Oedipus by Josephine Peabody - Book Report/Review Example

The first story which defines specific approaches to storytelling is “Oedipus” by Josephine Peabody. The style that is used with this particular story is omnipresent narrative, specifically which describes the mythology and the overall ideals that are a part of the story. The style is used specifically to associate with the theme, which is based on one not being able to overcome their fate. By displaying this through the all – knowing voice, there is the ability to show the audience the various layers to the story. This is followed by the way that the voice describes the overall situation and the fate of Oedipus. The point of view is able to relate specifically to everything that is happening in the story while showing how Oedpius met his voice. The plot and the characterization also work in this myth to tell the main theme of the story. The main character is Oedipus, specifically which is seen before his birth as foretold by an oracle and then throughout the story. The approach is first noted with Oedipus’ distance away from home, specifically to stay away from the fate foretold in the oracle. The second part of the plot is the climax, in which Oedipus solves the riddle of the sphinx and frees the town from the fate. The third is when he marries the queen, which he later finds is his mother. The voice that is used states “For years Oedipus lived in peace, unwitting; but at length upon that unhappy city there fell a great pestilence and famine….Jocasta died and Oedipus took the doom upon himself” (Peabody, 1). This particular phrase shows how the combination of plot and character work to convey the theme of fate. The description of Oedipus and the fate of the city work together in describing all aspects that are a part of the theme. The same voice is then able to overlook the changes which overcame the city and how these link specifically to the idea of fate and destiny that is foretold in the story. A second story which conveys similar ideas is “Venus’s Dove,” by Lydia Child. This myth uses the same concept of the omnipresent voice to overlook the different aspects of the story. The voice is one which focuses on Ida, specifically with mentioning the thoughts she has as well as the ways that she approaches the mortals and the immortals. The voice is able to provide insight into how Ida wants something that she cannot have and wishing to be in a different place than she is. The theme then becomes based on being careful what one asks for, specifically when it comes to being out of place with the expected. The theme is followed by looking at the thoughts of Ida, the scenery she is around and the approach of the immortals that are a part of each of the scenes. These each develop a deeper understanding of what Ida sees and why she wishes to be a dove instead of a mortal. The theme is followed by the plot and character to show the main moral of the story. The plot is one which is defined by Ida always longing to be with the immortals, specifically because of her gaze on Olympus. This causes her to be a problem for the gods and goddesses as well as for the mortals because of what she recognizes. The approach from Psyche is to turn Ida into a dove of Venus to carry her carriage over different places. This becomes the climax of the story to solve Ida’s problem with the myth ending in never hearing or seeing from Ida again because of her new place. The plot is identified with the dialogue that takes place between Psyche and Ida as well as the outcome which occurs. At this point, the voice changes to speak to the reader with the statement “Whether the little dove Ida found Venus and her winged car a weary burden to draw, I cannot tell you” (Child, 2011). This voice combines with the overall theme while showing the moral of the story, specifically which is based on one not asking for something that might come true and not disrespecting the place of the gods. The third myth which conveys similar approaches to the craft of writing is “Cupid and Psyche” by Josephine Peabody. This particular story holds the first person omniscient voice, specifically because of the use of connecting to the emotions and thoughts of the gods and goddesses as well as the mortals. The voice is able to show what is occurring with Psyche becoming more beautiful than Venus. This is observed through the narrator with the narrator then showing what is occurring with Venus and Cupid to change the situation. The voice is able to lead Cupid into the main plot while showing what happens to Psyche because of Venus’ desire to remain the most beautiful. The result is that Psyche turns into one that is scorned and looked down upon by her sisters until she almost drowns. The theme is then able to be displayed with Venus having to repent from the situation and welcome Psyche back. The theme becomes based on not being vain toward others or wishing that they do not have anything good to offer. The voice and theme of the story are followed by the plot and characterization. The characters include Psyche and Venus as the main characters, as well as Cupid as the secondary character that leads the plot. The secondary characters of other gods and goddesses as well as those who help Psyche are able to lead the plot forward. The interference with the plot line is what allows the realization to be made among the main characters while changing the fate of Psyche. It is through the secondary characters that Psyche is rescued and that the mortal maiden is able to find her way back to the land of Olympus. It is with this particular approach toward the plot that the secondary characters are able to show and establish the main theme and development with the characters (Peabody, 2010). Another myth which shows similar characteristics is “Loki’s Children” by Abbie Brown. The voice is in omnipresent and is used to describe the situation of Loki’s children and Odin, specifically because of their status as monsters. With this approach, there was the ability to describe the characters and the way in which they reflect