Shyla Zou, 12/7/2020, PD8, Day C

Shyla Zou
12/10/2020
Period 8
Modern Mythology 2021


Write about your thoughts regarding the most current reading


In our most recent reading of Oedipus Rex by Sophocoles, we see how the rest of the story unfolds; the climax of the story and the revelation that Oedipus has. Throughout the play, we were all anticipating and waiting to see how this story would end and we now see Oedipus figuring out the truth to his birth and how he reacts to it. These last parts of the story were filled with irony, strengthening the peripeteia that comes out at the end. When the herdsman is brought to him, Oedipus orders his servants to twist his hands behind his back, torturing him into telling him the truth. Of course, the herdsman recognizes Oedipus because he was the one who saved him as a child. He refuses to speak the truth, similar to what Teiresias did at the beginning of the play. However, he is still forced to tell the truth and at that moment, Oedipus finally realizes why Jocasta did not want him to investigate his birth further. The prophecy indeed had come true and Oedpius had killed his father and married his mother. Later, another servant arrives with the news that Jocasta has committed suicide and upon seeing her body, Oedipus gouges his eyes out and begs to be exiled.

Oedipus’s fatal flaw that caused his downfall was his pride and his ignorance. His justified pride showed when he saved Thebes from the Sphinx. However, they kept him from seeing the truth when Teirseas tried to tell him that he was Laius’s murderer, and his hubris of wanting the herdsman to speak the truth brings him to his tragic end.


Reflect on any new information you have learned in English class by considering how that learning influences your critical perception.


Oedipus Rex is full of situational, dramatic, and verbal irony partnered by the peripeteia that ultimately determine the tragic ending of Oedipus. In dramatic irony, the audience knows something the protagonist doesn't. In Oedipus’s case, this comes in many forms. We, as the audience, know that Oedipus killed his father and married his mother. However, he is unaware. When Oedipus starts cursing Laius’s murderer, it is ironic because he is cursing himself. Also, when Oedipus is apologizing to Jocasta about not being born to a high status because he thinks it's the reason why she's sad, it's ironic because he is really the Prince of Thebes, and only he doesn't know. In situational irony, the outcome of events is different than what was supposedly thought. Oedipus, trying to get away from his “parents” and running to Thebes, actually ran back to his own parents. He thought he could change his fate but he was just walking into it even more. In verbal irony, the speaker says something that is opposite of what it really is. This is shown when he is cursing Laius’s murderer. Somehow, Oedipus is only capable of digging himself into a deeper hole. The peripeteia shows itself in a turn of events where Oedipus is told that who he thought were his real parents were indeed not, and how he was the child abandoned so many years ago in fear that he would kill his father and marry his mother.


How is what you’re learning applied to any other classes/the world around you?


Through the story of Oedipus Rex and lessons of hubris, ignorance, and arrogance, we can learn to listen before we act, take the advice of others, and how sometimes, maybe somethings are better left unknown. Oedipus, in his stuvvorniess, is pressed on finding the truth that will result in his downfall. His hubris prevented him from believing in Teiresias and his pride had him believing that he could change his fate. From Oedipus Rex, we learn that being too prideful is harmful and some things are definitely best left alone.

Marvin Alhaddad, Period 5, 12/9/20, Day B

Marvin Alhaddad
12/9/20
Period 5
Modern Mythology 2021


In the most recent reading of Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex, we witness the unfolding of the remainder of the plot at an extremely fast pace. All the events that occurred prior to this reading served to amplify the effects that the climax would have on both the characters and us as the readers. When the herdsman is brought by the messenger and recognizes who Oedipus is, he immediately refuses to answer, just like Teiresias at the beginning of the play. Even when Oedipus has his servants twist the herdsman’s hands behind his back, he tries to avoid making the truth known for everyone’s sake. After it is revealed that all the prophecies did in fact come true, Oedipus’ veil of hubris and ignorance that hid the truth from him is finally lifted. Shortly after, a second messenger arrives and makes it known that Jocasta killed herself and that Oedipus gouged his eyes out after finding her dead. Oedipus emerges from the palace begging to be exiled from Thebes, in which Creon obliges.

