Archetypes: the Self-fulfilling Prophecy Mrs. Green 10th Grade Literature Unit 1

Have you ever heard the phrase “self-fulfilling prophecy?” Well, that’s exactly what Oedipus experiences in this play!

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy A self-fulfilling prophecy is a statement or prediction that influences actions and thoughts to the extent that it becomes true.

Real-Life Example An example sometimes given: a prediction that a bank may become “bankrupt” may scare people into withdrawing their money from the bank all in a rush — but since the bank only keeps a fraction of their deposits actually in house, the run on the bank can drive the bank into bankruptcy, ironically just as predicted. This is what caused the Stock Market Crash of 1929 that lead to the Great Depression. In simpler terms, fear that a certain commodity (like gasoline) will run short may trigger people to stock up on it, leading to a shortage of that very commodity.

How does this relate to Oedipus? In the play, Oedipus runs away in order to escape the Oracle’s prophecy. However, by running away he puts himself in the exact time and place to fulfill that very prophecy. Whenever anyone tries to avoid a prophecy, for good or ill, the end result of their actions is to bring the prophecy about. The harder he struggles to prevent it, the more inescapable his destiny becomes. Fate, it seems, loves irony.

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy and Literature There are many examples of self-fulfilling prophecies in literature, movies, and real life. These cautionary tales show how powerful belief can be in determining how our lives unfold.

12 Monkeys The main character goes back in time to alter the future of humanity by stopping a deadly virus outbreak, only to find out that his actions in the past are what CAUSED the outbreak to happen.

The Terminator The bad guys (SKYNET) send a robotic killer into the past to murder the mother of their greatest enemy (John Connor), thereby ensuring that he is never born. However, Connor (the good guy) sends another man (his best friend Kyle Reese) into the past to protect his mother and his younger self. Reese falls in love with Connor’s mother and becomes the biological father of Connor while in the past.

Harry Potter Voldemort hears a partial version of a prophecy that says a boy fitting Harry’s description/birthdate/parentage/etc. will end up killing him. He attempts to kill Harry but fails, killing Harry’s parents in the process. By trying to kill him, Voldemort actually gives him powers that end up helping Harry defeat Voldemort (their connection through the scar, the horcrux, etc.). By killing Harry’s parents in his attempt to destroy his future enemy, Voldemort actually creates his greatest enemy, the one in the prophecy.

Premonition The main character learns that her husband has died, and begins to experience the days leading up to his death out of order. As she tries to make sense of everything and to stop the death of her husband (which has already happened), she finally realizes that her actions in trying to stop it actually cause the accident to happen.

Final Destination #1, 2, 3, 4,…100… They are all the same. You get the point.

Star War Episode III Anakin Skywalker has a vision that his wife will die. He makes very rash, stupid decisions trying to save her, only to end up being the one to kill her in the end. (I could point out my argument that he does fulfill the prophecy placed on him that he would bring balance to the force…in the end. But that is another issue.)

What examples can you think of from your own experiences What examples can you think of from your own experiences? Are there any other movies, shows, or books that follow this pattern?