'Literature, through the ages, has been fascinated by the ironies attendant upon the career of the "overreacher". Explore this idea with reference to two texts, each by a different author.'

The ironies attendant upon the career of the overreacher means the ironies that are present in the overreachers' life. The purpose of having an overreacher in a text is to create a tragic effect. The ironies present helps to reinforce the effect that a tragedy creates. A tragedy as Aristotle says, induces and purges the twin emotions of pity and fear. The flaws of the overreachers in any text are often their best strength and this in itself is an irony. In this case, both the flaws of Oedipus and Faustus are that both commits error of judgments and in the process overreaches.

During the Greek period when Sophocles was writing, the people were fatalistic. They were bound to their fate. Oedipus in Oedipus Rex commits an error of judgment. He kills his father and tries to find the murderer who killed the king. Oedipus ordered that whoever the murderer is, he is to be exiled. The irony here is Oedipus' persistent seeking of the truth and his over persistence causes him to overreach.

And during the time of the Renaissance Period when Marlowe was writing, there was a rise in the quest for knowledge. Religion seemed to take a backseat. The people were more interested in seeking knowledge than in seeking God. In Dr Faustus, Faustus desires to know more causes him to fall. He commits an error of judgment when his quest for knowledge leads him to necromancy. Necromancy at that time was forbidden but that did not stop Faustus from wanting to practice it.

The irony present in Oedipus Rex is when Oedipus tries to run away from Corinth thinking that this way he will not be able to fulfill the prophesy. However, this running away ironically causes him to kill his father and marry his mother -thus, unwittingly fulfilling the prophesy. Moreover, Oedipus realizes that he is actually the one who murdered the King who also is his father.

In Faustus' case, the irony present is that Faustus gains knowledge but does not put it to good use. In the beginning of the text, Faustus claims that he will use the knowledge gained to cure diseases but eventually uses it only for farcical purposes. He uses the power to play tricks on the Pope and basically, misuses the knowledge he has on hand. Another irony present is when Faustus signs a blood bond with Mephostophilis to sell his soul to Lucifer for 24 years of unlimited wealth, power and knowledge. He makes a pact with the Devil and yet wishes to repent.

Furthermore, in order to repent, Faustus has to give up his knowledge but he is unwilling to do so. Even when he says that he "will renounce this magic and repent," he does not do so and this eventually leads to his fall from grace.

Because of the irony present in Oedipus Rex, Oedipus' harmartia is revealed to him. Oedipus accepts making an error of judgment and his self blinding and sending himself to exile is a form of humbling. This purgates pity and fear because ultimately, Oedipus has good intentions, and it just shows that he cannot run away from his fate.

Everything then seems to be a transaction in Dr Faustus. Marlowe is saying that religion is a transaction. God expects you to obey before giving you salvation. Faustus has to choose between knowledge and God, Heaven or hell.

Both Oedipus and Faustus are tragic heroes because both protagonists fall from prosperity to adversity due to harmatia. Oedipus is ennobled because he wants to find the truth to save his people. His act of humbling creates a cathartic effect on the audience and therefore, he is a tragic hero.

Faustus is also a tragic hero because he is bound to his fate but faces it with dignity. Faustus is ennobled because it is not wrong to know more. The Renaissance Period is about the spirit of enquiry and the quest for knowledge. Thus, in wanting to know more, Faustus is not doing anything wrong.

However, both Oedipus and Faustus are not ennobled because Oedipus could have stayed where he was and resign himself to his fact. He could also have tried to find another solution instead of running away to Corinth. Therefore, Oedipus's punishment is justified because the truth stands that he killed his father and committed incest when he slept with his mother. It is also not justified on the other hand because Oedipus did not have a choice. He is always going to be bound to his fate and he solved the riddle by the Sphinx thus becoming king because he thinks that it is the right thing to do.

Faustus on the other hand did not use the knowledge gained to good use. He used it to farce and thus defeats the purpose of wanting to gain knowledge. This justifies his punishment because at the end of the day, he did sell his soul to the Devil and belonged to him. At the same time, his punishment is not justified because everything is just a transaction in the text according to Marlowe.

In conclusion, there is always controversy surrounding ironies. The authors of both texts do not say whether it Faustus and Oedipus is correct or wrong. The purpose is just to inspire thought. That is why; ironies must be present in the overreachers, to capture the interest of the audience.

How much will you give me for this essay? (Can you see that I'm really bored?)

Staring into the Abyss,