Quest for Immortality

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfTqXL0d9Ls

“ Take death for example. A great deal of our effort goes into avoiding it. We make extraordinary efforts to delay it and often consider its intrusion a tragic event. Yet we’d find it hard to live without it. Death gives meaning to our lives. It gives importance and value to time. Time would become meaningless if there were too much of it. If death were indefinitely put off, the human psyche would end up, well, like the gambler in the “Twilight Zone” episode.

— Ray Kurzweil, In Death

<---The picture to the right is nelson's Quest for immortality, and suggests man's quest to live forever.


A website from the Immortality Institute had an article giving people five simple steps that should, if performed correctly, allow a person to live forever.
1) Eat a healthy diet
2)Lead an active life
3)Taking Supplements
4)Rejuvenation therapies
5)Cryonics (or freezing yourself while in good health so that you may someday be 'thawed' and brought back to life in a later time.)

“To desire immortality is to desire the eternal perpetuation of a great mistake”

-Arthur Schopenhauer
In short I think that people still long for immortality for one of three reasons, one is that they have a profound fear of death, and what is to come when life ends. Or they feel they have not accomplished enough or reached their full potential in life and think that if they are given more time, they will somehow accomplish what they set out to do. A third reason people could want to find immortality is simply because they can. For the scientific curiousity of wondering if it is i fact possible to live forever. In Gilgamesh's case, he seeks immortality becasue his greatest friend, Enkidu is dead and he wants to find a way to bring him back to life.
Some people believe that this is a very accomplishable goal, one that will probably never happen in my lifetime but in the next 1,000 years. Personally I think that the idea itself is completely absurd and it will never happen.

The Tragic Man

A belief in his own freedom-
Oedipus has a strong belief in his own freedom. He believes that he has the freedom and power to escape the fate that has been set down by the Gods and create his own destiny. Little does he know that in trying to escape the prophecy, he fufills it. Yet even then he takes responsibility for his own actions and follows through with his own punishment.

Pride- Oedipus has a strong Pride too. He thinks that he is great enough and smart enough to escape the prophecy (which he isn't) He tries to play the part of the hero all the times, and attempts to do good whenever it is possible. He pretty much tries to be perfect, which is impossible. He also has great pride when Tiresias accuses him of being the one who is cursing the land. When Tiresias asks him if truth has any power to save, Oedipus gets angry and prideful, acting a bit childish when he says, "It does- but not for you; no, not for you, shameless and brainless, sightless, senseless sot." He even goes as far as to say that perhaps Tiersias is actually the one who committed the crime and he is just blaming Oedipus to cover it up.

Sense of Commitment- Oedipus has a sense of commitment in that even when he finds out that he is in fact the murderer that he has been searching for, he still follows through with his original ruling and punishes himself to the full extent of the sentence, if not more. He refuses to soften the blow of the punishment just because he is punishing himself and not another person. It is easy to sentence and follow through with the discipline of another person, but it takes a great amount of commitment and courage to give the same punishment to yourself. He also has a sense of commitment early on in the story when he is trying to find the murderer. Even when people tell him that he doesn't want to know the answer and that he will be much better off if he abandons his search, he still continues to pursue his goal, keeping true to the promise he gave to his people.

Vigerous Protest- The vigerous protest is shown when Oedipus is first accused of being the offender. He gets angry at Tiersias and tells him that there is no possible way that he could be the person who killed Lauis. Oedipus can't believe that the prophet would even dare to consider blaming him.

Transfiguration- Oedipus is very different at the end of the book than he is at the beginning. At the beginning he is this high and mighty king. He can solve any problem, conquer any feat. He is invincable. Yet by the end he realizes that he is no better than any common man. He tried and he failed, he made mistakes just like any other person. He realizes that he cant do anything, and that he can't be perfect. He is wrong, and is worthy of punishment just like any other person. If Oedipus had done nothing, not tried to play the part of a hero, not tried to create his own fate, and not tried to make everything perfect, things would have ended up fine. He wouldn't have killed his father and he wouldn't have married his mother. But then he would never have learned anything. In making his mistakes, he learned, and it changed him. That is where the transfigurataion takes place.

Impact- The impact comes from the transfiguration. He realizes that he is simply a man. He isn't some great hero who can conquer anything, and he can't escape from his predestined fate. He is just a person like any one of us and has to learn from his mistakes, and suffer the consequences just like any normal person.

Despair

Question:
What is the meaning of "Despair" and how does this theme manifest itself in both plays?

Answer:
Despair is to be without hope or give Despair seems to be a constant theme all throughout both plays. There is the despair when Oedipus' parents find out that their son is destined to kill his father and marry his mother. Valuing their lives, they have no other choice than to leave him to die. There is also the despair when Oedipus finds out that despite his attempts to change it, the prophecy has come true and he has commited a great sin. Then the despair is taken further when his mother/wife kills herself, he gouges out his eyes and banishes himself from the kingdom. But the despair does not end there. Antigone must despair when she knows that she must either do what she feels is right, and pay for it with her life, or simply do nothing and feel like a coward. Then, following her death it is Haemon's turn to despair when Antigone, the one he loves kills herself. Finally Creon and his wife must despair when their son dies. Creon rightly blames himself for the disaster and is left praying and begging for death.

