I-Search questions and sources

Main question:

Why are people of all ages afraid of the dark?

Sub-questions:

°What's in the dark that make people so afraid?

°What creates the fear, is it myths or is it intuition? 

°Is the fear of the dark psychological or biological? 

Sources: 

http://www.ted.com/conversations/6848/what_s_with_the_fear_of_darkne.html

http://phobias.about.com/od/phobiaslist/a/nyctophobia.htm

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/29/fear-of-the-dark_n_1840014.html

Persistent fear and anxiety can affect young children's learning development by Harvard university 

I-Search topic

For my I-Search paper I want to focus on the mentality of a child. Why are children afraid of the dark? What makes a child fear the dark? I want to do this because it will be interesting to find out why children are so gullible about scary stories about the dark and why they get this way. Everyone has a fear of something but a child's number one fear is the dark. I wonder what they think is in the dark? It's just a place with no lighting. I remember I was afraid of the dark when I was little but I don't remember why. This is why I want to do this topic on my I-Search paper.

The reasons why Spiegelman drew mice as Jews.

Spiegelman portrays the Jews in "Maus" as mice because of Jews were thought to be, "vermin of mankind." This dehumanizing quote was one of the many important reasons why Spiegelman chose to depict Jews as mice. During the Holocaust Jews were emotionally smaller than the Germans and Polish. This mean the Jews were weaker and had a better chance on not surviving like mice. Once spotted they must be killed at once this is the similarity that is shared between the Jews and mice.  He wanted to equalize both the German and Jew's biological ways but not power. So that's why he made the cats the same size as the mice, he did this so the metaphor was not as noticeable. Dehumanization was a big part of helping Spiegelman's character development during the process of "Maus." He explains that in Auschwitz the Nazis used pesticide made to kill mice in the gas chambers. The ideas of Jews were toxic and many people beloved Jews carried diseases like mice. Those are the main points way Spiegelman chose to draw mice as Jews. 

Analysis of "Prisoner on the Hell Planet."

In Art's old comic "Prisoner on the hell planet," he wrote about his mothers suicide and what that did to his mind. His mother did not leave a note or anything. No one knows why she killed herself but Artie has an idea. Art draws himself as a prisoner because he felt like he has done a crime. He believes his mom killed himself because of him. He is incarcerated figuratively in his thoughts of guilt.  This comic is different from "Maus" because of the drawing style, it is more dark and depressing. It seems more cluttered because of all the thoughts Artie has about his mom's suicide. In "Maus" the comic strip is not as terrifying as the "Prisoner on the hell planet" comic strip.  This comic is also different from "Maus" because we get to see more of Anja's personality. The reader can tell that she is very sensitive and is so depressed that she is in the verge of suicide. The reason why she is depressed is because she feels like she not involved with her family and feels like her son doesn't love her back. Artie gave her the cold shoulder when she asked him if he still loves her. She feels rejected and not wanted. She couldn't survive with out love and kindness, that's probably what brought her up through the hard times in the Holocaust. The reader will never no entirely what Anja's personality was like since Vladek murdered her personality by never finding her diaries.

This comic is the only piece of art Vladek has read that Artie created.  But why didn't he read other pieces of Artie's works? Vladek is never putting that terrible behind him. He can forget about parts of the Holocaust but he will never forget Anja's death.

Maus chapter one prologue

During the short prologue Artie falls and breaks his roller skates and his friends leave him behind. He tells this to his father but his father basically says Artie's friends are not real friends. "If you lock them together in a room with no food for a week, then you could see what it is, friends" (6)! Artie's "friends" are not true friends because they left him behind and didn't help him through his suffering. The author probably includes that situation in the beginning of the story because he wants the reader to know that this comic book will be about the Holocaust. During the Holocaust it took bravery and friendship to get through it all. If a Jew who is incarcerated and finds a crum or something to eat he or she will share it with his or her friends. This is the meaning of friendship which is sharing and sharing can save a life. This prologue has a greater meaning and message than the reader might think it has.

The danger of a single story response.

