Themes In Oedipus Rex Vs. The Kite Runner

It is amazing how two literary works from different time periods and different cultures can portray the same theme. A major theme in both The Kite Runner and Oedipus Rex is the limits of free will. The way Khaled Hosseini portrays the theme in The Kite runner is the way that the majority of Pashtuns treat the Hazaras, they are either treated as objects that people can do whatever they want with, they are treated as second class citizens or they are servants to the Pashtuns. In Oedipus Rex, the way that the theme is portrayed is that Oedipus is bound to a prophecy that he heard when he was a child.

“Who am I?” This has become the essential question asked in each literary work The Kite Runner and Oedipus Rex. Striving to find who they are the characters, Oedipus and Amir, try to figure out what they have become through their separate journeys. Most of their conclusions rely on the fact that both characters continue to look back into their past. The constant theme in both the novel and the tragedy is continuously looking into the past. Both characters constantly look at the past in ways such as their relationship with their father, the wrong choices they have made, and the secrets that lie in the family.

Therefore, alternative themes which suggests throughout the course of the play are topics that happen to revolve around the subject of taboo such as incest and patricide which happen to be extremely controversial in societies old and new. Also, prophecy is paramount from start to finish throughout the story and Oedipus attempts to rebel against his own fate. However, the gods earlier predetermine his outcome. Knox writes:

Ancient Greeks cared deeply about the pursuit of knowledge. Although the truth was often a terrifying concept, they still saw it as a critical virtue. The theater was one way in which the ideas of knowledge and truth were examined.

What similarities could current fiction novels possibly have with old Greek drama? Greek dramas and current day novels have more in common than anyone realizes. For example, there are many similarities between Sophocles’ play Oedipus Rex and Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner. These similarities show how writing and entertainment have not completely changed despite how long it has been. One of the most important similarities is the theme. This essay will explore these two works by looking into the similar themes, how the themes are treated, and the importance of similar themes.

    Oedipus and Odysseus are two of many widely recognized characters known for their outstanding, and, at times, tragic stories. The Odyssey, by Homer, is an Epic poem about the great journey of Odysseus and his perilous journey home to Ithaca. Oedipus the King, by Sophocles, is a Greek play about Oedipus’ self-discovery and fulfillment of a prophecy in which he hopes to avoid. While the stories share many similarities and qualities, they also reveal significant differences in their journeys and outcome.

Everything in life happen for a reason and there is nothing that can change the past. Events that have happened in the past tend to influence the future. In The Kite Runner hassan gets rapped as a young child when his best friend could have helped prevented it, but then his best friend Amir feels guilty and tries to make it up to him. In Oedipus Rex Oedipus is told he will murder his father and marry his mother and does this without knowing and he tries to prevent this but cannot. Both The Kite Runner and Oedipus Rex display the theme of fate throughout both stories while using it in different ways and the significance of the theme in both stories is different too.

According to a poll taken by The Washington Times, 52% of Americans believe in fate. (Harper 1). Many people trust in destiny because it is a way to believe that when they're brought upon an arduous decision, there result is already destined to happen whether they made the right or wrong choice. In the novel The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini and the play Oedipus Rex by Sophocles they both challenge their characters through unfavorable decisions that in the end are already planned out by fate. The prevalent theme of fate in Oedipus Rex and The Kite Runner expresses a quote said by Tony Robbins, “ It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped”(Anderson 1).This quote can ultimately explain by which the characters change from beginning to end due to their fate, how they dealt with their understanding of their fate, and the possible result by which their fate didn’t occur.

Hosseini and Sophocles created pieces of work that shared a common theme with each other. The Kite Runner and Oedipus Rex have two completely different plot, but can relate with a theme of how important the past is in the book. The theme of the book is about how the past will always follow them and will always be a part of them. In The Kite Runner, an event from the past has made Amir become who he is now. Amir and his half brother, Hassan were close. They had a strong bond even when they did not know they were related. Even that strong bond did not stop Amir from doing what was right when everything happened and it changed Amir’s perspective on everything. Amir retold what had happened and said, “Assed knelt behind Hassan, put his hands on Hassan’s hips and lifted his bare buttocks” (Hosseini 75). This memory from Amir’s past was a compelling moment in the plot because if this didn’t happen then it would not lead to Amir having sympathy for Hassan’s son. Amir only felt the way he did because he could of prevented Hassan’s rape, but instead he just stood there and watch it happen. In Oedipus Rex, Jocasta discusses the memories of the death of King Laius. She said, “ "A prophecy came to Laius once-I won’t say from Apollo himself, but from his servants-that death would come from his child, whoever was born to him from me” (Sophocles 35). This memory allowed Oedipus remember some of him memories from his past. The memories were later on retold from the shepherd when he

