The Transformation of Oedipus
At the start of the play, Oedipus is a strong monarch, esteemed and admired by his followers. He exudes assurance, assertiveness, and control. However, as the play goes on, his strength ends up being his undoing. He learns the awful truth about his past and deeds due to his haughtiness and inability to listen to others. By the play’s conclusion, Oedipus has been cursed and is literally and figuratively blind.
Sources of Power in Oedipus the King
In Oedipus the King, power is derived through position and understanding. As king, Oedipus has the most crucial position in Thebes, and his authority is initially uncontested (Zhang, 2023). Nevertheless, his influence wanes as he looks for the truth about his history. In contrast, despite his poor position, the blind prophet Tiresias rises to power because he knows the truth.
Power Parallels in Carolyn Forché’s The Colonel
In Forche’s poem, power is harsh and terrible. The colonel, depicted as having a pistol on the cushion next to him and a house defended by shattered bottles lodged in the walls, represents it (CSMDTube, 2009). When the colonel dumps human ears on the table as a terrifying metaphor for his ruthless authority, the colonel’s power is further highlighted.
Power is terrible in Oedipus the King, but in a different way. Oedipus’s power is initially perceived as just and kind, but as the play goes on, it becomes a means of his destruction. Despite others’ warnings, he pursues the truth obstinately, which results in his self-blinding.
Modern Understanding of Power
Power today takes various forms, including social, political, and economic. It can be utilized for good, such as in positions of leadership or advocacy (CSMDTube, 2009). However, it can also be abused, resulting in violence, inequity, and corruption. The current crisis in Syria is a recent news example of the harmful use of power. A horrific civil war that has killed countless citizens due to the government’s abuse of its authority has broken out.
The timing of poems concerning particular occurrences is not a restriction. Although Forche’s poetry was inspired by her experiences in El Salvador before the Civil War, its themes of power and cruelty are eternal and enduring. Because abuses of power are still common in many civilizations, this poem is still relevant today. The poem is a sobering reminder of the terrible consequences of using power for one’s benefit or to cause terror.
References
CSMDTube. (2009). Carolyn Forche, The Colonel. YouTube. Web.
Zhang, Y. (2023). The Tragedy of Fate in Oedipus the King. EWA Publishing, 3(1), 577–582. Web.