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Following the “Mythic Hero Archetype” – Oedipus displays MANY of the characteristics:
2. Father is a king
6. Attempt to kill hero as an infant, often by father or maternal grandfather
8. Reared by foster parents in a far country
9. No details of childhood
10. Returns or goes to future kingdom
11. Is victor over king, giant, dragon or beast (the Sphinx)
13. Becomes king
14. For a time he reigns uneventfully
16. Later loses favor with gods or his subjects
17. Driven from throne and city
18. Meets with mysterious death
19. Often at the top of a hill (Oedipus at Colonus)
20. His children, if any, do not succeed him [i.e., does not found a dynasty] (Antigone and Seven against Thebes)
21. His body is not buriedWell, if a hero is to display courage and bravery in the face of adversity, and even self-sacrifice… then I would count Oedipus as a Hero. He had to know the truth – even though it was his undoing. Surely that’s heroic?
This is to Daniel:
Are you saying we shouldn’t be held morally responsible for evil acts unknowingly committed, but should still be punished by the law? What purpose would that be? It wouldn’t ‘teach’ the person anything… And what about people who try to do the good thing and end up doing something bad by accident? (Ie. Paying to put piping into your town – but not knowing that lead piping will hurt the town).
