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Research Chronicler ISSN-2347-503X International Multidisciplinary Research Journal www.rersearch-chronicler.com Research Chronicler ISSN-2347-503X International Multidisciplinary Research journal Oedipus Rex in English and Arabic Drama: An Analogy Fathia S. Al-Ghoreibi Department of European Languages, King Abdul-Aziz University. Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Abstract The present paper deals with the Oedipal theme as was treated by Sophocles in Oedipus Rex and then imitated first in Oedipus written in collaboration by John Dryden and Nathaniel Lee in English literature, and then in Arabic literature by Tawfiq Al-Hakim in his King Oedipus and Ali Ahmed Bakathir in Oedipus' Tragedy. The study investigates changes made by the three writers in the plot and main characters and in some issues and dramatic elements of the tragedy. These changes are introduced by the playwrights to make their versions acceptable to their contemporary audiences. The purposes of the three writers are considered to see how far they have succeeded in fulfilling them. Key Words: Greek myth, Arabic drama, adaptation, social and political criticism Most of the men of letters who treated or suffering greatly. In trying to find the rather wrote on the Oedipus myth were cause of their misery, the citizens come to under the impact, to varying extents, of King Oedipus as suppliants to urge him Sophocles' masterpiece, Oedipus Rex. The deliver their town. The oracle brought present study will shed light on points of from Delphi is essentially the same with congruence and differences in Sophocles' the four playwrights. In Oedipus Rex, tragedy on the one hand, and Dryden' Creon reveals Phoebus' order to wreak Oedipus, Al-Hakim's King Oedipus and vengeance on Laius' murderer so as to put Bakathir's Oedipus' Tragedy on the other. an end to the troubles of Thebes. After The study is based on an analogical getting information about the crime from analysis because most of those who treated Creon, Oedipus promises to do his best to the Oedipal theme were influenced by dispel the taint. Dymas, in Dryden's Sophocles at large. This affirms the idea of Oedipus, returns with the same oracle. Al- Mimesis in criticism and literature as Hakim makes his Creon go to Delphi explained by Aristotle that the imitation is accompanied by the chief priest to get the the imitation of imitation of archetypal oracle. In Bakathir's play, Oedipus agrees ideas. No wonder that Sophocles stands to send Creon to Delphi after being under the spotlight while his imitators assured by Teiresias that this step will help stand in the shade. This, however, brings carry out their plan against the temple. us to the analogy which is carried out Creon returns without knowing anything below. and Loxias comes with him to reveal his fabricated oracle. Aspects of Congruence: (Similarities) The main events of Oedipus Rex have Sophocles introduces the story of the been retained by Dryden, Al-Hakim and sphinx through Creon's account of Laius' Bakathir in their works. The plot murder. When Laius was slain, nobody concentrates on principal issues. Thebes is arose to avenge him because the riddling Volume IV Issue V: September 2016 (44) Editor-In-Chief: Prof. K.N. Shelke www.rersearch-chronicler.com Research Chronicler ISSN-2347-503X International Multidisciplinary Research journal sphinx had already started to give the In Sophocles' tragedy, Jocasta tries to citizens troubles at the gates of Thebes. lessen Oedipus' anger and fear from The Thebans' terrible condition with the Teiresias' prophecy by telling him about sphinx continued until Oedipus was able to the old oracle which, as she thinks, has not save the city by solving the monster's come true. In return, Oedipus informs her riddle. Dryden has the same story narrated about the oracle he was told when he was by Teiresias to blame the citizens for their in Corinth and about the accident he had at ingratitude when they show signs of the crossroads. Dryden has the very same rebellion against Oedipus. After the first scene right after Oedipus has been accused choral ode in Oedipus Rex, Oedipus of Laius' murder in act three and thus invokes a curse on the murderer(s) of brings his plays, like its Grecian model, to Laius and the accomplices in the crime its climax. Al-Hakim has also employed whoever they are. Dryden is the only the same scene without introducing great dramatist who comes close to Sophocles in changes into it. The declaration of this incident. In his play, Oedipus' Oedipus' parentage is the essential role of imprecation on the murderer occurs after the Corinthian and Theban shepherds and the revelation of the Delphic oracle. it is the same in the plays of Sophocles, Since Dryden, Al-Hakim and Bakathir Dryden and Al-Hakim. have introduced many changes in the There is a general agreement among