ultimately depends on how much you believe in human freedom or fate. In fact, a "guilty" Oedipus is more acceptable than an "innocent" one, because he seems then to have somehow deserved his punishment. So I guess for our sanity's sake, it is better to held him morally accountable..

Answer 5

There is this strange sort of concept in law, "Ignorance is no excuse." Now, that is not a very legal expression and normally applies to ignorance of the law and not the facts.

Oedipus is punished for the facts of the case and his ignorance of those facts is not taken into account. Clearly the judgement is unfair against Oedipus.

I harken back to the Steve Martin defence: I forgot, as in I forgot it was illegal to commit murder.

Answer 6

Being unaware of laws be it moral or other doesn't excuse one from responsibility; however, laws are created by humans, whom i would never choose to trust, yet i don't have other choice but to trust them as i'm human myself. It's a clash of subjective and objective realities.

Answer 7

No as far drama is concerned. critical argument we will provide in final papers of literature