Metamorphoses of Oedipus in Modern French Literature. From an Intellectual Drama to a Psychoanalytical Reflection on Ideal Love

Oedipus Rex, a tragedy created twenty-five centuries ago, is still a source of inspiration for many writers. However, the overall message of modern interpretations of the Oedipus myth differs considerably from the message of Sophocles’ play; these works are no longer the stories of a man punished by...

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Main Author: Marcin Klik
Format: Article
Language:deu
Published: University of Tartu Press 2020-06-01
Series:Interlitteraria
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ojs.utlib.ee/index.php/IL/article/view/16636
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author Marcin Klik
author_facet Marcin Klik
author_sort Marcin Klik
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description Oedipus Rex, a tragedy created twenty-five centuries ago, is still a source of inspiration for many writers. However, the overall message of modern interpretations of the Oedipus myth differs considerably from the message of Sophocles’ play; these works are no longer the stories of a man punished by gods for his haughtiness (hybris). André Gide modernizes Sophocles’ tragedy, transforming it into a lesson in secular humanism. The play by Jean Cocteau focuses on the transition from ignorance to awareness. Alain Robbe-Grillet creates an anti-story about the contemporary version of Oedipus, whose lot is determined, not by gods, but by chance and unconscious desires. As for the psychoanalytical interpretation of the myth by Jacqueline Harpman, it is first of all the reflection on ideal love, fully realized in an incestuous relationship between the son and his mother.
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spelling doaj.art-7b480f309f394b029541c1dfd2e5f9f12022-12-22T01:49:44ZdeuUniversity of Tartu PressInterlitteraria1406-07012228-47292020-06-0125110.12697/IL.2020.25.1.15Metamorphoses of Oedipus in Modern French Literature. From an Intellectual Drama to a Psychoanalytical Reflection on Ideal LoveMarcin Klik0Instytut Romanistyki, Uniwersytet Warszawski, ul. Dobra 55, 00–312 WarszawaOedipus Rex, a tragedy created twenty-five centuries ago, is still a source of inspiration for many writers. However, the overall message of modern interpretations of the Oedipus myth differs considerably from the message of Sophocles’ play; these works are no longer the stories of a man punished by gods for his haughtiness (hybris). André Gide modernizes Sophocles’ tragedy, transforming it into a lesson in secular humanism. The play by Jean Cocteau focuses on the transition from ignorance to awareness. Alain Robbe-Grillet creates an anti-story about the contemporary version of Oedipus, whose lot is determined, not by gods, but by chance and unconscious desires. As for the psychoanalytical interpretation of the myth by Jacqueline Harpman, it is first of all the reflection on ideal love, fully realized in an incestuous relationship between the son and his mother.https://ojs.utlib.ee/index.php/IL/article/view/16636OedipusmythJean CocteauJacqueline HarpmanAndré GideAlain Robbe-Grillet
spellingShingle Marcin Klik
Metamorphoses of Oedipus in Modern French Literature. From an Intellectual Drama to a Psychoanalytical Reflection on Ideal Love
Interlitteraria
Oedipus
myth
Jean Cocteau
Jacqueline Harpman
André Gide
Alain Robbe-Grillet
title Metamorphoses of Oedipus in Modern French Literature. From an Intellectual Drama to a Psychoanalytical Reflection on Ideal Love
title_full Metamorphoses of Oedipus in Modern French Literature. From an Intellectual Drama to a Psychoanalytical Reflection on Ideal Love
title_fullStr Metamorphoses of Oedipus in Modern French Literature. From an Intellectual Drama to a Psychoanalytical Reflection on Ideal Love
title_full_unstemmed Metamorphoses of Oedipus in Modern French Literature. From an Intellectual Drama to a Psychoanalytical Reflection on Ideal Love
title_short Metamorphoses of Oedipus in Modern French Literature. From an Intellectual Drama to a Psychoanalytical Reflection on Ideal Love
title_sort metamorphoses of oedipus in modern french literature from an intellectual drama to a psychoanalytical reflection on ideal love
topic Oedipus
myth
Jean Cocteau
Jacqueline Harpman
André Gide
Alain Robbe-Grillet
url https://ojs.utlib.ee/index.php/IL/article/view/16636
work_keys_str_mv AT marcinklik metamorphosesofoedipusinmodernfrenchliteraturefromanintellectualdramatoapsychoanalyticalreflectiononideallove