Oedipus the King - Exploited or Exploiter Essay - 915 Words

Oedipus the King - Exploited or Exploiter? Great thinkers throughout history have contrived intricate theories of social order. By applying these particular ideologies to literature, we as readers are able to see a great work through the eyes of one or many of historys most celebrated philosophers. Sophocles Oedipus the King has been open to many interpretations. With its intricate plot, archetypical tragic character, and lofty social issues, Oedipus the King provides for virtually any and all interpretations. One such literary theory is Marxism. Marxism, the sociological system of belief created and presented by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, has had profound influence on western politics and world sociologic theory†¦show more content†¦Many aspects of Marxs theory is exemplified in Sophocles Oedipus the King. Looking at Sophocles great play as a whole, there are several interpretations that the Marxist might have. In applying the Marxist contrived class system, one could designate the gods, and namely Apollo, as the Bourgeoisie upper class, and Oedipus as the Proletariat. This interpretation can be accepted because within the context of the play Apollo and the gods have complete control of Oedipus fate, and thus, his entire physical life. Oedipus is clearly held accountable to the gods, and so it can be argued that the gods exploit and take advantage of Oedipus human qualities. In particular, Oedipus honest nature and genuine concern for his people is what eventually leads to his downfall. It can be deduced that the gods, who controlled the fate of Oedipus, intentionally used these traits against him in the same way factory owners used their workers diligent work to achieve and maintain a high social status. Oedipus could not determine his own fate, much like employees who are forced to w ork just to merely survive. Disputants of this theory might argue that Oedipus, a king, isnt eligible for the label of Proletariat. Within the context of a social system, a king, the pinnacle of society, could never be viewed as submissive to anything. Considering that Marxs theory is byShow MoreRelated Marxist Theory and Oedipus the King Essay1339 Words   |  6 PagesMarxist Theory and Oedipus the King      Ã‚  Ã‚   The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles (Marx and Engels 2). This excerpt, taken from Karl Marxs and Friedrich Engels The Communist Manifesto, explains the two primary classes found throughout most of Europe during the era of the Industrial Revolution. These classes were the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. The former were known as the exploiters and the latter as the exploited. The wealth, power,