Through the Eyes of Oedipus

OEDIPUS

I will be visiting this issue of alienation through the eyes of Oedipus in Oedipus the King. Trying to explain how the missing and murdered Indigenous women were alienated and not given a proper investigation to understand these horrible outcomes. Much like Oedipus, who went to certain depths to find out the truth about himself and family. But first a short summary of the story Oedipus the King:Oedipus fled to Thebes after finding out his prophecy about killing his father and marrying his mother. On his adventure to Thebes be came across some men that he murdered, one of the man being his biological father not knowing at the time of course. When arriving Thebes he defected from the Phoenix and became king and married the queen which is his biological mother but he did not know this at the time either. The prophecy becoming truer every step of Oedipus’s adventure.  A plague doomed the city of Thebes and he discovers that the plague will end once the murder of the former king is caught and expelled. Soon after a visit from a blind prophet, Oedipus starts to question everything he has ever known. Once Oedipus does not believe and wishes to see the messenger that survived Oedipus’s murderous rampage. While they are waiting for this messenger, the farmer who had found Oedipus and hurried to give him the news about his adopted father who died. The farmer found Oedipus on a mountain with his feet nailed together when he was just an infant. When the messenger they were long waiting for finally arrives and spills the truth about Oedipus. Jocasta runs into the castle and hangs herself, not being able to bear the truth. Oedipus was notified by the guards that she has killed herself. He realizes the disturbing truth. He then gouges his eyes out with the broches he ripped of Jocasta's gowns. He couldn’t escape his fate.

Summary of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women article

This story is about 13 Indigenous women who have told their story about the violence they endured while living in Canada. It all began in residential schools, they were stripped of their identity, self-respect and loved ones upon arriving at the schools. Each women telling their story has survived a horrific violence, escaping murder, abuse and sexual violence. These women have shared more than one story that has four generation attached who were raped. Although these women have experienced such disappear they were able to display resilience and forgiveness. In doing so, they demonstrate courage and triumphant without exception. These Indigenous women all speak out to have their stories heard and hope to stop the recurrence of sexual violence. They have all been sexually assaulted, harassed and abused but now they speak up so that their child does not have to go through what they had too. One woman stated that she is going to speak for those who can’t; the missing and murdered. Indigenous women make up two percent of the country’s population but more than one out of four have gone missing or have been killed. It is stated that it is not an Indigenous problem but a Canadian problem. There is a lack of respect for women and girls on reserves which needs to be changed. There are so many wrong assumptions about Indigenous People that have formed over the years. They have been robbed of their identity and freedom which is why it is important for the survivors to share their story. It will help others to understand how Indigenous Peoples got where they are. These women are extraordinary and brave to speak out about their story. In the richest and most developed country, sexual violence should not be an issue and Indigenous women should not have to live in fear.

Although two completely different situations, they both deal with an eminence amount of alienation. Oedipus has been alienated from this family since the day he was born, not knowing who he was or where he belonged. He becomes ignorant, not allowing the truth to rise to the surface until the last messenger arrives, explaining the disappointing certainly of his life. When he figured out who his biology family is, he had a greater feeling of not knowing where he belonged because he married his mother and killed his own father. Just like the Indigenous women that were missing and murder. They did not know where they belonged because of the government always invading their lives and people falsely accusing them. Once the truth about Oedipus is revealed to the people of Thebes. They no longer wanted him as their king and wanted him gone from Thebes. No matter what Oedipus does or goes, he is always being alienated by everyone around him. Just like an Indigenous woman, they are being alienated no matter where they go.

There is a similarity with the city of Thebes and Canada were both experiencing alienation. Thebes was alienated because of the plague and Canada because of the government. The alienation they faced was cruel and physical because the entire community was sick and dying due to the plague. Ultimately caused people from the surrounding areas not wanting to be around the city or people of Thebes. Therefore alienation was cruel and physical because of the sickness raining throughout the city. The Canadian government has caused the ingenious woman to be alienated through not allowing them to live their lives and being forced to not live freely. This impacted the indigenous woman because the physical, emotional, spiritual toll they had on them because they are unable to exercise their own right to agency and avoid being missing and murdered.

An Aboriginal woman has been mistreated and alienated since the very beginning. Not knowing where they belonging in the world, constantly being misdirected by the government and other superior males. Holding on to the little hope they had left that was taken away when women started to go missing. At the time these women were found, they were either emaciated or worse; murdered. The families of these women are also feeling alienated by the government as well as others that don’t think this is a real issue. Indigenous families and friends share their stories to people so they become more aware of the issues. With all the horrible experiences these women have encountered throughout their childhood until now.

Residential schools was a place that was suppose to educate the child to give them a better life; a safe place. They were taken from their homes and placed in an unfriendly environment educated system because they were easier to mold as a child. Instead, these residential schools tormented and torchered the children, stripping them of their identity and ability to live freely. For example, stripping them of their native heritage and mentally/physically abused them. These residential schools were run by the federal government under the departpart of Indian Affairs. Where teachers sent by the government to teach them how to be English, adopt Christianity and Canadian customs. The Gods in Oedipus the King were much like the government in Canada. The Gods placed a plague on the city of Thebes when the king was killed and need to be solved in order to overcome the sickness. The government placed Indigenous children into residential school to rid them of their culture because the government thought they needed to be cured.

Like many others I, Oedipus the King do not understand how it got to be this way. These women do not deserve this kind of treatment from our country. I have scratched my eyes out because I do not wish to see the world if this is what it is like. I do not understand how it got to be this way in the world we live in, where we raise our children and love our families for who they are. The gods have put upon us a dreadful “sickness” that can not be undone until we fix this insufferable issue.

           

The Gods= The Government

Oedipus the King= The Indigenous Women

Thebes= Canada

Alienation= Alienation

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