THE THEME OF FATE IN OEDIPUS REX AND THE STORY OF AJĀTASHATRU
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Abstract
While Oedipus Rex and the story of Ajātashatru have been studied for their narrative similarities, interpretations have primarily focused on thematic content, with textual analyses often yielding clear results only at the structural level. Employing a Buddhist critical approach through a triadic methodological framework—comprising typology, structural analysis, and cultural-historical perspectives—this study examines the theme of fate in the Greek tragedy Oedipus Rex and the narrative of King Ajātashatru in the Buddhist tradition. The analysis elucidates intriguing intersections of fate and specific divergences from the perspective of narrative structure. The findings reveal that the plot of Oedipus Rex is more complex, whereas the Ajātashatru narrative exhibits clarity in its depiction of cause-and-effect relationships. Consequently, the concept of fate is illuminated through two distinct intellectual traditions that share notable similarities. These findings serve as a valuable reference for comparative structural studies and hold significance for teaching Western literature and Buddhist literature in university and college programs in literature and Buddhist studies nationwide.
Keywords
fate, narrative structure, Oedipus Rex, Ajātashatru, Buddhist criticism
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