Oedipus the King- Journal #4

Comparison
Prompt: Compare how writers in your study have explored the themes of judgment and punishment, or disguise and deciet, or love and friendship, and with what effect.

Jugment and punisment is brought to the reader's attention almost immediatly from the beginning of the book. Oedipus is very quick to publicly condemn and judge the killer of Lauis, without knowing him or any of the particulars. He also judges and attempts to punish Creon for supposedly trying to take over the power. By judging these people quickly and harshly, it brings about Oedipus' own demise at the end of the play. When Oedipus realizes his errors, he forces upon himself the same punishment he promised at the start of the play. Through this, Sophocles shows the idea of judgment, and how judging somebody too quickly can bring trouble upon the individual. Similarly, in The Stranger, Camus portrays the idea of judgment and punishment through the actions and reactions created by Meursault. During the trial, Meursault is judged based on his actions in regard to his mother. It is safe to assume, based on the opinion of Meursault's lawyer, that if Meursault had been a little more compassionent and respectful to his mother, that he would not of been judged so harshly and therefore punished harshly. Camus is portraying that people judge and punish those who do not fit in with their accepted view of what is right. Both authors show judgement and punishment has inevitable, but Sophocles shows it in an internal way while Camus uses external judgement to show his idea.