Consciencious Objection

Question:
What is "conscientious objection"?In what ways does Antigone demonstrate conscientious objection?In your opinion, did she do the right thing? Explain your view in terms of how 21st Century citizens might view her actions.

Answer:
Conscioncious objection is going against the law in order to do what you believe is right. Antigone displays this when she buries the body of her brother even though Creon forbids it. In my oppinion she definitly did the right thing. And I think that 21st century citizens would interprate her actions the same way. Standing up for what you believe even when you are told it is wrong and that you will be punished for it is in no way the act of a criminal. It is if anything the act of a hero. Of course this does not mean that it is acceptable for people to go about breaking the law whenever they please and justifying it by saying that it goes against what they believe personally. In Antigone's case however, there was a clear justification for her actions.

Ignorance vs. Guilt

Question: If a person does not know, is that person still guilty of grievous crime?
Consider the plight of Oedipus and a modern day example.What would you do if you were on the jury at the Oedipus trial? What would you do if you were on the jury in a modern day trial?What would cause you to vote one way or another? Values? Beliefs? Evidence? Society Norms? Other information?

Answer: In my oppinion, ignorance is under no circumstances an excuse. A lack of knowing the rules will never exclude you from the consequences. For example, say there is a child who has no idea the dangers of water. If that child falls in to water, he will still drown. The fact that he didn't know has no significance in his judgement. The same rule applies to all of us, in every aspect of life. If you commit a crime, and are unaware of it you have still comitted a crime. You do not have to be cognizant to be guilty of something. Being guilty simply means that you have in fact done something wrong. If you are unaware that your action was in fact wrong are you still guilty? Yes, I believe you are. One modern day example that I can think of is when my friend, Zoe Johans, was dissqualified from running in the state cross country meet. Zoe was preparing for the meet and was practicing extra hard each day. One day her dad took her down to the course where the meet was going to be held and let her run there so that she could get a feel for it and would know waht to expect when she actually had to run there. Unfortunatly, it is against the rules to run on a state course prior to the meet. Zoe didn't know this rule, she didn't know that she was cheating, yet she was still punished and was dissqalified from running in the meet. The same thing is evident in the story. Oedipus didn't realize that the man he killed on the side of the road was his father. He didn't realize that he had married his mother. If anyhting he spent his entire life trying to do good and trying to prevent the prophecy from coming true. However when the truth came out and he learned that it was in fact him who had comitted the crime, he was punished all the same, because he was still guilty. If I was on the trial of Oedipus, I would have him go through all the necessary punishment. Even if he didn't realize it, he was still guilty of the crime and thus worthy of punishment. However in his case the punishment was self inflicted, so I dont think that additional punishment is necessary. He was jsut in his origional ruling that whoever the murder was would be punished. He did not change this law, (even though he could have being the king) just because he found out that he would be the person to be punished. "Is not this instruction already plain? the parricide, The unclean one was to die; and here he stands" (65) I don't think my ruling would change if it was a modern day trial or a trial early in history. Guilt=punishment, whenever and wherever you live. my personal oppinions and beliefs are what would cause me to vote in such a way. In conclusion, pleading ignorance is not an adequate excuse for doing wrong.

Antigone

This book begins with the reader finding out that Antigone is all grown up and her brothers have died, each killed by the other. One of her brothers is lying in the street dead. He has not been given a proper burial and a law has been passed that says that anyone who tries to bury him, will be killed. Antigone however does not agree with this law. She asks Ismene, her sister, if she will help her bury their brothers body. Ismene however is scared, and refuses saying that it is not worth the consequences. Antigone dissagrees, she believes that the law has no right to tell her that she cannot bury a loved one if she desires to do so. She says, "Is he not my brother, and yours, whether you like it or not? I shall never desert him, never. . . He (Creon) has no right to keep me from my own." Ismene pleads with her sister, asking her to abandon her thoughts of dissobeying the law, and when that doesn't work asking her to at least do it under cover and keep it a secret. But Antigone refuses she wants people to know that she is speaking out against the absurd law, and doesn't care about the consequences. Antigone then leaves to go bury the body.
When Creon finds out that someone has dared to dissobey his commandment he is outraged. He tells the sentry who brought him te news that he had better find out who the culprit is, or else he will pay with it with his own life. The sentry tells him that finding a culprit will be nearly impossible as there were no footprints, no marks nothing to suggest that anyone was even there. However Creon insists and the sentry leaves t carry out his duty.
A group of gaurds un cover the body and sit on a nearby hill waiting. Soon Antigone comes, carrying a jar of dirt and begins to pour it on her brother, making no attempt to hide the fact that she is doing so. The gaurds promptly arrest her and bring her to Creon. Creon is astonished and asks her if she knew of the law. She replies that she did but it didn't matter to her because she believed it was wrong. "That order did not come from God.Justice that dwells with the Gods below , knows no such law. I did not think your edicts strong enough to overrule the unwrittian unalterable laws...I knew that I should die of course with or without your order. If it be soon so much the betterLiving in daily torment as do I, who would not be glad to die." (138) Anigone askes Creon if her punishment will be any worse than death and he replies that it won't. Ismene then tries to join in her sisters punishment wanting to be killed as well but Antigone wll have none of it. She says that since she had nothing to do with the crime she shall have nothing to do with the punishment either. Creon decides that Ismene will not die but Antigone will die slowly and painfully. She will be locked away in a tomb until she dies. As she is being taken away she speaks about the situation. She justifies her acts in saying that f ot had been someone whom she could have replaced such as a husband or son she would not have dissobeyed the law. However this was her brother and both her parents were dead so he could not have been replaced. She is put into her tomb and laft. Meanwhile Haemon (promised in marriage to Antigone) tries to reason with his father. He says that all the people of Thebes think that Antigone is a hero if anyhting, not a criminal. But Haemon acts childish saying that he is the king and he doesn't take orders from his people. He does things his way. Haemon points out that this is a childish thing to say but Creon doesn't care. Haemon gets angry and leaves, but not before saying that He'll never see Antigone die and that his father will never see him again.
Tiresias is then led in by a boy. Creon asks him for advice and he tells him that if he follows through with Antigones punishment, the Gods will curse him. Tiresias then leaves a very shaken up creon. The chorus is also very worried about what will happen, so Creon decids to do what the people want him to do, and decides to let Antigone free. However we soon find out that Antigone has hung herself with the cloth of her dress, and Haemon, is heard wailing in sorrow by Creon, who has gone to rebury Polynices. creon goes to see waht is the matter and Finds Haemon with Antigones dead body. He trys to kill Creon but he runs away and Haemon runss himself through with the sword. When Haemons mother hears the news she returns quietly back to the palace and kills herself as well. A messenger tells Creon that Euradice (haemons mother) blamed Creon for everything. Creon then Prays and Begs for death.

Oedipus

The book begins with the peple of Thebes begging Oedipus for help finding out who has caused the drought that is causing the land to wither and who killer their former king. "Now Oedipus , great and glorious, we seek your help again" (26) They say that because he was able to help them once when he first came to Thebes and became King, that he must be able to help them again. Oedipus is a very kind and generous king and says "I would willingly do anything to help you." (26) Oedipus promises that he will do anything that he can to find the culprit and make sure that he is punished approprietly. He also asks his people if any of them know anything about the murder of Laius, saying that if anyone steps up and admits to the crime, that their punishment will be less severe.
Oedipus then leaves and speaks with a blind prophet (theme- the blind that see. He is a prophet blind to the world yet he can see things no one else can)who refuses to tell him anything, saying that he will not like what he has to say. Finally Oedipus comands him to tell him and Tiresias submits telling him, "Upon your head is the curse your lips have uttered...you are the cursed pollutor of this land." (35) Oedipus is outraged, he cant believe that the prophet dares to bame him. Later he explains his accusation, "You are living in sinful union with th eone you love, living in ignorance of your own undoing." (36) Oedipus is shocked but decided to pursue the matter further, asking Jocasta what she know of the situataion. she tells him that an oracle was given to her late husband (Laius) from the ministers saying that he should die by the hand of his own son. It was predicted that he would unknowingly kill his father and marry his mother. To avoid this Jocasta and her husbend sent their son (Oedipus) away to die, hoping that they could keep the curse from cming true. However a kind shepherd found the baby and gave him a nice home. Oedipus grew up with this family, never knowing that they were not actually his parents. When he was older and heard about the curse he tried to prevent it by leaving and getting as far away as he could from his 'home'. In doing so he came across a man in a carriage led by gaurds. There was an offence between Oedipus and the gaurds and a brawl borke out in which Oedipus killed the man (His father, Laius). Later his journeys bring him to Thebes, where he saves the people from a sphinx. To show their gratitude they ask Oedipus to be their king, to which he accepts. He then marries Jocasta, (his mother) and proceeds to reign as king until the trouble with the famine comes about.
After all this is revealed and Jocasta hears the news, she promptly kills herslef, hanging herself in she and Oedipus' bedroom. When Oedipus finds his wife and mother dead he takes the brooches from her dress and repeatedly stabs them in to his eyes, blinding himself. Oedipus is misserable, sorrowful and disgusted with himself. He begs Creon, his sucessor to banish him from the kingdom, and crys to his world of his sins, as if he wants all of thebes to know what he has done. Creon feels sorry for Oedipus and allows him to 'see' his daughters, Antigone and Isemene one alst time before he (at Oedipus' wish) sends him away.