Myth by Muriel Rukeyser Is a Poem

¶ … Myth" by Muriel Rukeyser is a poem that discusses the issue of sexism in Sophocles' "Oedipus the King." The poem starts with a continuation of Oedipus suffering as a blind man after he had blinded himself upon learning the he had killed his father Laius and marrying his mother Jocasta. Rukeyser used Oedipus' story as her way of emphasizing the treatment of women during those times, that is, as an object of possession or commodity. In Sophocles' famous play, Oedipus' mother, Jocasta, is clearly portrayed as a woman who has been 'handed down' to Oedipus after her husband's death; Oedipus' triumph in Thebes made him the leader of that kingdom, and made Jocasta his wife as his 'reward' for conquering Thebes. True enough, what happened after Oedipus became the King of Thebes and his marriage to Jocasta was his ultimate downfall. Rukeyser points out one critical mistake on Oedipus' part regarding the tragedy that he met at Thebes: he underestimated the woman who was to be the cause of his downfall (Jocasta, his mother). The poem continues Oedipus' story with Oedipus asking the Sphinx why did he not recognize his mother, and the Sphinx answering the error in Oedipus' answer on the Sphinx's riddle. By trying to justify his answer validating that 'Man' is synonymous with 'Woman,' the readers learn how Oedipus has been 'politically wrong' in identifying a woman's character and self with that of a man. Truly, Rukeyser makes her readers realize that the 'Woman' played the most important and critical role in Oedipus' tragic life: Oedipus blinded himself not only because he killed his own father, but most importantly, he made his mother portray the role of his wife. When the Sphinx remarked to Oedipus that his supposition that 'Man' is synonymous with 'Woman' is erroneous ("That's what you think"), the Sphinx wants Oedipus to realize that the woman he has treated as a possession, reward, and commodity is actually an important figure in the society, that is, the role of a mother, to be specific, his own mother. Muriel Rukeyser's "Myth" is contemporary in its theme because it tackles the social issue of feminism and sexism, two important issues being tackled in the modern society. Rukeyser's treatment of her poem as a derivation of Sophocles' famous play shows how the problem of female subordination and sexism is a prevalent issue even during the early times.