All throughout the play, there is dramatic, situational, and verbal irony that strengthen the role that peripeteia and anagnorisis play, and which all contribute to the ultimate tragedy of Oedipus and make it especially appealing. Dramatic irony is when the audience knows something that the characters are unaware of, and tragedies mainly build themselves on the use of dramatic irony. For Oedipus, this comes in many forms, such as during his long speech to the citizens of Thebes, cursing the murderer of Laius when, in fact, the audience realizes he is actually cursing himself. Situational irony is when the outcome of an event is different than what is expected. When Oedipus goes to the oracle at Delphi and is told that he will kill his father and sleep with his mother, he leaves Corinth to get as far away from Polybus and Merope who he thought were his parents. Meanwhile, he ends up running straight to his real parents, Laius and Jocasta, whom he kills and sleeps with, fulfilling the prophecies given to him and Laius. Verbal irony is similar to situational irony, but happens through speech. A good example of verbal irony in the play is when Oedipus says, "… and had his line not been unfortunate we would have common children… because of all these things, I fight for his defence as for my father…” (Lines 261-4) The irony in this statement comes in two forms back to back because Laius and Oedipus do have common children, just not in the way he was thinking of it, and he is fighting for his defence as though Laius was his father because he was.

The many instances of irony embedded throughout the play create a greater sense of pity in the audience leading up to the climax of the plot, as Oedipus only seems capable of making his downfall worse. We see this happen during the peripeteia and anagnorisis. The peripeteia comes first when the messenger tells Oedipus that he doesn’t need to worry about sleeping with his mother because Polybus and Merope aren’t his real parents. Up to this point, Oedipus has only managed to prove his hubris, arrogance, and disbelief in the oracles’ prophecies. Just before this, Oedipus and Jocasta were rejoicing at the news that Polybus had died, thinking for certain that the prophecies were false. The messenger’s statement marks a sudden reversal of Oedipus’ fate. Following this is the anagnorisis, when Oedipus realizes that everything has come full circle after the herdsman arrives and confirms that Jocasta was the one who gave him baby Oedipus.

Tragedy comes about as a result from a hero’s fatal flaw. It can be the hubris of a hero who makes fun of a man for his blindness when he is himself more blind than anyone else, or of one who is quick to assume a loyal friend has turned on him for his crown, when that friend is more contempt with the power they already have without the need for fear. It can be the stubbornness of a hero who will do anything to find out the truth, even when he is constantly warned by those around him not to pursue it. Oedipus Rex more than any other tragedy has taught me that some things should just be left as is. Sometimes, it’s better to stay blind to the truth and to truly listen to those you trust when they tell you there is nothing to gain and everything to lose from it. It has also taught me not to become infatuated with pride, for it is only when you raise yourself so high that you can fall so low.

Connor Campbell, Period 2, 12/11/20, Day A

Connor Campbell

Modern Mythology

Ms. Fusaro

12/11/2020

    Allow me to introduce my blog with a simple two-word term I believe many of you have heard before: implicit bias. Some of you may know what implicit bias is, some of you may have heard the word used before, and some of you may have never heard the word before in your life. To put it simply, implicit bias is the subconscious force in your mind that drives your decisions, assumptions, and actions around specific people. The most important thing to note about implicit biases is that we all have them, no one is exempt from having subconscious, internal biases. Say you’re a recent Duke graduate at your first job interview, for example, and when you enter your prospective employer’s office, you notice Duke memorabilia scattered around; a mini football helmet, a blue devil plushie, a photo of JJ Redick or (more likely) Christian Laettner on his desk or wall. He reads your resume and notices you’ve graduated from Duke, smiles, and for the rest of the interview, you two are laughing and sharing stories about professors, classes, sports, everything about your college experiences. Congratulations, you’ve won the job by a longshot. You may not have been the most experienced or even the best candidate, but you had the best interview because you and your employer shared an alma mater. He was comfortable around you, he could relate to you, and he liked you the most because you were the most like him. That’s implicit bias.
    The most common topics associated with implicit bias, however, is race, gender, and sexual orientation. As I noted earlier, we all have implicit biases that you may be completely unaware of and it affects the way you act around different people. That doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re racist or you’re sexist, it just means that your decision making is impaired. As part of the NYC Department of Education’s Office of Equity and Access’s Welcoming School Climate Advisory Board, I’ve received and conducted countless implicit bias trainings to teachers, principals, and DOE administrators in all five boroughs. The goal of these trainings is to help people realize their implicit biases and combat them. We as people can never truly remove our implicit biases; but the more we are aware of them, the easier it is for us to keep those biases from affecting our decision making. 
    I highly suggest you try to motivate your office or school to partake in an implicit bias training. I’ve seen countless people dismiss the idea of experiencing a training because they think it’s a waste of time or they say they’re not racist, only to enjoy the training after its conclusion and say they learned a great deal about themselves. Junior year was the school year I believe I had the greatest personal growth and I attribute a great deal of that growth to the work I was able to do for the Welcoming School Climate Advisory Board. It doesn’t matter how old you are, everyone has room to grow, and taking an implicit bias training is the most enjoyable and most impactful way to stimulate that growth. I promise, from experience, that you won’t regret it.

