The Oedipus Myth

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that the central theme of the Oedipus myth in ancient Grecian society was that the truly tragic king could not escape his fate, despite his best efforts to do so. The author points out that the themes of family and fate are conjoined to a great degree in the Oedipus myth. Likewise, the more urbane Michael of Don Corleone's Mafioso family as depicted in "The Godfather" also resists the family role he has been cast into but the more he resists, the more events propel him into becoming the fulfillment of his destiny and his family's destiny. The paper relates that Freud read the Oedipus myth of the tragic king as a study in wish fulfillment.

From the Paper:

"Michael attempts to leave his family-but like Oedipus, is pulled back within the fold of the family, despite himself, and becomes corrupted by the familial values by mere association and unintentional presence in their midst. But unlike Oedipus, Michael does not betray the family trust. Rather by upholding, the family trust Michael subverts the American values instilled in him when he was in the army, at his most independent. Both Michael and Oedipus have a kind of Freudian latency period where they escape their families and appointed fates temporarily, as Michael blends in seamlessly with the overwhelmingly American identity of the G.I.s around him, and Oedipus thinks he is a common man's son. But once they return they assume their father's role in a way they do not want to."

More papers on The Oedipus Myth:

• Film Review # 25673 : "American Beauty" and the Oedipus Complex Theory"
• Comparison Essay # 10342 : "Oedipus Myth"
• Analytical Essay # 57508 : "The End"

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