Complexity, Confusion, and Colors

I was frustrated with Oedipus after Episode 1, 2, 3. This stubborn naive character was disdaining to read about. Why did he completely ignore Teiresias, when the prophecy he predicted foreshadowed Oedipus's fate.

However, with more pages read, I realized Oedipus is one of the most complex characters of the entire story. It's like he's one grey mess. Like the brownish-grey that you would get as a child when squirting all the paint colors you own together and then mixing it as a fun experiment. 

Oedipus's personality is layered with a multitude of colors. He's neither good nor bad: the protagonist of his free will discovering his past, the victim of impending fate, the savior and noble king of Thebes while also the undeniable murderer and irate, naive ruler.

Here's the angry red that protrudes in Episode 3: "I find him plotting with knavish tricks against my person"(Sophocles 707).

But then, here's the admiring royal purple in Episode 5: "...accursed in my living with them...cursed in my living...I beg you in God's name hide me...or kill me..."(Sophocles 1255).

Take Burr from Hamilton, another character exhibiting great complexity.

From the beginning, he is immediately stereotyped as the antagonist. In the first song "Alexander Hamilton", the dramatic dun dun duns follow with "I'm the damn fool that shot him...". Even the musical effects don't work in his favor.

Yes. Burr does kill Hamilton, but through the songs like "Wait for It" and overarching motif of contemplation, we are demanded to witness Burr's sadness and feeling of inadequacy when his career pales to that of Hamilton's. It is after years of boiling self-deprecation and consistent mockery from Hamilton that causes his lack of judgment. 

He even shouts "Wait!" after he fires the bullet shooting Hamilton. 

So he is not a true antagonist. He is just human—making mistakes, fearing the worst, staying silent for fear of disappointment, and deeply traumatized by his past.

Oedipus, although angry and irrational is honorable in treating his horrid murder to that of any citizen, exiling himself and gouging his eyes out. He feels an absolute shame to the fulfillment of the prophecy, rather than using his power to ignore sin. 

Its the murky distinction between their actions and beliefs that make Oedipus and Burr so real and close to the human world—even as characters written in history or text. Their brown and grey are the true colors of humanity, and their complexities provide haunting insight into the decisions and stories of people now.