I do not have a single story towards other people but I know some people have a single story towards me. I agree with Chimamanda Adichie, single stories do create stereo types and "robs people of dignity. This makes us as people difficult to accept and understand equal humanity. When people figure out my last name they place a single story on me. Just because my last name is Walgreen people think I'm a typical rich snobby person who is up tight. When they get to know me that is not the case. People at LFA think that the clothing that people choose to wear matches their personality. This is dehumanizing. I will admit that I did have a single story towards people that I didn't know and assumed things. People never know that I am half Mexican just because I have blue eyes and blonde hair. The stereotype they put on me is, "oh, she's Swedish." Once people figure out they created another single story.

America does have a single story. Countries that don't have enough think America is the land of opportunity, which it is but some Americans are not accepting as others. Mexicans who come to America are trying to find work for a living to make their lives better. I have no problem with this but some Americans have a huge problem with this. Americans think that the Mexicans are taking "our" jobs away and that is the main cause of our downsizing economy. The real reason the Mexicans are getting jobs more than some Americans is because some Americans are too lazy to even try to get a job. They blame the hard working Mexicans for their laziness. Countries that have more than us think that we Americans are uneducated and ignorant. When I foreigner describes America the word they mostly use is Redneck. Foreigners think that all Americans are southerners. We are not. America is made up of many different cultures and races. Stories are supposed to help empower and humanize not dehumanize. Once we reach that level of zero single stories people will regain a "new type of paradise."

Civil Peace

      In the short story "Civil Peace" the author, Chinua Achebe is sending out a message to the reader with this quote. "Nothing puzzles God." Achebe mentions this quote about four times in the story. It's an oblivious important motif. Nothing puzzles God because he understands the "Happy survival" the people in story have to go through after the Nigerian Civil War. Life means so much to the protagonist, Jonathan Iwegbu. It didnt matter to him that he was poor, if he made it alive for a day he was satisfied with a meaningful life.

     Good things happen to the family when Achebe mentions "nothing puzzles God," like when his payment came in it felt like "Christmas" to him. Also when this quote appears Johnathan finds the families bike and their home is still up even from the damage of the war. All the miracles that Jonathan and his family go through is an example of the values of life. 

     While analyzing the short story I saw symbolism. Jonathan's family helps pitch in what ever they can to rebuild the family. Like his wife making him goods to sell and his children picking mangoes this is symbolism of the country. Nigeria is helping out each other so they can get through and rebuild the country from the damage done because of the Civil war. When the poor thieves  came to Jonathan's house they asked for money. Jonathan had a choice to give the thieves all his money or have his house blown to pieces. He decides to give them his money because he remembered he was fine before without it. He keeps rebuilding his life and has a positive view. 

     Achebe is telling the reader that no matter what comes your way keep going because there is a another day to experience life.

Because I could not stop for Death

Emily Dicksons poem sets a tone of politeness about death. The last two stanzas are both about immortality. The second to last stanza is about the death carriage stoping at Emily's new house. "We paused before a house that seemed a swelling of the ground." When Emily writes "a swelling of the ground." The house is not cottage it's a grave stone. The carriage pauses because its her resting point for eternity.

The last stanza is mostly about immortality because Emily writes, "tis centuries and yet feels shorter than a day." Emily feels like its only been a day even though she has been dead for centuries. She does not compare this to any other day as "the horses heads were toward eternity." The horses pull her to her eternity in heaven.

E.E. Cummings confusing but brilliant poem

This poem was very confusing to me. I figured out if you put the letters together it sounds like "the leaf falls, loneliness." This poem effects one of our senses which is the eye. It seems like the poet sees a leaf fall and is isolated away from nature. When a leaf falls from a tree it dies with other leafs but in this case this leaf falls alone. It is strange that Cummings write the poem in that format. The format of the words looks like a tree. The format of this poem gives the reader a visual of how the leaf falls in a zig zag.

