Once upon a time, I wrote about close-reading and finding the story behind the story. One thing I’ve learned since going off to college and experiencing new people and places is that a lot of the story beneath the surface is dependent upon our perspectives as well. Not only as individuals with different backgrounds, but also as cultures and societies.
The first time this really clicked for me was when I was taking a Script Analysis course during my early days away at school. The professor of the class was the type of person who took me a while to read: was he gruff and strict and completely unsympathetic toward his students, or was he actually just really passionate about the subject he taught and wanted to make sure we were focused and comprehending? I eventually decided it was the latter, which gave me a genuine respect and admiration for the man.
We read a lot of interesting texts that term, but the most memorable lesson I took from that class came when we were reading Oedipus. I’d read the play before, so I was not unfamiliar with the tragic tale of prophecies and riddles, and the underlying message that fate is inescapable, whether you’re a king or a peasant.
But here is where perspective comes into play: the lesson that clicked so loudly in my brain was that the deeper meaning, the “A” story behind Oedipus, has nothing to do with fate at all. And it never has.
According to my professor, from a historical standpoint the inevitability of meeting your fate was seen as a given within Greek storytelling. Therefore, its presence within Oedipus is not thematic so much as common sense.
What, then, is the true “A” story behind Oedipus? If we look at the story while accepting fate as fact instead of revelation, then focus is placed elsewhere. Particularly on Oedipus and the decision he makes regarding the future of Thebes: having uncovered his cursed history, it is concluded that the only hope to lift the plague from the city is for Oedipus to give up his claim to the throne. And so, he does.
The lesson my Script Analysis professor taught me was not just that the true “A” story of Oedipus is about kingly virtue and sacrifice. From him, I learned that analyses are dependent on the perspectives of those the story is coming from, too—be they cultural, societal, or individual perspectives.
As readers and creators—really, as human beings in general—this is a lesson we should all take to heart. Different people, and even entire cultures of people, have their own personal lenses that they view the world through. And the stories they tell are reflective of that. Which means that, sometimes, in order to grasp the deeper meaning of a story, we also have to take a closer look at who is telling it.
We have to look outside the box, and take in the bigger picture. Art reflects humanity. And it is through our understanding of this fact that we are able to find the humanity in our art.
Night Owls, tell me about a moment when some new understanding for reading / writing / art / creativity / analysis really “clicked” for you!