the main parts of the story. The narrator makes statements such as “The third monster was the Fenris wolf, and this was the most dreadful of the three. He was so terrible that at first Father Odin decided not to let him out of his sight” (Brown, 2010). These phrases are able to describe a sense of horror and fear to the reader with the myth while helping to explain the evil that is in the story and which must be broken. It is through this voice that there is the ability to create a response from the reader while developing an understanding of the situation and what the plot leads to. It is through the point of view and the approach which is taken with the character that provides the movement of the plot and the finality of the story. After describing the evil with each of the characters, there is an understanding that the wolf, which is also known to be fearful, needs to be in chains by others. The problem which leads to the tension of the story is described through this and not being able to find any other options for the capturing of the wolf. The theme comes with the elves coming to build a chain to place around the wolf so he is unable to escape. Through this description, one is able to understand not only how the evil that is in the world needs to stay underground but also how the smallest of expectations can lead to good results and monitor what needs to occur. The elves are able to do what the gods and goddesses were not, specifically with the building of the chain while allowing the defeat of the wolf and of those that were known for being evil remain captured. The voice of the story then leads to the main plot, theme and the results which are a part of the moral of the story. The myth of “The Death of Hercules” by Alfred Church is another example of how the voice mixes with the plot, character and overall theme to create the specific options with the story. The voice of the story remains with looking over the characters. The voice states the beliefs and thoughts of characters such as the woman that does not love Nessus have specific thoughts toward others. The voice also moves into dialogue and other thoughts that are a part of the story, specifically by showing the dialogue between the characters to reveal the plot. It is through the dialogue that Hercules comes to learn of the death of his wife to the Centaur then decides to go into his own death to battle this particular being. The dialogue is able to move forward the thoughts of the character while changing the perceptions of those that are a part of the theme while changing the approach taken toward the voice and story. It is through the voice as well as the dialogue that the main theme of the story is able to be shown. This is specific to the idea of fate and how one always falls into fate and should not move against this. The fate of Hercules dying to one who is already dead was stated in the story, specifically after learning of the death of another. Instead of Hercules deciding to fight this, he asks his son to burn him and gives him his bow and arrows in return. This particular series of events is able to show the main theme while allowing one to define the theme through the plot line and the decision of the characters. The voice furthers this by explaining how Hercules decides to approach his fate and what comes in turn for the fate that is reached by the main theme of the story and the expectations which come after the death of Hercules (Church, 2010). The last story which conveys specific elements to the craft of writing and mythology is “The Windmaker” by Margaret Bemister. The voice is one which is looking at the main character and the tribe that is in the story. The narrator makes statements such as “He traveled back joyfully to the village and told the others of the tribe what he had discovered. As they listened they became anxious to see this great prairie, and what lay beyond it” (Bemister, 2010). This particular phrase shows how the narrator is telling the story in omnipresent. The man walking joyfully and the tribe listening with curiosity to see what is beyond the prairie are both emotions and actions which are described by the narrator who knows everything that is happening in the story. It is through this voice that there is the ability to develop the main theme and plot of the story. The narration and voice combines with the theme of the story to show the rest of the concepts of the story. The plot line builds with the tribe deciding to walk through the prairie to see what is on the other side, specifically because they are not content with their own home. They run into the windmaker, which stops them from being able to go to the other side. They try to kill him several times but fail at the mission. In the end, they go back to the mountain, realizing that they should be happy with the land they have. The theme of the story is based on not trying to find things or go places that do not belong to the person or tribe. The obstacles which one runs into happens because of one that does not belong in a different space or because of unknown problems, such as the windmaker, that block a path which is not supposed to be taken. The narration shows this plot line with the attempts to kill the windmaker as well as the responses which are given in the end to be content with what one has. References Bemister, Margaret. 2010. “The Windmaker.’ [Online]. Retrieved from: http://www.shortstoryarchive.com/b/windmaker.html. Brown, Adam. 2010. “Loki’s Children.’ [Online]. Retrieved from: http://www.shortstoryarchive.com/c/death_of_hercules.html. Child, Lydia. 2010. “Venus’s Dove.” [Online]. Retrieved from: http://www.shortstoryarchive.com/c/venuss_dove.html. Church, Alfred. 2010. “The Death of Hercules.” [Online]. Retrieved from: http://www.shortstoryarchive.com/c/death_of_hercules.html. Peabody, Josephine. 2010. “Oedipus.” [Online]. Retrieved from: http://www.shortstoryarchive.com/p/oedipus.html. Peabody, Josephine. 2010. “Cupid and Psyche.” [Online]. Retrieved from: http://www.shortstoryarchive.com/p/cupid_and_psyche.html. Read More