The Goldfinch Analysis

Theo Decker stole a priceless painting from the wreckage of a terrorist attack. He didn’t pilfer the painting for fame or glory, but because it was his mother's favorite. His actions, made in part because of the strong affection he holds towards his mother, mimic the life of another prominent literary character -- Oedipus. The tragic pattern of the Oedipal archetype is echoed in Donna Tartt’s The Goldfinch, even though Theo did not downright murder his father and sleep with his mother. Once appreciated, the parallels between Oedipus Rex and The Goldfinch enhances the reader’s understanding of later text. In essence, these texts are connected, because Theo experiences the same emotions, motivations, and even acts exactly like Oedipus on multiple occasions. Theo’s entire character is defined by two separate feelings: hate, which is directed towards his father, and love, which is directed towards his mother. This is comparable to how individuals with an Oedipal complex are “hostile towards [their fathers] but much warmer and more loving towards . . . [their mothers],” as explained by Thomas Foster in his book, How to Read Literature like a Professor (Foster xxix). The hate Theo feels towards Theo’s father is justified, because he stole jewelry from Theo’s mother, always came home drunk, and was overall “so
Theo made a career out of lying, selling at Hobart and Blackwell “two million dollars” worth of “pieces [they] never sold and never had to sell” (Tartt 750). Often times, Theo only brings up unsavory information about himself when it is absolutely necessary to the pacing of his story. Aware that he has an audience, Theo attempts to paint himself in the most positive light possible. Only by recognizing the pattern of Oedipus can the reader reveal the secret information that Theo does not tell