The imagery also gives the reader an idea about gradually falling apart from society and turning into a new person. A tree's leaves grow and have the same color and once winter hits a leaf falls one at a time. New life on the tree is reborn when spring comes. The poems imagery makes the reader think about dying a lonesome death and also growing apart from what you have learned.

Wilfred Owen's Dulce et Decorum Est

The ironic poem Dulce et Decorum Est written by Wilfred Owen, is about Wilfred as a soldier and what its like to die for your country. The title is completely different from the meaning of the poem. Dulce et Decorum Est means it is sweet and becoming to die for ones country. Owen interprets this completely different. He believes it is not sweet to die for your country. He explains all of this in imagery. "Like old beggars under sacks." this imagery touches your seeing sense. he explains what a soldier is like during a war. Owen proves that war is not worth it. 

"Dim through the misty panes and thick green light, As under a green sea, I saw him drowning. In all my dreams before my helpless sight he plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning." This obscene quote is about a man drowning in mustard gas. the imagery of smoke is like a dream to him and numbing to the eyes. That was Owens friend who died. "To children ardent for some glory, the old lie: Dulce at decorum est pro patria mori." People will encourage you to fight for your country but in reality your sentencing yourself to death. This is what Wilfred Owen believes. 

Kitchenette building

Gwendolyn Brooks sad poem is about people in poverty who struggle with accomplishing and holding on to their dreams. She belives that dreamers should jsut dream because the way that they are living ey will never be succesful. There are three different strands of imagery in this poem. A kitchenette building is a small project building. The imagery of the project building symbolizes the small change of achieving a dream if a person is poor.  “But could a dream send up through onion fumes, Its white and violet, fight with fried potatoes, And yesterday’s garbage ripening in the hall, Flutter, or sing an aria down these rooms”. This quote is an example of imagery. Gwendolyn makes a picture for the reader to feel what type of  life style she lives in.

Garbage is a symbol and imagery. It shows the reader how poor people are like garbage because of their low status. The imagery in the last quote of the poem, “Since Number Five is out of the bathroom now, we think of lukewarm water, hope to get in it”. Brooks describes what little ray of hope people of poverty have. The words dream, rent, feeding a wife, satisfying are the three great examples of imagery. They paint a picture that dreams can not match reality or feed a wife or satisfy a man, into the readers mind. Imagery makes this poem reality for the reader.

What is poetry

Poetry is a lyrical work of emotions in rhyme but not always in rhyme. Poetry is beautiful because of the different interpretations a reader or poet expresses the poetry. Poetry can be about anything and it shares a message to the reader about important events or even what the poet is feeling. Poetry does not always have to be in writing. A person can express their poetry in movement and interpretive dancing. 

Poetry is a song and a speech of thoughts and feelings. Poetry is always pleasing to listen to but sometimes its hard to understand. Some poetry is hard for kids to comprehend but easy for adults to understand. Poetry is also complex for adults but understandable for children. It all depends on the reader's mind set. I love that freedom of speech is in poetry. Poetry is a song for justice and a pass for new things to happen. Poetry makes people think about the world and their lives, that what I love about poetry.

Sometimes it's hard to just have a problem stuck in your head, so you just write a poem about it. It doesn't matter if you're sad to write a poem a person who's happy can also write one. Poetry is the voice of the people. A person has a say in what they believe in and they express their thoughts in poetry. 

Poetry sets the tone and mood of a scenery of some sort. It is always good to have a beautiful atmosphere around a poet for inspiration. Poetry is like a drawing of the mind. A poet paints out their thoughts and emotions onto their canvas. Just like art, poetry is beautiful. It doesn't matter if your quite or shy to write a poem. Have a voice and color your world with words of wisdom, sorrow, happiness and all the emotions that are running through our head. That is poetry. 

Shakespeare's message about those who challenge Fate.

Fate vs. free will is a major theme in the play Macbeth. Macbeth challenges fate a lot in order to become king as soon as possible. Macbeth tries to challenge fate but fate always wins. " Come fate into the list and champion me to th' utterance." in the end the reader knows that fate will win the battle. Shakespeare believes no one can blame what a person's fate is, you can only blame the choices the person makes. It is macbeths fate to become king no matter what he does. His free will, will allow him to make choices to make his fate come faster. He is responsible for his own choices. Macbeth's ambition drives him to the end.

