Re: Culture, Tomb, SPHINX -- Mimetic Theory and Literary Study

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Date Posted: 09:07:50 03/12/08 Wed
Author: CS Holden
Subject: Re: Culture, Tomb, SPHINX
In reply to: Cara 's message, "Re: Culture, Tomb, SPHINX" on 06:29:50 03/12/08 Wed

Isn't the Sphinx's death so clean? And yet, even after Oedipus "saves" the people from that crisis, another one is soon to follow. The Sphinx's death brings temporary relief but is not permanent. Because Oedipus was the solution before, he has to be the solution again. In "Oedipus Rex," his riddle is different, but he's in the same spot again.

If Oedipus and the Sphinx are in fact related in this way, then I wonder if Oedipus is demonized/divinized in the same way the Sphinx was. I think he has become the Sphinx, in a way. The Sphinx became the monstrous invader that caused and solved a Theban crisis through her wickedness, and Oedipus is most commonly thought of as the proud king who did the same. So will the same thing happen to Creon or Tiresius in the future? I suppose it happens to Antigone in the third play of the cycle. And where does Creon stick her? In a tomb, which for Girard is the essential symbol of culture and sacrifice.

(Interesting that "Oedipus at Colonus" begins with Oedipus arriving at holy ground, the sacred place of the Furies.)

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Replies:

Re: Culture, Tomb, SPHINX -- Cara, 20:09:06 03/23/08 Sun
- Re: Culture, Tomb, SPHINX -- CS Holden, 10:09:08 03/24/08 Mon