An argumentative literary analysis on one or more works by a Research Paper

An argumentative literary analysis on one or more works by a particular author or comparative analysis of several works on a sim - Research Paper Example After ‘existing’ in that confused, constricted and compulsion state, individuals including the characters in fictions could undergo self-realization. In those scenarios, self-realization will be like the opening of the ‘inner eye’ of the individual, which will take them on a positive and best path. It can also be considered as a moment, when a big ‘confusion mass’ or guilt that may be occupying and constricting an individual’s mind has ‘evaporated’ for good. The confusion in the mind of Oedipus in Oedipus Rex, compulsion for Nora Elmer in A Doll’s House and constriction in the mind of Laura in The Glass Menagerie all get evaporated, when these fictional characters undergo self-realization. So, this paper will analyse how these three characters get entangled in a mess, and after a struggling phase, undergo self-realization, thereby enlightening them with mixed results. 2. Oedipus Rex and Self-Realization Oedipus Rex is about the life and the tragic death of Oedipus who after becoming the King of Thebes, dies a tragic death after undergoing self-realization. Oedipus was born to King Laius of Thebes and Queen Jocasta, but was cared by foster parents, Polybus and Merope, as King Laius feared that the prophecy of being killed by his own son could come true. The prophecy in a way gets actualized when Oedipus due to uncontrollable circumstances kills King Laius without knowing that King Lauis was his biological father, setting the stage for future confusions and self-realizations. The other prophecy of Oedipus marrying his mother also came true, when he married Queen Jocasto on the account of him becoming the king of Thebes, after solving the Sphinx riddle. When he comes to know about these crimes, or immoral acts, he goes into a state of confusion as well as depression, but also at the same time self-realization. That is, he was sure that he can find Laius killers and thereby prevent the onslaught of p lague, but this confidence turned into weakness when he comes to know the profound truth that he is the killer of Lauis. So, when the ‘recognition’ happens, the self-realization also occurs, with Oedipus transforming from a strong king to a weak blind man. He laments, â€Å"I, Oedipus, damned in his birth, in his marriage damned, Damned in the blood he shed with his own hand† (Sophocles 123).The affect this event had on Oedipus as discussed above also bordered on tragedy. On coming to know about the truth and after undergoing self-realization of his crimes and conduct, Oedipus as form of self-justice blinds himself with the golden brooches found on his mother’s dress. He blinds himself, as he did not want to see the miseries that his actions have brought upon him. â€Å"The alternative of suicide is directly before him. He takes up her golden pins...blinds himself. It is Sophocles point that Oedipus sees two possibilities and chooses the harder and more p ainful course† (Smith 92). Talking about the pace of the â€Å"recognition†, in the case of Oedipus, it happened suddenly. That is, although he wanted to know the real killers of Lauis for a long time, he comes to know about the truth from messengers and Servants, and when he hears the death of Jocasto immediately, he undergoes self-realization, leading to death. â€Å"Salvation becomes annihilation; the tragedy does not take place in the hero's downfall, but rather in the fact that man meets his demise along the very path he took up to escape his demise.†