Oedipus/Psycho Essay's

Will someone please proofread my Essay's ASAP I need it no later than midnight tonight so I can print and turn it in in the morning =)

Film Essay : Psycho
Psycho

There were many symbols used in Psycho, from the knife, Norman Bates bedroom, the birds in the motel, shower scene, the remains of Norman’s deceased mother, and the moment when Marion was eating in the Motel office with Norman. When Marion, meets Norman, the director Alfred Hitchcock, used many important symbols when they first meet such as the rain, birds in the office, and when Norman gives Marion dinner. When Norman, feeds Marion, I think he becomes more vulnerable to her and wants to be with her even-though his “mother’s” side kicks into full gear.

In Psycho, Hitchcock uses the birds in the office to symbolize Norman’s, obsession with taxidermy yet it has the viewer to ask questions about how and why did he develop such a hobby but also can it represent death in the scenes to come? Once, Marion, finishes her supper after angering Norman, by accusing his mother needs “help” she returns to her room to take a shower. We run into one of the most important scenes of the film “the shower scene.” In the shower scene Hitchcock, used the symbol of the shower curtain and the outlining of Norman’s “mother” which turns out to be Norman dressed up as her. In this scene we see the “old lady” murder Marion with the infamous knife which is also used to kill Arbogast.

From what I have inferred from the film the most important symbol Hitchcock used in Psycho was the remains of Norman’s mother. When Norman, was putting his “living” mother in the cellar the viewer may think of her as a puppet. Soon, once Lila, Marion’s sister hides in the cellar she discover’s the remains of Norman’s mother which is mostly skeleton with clothing upon it.

In conclusion, the scene when Norman is in jail shrouded in a blanket, makes him appear “psycho” especially when we hear him speaking in his mothers voice. Hitchcock, used these important symbols to draw the viewer into the film and to connect scenes while creating a mystery.

English Essay: Oedipus

Oedipus: The Requirements for a Tragic Hero

Oedipus meets Aristotle’s, requirements for a tragic hero because he is noble, falls from a great height, includes Hamartia (tragic flaw, error in judgement), punishment exceeds the crime, and Anagnorisis (moment of recognition). Oedipus, rise and fall occurs when he is royalty of the city of Corinth, travels to Delphi and finds out his prohfecy and later kills “Laius”. Oedipus then travels to Thebes, and finds out about plague from the Sphinx, a monster who caused pain and misery for the inhabitants of the city. Soon Oedipus, solves the Sphinx’s riddle with the correct answer “man.” With this defeat Oedipus, is summoned to become Thebes’ new King .

Without knowing the former King “Laius” was his biological father he is appointed and marries the Queen Iokaste, who is also his mother. Iokaste, and Oedipus, end up having two sons, Polynices and Eteocles, and two daughters, Antigone and Ismene. Marrying his mother and bearing children with her becomes Oedipus downfall for the incest and shame it brings to himself and his family. This is also apart of the basis for Oedipus’ hamartia and anagnorisis.

Oedipus, hamartia causes him to make fatal mistakes throughout the play mainly due to his ego. This is made evident in the opening lines of the prologue when he states “Children, I would not have you speak through messengers, And therefore I have come myself to hear you---I, Oedipus, who bear the famous name.” (II. 7-9) His ego is the root cause of an array of related problems which are recklessness, disrespect, and stubbornness. Oedipus displays an attitude of recklessness and disrespect throughout the play. When he makes a proclamation when no one confesses to the murder of Laius, Oedipus loses patience immediately and rushes into his curse. Later, he displays a short temper to Tiresias: “You, you scum of the earth....out with it, once and for all!,” and “Enough! Such filth from him? Insufferable-what, still alive? Get out-faster, back where you came from--vanish!”

If an unwillingness to listen may be considered stubbornness, would take advice from no one who would tell him to drop the matter of his identity, among them Tiresias, the shepherd, and even Iokasta. With these flaws Oedipus’ ends up hurting himself in the long run not others. Another element is the punishment exceeding the crime, when Oedipus takes his wife/mother’s brooches and blinds himself and when he loses the privilege of being King and submits to Kreon’s leadership.

Towards the ending there is a moment of recognition for Oedipus’ or his “Anagnorisis” of the tragedy. The Anagnorisis is when Oedipus realizes murdering his own father, and unknowingly marrying his mother and parenting children with Iokaste. The oracle’s prophecy has comes to fulfillment this causes Oedipus punishment exceeding the crime by making him lose his mind and then blinding himself. In conclusion, being noble, falling from a great height, having a hamartia, punishment exceeding the crime, and including anagnorisis are the basis of a tragic hero.