Shakespeare's message is strong about what happens to those who challenge fate. He suggests that a man's fate is fixed just like a Greek drama. Macbeth has no control over his future but can make depictions to get to his fate faster. A Greek drama is tragedy in itself just like Macbeth having a life he can not change or contribute to because his destiny was set by the witches. The connection between the both is the tragedy. 

The goddess Hecate

In act 3 scene 5 the reader meets Hecate it is unclear what Hecate is saying because her dialogue doesn't connect with the plot of the play. This scene doesn't move the play forward which question Scholars if Shakespeare wrote this scene. This scene only serves a purpose to have a dancing routine in the play to re interest the audience into the play just like comedic part of Macbeth.

If Shakespeare wrote this scene it would connect with the plot more and would have more internal action and a soliloquy. The goddess Hecate sees that the three have given prophecies to Macbeth. Shakespeare foreshadows another downfall of Macbeth. "How did you dare trade riddles and traffic with Macbeth in riddles and Affairs of death; and I, the mistress of your charms, the close contriver of all harms, was never called to bear my part?"This scene helps the audience to know that there will be a fatal end for Macbeth.

The ghost of Banquo

Mr. Murphy's English class watched two video clips from two different interpretations of Macbeth. The first clip was Polanski's interpretation. Macbeth gives a toast to Banquo wishing he was at the feast. A man says Banquo is at the table and points to Banquo. The ghost of Banquo walk towards Macbeth with bloody gushing from his head. This video clip helps the reader understand the play better. When ghost Banquo's head was bleeding it helped the reader connect to when the murderers stabbed him 20 times in the head. Banquo's ghost was also holding a hawk which represents an omen. This hints to the reader that the omen foreshadows Macbeth end to his throne.

The second clip broadcast by PBS set the tone and mood of the play. One of the scenes shows Macbeth's soldiers torturing his subjects and Macbeth's luxurious life. This scene also shows the reader Macbeth's different identities from his false appearance to his tragic flaw, ambition. One of Macbeth's guest says Banquo is right here and points to the three waitresses. The three waitresses look like the three witches from the beginning of the movie. They represent the three themes. While Macbeth is eating the ghost of Banquo walks into the room with a bloody shirt on. The people attending the feast thinks Macbeth has gone mad. This sets a suspicious tone in the scene. 

Macbeth Act 2 Scene 2

In Act 2 scene 2 lady Macbeth is being a hypocrite. "That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold." Lady Macbeth had to drink in order to have the courage to go with the plan. She didn't even have to kill king Duncan, Macbeth had to. An omen appeared in this scene. "It was the owl that shrieked." This is an omen of death which connects Macbeth to a Greek tragedy. In this scene Macbeth has committed the worse crime you can do which is regicide. Macbeth killed king Duncan. Macbeth feels guilty for what he has done. Macbeth's tragic flaw is his ambition. His morality is in struggle with his tragic flaw. This is an example of his heroes ethos this is another example of a Greek tragedy. "I could not say "amen" when they did say "God bless us." This quote exemplifies Macbeth's guilt which really bothers him.

Lady Macbeth foreshadows her own madness. "These deeds must not be thought after these ways; so, it will make us mad." Macbeth believes he has taken away everything of resources of sleep. "Methought I heard a voice cry "sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep." Macbeth also will not sleep anymore because of his guilt. He also thought someone might have cursed him. "Still it cried "sleep no more!" Macbeth's multiple identities will not sleep because of Macbeth's guilt. When everyone finds out the king has been murdered, suspicion raises. "I'll gild the faces of the grooms withal for it must seem their guilt." Macbeth blames the guards for killing king Duncan to make him look innocent. "Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?" This quote is a reference to Greek tragedy and a literary illusion to Oedipus Rex. 

