Death Of A Salesman, Oedipus, And Offred - 1533 Words

Consequence of Trying to Meet Others Expectations It is human nature to expect a lot from the people around us. Expectations are all achievable with effort, but what if those expectations prevented the chance to make our lives extraordinary? Carpe diem, seize the day, it is this principle that makes life worth pursuing, others expectations should not interfere in the making of a pleasant life. In the play, Death of a Salesman, â€Å"Oedipus the King†, and the novel Handmaid’s Tale, Willy Loman, Oedipus, and Offred all strive to meet these expectations set by others. In attempts to do so, the main characters decide to prevent their own satisfactory lives for the betterment of the people around them and neglect the potential consequences of†¦show more content†¦As King, Oedipus feels like it is his duty to serve the needs of his people over his own. In other words, he feels expected to do everything in his power to make the lives of his people extraordinary. He s tates to his people: You pray to the gods? Let me grant your prayers... (Sophocles 13). Evidently, Oedipus is confident and truly feels expected to do this for his people, when in reality, he has the choice to not do anything at all. It was his decision to support his people despite people like Teiresais advising against it. Oedipus’s determination to solve the problem of his kingdom ended up with him realizing that he was the problem. As king, he stayed true to his word and banished himself from the land for the betterment of his people. Similarly, in the novel The Handmaid s Tale, Offred Suffered her entire purpose in life, contradicting the principle of Carpe Diem for the betterment of men. Once presented the opportunity to escape from what can only be seen as slavery, she questioned herself. She said to herself â€Å"I’ve crossed no boundaries, I ve given no trust, taken no risk, all is safe†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (Atwood 92) â€Å"It’s the choice that terrifies me, a way out, a salvation† (Atwood 92) Clearly, Offred has done nothing wrong and till this point, has lived up to everyone s expectation so that everyone (being men) can live satisfactory lives. If she had made the decision to avoid the risk of essentially being a sex slave, she wouldn’t have to lose her