Oedipus Rex is a play that depicts the life of a king, Oedipus, who has the task of revealing the late kings murderer. Once he deciphers this mystery, Oedipus is shown his fate and relinquishes in guilt. What Oedipus finds out is that he had no idea who he really is and this ends up being the same for Amir. The Kite Runner is a story about a boy named Amir who lives in Afghanistan and his journey throughout life. He goes through life with unknown betrayals and the chance for redemption.

The Kite Runner written by Khaled Hosseini and Oedipus Rex by Sophocles are two famous pieces of literature that both depict author’s imagination and give the reader a chance to view a certain topic or culture from a different perspective. The reader is able to thoroughly compare the character progression of both main characters, Amir and Oedipus, by exploring concepts such as realization to blindness, fate, and free will. Both The Kite Runner and Oedipus Rex have themes of realization to blindness that cause the main character to show signs of development.

In the play Oedipus the King by Sophocles, the search for justice is a significant theme. Oedipus’ views on justice and the way he tries to carry them out shape the plot. His response to injustice leads to his own tragic fall from grace.

One does not compare the similarities of a theme to life, or other works due to being to interested by the purpose. Comparisons have their own each little bit of purposes between the similars and the differences. The theme that is present in Oedipus Rex, by Sophocles and The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini written years apart still represent a common theme of running from your past can have consequences. The themes do  have more slight different aspects to them then similar, though they have the identical purpose. The significance of the way the authors chose to write the theme the way they did, all comes from the purpose behind it.  The two distinct stories takes the same theme but transform  it in different methods to conduct a certain purpose  to still perform to a specific story.  Not solely did  Oedipus Rex, by Sophocles, appear  incompatible with the way the theme was used, the importance behind it is portrayed different as  well comparing to The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini. This theme speaks to the human behavior in both pieces, after a tragedy, or sin, or horrible action takes place.  The theme of the two works depend on the type of theme, the treatment of the theme, and the significance of the treatment of the theme.

As a summer assignment, I had to read two books: The Kite runner, a novel by Khaled Hosseini, and Oedipus Rex, a play by Sophocles. The Kite Runner follows Amir’s journey as he goes through the ups and downs of his life. Amir was raised with Hassan, his servant’s son and an unlikely friendship grew between the two boys. As they grow up, all sorts of barriers were put between them, such as society, ethnicity, religion, and literacy. Amir’s life completely changes when he witnesses Hassan getting attacked by the district’s bullies, but flees instead of standing up for his friend. The guilt, resulting from his action caused their friendship to deteriorate and in the end, Amir managed to have Hassan sent away. Oedipus Rex, however, is an older tale; it is a story of self-discovery, sins, and redemption. Set in the Ancient Greek era, Oedipus Rex tells the story of a king who, unintentionally, kills his father and marries his mother and follows his reaction as he discovers the horrible truth. Despite having different stories and settings, the books shared some common themes, notably guilt and redemption.

It can sometimes seem astonishing to see how writing has changed so much over the centuries, but yet still so much the same! Thus the phrase “The more things change, the more they stay the same”. But within the text of The Kite Runner, and Oedipus Rex are very ironic, and have very different themes. They also have multiple pieces of clarity. Look at the text of The Kite Runner. How Rahim Khan found out he was related to Amir Jan. Years of this person's life has gone by without knowing he was of his own blood. Truly an Ironic moment. One item I found truly interesting was the theme. In The Kite Runner, the overall theme is justice. Which in all if you put a lot of thought into it, can really make some questions. Amir does things in a sense of justice, but is it truly justice? Could it be a need for personal want, or desire?