Oedipus the Elite?

The elite are many times the ones with the power. In the case of Oedipus by Sophocles, Oedipus’ title, wealth, and consequent threat of power allows for the fated Oedipus to consider his oracle as false. As King and savior of Thebes, his pride only adds to his idea of being elite. When the “blind seer” Teiresias is pressed for Oedipus’ oracle, Oedipus lashes out because of the outrageous prophesy that is already set in motion, “Kingly position, everywhere admired! What savage envy is stored up against these…if for this power Kreon desires in secret to destroy me!” (366-372). Oedipus believes that his power and title can save him from his own fate, as an elite he is able to control circumstances around him, thus more quickly leading to his demise.

Oedipus’ demise is a tragedy. In many tragedies, the elite have farther to fall and a harder hit when they fall. Oedipus demonstrates this perfectly when he realizes that he has sealed his fate by fleeing from his “family” and into murdering his father and marrying his mother. Guilty of regicide and incest among other assertions, Oedipus’ “elite” status allows for a false sense of control over his fate. The farther he falls, and the harder he hits, makes everything about Oedipus so much more tragic, “No mortal eyes but looked on him with envy, yet in the end ruin swept over him” (1472-1473). The chorus states the rejection of Oedipus at the end of the play, while readers and play-goers alike breathe a sigh of relief that as mostly commoners, the fall is not so far. Do we, as readers, relate to Oedipus’ tragic fall as much as we should? Oedipus is believed to be elite, so can only true tragedy happen to the elite?

Sophocles. Oedipus. London: Nick Hern, 2001. Print.

Who Are the Elite?

Democracy, we must spread it. Capitalism, we must enforce it. Freedoms, we must preach them. Rarely do we, as Americans, believe that we should change to fit others ways. In a culture where we BELIEVE to be superior, who truly are the elite?

Elitists can be traced throughout history, starting with the beginning of time; from arrogant kings and Jews in the Bible, to well-known philosophers and wars, elitists have tried, and many times succeeded, in changing others ways. Americans specifically have had numerous attempts to spread varying beliefs. The Manifest Destiny in the 19^th century gave reason to expand across the continent of North America, but who says we have stopped? Expansion may not be continental, but surely we continue to conquer the minds and beliefs of other people.

Continue on now to the problems facing us today. Not only do we enforce our beliefs onto other countries and cultures, we ensure their immediate success with power and threats. What happens after that is not our problem, because until recently, the façade of perfection was one aspect that many people believed. Even now that our flaws are blatant and glaring we still believe that with our power and “money” we will come out on top. Our government is of the opinion that money and resources are infinite, therefore conveying a false sense of superiority.

The Price family in The Poisonwood Bible believed that not only was their religion superior, but their thoughts were as well. Reverend Price, a Baptist minister, and his family attempted to convert many Congolese people during the 1960’s. Not only did the Congolese reject many teachings, they also rejected many ways of western thinking. Questions such as why majority rules, and how come sharing is not a virtue for Americans were brought up through the people of the village of Kilanga. The author, Barbara Kingsolver slightly satirized the western beliefs by illustrating the hardships the family suffered through by using American customs and beliefs in a war-torn, dusty village in the Congo.

Who was right? Are elitists who we think they are? This word must either change definition over time, or the people must change their beliefs on this word. This cannot be simple.