Post #7: The Open Question Benchmark Essay

Reflection:

In the Open Question Benchmark Essay, I wrote about my Greek tragedy from my summer reading, Oedipus Rex(Oedipus Tyrannus). We were asked to analyze the origins that shaped our character and their relationships, and how these origins contribute to the meaning of the work as a whole.

If I were to score my own essay, I would score it a 7, because I articulated the complexities of the piece when analyzing Oedipus’s behavior, and was able to develop an organized, well-written response with consistent control of language that followed through the shifts of Oedipus’s character. However, I think the strength and language used in the evidence could’ve have been more complex and defined. The analysis of the narrator’s attitude was insightful and showed understanding, however, so I was still pretty confident to give myself a 7. The grade received from Mrs. Wilson was an 8. In her feedback, she noted that it was nicely written, and seemed to especially like the mentions of complexities mentioned throughout the piece.

From previous benchmark essays, a big difference was the length and time management - I was able to fully complete my open question benchmark and have some time to proofread, and the final essay was longer than both the poetry and prose benchmarks and more complete. I was also able to notice an improvement in my interpretation skills - maybe because I was already very familiar with the reading, but I was able to articulate the complexities and themes and provide an accurate analysis of the characters. Again, like the poetry and prose benchmarks, you are asked to analyze shifts and complexities, so having prior knowledge and understanding of the characters and plot made it much easier to “demonstrate [my] insights and critical thinking”(5 Steps 94).

After finishing all 3 benchmark essays, I definitely think I did the best on the open question essay. Timewise and analysis-wise, the most open question was my most confident essay. As we practice more open essay prompts, I would work on improving my diction and language control to develop a more sophisticated, 9 response.

Original Essay:

In Sophocles's Oedipus Tyrannus( a newer version of Oedipus Rex), the prophecy that is made about Oedipus from birth causes him to spiral into an inevitable downfall due to his inability to accept his terrible fate. Oedipus, from birth, was given a prophecy in which he was told that he would kill his father and marry his mother, however, even when faced with clear proof, continued to be excessively prideful that he could escape fate, leading to his tragic downfall. The inevitability of fate is Oedipus greatest rival, and any denial of his fate only brought about more misery in his downfall.

Prophesized by birth that he would kill his father, Lauis and Jocasta, his biological parents, cast him out, and he was raised believing that his parents were the king and queen of Corinth. When told the prophecy about him, he flees Corinth, thinking he can outwit it; however, he is unaware that they are not his true parents, and that the man he killed at the crossroads, one was his father, the king. In his false belief that he could run away from prophecy, Oedipus unknowingly fulfills it, murdering his father Laius, taking the throne, and wifeing his mother, Jocasta. He is raised with values and acts as a benevolent, compassionate king until the news of the pollution in Thebes forces to the surface the truth of his nature and crime.

Oedipus is presented with many signs and countless proofs that the prophecy is fulfilled and he is cursed, however, choose to deny them, turning away from his benevolent nature as king and becoming selfish and cruel, so lost in trying to prove that he has escaped the prophecy that he loses his compassion and lets his people suffer. His greatest fear was to be the bearer of his own curse- to have all the terrible things written into his fate to become true. The constant pride made him believe that there was no chance that he was the sinner in the prophecies, and had him latching on every tiny hoe that indicated he was not the murderer. He turned a blind eye towards the proof that he was Laius's son, until he could not hide from it anymore, and had to confront his greatest fear that he cannot escape fate. However, his refusal to accept his truth turns him against all wisdom shown to him and isolates him from the people of Thebes he should have been helping. As he gets more and more caught up trying to desperately prove that the prophecy is not true, he forgets that the citizens are still suffering and instead becomes completely absorbed in proving himself. Had he been a benevolent king, he would have given himself up, banished himself and given up his throne to end their suffering, however, he becomes so absorbed by his own pride that he refuses to believe it is himself, and becomes selfish and cruel, forgetting of the feelings of others to become obsessed with finding the truth.

Oedipus’s denial of the inevitable, however, only brought about more pain and misery- for himself, and his people. In his refusal of fate, he prolongs the people’s suffering and magnifies his own, as, at last, when he is forced to accept the prophecy that he tried so hard to escape, he blinds himself in a gruesome ending, unable to even look at anyone to see the misery he has caused, and only asks to be banished and to lie with the curse he put on himself. He ruins his life and his future, submitting to darkness and misery and suffering. Not only, his actions also lead to the suffering of those around him. Jocasta, unable to live with herself at the shame and horror of being both Oedipus’s mother and his wife, kills herself, leaving their children, their daughters and sons, with reputations, permanently damaged by the truth, and forced to bear this judgment their whole lives.

In conclusion, Oedipus, because of his excessive pride, denies the truth and turns a blinds eye on fate, which in turn, brought about extreme misery and suffering that affected the people of Thebes, Jocasta, and especially, Oedipus himself.

Works Cited

Rankin, Estelle M., and Barbara L. Murphy. 5 Steps to a 5: AP English Literature. McGraw Hill Education, 2018.