Lauren Blanchard, Period 2, 12/8/20, Day A

Lauren Blanchard
Modern Mythology

Ms. Fusaro
12/8/2020

In the lives of most children, we reach a point when the punishment of "time-out" no longer holds any meaning. My mother's reaction to this turning point in my life was somewhat unconventional. I was not grounded and owned no electronics that could be confiscated. Instead, my mother threatened a more precious object: my books. Each time I misbehaved, a page would be ripped out from the back of the book I was currently reading. 

No pages were ever removed. It took me years to realize the threat was empty. In that time, I developed a series of strange reading habits. My paranoia drove me to always read the last four pages of a book first. I knew the end before the plot and characters. I "spoiled" the story for myself, yet still found the experience of reading enjoyable. 

Nobody else seemed to understand. I only understood due our most recent unit in class, Greek Tragedies. 

When audiences in ancient Greece went to the theater, they knew the entire plot of the play they were about to see. In Sophocles' Oedipus Rex, they were aware Oedipus killed his father and married his mother. The audience knew their hero had failed to cheat fate. There was no surprise or plot twist, yet they still saw value in watching these events unfold. Prior knowledge added to the irony of the plot. For them, the play about the literal tragedy of a good person realizing their entire life was a lie. 

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "It's the not the destination, It's the journey." I have come to believe that statement is true. The journey I share with book characters, and those shared on stage in Greek Tragedy, allow for an emotional connection beyond reality and fiction. We feel the pain of those who never existed, as real as if it happened to ourselves. The plot looses significance, but the moments that drive it gain value. We experience the story, even when we know the end. 

In any narrative, connection is what makes a story great. It is an art form, greater than words and pictures, that can be felt in the depths of the soul. The connection we experience with characters, drives us to laugh and cry at everything from movies to epic poems, and in this display of emotion we connect with each other. 

As the world changes and grows divided, we need to remember the importance of our journeys with the fictional characters who shaped our lives. We need to seek out the connections we felt with them in others, and allow the emotions that foster understanding to develop. Then, we might not feel like our existence is devolving into the next legendary tragedy. 

 

Michille Zhang, 12/7/20, PD 8, Day C

Michille Zhang
11/7/20
PD 8
Modern Mythology

At this current point in time, what specific goal(s) do you have for yourself? Why?

Since the beginning of this school year, I’ve been very disorganized and messy with all my work. At this current point in time, I want to become more organized and more motivated for school work. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, my aunt and uncle's restaurant had found themselves short staffed. With the ability to move to remote learning, I was able to go to Ohio and help out with the business. However, I found myself procrastinating almost every assignment, since I would have to go work immediately after class ended. Though I could bring my assignments to work with me, I found it frustrating that I was always on edge since a customer could walk in any minute. I couldn’t focus on my work as every train of thought would be disrupted. When I would return to my work, I couldn’t remember my ideas anymore and it became very frustrating to do while working. In addition, everyday after work, I would be too tired and unmotivated to do any actual work. When I sit down to try to get some work done, I’ll be constantly distracted by technology and trying to respond to everyone’s messages on the discord app. With the upcoming due dates for common app, I’m also feeling the stress and pressure of going to college. Although I have already finished a portion of my applications from doing Early Action, there is still too much to handle with the school work, the family business, and college. I still have to write supplementaries for each of the colleges by the end of this year, in addition to all the school projects and working. I’ve been trying to focus more in between classes and get some of the simpler tasks finished as well as tracking down all the work in an app. With all the things ongoing in my life, I find it a little helpful so I won’t forget.

How do you demonstrate resilience towards achieving this goal? (or these goals?)

