Reader Responses

1.“You with your precious eyes/ you’re blind to the corruption of your life”(Oedipus the King)

Here Oedipus is interpreted as a man who can't "truly" see the corruption, so I drew him without any eyes to portray his blindness. His tears are also a symbol for sadness and inevitability for the hardship in his life.

2. “People of Thebes, my countrymen, look on Oedipus. He solved the famous riddle with his brilliance, he rose to power, a man beyond all power. Who could behold his greatness without envy? Now  what a black sea of terror overwhelm him. Now as we keep our watch and wait the final day, count no man happy till he dies, free of pain at last.” (Oedipus the King)

When I read this I quickly thought about a boat. This boat is suffering through the obstacles from it's environment, like Oedipus's life. I drew a skull under the water to show that not all things that are evil fully reveal itself, it is also a focal point that's why it is the only colored part in my piece. He his fighting his surroundings for his ability to survive peacefully.

3.“For my own sake I’ll  rid us of this corruption/ Whoever killed the king may decide to kill me too/ with the same violent hand”(Oedipus the King)

Sinner (poem):
Can we truly live in peace?
With disease in our nature
Can we truly live in peace?
With one hand in the depths of hell,
and the other in the heavens,
Can we truly live in peace?
If ignorance is such a crime,
Can I still live in peace?

4. “Now as it is. I’d have you say a prayer/ prey for life, my children/ live where you are free to grow and season”(Oedipus the King)

Prosperous Tree (poem):
Let the leaves grow full on the prosperous tree,
Where roots grow deep,
the integrity is rich,
let the evil dispose itself from once it came,
and let generations start anew on the prosperous tree,