Oedipus Rex

Oedipus' ruin lies in his true relationships with the people around him. He defined himself based on his belief that King Polybos and Merope of Corinth were his parents. He attempted to flee his fate based on this belief. Oedipus kills a man on the road to Thebes; the death itself didn't destroy Oedipus but the realization that the dead man was King Laius and Oedipus' father did destroy Oedipus. Oedipus was punished because he killed a king, not because he killed a man. Because the king happened to be his birth father he also fufilled the prophecy that he would kill his father and later marry his mother. The relationship between the two contributed to Oedipus' ruin, rather than the act of murder itself.
The discovery that Oedipus' wife is also his mother changes his idea of self. Until this realization Oedipus was comfortable with himself and confident in his abilities as king. When he discovers that he unwittingly ran into his fate after all his attempts to avoid it he is disgusted with himself. His relationship as son to his wife and brother to his daughters leads him to stab out his eyes. He goes into exile because his identity has changed; his actions (killing a man and marrying a widowed queen) have not altered but their meaning and impact has. He views his past actions differently now that he knows the full extent of his relationship with his wife and family. By going into exile, Oedipus must now redefine himself based on the relationships he left behind and the lack of human contact he now faces. The people surrounding Oedipus completely changed his view of self as he learned the truth.

How do we define ourselves?

I want to focus on how people define themselves. When you say you're a "good person" that goodness is relative to the people around you. Is it possible to define who you are separate of other people? Are we nothing more than our relationships? I chose this question because I think we define ourselves based on our personal interactions. I know that my friends and family are such a deep part of me that I would be incomplete without them. The strong relationships I have make material possessions meaningless. A few weeks ago I went to my cousin's wedding reception and being around all of my cousin I realized that I don't care what others think about me because I am loved unconditionally and these relationships give me the courage to be myself and actively participate in life. I let go and danced around crazily. I have become the person I am today because of all the people in my life. I'm funny because I make people laugh and I'm trustworthy because I'm always true to my friends. Without these relationships my characteristics have no meaning.
In the Odyssey Odysseus is clever because he outwits Polyphemus and disguises himself from the suitors. But without his interactions and circumstances what is he? Odysseus is the impact he has had on people just as he is the flesh and blood that make up his body. He is clever, proud, and strong but all because that sets him apart from other people.
The Help also has a strong focus on relationships and identity. Prejudice causes people to define one another based on race and stereotypes rather than the examples people set through their actions. Some of the characters are able to get past these generalizations and discover who they are through the way they are treating others. The maid Minny realizes that she has been so used to horrible employers she stopped viewing her employers as emotional human beings. She begins to see herself as a strong independent woman because her new employer views her that way and gives her the courage and the circumstances necessary for Minny to become strong.