most treatment of Teiresias' scene, it is going to of the writers who attempted the Oedipal be included in the part that deals with theme to make Oedipus the hero. differences while stressing the aspects that Sophocles' Oedipus answers all the have remained unchanged. The quarrel requirements of a tragic hero set by scene between Oedipus and Creon occurs Aristotle. He is a man of great reputation after the second choral ode in Oedipus and prosperity and has positive and Rex. In that scene, Oedipus confronts negative traits. In the works of Dryden, Al- Creon with the charge of being a traitor Hakim and Bakathir, Oedipus shares with and an accomplice in the plot against the the Sophoclean hero some traits and differs throne. Creon defends himself against the with him in others. He is seen as the savior charge and gives logical reasons proving of Thebes who is capable of solving all her his honesty but they are all turned down by troubles. His courage and justice are Oedipus. The disagreement between stressed among his positive traits in all the Oedipus and Creon takes place in Al- three treatments. With Sophocles and Hakim's King Oedipus after Creon's Dryden, Oedipus' intelligence is proved for revelation of the Delphic oracle which he managed to answer the sphinx' riddle all names Oedipus as murderer of Laius. In by himself. On the other hand, the bad defending himself, Oedipus charges both traits which Oedipus displays are not Creon and the chief priest with treason and unlike those of the Grecian model for he is resolves to sentence them with death or depicted by the three dramatists as being banishment. proud, stubborn, hot-tempered and self- The scene in which Jocasta tells Oedipus righteous. At the beginning of Oedipus about the old oracle given to Laius has Rex, Oedipus is shown as having respect been handled in the same way by Dryden. to religion and its representatives because Volume IV Issue V: September 2016 (45) Editor-In-Chief: Prof. K.N. Shelke www.rersearch-chronicler.com Research Chronicler ISSN-2347-503X International Multidisciplinary Research journal he sends Creon to Delphi. Once he is Bakathir's queens are similar in actually accused of being the defiler of the city, he directing their onslaughts against priests. becomes skeptic, humiliates Teiresias and When Oedipus is searching the truth about eventually declares that he has become his origin, Jocasta, with the four most hateful to the gods. With Dryden and playwrights, tries hard to stop him. Al-Hakim, Oedipus has a similar attitude Dryden and Al-Hakim agree with towards religion. Apart from Al-Hakim, Sophocles in the essential roles assigned to Dryden and Bakathir imitate Sophocles in the Corinthian messenger and the Theban drawing their hero into the animal world. shepherd. These two characters are The stork and monster have been used in important in the discovery of Oedipus' true connection with Oedipus in Dryden's origin. The Corinthian messenger has a Oedipus while the Corinthian cat is further role which is breaking the news of compared to Bakathir's Oedipus. Finally Polybus' death and the Corinthians' desire Al-Hakim comes closer to Sophocles in to crown Oedipus. He does so in the plays the punishment which Oedipus inflicts of Sophocles, Dryden and Al-Hakim. upon himself. Having gouged out his eyes, Jocasta's death, in Oedipus Rex, is narrated Al-Hakim's Oedipus decides to banish by the second messenger who also himself. describes Oedipus' self- blinding. Al- While the character of Teiresias is drawn Hakim is the only one who imitates by the three dramatists, Dryden's portrait Sophocles in this minor character and its bears many characteristics of its role. Sophoclean counterpart. To find out the Blindness is one of the motifs that recurs defiler of the city mentioned in the Delphic in all the four plays. Oedipus' moral oracle, Teiresias' knowledge is needed in blindness is set in contrast with Teiresias' both Sophocles' and Dryden's plays. At his physical blindness to show that the first entrance, in both plays, Teiresias is kind is more dangerous than the latter. showered with praises by Oedipus. The Oedipus has been living for such a long Sophoclean queen preserves some of her time without seeing the crimes he has been qualities while she lacks some of them in committing. Only when the disaster befalls the works of Dryden, Al-Hakim and Thebes, Oedipus starts his investigation Bakathir. In Oedipus Rex, she is seen as a and eventually knows the horrible reason wise and affectionate woman who is loved of their calamity. Teiresias, in all the four and respected by her husband and who is plays is being taunted with blindness, ready to sacrifice everything to preserve though in a less degree in Al-Hakim's play. her happiness. Al-Hakim's Jocasta has the His reaction to the taunt, with Sophocles, very same traits.
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