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Oedipus' Council - Jamie Peters

 I don't know if it is just me, but I got a very Oedipus Rex vibe from the Ordo Virtutum. No, I am not talking about the plot line being that a person has unknowingly had relations with his mother. Instead, look at the chorus of virtues. Although each of the virtues have their own "personality", their moments of talking/singing as one reflect the council of elders seen in ancient Greek plays. In this "new" way of performing, the council that provides the audience with exposition has a much more active role in these plays, but they still serve the same function. In the Ordo Virtutum, the council of Virtues guides the audience through the different weapons the soul uses to combat the forces of the Devil. These virtues, though appearing weak in the face of the adversary, are strong when led by the virtue of Victory, who shows that the Virtues have already proven their value in the fight.


I commented on Clabo's and Braylan's posts.

Comments

  1. Lily CaswellMarch 30, 2021 at 9:29 AM

    You draw an interesting comparison, Jamie. I hadn’t thought about that but it makes sense that each virtue has its own characteristics similar to the council of elders. The elders serve as the chorus that explain certain plot devices.

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