Parallels with Greek play

Rating: Null/10 (5 August 2004)

WARNING - SPOILER!!!! Do not read this below if you have not seen the movie.
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>>>>Again - SPOILER below!<<<< I'm surprised nobody has yet mentioned (that I've seen) the parallels with the play Oedipus Rex. Oedipus poked his own eyes out when he realized he'd fulfilled a prophesy that he would sleep with and bear children by his mother, and kill his father. The parallel to Oldboy is apparent, especially as Oedipus and his mother both thought they had avoided the prophesy through earlier actions, similarly to how Oh Daesu thought he could escape the prophesy (plot) that was set in store for him by seeking revenge on his captor. In the end of course, he was unable to escape the trap which had been laid for him. And the tongue scene evokes the putting-out-of eyes of Oedipus.