I’ve been recently putting all my assignments into an app to help track my work and remind me of due dates. I often lose track of time and forget the assignments needing to be done because of my hectic lifestyle. I would sometimes forget tests or big projects until the day before the due date, leading to many all nighters and stress. The app allows me to portion out and break down those huge projects so I can complete little tasks everyday. I would then be able to finish before the actual deadline and feel some relief. In addition, I would try to finish the smaller tasks in between classes, as I might get too focused and forget about the next session. I’ve also been trying to complete assignments before the day it's due, as I often come home at 9 to 10 giving me little to no time to do my homework. The app has also helped me deal with the stress as everything is portioned out. I won’t have too much work to do in a day, and I can have a restful sleep knowing everything is in on time. I still have a little trouble with following the schedule and I will sometimes forget to add assignments. 

How does the world around you affect your perception of this goal? (or these goals?)

Seeing how everyone else seems to be so ahead and on top of their work has motivated me to try to keep up with the workload. I used to sleep whenever I felt stressed, as it helped me relieve some tension and forget everything needing to be done. However, my current situation doesn’t allow me to just sleep whenever I want, as I have to tend to customers. Lately I’ve found listening to music has helped me calm down and focus on my work a little more. Like the different genres of music, everyone has different situations and not all of them can be dealt with in the same way. I learned not to compare myself with those around me but have them as role models. I see the people around as goals/ destinations that I could one day reach but the path is my own to pave.

Vicky Zhou, Period 5, 12/4/20, Day B

Vicky Zhou 
12/4/20
Period 5
Modern Mythology 2021

At this current point in time, what specific goal(s) do you have for yourself? Why?

School has always left me with a busy schedule: after school, I would go to work, come home, and study. Suddenly, in the span of a week, I didn’t have to drag myself out of bed at 6 am, I didn’t have to spend 2 hours on the bus, I didn’t have to go to work anymore. It felt like I had quite literally all the time in the world. School became exponentially easier. I would finish work between each class period. For the first month, I couldn’t understand all the students who wanted to return to school. It was a blessing, especially for Junior year: the year that should have been the most stressful. As time went on, I slowly began to understand what my peers wished for. Aside from the social interaction that I missed, I was running out of ways to entertain myself. That feeling of having all the time in the world, came back to haunt me. My days became a broken record and it felt heavier than the stress that came with school. I needed to break that loop. 

I started by watching something new: anime. People who do watch it are often considered a “weeb,” a word that holds a negative connotation. For that very reason, I never thought to watch them, I couldn’t possibly be interested. Right? I could not have been more wrong. I watched nearly 3 seasons in a span of 2 days. The show is called Haikyuu; it follows two 1st year high school volleyball players that aim to win nationals. The plot was so simple; there wasn’t any betrayal or heartbreaks. It was simply volleyball and the journey to improving. And despite the simplicity, I clung onto every second the ball was in play, cheered at every moment of victory, and awed at every moment of improvement. The show in its entirety warmed my heart. I could go on for hours talking about how great it is, breaking down the significance of each friendship or listing their favorite desserts, but what I credit it the most for is introducing me to an entire culture that I was so ignorant to before. I had so quickly cast away an idea because I didn’t think I would be interested. After falling in love with the show and the manga (graphic novel), I was overwhelmed with guilt. I always talked about wanting to try new things and yet the mindset I held prior to reading it reflected nothing of that sort. Since then, I have made it a goal to be more open-minded about things I could do. Rather than neglecting it altogether, I told myself I had to at the very least gave it a chance before declaring it wasn’t for me.

How do you demonstrate resilience towards achieving this goal? (or these goals?)

As I continued to dive into Japanese related entertainment, I discovered the stories that came in the forms of manga and light novels. Reading these intricate stories reminded me of the love I had for books. It wasn’t that I had previously hated it, but it wasn’t exactly like I would pick one up during my free time. I started by ordering a couple of books and reading them during car rides or before sleeping. 

I admired those who kept a journal; their book filled with doodles and schedules. In the past, I wished I could produce something to that extent, but one good look and anyone can tell that the owner of the book poured hours into filling it in. I told myself I couldn’t do the same, as I simply did not have the time. Reflecting on the new mindset, I decided to purchase a bullet journal. Throughout the summer I spent hours pieces together magazine cutouts and printed stickers to surround the pages. With each page, I tracked my habits: work-outs, skincare routine, sleep schedule, water intake, and daily activities. Despite having less time because school has started, I continue to fill in my journal. The feeling of relaxation and moments of excitement after seeing each page outweighed the initial stress of misusing time. Looking back now, I can remember exactly what I did during the month of July: exactly how I spent my birthday. The nostalgia I get from experiencing the past with such vivid details inspires me to continue this even in college. Once again, I had realized that I tossed aside a hobby without experiencing it first. 

