A large section of modern society debunk myths as archaic and historical. However, there is no denying that mythology has crept into popular discourse, both academic and otherwise. A bit of research shows that it has far reaching effects which aren’t limited to just television, cinema, and video games.

The famous psychoanalyst, Sigmund Freud was a great fan of literature. It isn’t surprising to note that one of his most celebrated works: ‘the Oedipus Complex’ finds its origins in Greek mythology.

‘Legend describes Oedipus as a tragic hero who was born to Lauis and Jocosta, the King and Queen of Thebas. An Oracle prophesizes that Lauis’ son would kill him. In order to prevent this, he pierces and ties his son’s ankles together and arranges for him to be abandoned at the mountains. The little child ends up in the hands of the rulers of Corinth, who adopt him and name him Oedipus, after the swelling on his foot. The same Oracle tells Oedipus that he is destined to kill his father and marry his mother. Years later, he unknowingly finds himself at loggerheads with his birth-father, and kills him in an encounter.  Ultimately, he arrives at Thebas as a stranger to find the town under the curse of the sphinx. Oedipus frees the town of this curse and is rewarded by being crowned the King of Thebas. After a bit of searching, he comes to realize that he was responsible for inadvertently fulfilling the prophecy and is greatly agonised by this. In a gush of impulse, he gouges his eyes to punish himself.’

Freud describes the Oedipus complex as a psychological disorder where a child longs for the exclusive love of his mother and harbours feelings of jealousy towards the other parent. Oedipus’ story was the theme of plays and tales which were performed and retold several times. As a result, people were able to gradually relate to the theme. Freud explains his allusion to the character as ‘one whose destiny moves everyone because it is, perhaps, everyone’s destiny.’

Amongst other known psychological phenomena, the coinage of the Electra complex, the female analogue of the Oedipus complex, is based on another character in Greek literature- Electra. As is evident, even the more niche domains of life are ripe with references to classical mythology.

Time to dive into those tomes again, eh?