Preview

Frank O'Conner: My Oedipus Complex

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1796 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Frank O'Conner: My Oedipus Complex
Frank O'Connor Everyone shows traces of the little green monster, known as jealousy, but some more than others. This specific trait has had a huge effect on the world over time, sometimes destroying, sometimes rebuilding trust, friendships, and even business opportunities. Jealousy is an extremely prominent element in most of Frank O'Connor's writings and is often shown through different literary concepts such as conflict, characterization, and obsessive love. In writing “My Oedipus Complex”, O'Connor investigates the issue of jealousy through the various actions of his characters and the conflicts they get themselves tangled in, more importantly the ones involving their childlike obsessive love. To fully understand O'Connor's stories, you first have to delve deep into his background. Frank O'Connor was born in Cork, Ireland, on September 17, 1903 to Michael and Minnie O'Donovan. He was born under the name of Michael O’Donovan, but later created the pseudonym “Frank O’Connor” that he would use for all of his writings (Gale). It was there in Cork that he experienced the horrors and distress of living in poverty. Even when the family had a small amount of money, O'Connor's father would regularly go out on drinking sprees and return home violent and cruel (Gale). O'Connor, being the only son, learned to help provide for his mother when his father's priorities fell short. O'Connor's education was minimal as he only attended formal school for a short period of time. Although, even after he couldn't afford it any longer, he continued to further his education by reading widely and often (Contemporary). Under the guidance and instruction of Daniel Corkey, O'Connor's biggest influence, he joined the Irish Republican Army. He fought against the British even after a treaty was signed ending the war in 1921 (Gale). O'Connor was then arrested and imprisoned for his involvement in abiding the fight (Gale). During his time in prison, O'Connor continued to

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Oedipus Complex

    • 45 Words
    • 1 Page

    In the Phallic stage of psychosexual development, a boy’s decisive experience is the Oedipus complex describing his son–father competition for sexual possession of mother. This psychological complex indirectly derives from the Greek mythologic character Oedipus, who unwittingly killed his father and sexually possessed his…

    • 45 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Oedipus Final Draft

    • 816 Words
    • 1 Page

    Sophocles depicts the rise and fall of heroes from their excessive pride and hubris. The heroes,…

    • 816 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Roman vs. greek

    • 1135 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Gods, Open Bathhouses, and Warfare. The Greeks and Romans advanced civilization to a high standard just before it crumbed and was dashed into shambles. Though they had advances back then, just how have the Greeks shaped the western civilization, how did the Romans influence it as well?…

    • 1135 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    "Oedipus the King" by Sophocles has been considered one of the greatest Greek tragedies. It is a Greek myth that may have been inspired by real events and people. With that thought in mind this play has indeed, help us get a better understanding of Aristotle's, a philosopher, thoughts of a Tragic Hero and Sigmund Freud's, a psychoanalytic theorist, thoughts on the affects of the same on our lives (especially male children and their psychological development). Both Aristotle and Sigmund Freud also belief that Oedipus was not in control of his actions, but in fact, was acting in a manner that was a part of his fate.…

    • 556 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    In literature, there is a protagonist and an antagonist that depict the good and the evil. O’Connor portrays these good and evil facets through the Grandmother (the protagonist) and The Misfit (the antagonist). She is able to support her theme through foreshadowing near the beginning of the story. The grandmother tells her son, Bailey:…

    • 1130 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Oedipus

    • 351 Words
    • 2 Pages

    * showcase your critical thinking skills through analysis and insight and must demonstrate control of the topic at hand.…

    • 351 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    * Oedipus complex: Sigmund Freud believed that all men want to kill their fathers so that they can marry their mothers. So today, whenever we see a guy who is just a bit too close to his mom, we might say that he has an Oedipal complex.…

    • 738 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Conflict Essay- English

    • 1583 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Jealously is the obsession and anxiety, the arena possed into a phantasm of internal conflicts, a web of a world dictated by negative emotions, insecurities and fears, infecting an epidemic upon a victim’s identity and true morals to deal with a repugnant conflict. Shakespeare evokes the delusion of jealously through the luminary Othello, over the anticipated phantasm of Desdemona’s and Cassio’s infidelity. The shrewd Iago develops an art work of conflict to erupt, this is highlighted within, "O, beware, my lord, of jealousy! It is the green-eyed monster, which doth mock the meat it feeds on." The prime instigator of conflict is internal insecurity and fear, the obsession of jealously corrupts Othello’s psychological sanity. The symbolism represents Othello’s dismal interior…

    • 1583 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Oedipus

    • 973 Words
    • 4 Pages

    For centuries, it has been human nature to strive for freedom. We struggle to create our own futures, regardless of our presumed fate. Songwriters, artists and even play writes constantly include stories of free will and destiny. Sophocles, a famous Greek playwright, beautifully includes fate and free will as themes in his plays Oedipus the King and Oedipus at Colonus. This motif is so abundant in Greek literature because oftentimes characters try to avoid an oracle that they don’t want to accept to be true; this opens up an opportunity for human nature to fight fate, which is what Sophocles sets the basis for his plays. Although each character’s fate is chosen for them, they try to fight their destiny because they want a brighter future.…

