The Universal Tragic Spirit in Myths: A Comparative Study of Ne Zha and Oedipus

Abstract

According to Peter Szondi, ancient Greek tragedy depicts the tragic struggle of humans against fate, which is fully manifested in the classic story of Oedipus' efforts to avoid his tragic fate, to be a good ruler and his final self-exile. Although ancient Greek tragedies often emphasize the inevitability of Moira to contrast human resistance, the fatalistic undertone of these tragedies is effectively balanced by the heroism that the tragic protagonists display in confronting their fate. A comparative study of the personal development narratives of Ne Zha and Oedipus Rex may reveal the universal theme of humanity's endeavor to challenge and even control fate while exhibiting the diversity of mythological traditions across cultures. Different from ancient Greek tragedies represented by Oedipus Rex which ends with the protagonist's failure or death to intensify the tragic tone and reinforce the theme of fate, Chinese myths often end with the protagonist's ultimate victory or regeneration as typified by Ne Zha’s story.