A Comparison between Troy Maxson and Oedipus Essay Example

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He sought the advise of a prophet called Teiresias but was refused at first to be given an advise due to the fact that the prophet was concerned about the King and knows that the solution would lead to the King’s downfall. Oedipus, however, insists that a solution be given to him and in the process called the prophet as fraud. Little did Oedipus knew that the person he is seeking responsible for the death of the previous king was himself, and also learned the bitter truth that the former king, which he unwittingly killed was his own father, and that he unwittingly married his own mother and had children with her.

As a result of his own decision, he was ultimately banished from the land which he ruled. On the other hand, Troy’s hamartia is his insensitivity to the needs of others, particularly of his wife and children. Because of his race, he and his ancestors had been victims of social injustices. Despite of his talent as a baseball player, he was not given a chance to play in the Major League because it prohibits as players “people of color” during his time. His son, Cory, apparently have inherited his father’s talent.

Troy, however, prohibited his son to pursue the sport because of his belief that there is still social injustice against their race. He refuses to believe that times are changing and that the society is now learning to accept that black and white are the same human beings. These resulted in the conflict between father and son. Troy also admonished his other son’s talent who has pursued a

career in music. To pursue a career in music at that time was considered to be ridiculous and extremely unconventional.

Because of his incomprehension of the changing times, Troy referred to jazz music as “Chinese music” (Act I, scene 4), which proves his failure to appreciate the creation of his own race. Troy had also been insensitive to the needs of his wife, who regarded him as selfish and of taking and not giving (Act II, scene 1). Despite of his friend, Bono, advising him to devote time for his family, Troy continued to have an affair with another woman, of which he at first denied the fact. He later claims that having an affair was just his course of an escape to his failures in life.

Troy, however, refused to accept that his wife and Lyon’s interest in the game of numbers was also a means of escape, therefore further proving his selfishness. Troy’s insensitivity to the need of others was also the cause of his failure to provide love and support that his loved ones need most out of him. While Troy has proven to be a responsible husband and father in terms of providing for his family, he has forgotten to provide care for his family. His pride of being the family’s breadwinner failed him to realize the other needs of his wife and children which ultimately caused him to lose their trust and respect.

What differentiates Troy from Oedipus is their willingness to face and accept the outcome of their decisions. While Oedipus displayed great remorse to the outcome of his decisions and willingly accepted the consequences of

his own actions, Troy failed to feel remorse because of his insensitivity and pride. Troy firmly and wrongfully believed that, as a father, his only responsibility was to provide shelter and food to his family and nothing more, and demands respect from his children and wife.

Thus, their concept of responsibility also differentiates Troy from Oedipus. As king, Oedipus sees his people as his sons and daughters who need protection. Oedipus has done everything in his capacity to provide for his subject and was willing to take responsibility from his action for the good of his people, even if it meant his death or banishment. Troy, on the other hand, had a diminutive concept of responsibility. He, however, tried to make up for his mistakes through his daughter.

What is lacking on Troy that makes him different from the classical tragic hero is the reversal of fortune—that is, from a high ranking member of society to a lowly figure. Troy never has been a high ranking member of the society. His lost was limited to the lost of trust and respect of his loved ones, and his tragedy was a result of his failures and shortcomings. While his story is definitely sad, events in his life did not result in his lost of a social status—an element that exists on most effective classical tragedy such as Oedipus the King.