    • 973 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Oedipus Essay

    • 963 Words
    • 4 Pages

    "What walks on four legs at dawn, two legs at noon, and three legs at nightfall." This was the riddle posed by the Sphinx who at the time was destroying the city of Thebes. The riddle was solved by none other than Oedipus who was made king for ridding the city of the Sphinx. Ironically though, Oedipus in his life comes to embody the riddle of the Sphinx and its soulution. Firstly, the Sphinx is percieved as a curse on Thebes and Oedipus also becomes a curse by the end of the play. Secondly, Oedipus's physical health embodies the riddle. Thirdly, Oedipus's emotional state also resembles the riddle. Lastly, the events of Oedipus's life relate to the theme of identity in the play.…

    • 963 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hard To Find Theme

    • 652 Words
    • 3 Pages

    When reading a written literary text or more specifically a book we are merely relying on limited resources to communicate or understand the text. Therefore, we have to form impressions off of the author’s use of diction, rhythm, tone, sentence-structure, and imagery. The author sets the stage for the reader’s interpretations of the characters. O’Connor gives us insight as to what the characters have to offer based on their actions and reactions throughout the story. Initially it doesn’t seem like anything is out of the ordinary but we instantly discover what type of attitude each of the characters has and how they present…

    • 652 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    My husband Brett and I, were not able to have children of our own. So we contacted the best adoption agency around us, through this agency we now have two beautiful children. Six year old Joseph Louis and three year old Poppy Jean. Joseph is a “slow to warm up” (Mannis 2014) child and though we are working on ways to improve this we are so blessed to have two healthy children. I know that Joseph is a “slow to warm up baby” because he is very loving and very adventurous but it takes him a little bit of time before he is comfortable, he also will use me as a secure base. Times have been very hard especially with…

    • 1547 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Oedipus

    • 835 Words
    • 2 Pages

    1. After Oedipus blinds himself I think that he does show his previous pride. I was surprised when he blinded himself after seeing his wife/mother dead as she committed suicide. When he came out in front of the public he displayed his pride as confidently as he had when he could see. He wanted the public to know about what he has done, i.e. killing his father and marrying his mother, and he demands to receive the punishment that any normal citizen would receive. He shows his self-confidence after his blinding because even when he is blind he shouts, “’open the doors, someone: show me to all the people of Thebes…’” (Knox 94), which shows that even though he is physically impaired, he has enough confidence that he can leave his home and reveal his face. Usually when a person has more power, such as Oedipus did as King, they expect to be treated differently, but Oedipus expected to be treated like a citizen would be treated for his crimes. From my personal opinion, I think that Oedipus seems completely defeated by the blinding. On page 95 Oedipus says, “Darkness, dark cloud all around me, enclosing me, unspeakable darkness…”. Darkness has a known connotation for depression and sadness. This sentence is very negative and he uses dark words that express his sadness and guilt. Depression is normally linked with darkness and clouds, compared to sun as happy, and when he used “darkness” and “dark cloud” it is evident that Oedipus is crushed to find that what the prophets had said was true. While Oedipus has the same level of confidence, I believe, from the context, that he is distraught over the recent events.…

    • 835 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    William Shakespeare’s Hamlet is a play about indecision, apprehension, and inner turmoil. Hamlet, the main protagonist, struggles within himself, attempting to muster the courage to avenge his father’s death by the hand of the current King, Claudius, who is also his late father’s brother. There seem to be many possible reasons for Hamlet’s delay in doing so. However, the one theory that answers all the questions is that Hamlet was possessed by his own Oedipus Complex , that is, he was deeply in love with his own mother, Gertrude. This can be seen throughout the play in several ways. Hamlet was understandably upset over his father’s death, but he was much less angry about the loss than he was disgusted with his uncle. His “girlfriend” Ophelia was not his lover, the relationship was a cover-up for his true feelings. King Hamlet’s spirit was aware of this. When he finally gave his blessing to Hamlet and Gertrude, he still did not act against Claudius. And most significantly, when Hamlet finally did take revenge and murder Claudius himself, he only did so because he knew Gertrude would approve at that point.…

    • 1548 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    The critical applications of the famous theory of the Oedipus complex to the tragedy of Hamlet are innumerable. It was Freud himself who, in an essay published in 1905, was the first to try and resolve in psychoanalytical terms the enigma offered by Hamlet's behavior. According to Freud, the personal crisis undergone by Hamlet awakens his repressed incestuous and parricidal desires. The disgust which the remarriage of his mother arouses in him, as well as the violent behaviour during their confrontation in the queen's bedroom, are signs of the jealousy which he constantly experiences, even if unconsciously. Hamlet is absolutely horrified by the thought that his mother could feel desire for Claudius, whom he describes as a 'murderer and villain,/ A slave that is not twentieth part the tithe/ Of your precedent lord'.…

    • 681 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays