I think the plot is not as important as the style of the pieces. The plot's only purposes are to keep the audience engaged, and to connect the stylistic choices in a coherent manner. Of course plays need plots, otherwise they would be lectures, but the plot is not as important as how it is laid out.
The plot of Oedipus was not important. He could have done some other crime, or not even committed a crime, and the message would still get across to the audience. The character traits of Oedipus are more important than the plot. His flaws, such as pride and anger and ignorance, and his strengths, such as intelligence, perseverance, and braveness all lead to his down fall.
All of the allusions to the gods are also important because they tie in the main issue of the time; whether prophesies and oracles and gods were real, and had supreme power. The reactions of the characters to the prophecies reveals their true natures. Jocasta seems like a normal god-fearing woman at the beginning, but when she blatantly disrespects the gods by dissing their prophecies, she is shown to be logical rather than spiritual, and independent, as well as protective of Oedipus.
In "The Wild Duck" the tensions that build between the characters is a very important part of the play. This is reflected through the register of the characters, the foreshadowing, and who the audience perceives as the protagonist. The plot could be completely disregarded if the audience could pick up on all the subtle stylistic choices with out it.
I would disagree that the plot of Oedipus was unimportant. Although his character traits are important, his actions (the premise of the plot) are really what defines him. His life, from birth when he was thrown out to his own punishment of blindness can be traced back to the driving force of the plot (the gods, fate, etc.) And ultimately, if you were to ask someone who Oedipus was they would immediately begin to reference his achievements, failures, etc, rather than his personality.
ReplyDeleteI would agree to some extent. The plot of Oedipus could be changed slightly (and the greeks often did this) but some of the major events had important messages to them. Without the whole business of being his mother's son and husband, the play would not have been so much about family, but instead about some other crime. I feel like this would be a big change.
ReplyDeleteI would agree with saying that the character traits are important to Oedipus, though disagree and say the the plot is essential. The plot of Oedipus gives an overall feeling of the story with a clear beginning, middle, and ending. When performed, it can be expected that everyone already understands the story, and therefore the meaning. The way the characters are presented just add to the performance.
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