Banquo's monologue

In Act 3 Banquo has his own monologue. He suspects that Macbeth was the one who killed king Duncan, just like the witches promised. "King, Cawdor, Glamis, all as the Weird Women promised." The reader might also think that Banquo knows the witches cursed Macbeth. Macbeths fate is to become king but its the checks he makes to make his fate come faster. This is where the theme fate vs free will plays apart in the Scottish play.  The reader also has a feeling that his monologue foreshadows Banquo's  

Banquo seems confused because his children should be next in throne. "But that myself should be the root and father of many kings." False appearance plays a huge role in this scene. Banquo knows Macbeth is faking his innocence. "And set me up in hope? But hush, no more." This quote means Banquo will stop the madness that Macbeth is causing. 

Good work! Stay up-to-date on your assignments. Don't fall behind.
Mr. Murphy

Regicide

In act 1 scene 5 Lady Macbeth receives a letter from Macbeth about his title and how he can be next in throne if he kills king Duncan. Lady Macbeth turns to the evil spirits to make her in charge of that situation. Lady Macbeth feels like Macbeth doesn't have enough courage to kill King Duncan. "Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, and fill me from the crown to the toe top-full of direst cruelty." Lady Macbeth also asks the evil spirits to change her sex in order to become in charge. She says she wants thick blood. Back then men had thick blood and women had thin blood because they lose blood during puberty. 

Lady Macbeth is breaking natural order because she wants to become a man for evil reasons. "Come to my woman's breasts and take my milk for gall." It is thought that in this scene Lady Macbeth might be a witch. This is also another example of Lady Macbeth breaking natural order because of witch craft. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are two faced. Their false words towards the King makes the king clueless on who they are. "Come, thick night, and pall thee in the dun nest smoke of hell, that my keen knife see not the wound it makes." Lady Macbeth hopes that no one knows of the planning of killing King Duncan. Macbeth said this early in scene 5. This is an example of false appearance because no one knows what they are going to do. In scene 5 the two themes breaking natural order and false appearance are commonly used.  

Macbeth Thane of Cawdor

In scene three Act 1 the witches meet again to torture Macbeth. Macbeth and Banquo are on their way to the king's court at Forres. They pass by the old witches and are disgusted by their appearances. The witches congratulate Macbeth with him being the Thane of Cawdor. They also say that Banquo is "lesser than Macbeth, and greater," and "not so happy, yet much happier." Macbeth gets fixated with his new title and this is what the witches want Macbeth to do.

The witches had beards, which were their false identities to not reveal their real appearances. They also did this for evil purposes.  The witches also broke the rules of natural order. They disobeyed the role of women in society by looking like men. The witches lead Macbeth onto his fate. Macbeth will become king no matter what he does. Macbeth can make a choice that will make his fate come faster, that represents free will. Since Macbeth is Christian there might be a ray of hope. 

Three witches from Macbeth

The class watched three interpretations of act 1 scene 1 of Macbeth. All of the video clips were really gruesome. The first video clip was broadcasted by BBC. This clip started out with all the characters in a circle. Two famous characters were in it, a man who was Gandolf in the Hobbit and Petunia from Harry potter. Two witches are doing witch craft by sucking out the powers of a mentally ill woman. On the other hand the priest of Scotland is praying and worshiping God. He is dressed in all white. All of the witches have familiars which are spirits in a form of an animal. They are all worshiping and talking to their familiars and the demon just like the priest worshiping the spirit of God. The three witches represent the three themes in Macbeth which are false appearance, breaking natural order, and fate vs. free will. This clip was dull and not understandable. The video clip mostly represented breaking natural order because the three witches were doing witch craft and going against the rules.

The second video clip that the class watched was directed by Polanski. This scene starts out with a barren desert and then the desert turns into a beach. The scenery was very gloomy. The three witches meet together and draw a circle in the sand with a stick. Then the dig up the sand and put witch craft materials in it to cast a spell. The important thing the witches put in the dug up circle was a hand of glory. A hand of glory is a of a human who has been hung and used for a spell. The hand was holding a dagger. Later in the play Macbeth sees a magical dagger which might have been the dagger the witches buried. After the witches burry everything they poured blood and spat on the circle. One witch is blind but can see other things figuratively just like the Greek oracle. This clip was calming because of the sounds in the background but strange because of the witchcraft. The video clip mostly represented the theme of free will vs. fate because the witches made choices that will effect Macbeth's fate.

