Struggling with Written & Unwritten Law

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Struggling with Written & Unwritten Law in Oedipus Rex

Following the advice/guidance of venerated citizens:

The psychic who counsels Oedipus to cease searching for the killer. Oedipus struggles with this advice, and becomes more determined to find him.

Fighting fate (unwritten law): The soothsayer in Corinth tells Oedipus

he'll kill his father and marry his mother. Oedipus struggles with this prediction, and runs away to avoid this fate, but ends up fulfilling it anyway.

Struggling with Written & Unwritten Law in A Raisin in the Sun

Racism in Clybourne Park: the white neighborhood tries to enforce unwritten law of segregation by sending Mr. Lindner to bribe the Youngers not to move there.

Abortion: Ruth considers abortion, which is against the law during this time period. She struggles with the idea that having a baby will affect the family's finances.

Similarities

Both works of literature offer characters who struggle with unwritten laws:

Racism and advice of elders Both works of literature have characters

who ignore written/unwritten laws: The Youngers still move into the

neighborhood and Oedipus still pursues the murderer of the king.

Differences

The consequences for the characters' actions are different:

The Youngers seem to have an optimistic ending (moving into their home).

Oedipus does not have a very optimistic end-- he kills his father and marries his mother.

Themes

A Raisin in the Sun: Discrimination The Youngers' decision to ignore the

bribe and to move into Clybourne Park shows that they will fight discrimination.

Oedipus Rex: Free Will vs. Predestination Oedipus is fated to kill his father and

marry his mother, yet he fights against that fate.

Writing Styles

Both are plays. Oedipus Rex has a chorus. Raisin in the Sun does not have a chorus.

Use of Dramatic Devices & Conventions

Symbolism: A Raisin in the Sun: Mama's plant. It

struggles to survive and represents the family's struggle to survive.

Oedipus Rex: Crossroads. They suggest one making a choice, but Oedipus' choice has been made for him so it's a symbol of his fate instead of his free will.