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Oedipus and Narcissus

18 important questions on Oedipus and Narcissus

How were myths viewed during Enlightenment?

As unreal and pre-rational. Voltaire even described them as conscious fraud by priests to delude the masses. Some believed that myths were based upon real people and events, but during Enlightenment, this interpretation was rejected. Myths were, however, a great source for art.

What was the link that the scientists from Enlightenment saw between Greece and Africa?

The Greek myths correponsed to the stories of African peoples, which were deemed primitive; in other words, myths date back to a "primitive" phase in Greek history.

Who was C. G. Heyne and how did he think about myths?

He was a professor of Classical Mythology at Göttinge, who coined the Latin term "mythus" (compared to "fabula"). He believed that myths were a form of "childlike" wisdom; completely untrue, but based on all the Greeks knew. The myths were symbolic, because the Greeks had no rational language yet to explain certain thoughts with.

Who was Karl Philpp Moritz and what did he do?

He wrote the Götterlehre, and stated that myth was nothing but a beautiful work of art without any allegorical meaning. He was influenced by Goethe and Schiller.

What was Friedrich Creuzer's Symbolik und Götterlehre der altenVölker about?

He believed that Greek mythology originated from the East (India, Egypt). He also believed that symbols and myths could express religious truths. He was very influential, but also highly criticized for being unscholarly.

How was Greek mythology studied in the late 19th century?

Often from a historic and positivistic point of view (that the events were actually related to history), but also still from a symbolic point of view, sometimes.

What did Sigmund Freud's Oedipus Complex consit of?

This was a form of psycho-analysis: it states that each man feels his first sexual impulse towards his mother and his first hatred/murderous impulse towards his father, but that these feelings are almost always repressed. If they are not, the person will suffer from neuroses.
Freud argued that the play was so succesful because it contained these universal truths, that everyone could recognize.

What is the problem with saying that Oedipus and the Oedipus Complex are linked?

Because Oedipus has no Oedipus Complex; his deeds are not caused by his own subconscious impulses, but by his fear of the oracle. He did not even recognize Laius as his father or Jocasta as his mother and had no idea of knowing who they were. Also, Oedipus had no strange dreams.

Why did Freud name his theory after the Oedipus Complex if it did not fit the play?

- Because of cultural prestige: to show that he had seen/read the play when he saw in school.
- Because the idea that myths contain universal truths was prevalent.
- Because Oedipus gradually figures out what is going on, which resembles the slow process of psychoanalysis.
- Because Oedipus is an intellectual hero, solving the riddle of the Sphinx and daring to face the uncomfortable truth (and, by blinding himself, he makes himself even wiser because the blind know the truth)

How is the story of Narcissus introduced in Ovid's Metamorphoses?

As an example of the prophetic powers of Tiresias, who stated that he would live to old age "unless he would come to know himself".

How are the stories of Narcissus and Oedipus linked?

Because self-knowledge also brings upon self-destruction.

Why is Narcissus 16 years old in his story?

Because that makes him both a boy (meant to be loved by men) and a man (meant to be loved by women), yet he loved neither women nor men. In Ovid's story, when he rejects Echo as well, he is punished for this because he has failed to transition to manhood (accept love/sexual feelings).

Why could the relationship between Echo and Narcissus never work?

Because Echo was a girl, and therefore she could not be the active lover. This would mean that Narcissus would have to be both the lover (erastès) and the beloved (eròmenos). Both of them waste away for this reason.

In what way can Echo be said to agressively chase Narcissus (apart from actually chasing him)?

By echoing his words. This is a form of auditive mirroring as opposed to visual mirroring, which is typically what we do when we like someone.

How is Narcissus used as an allegory?

He is used as an example against excessive self-love or against focussing on the wrong kind of self-knowlegde. One should strive to know the soul, instead of the body, but Narcissus is focussed on his own appearance.

Of what was Narcissus a symbol in Romanticism/Symbolism?

As a symbol of the isolated poet who creates his own world.

Who was the first to mention Narcissism?

Havelock Ellis, who mainly referred to being in love with yourself and looking in a mirror too often.

Why didn't Freud mention the myth of Narcissus when he wrote his 1914 essay on narcissism?

- Because the frivolous Ovid was not as prestiguous, tragic Sophocles (who wrote Oedipus Rex).
- Because Freud considered Narcissism to be less universal than the Oedipus Complex, and myths were supposed to hold universal truths.

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Ancient Mythology

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Oedipus and Narcissus

18 important questions on Oedipus and Narcissus

How were myths viewed during Enlightenment?

What was the link that the scientists from Enlightenment saw between Greece and Africa?

Who was C. G. Heyne and how did he think about myths?

Who was Karl Philpp Moritz and what did he do?

What was Friedrich Creuzer's Symbolik und Götterlehre der altenVölker about?

How was Greek mythology studied in the late 19th century?

What did Sigmund Freud's Oedipus Complex consit of?

What is the problem with saying that Oedipus and the Oedipus Complex are linked?

Why did Freud name his theory after the Oedipus Complex if it did not fit the play?

How is the story of Narcissus introduced in Ovid's Metamorphoses?

How are the stories of Narcissus and Oedipus linked?

Why is Narcissus 16 years old in his story?

Why could the relationship between Echo and Narcissus never work?

In what way can Echo be said to agressively chase Narcissus (apart from actually chasing him)?

How is Narcissus used as an allegory?

Of what was Narcissus a symbol in Romanticism/Symbolism?

Who was the first to mention Narcissism?

Why didn't Freud mention the myth of Narcissus when he wrote his 1914 essay on narcissism?

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