The last video was broadcasted by PBS. This clip was very disturbing and freaky. The scenery and costuming was based on World War 2. The start of the video is scene 2 but it leads into scene 1. This clip also had some twist and turns that the class didn't expect. There are three nurses taking care of an injured solider and they cut out his artery. Blood squirts out of his neck and he dies. The three nurses turn out to be the three witches which was unexpected. One witch pulls out the man heart and all the witches chant "fair is foul, and foul is fair, Hover through the fog and filthy air." They chant this repeatedly which might be a motif in the play. This video mostly represents false appearance because the witches were disguised as nurses.

Oedipus Rex the man of agony

Oedipus now knows the truth about himself and his fate. Oedipus could not change his fate because he is a tragic hero and became a failure. When the chorus talks to the audience they all explain how Oedipus is the man of agony. There was a lot of personification and metaphors in the chorus' text. "How, how could the furrows your father plowed bear you." Is quote is an example of a metaphor. It relates to the making of a baby. The chorus also talks about how time has withered Oedipus' power as a king. "Time, all-seeing Time has dragged you to the light" this is personifies time and how time is deafening Oedipus. Also time is showing how bad he is and pulling towards the light. 

"I tell you neither the waters of the Danube nor the Nile can wash this palace clean." This quote means that nothing can wash of the shame and agony of Oedipus. Shakespeare took this idea and portrayed it in his dramatic play Macbeth. The shame is going to stay with Oedipus forever. Jocasta does not take the message of Oedipus being her son to well and hangs herself. Oedipus sees his mother dangling from the ceiling. He takes her brioche and stabs his eyes repeatedly. Oedipus stabs his eyes because he can't accept what he has seen and done. He also stabs his eyes because he felt shame about him looking at his mother in a way that he shouldn't have. It was common in the after life for people to see their loved ones. Oedipus stabs his eyes because when he dies he doesn't want to look at his loved ones. Oedipus know becomes physically blind and can see figuratively now. Oedipus and Tiresias are foils now because they both cant see physically but can see figuratively. Oedipus believed it was better to die than to live. Because of his fate he won't die soon. "stab of memory raking me insane." This is an example of imagery of Oedipus blinding himself from his past. Oedipus is a beggar who truly failed in life. 

Aggie: nice work on the blog. Spend lots of time telling me about your interpretive thoughts and less time re-telling the story. I think your blog is interesting and thoughtful.
Mr. Murphy

Second group Discussion

  "I must know it all, must see the truth at last."Oedipus finally knows that he killed his father and slept with his mother. My group and I talked about the three fold path. It's in the shape of a barbecue fork and it also represents Oedipus' three identities. One of his identities is him as the king of Thebes and another identity is being the prince of Corinth. Both of those paths and identities meet to the phocis point which means focus. When both of Oedipus' identities meet he becomes a beggar which is the path of his future. Oedipus fate is him being someone and becoming nothing. 

  Sophocles is sending a message to the reader that no one can change or escape their fate, it is their destiny. Just like Oedipus tried to do. Oedipus' birth parents heard of the prophecy that their son, Oedipus, will kill his father and sleep with his mother. Because of this they gave Oedipus to their Shepard and leave Oedipus on the top of the farthest mountain to die.  The Shepard pitied Oedipus and saw a Shepard who was from Corinth and gave Oedipus to him. The Shepard from Corinth turned out to be the messenger who sent the message about Polybus to Oedipus.  Oedipus' birth parents tried to change Oedipus' fate but karma hit back. Oedipus is consumed in his hubris that he tries to escape his fate but in reality it hasn't.

