Discussion on Literary Topics: Links between two plays/ themes
Truth is clearly a very important theme in Oedipus The King and The Wild Duck, and the overall message in both of the plays are quite similar. The theme in both of the plays is that truth will bring unhappiness. Throughout the entire "investigation" of the truth by Oedipus, most other characters tell him to stop because the truth will hurt him. He decided not to take their advice, and sure enough, the truth ended up causing him great pain, implying that he would have been better off if he never would have found out what the truth really was. In The Wild Duck, this theme is shown when Gregers says "Just don't let her ever catch sight of the sea and the sky" when talking about the wild duck. This is because the duck is seemingly content with life in the attic, but if it were to find out what life could really be like (the truth about life), it would be very unhappy living in the attic knowing the kind of life that it could have. This reveals the theme of how truth causes unhappiness, and shows how this theme is consistent in both of these plays.
I think you have a good foundation here! What you are saying is definitely true. I think that you need to elaborate more and go a little deeper. Right now, I do not know where "deeper" is, but I think you can get there. Your evidence backs up your point very well, but you need more. Overall, I really like what you have here.
ReplyDeleteI think you should add that imagery plays a big part in that theme. "depths of the water" and what you mentioned. Maybe even describe the Flying Dutchman and how he could be symbolic of something.
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