Nora's Decisions In Oedipus The King

Life’s Decisions Life is filled with decisions. The path one decides to choose in life can be the altered because of others. Oedipus lives in a world based on the beliefs of oracles. Once the oracle states a prophecy, it is believed the Gods are never wrong. The Gods already had a plan for him that he could not change, no matter what path he chose. Oedipus is not to blame for his tragedy because he is the victim of prophecies. Nora did her best to be a good wife and mother. The problem arises when Nora realizes that her husband does not value her and breaks down her self-worth. Nora’s leaving is justified because she has lost self-worth by conditioning to others. Prophecies have contributed to the fate of man from the dawn of time. Many

Oedipus decides he must know the truth. Oedipus is met with yet another prophecy. The prophecy revealed states, “As, that I should lie with my own mother, breed children from whom all men would turn their eyes; And that I should be my father’s murderer” (Oedipus Rex 979). Oedipus scared of the truth, attempts to avoid his fate and flees to Thebes. Oedipus is sure he has proven the Gods wrong and he gets married to Iocaste, becomes King of Thebes and has a few children. As luck would have it, a plague has hit the very city he rules and can only be cured by finding the murderer of the old King Laios. The oracle prophesized, “An old defilement that it seems we shelter” (Oedipus Rex 962). The old defilement is referring to Oedipus. Oedipus soon realizes that he has in fact the man that has murdered King Laois and he is the reason behind the plague. After the knowledge of the murder, Oedipus and Iocaste are still naïve that the prophecies are true. Iocaste even responds, “No. From now on, where oracles are concerned, I would not waste a second thought on any” (Oedipus Rex 980). The shepherd that found Oedipus as a child exposes the truth to him and the shepherd reveals, “There had been prophecies….” (Oedipus Rex 988). Oedipus finally acknowledges that his fate was marked all along by prophecies as he states, “Ah God! It was true! All the prophecies!” (Oedipus Rex 988). The God’s prophecies all came true. Oedipus tried to control his own

Nora learned that her contributions and expectations as a mother and wife were not valued. To have self -worth one must first discover his or her values and then choose their path to happiness. Nora’s husband Helmer exhibits many traits that belittle Nora to hurt her self-worth. Helmer controls Nora as a child when he states, “(wagging his finger) My little songbird must never do that again” (A Doll House 1123). Helmer also reinstates this trait when he says, “You talk like a child, you know nothing of the world you live in” (A Doll House 1151). The way Helmer talks to Nora like a child is demeaning. Nora begins to build her self-worth when she responds, “I’ll begin to learn for myself” (A Doll House 1151). Helmer also questions and insults her mothering skills. Nora’s self-worth is pushed farther when Helmer refers to the children, “I don’t dare trust you with them” (A Doll House 1148). Nora truly believes she is incapable of being a good wife and mother. Nora’s self-worth is so broken, when it comes to her children she says, “The way I am now, I’m no use to them” (A Doll House 1152). Nora needs to build up her self-worth after she acknowledges their time together has been more play-time than marriage. Nora eventually discovers that Helmer’s comments, actions and speech all along have been wearing down her self-worth. Nora decides to continue to build her self-worth