As my days began to transform, I continued to seek more change. Since school started, I have picked up drawing. At first glance, the patience required was intimidating but nonetheless, I grabbed my iPad and began to sketch silhouettes. After class ended, I borrowed my friend's penny board and glided through Brooklyn. It was shockingly freeing despite riding next to cars. Just two weeks ago, after seven long years, I sat myself down in front of my piano and rediscovered the love that I initially possessed. No longer limited to classical music, I began to learn a song, one that originated from an anime.  

How does the world around you affect your perception of this goal? (or these goals?)

The older you get, the wiser you become. Recently, I began to understand this phrase better. Every day I sacrifice something, whether it is reading for drawing or playing piano for bullet journaling. That feeling of unlimited time had since faded away. Now I yearn for even an extra hour in my week. There is so much more I want to do with the hobbies that I have, but more importantly, there are so many more hobbies I have yet to discover. There isn’t anyone that has the exact same interest as I. With every recommendation I received, I took it into consideration. Their suggestions helped me discover new music that is overwhelmingly addictive, stories that make me sob, and games that I spend hours on. I can’t wait to be in my 60s; I wonder what new hobbies I will pick up in the next 43 years. 

People so easily cast negative comments over things they have no experience at. When I first got my VR, my brother was quick to say it was a waste of money. After a couple minutes of playing the game, he refused to stop. He even offered to buy it off of me. I envy those who have experienced more than me and my blood boils when others refuse to try something new. Just as I have introduced a new hobby to my brother, I hope that I can influence my friends and family in the same way. 

Prince Zhang, Period 2, 12/4, B

Reading and Learning

Write about your thoughts regarding the most current reading.

In my modern mythology class, we recently started reading Oedipus the King, a tragic play by Sophocles. The story up to now is about the king of Thebes, Oedipus, who has been given a prophecy by Tiresias, who states that he will kill his father and marry his mother. At first, Oedipus was skeptical of the prophecy, as any sane person would be. But as the plot progressed, bits and pieces started coming together. For one, Jocasta, his wife, proclaims that Laius, a former king, died a triple crossroad, which matches the location of someone who Oedipus killed before arriving in Thebes. Jocasta further adds on to his doubt by giving the description of Laius' appearance which also lines up with the description of the man that Oedipus killed.

My thoughts on the reading so far is one wonder. I admire Oedipus' belief that he did not kill Laius and how he believes in himself. However, I can see that this is hubris as he believes that the prophecy is not real and that he is right. I liked to add on to the dramatic irony in which Tiresias, the blind prophet, has more metaphorical sight than Oedipus who is blinded by his own beliefs. Furthermore, with a reader's perspective, I find it amusing how Jocasta is starting to pick up on the bits and pieces and start realizing that the prophecy might be true, while Oedipus is being blissfully ignorant.

Reflect on any new information you have learned in English class by considering how that learning influences your critical perception.

Through the interactions between the blind prophet, Tiresias, and Oedipus, I can learn the importance of irony in the story. Despite being physically blind, Tiresias can still see [the truth]. Oedipus on the other hand, can see, but is blinded by his own stubbornness and does not believe the prophecy. Also, in this situation, I can see the different perspectives of the characters. For example, in Oedipus' eyes, he has trouble believing this prophecy(for obvious reasons), but someone like Jocasta would hope to believe that he is right, but after starting to see pieces of evidence, her view on the prophecy would change. Furthermore, I wanted to talk about the paradox of prophecy. By stating that something is going to happen, it causes someone to do everything they can to prevent it to no avail as the prophecies come true.

How is what you’re learning applied to any other classes/the world around you?

From the reading and my own analysis, I can apply what I learned to other aspects of my life. As Oedipus was stubborn to believe his prophecy, I learned that I should be open to other facts, opinions, and ideas. For instance, if I was given an outrageous claim, I would not need to agree with it, but I should still respect it (to some degree). For example, in my daily Among Us games, I should be open to the evidence given by other players, but taking it with a grain of salt. Onto more obvious things I learned, killing random people is not a good thing.