Oedipus the Greek dramatic play

  Oedipus talks with Jocasta about him killing Laius. A messenger comes into the palace to give Jocasta and Oedipus great new. This is ironic because its not great news at all to Jocasta and Oedipus. "The people there, they want to make your Oedipus king of Corinth, so they're saying now." Jocasta asks the messenger if king Polybus is still in power. The messenger responds "No more. Death has got him in the tomb." When Jocasta tells Oedipus he is not thrilled. "Oedipus feared for years, he fled him not to kill him-and now he's dead, quite by chance, a normal, natural death, not murdered by his son." The reason why he never bothered to go to Corinth was because Apollos prophecy said Oedipus would kill his father. This is an example of dramatic irony because Oedipus does not know that he already killed his birth father.

  Oedipus fears to go to Corinth also because Apollos prophecy said that Oedipus would sleep in the same bed with his mother and marry her. This is also another example of dramatic irony because he is already slept with his birth mother and had babies with her. Oedipus tells Jocasta that he must fear his mother's bed which he already slept in. Oedipus explains to the messenger "But still, to see one's parents and look into their eyes is the greatest joy I know." This is dramatic irony because Oedipus wasn't to pleasant to see his birth father. This whole conversation between Oedipus, the messenger and Jocasta makes the reader feel so frustrated because Oedipus nor Jocasta knows what really happened.  

Oedipus group discussion

The blind prophet Tiresias knows more about Oedipus than Oedipus knows about himself. Tiresias is physically blind but can see everything figuratively. This is different for Oedipus. Oedipus does not know a lot about himself. He can see physically but he lacks the ability to see figuratively. Tiresias has known Oedipus ever since Oedipus was a child, so we think. "Absurd, am I! To you, not to your parents: the ones who bore you found me sane enough." This quote was said by Tiresias which gives the reader evidence that Oedipus is adopted. Also that Oedipus' birth parents needed advice from Tiresias.

Since Oedipus is adopted he wouldn't recognize his birth parents. The birth parents would not recognize Oedipus either. Because of this Oedipus did not know he killed his father. Oedipus cursed himself in the beginning in the play. He stated that whoever killed his father he would hunt down and kill. This is an example of dramatic irony. This secret of Oedipus being adopted keeps Oedipus from knowing that he married his birth mother and killed his birth father. This helps the reader foreshadow that when the news is out Oedipus will crack. In the group discussion we talked about how Oedipus (swollen feet) will help us foreshadow what is to come in the play.   

Oedipus the blind traitor

It is clear that Oedipus' fate is him leaving Thebes and going against his subject. "Banish this man whoever he may be never shelter him, never speak a word to him, never make him partner to your prayers, your victims burned to the gods." Oedipus says this quote to his subjects and doesn't even know he is talking about his fate. He is so consumed in his hubris that he is blind to see what is to come for him in the future. When Oedipus is bragging about his seat to the throne he talks about his dad who he does not know that he killed. "Why our seed might be the same." This is an example of irony that is very important. Oedipus had babies with his mother and doesn't know that.

Oedipus is known for his multiple identities and his tragic flaw. "When the truth is only pain to him who sees!" This is an example of imagery of Oedipus' blindness. It also foreshadows that Oedipus will become blind. As said by Tiresias "Each man here will fling at you soon." he is explaining that Oedipus will become a traitor also.

The Multiple identities of Oedipus Rex

Oedipus fails to see his tragic flaw as a Greek hero. Hubris is his tragic flaw which is his arrogance. Oedipus tells the audience about his fate but is blind to see that which is an example of dramatic irony. His identity is dominated by his hubris. Oedipus murdered his father and married his mother. He does not know of this either this resembles dramatic irony.

 "Drive the corruption from the land, don't harbor it any longer, past all cure, don't nurse it in your soil-root it out!" This quote symbolizes dramatic irony because Creon is explaining that the people of Thebes should drive the traitor (Oedipus) out of Thebes. Oedipus says to his subjects how could he fail to see that Thebes is dying. This foreshadows Oedipus becoming a blind man. Oedipus is a murderer and an arrogant person and these identities represent his fate in the play.