The+Oracle

The Oracle 

Why has every culture devised a person of omniscience? These all knowing characters appear constantly through literature, myths, movies and more. Is it an  to create a god? Does it deal with people's fear of having no purpose in life? Perhaps it is the first reason, or maybe both and many more. Regardless, this character has managed to appear in just about every story ever heard or told.

The Oracle is both a simple and extremely complex character. It can be portrayed as straightforward as someone who knows all. Or it can be more mysterious and complex such as someone who interprets flashbacks they receive and can never comprehend the full meaning. They can be men, women or usually strange creatures that we do not typically understand. They can dwell in run of the mill apartment buildings or the peculiar swamps of Dagobah. The Oracle is a character others seek advice from, though they don't always mean to.

There are many distinctive elements that define an Oracle. They must have some knowledge of the future or past that other people do not. They're main purpose is to convey to the hero of the story what they must accomplish. There is a difference between knowledge and wisdom, and often times the Oracle will have both but they only require knowledge. When all of these aspects of a character coalesce, the Oracle begins to take shape.

The Oracle is an archetype that appears constantly through all mediums of story telling and real life; its all knowing presence is appealing to story tellers everywhere.

Yoda

Oracle (Lightening Thief)

The Oracle from //The Lightning Thief// is a mysterious character described as a shriveled female mummy with long black hair, seated on a stool. When Percy cunsulted her for advice on his quest, she spoke in a hissing voice and green mist poured out her mouth. This is a classic image of an oracle; one that many readers picture in their minds whenever they see or hear the word “oracle.” She also spoke in a four-line riddle, further contributing to this stereotype.



Oracle Bones Oracle bones were used for fortune-telling during the Shang Dynasty, approximately between 1700 B.C. to 1122 B.C. The bones were generally made from the shoulder blades of oxen or turtle shells, and contained one of the earliest forms of Chinese writing. The oracles would inscribe their questions about topics such as war, luck, and weather on the bones, and then heat them. A “yes” or “no” answer would then be concluded from the cracks made by the heat. The oracle bones are special because they can be looked at as tools of the oracles, or the oracles themselves.

Nostradamus

Nostradamus was a French apothecary born in the 16th century and is believed to be one of the greatest prophets of all time. He wrote a book, //Les Propheties//, on his major, long-term predictions, including the September 11 attacks, World War II, natural disasters, and the atomic bomb. However, his works are surrounded by controversy. His puzzling rhymed quantrains, or four-lined poems, are so vague that they can be interpreted to mean anything. In fact, Nostradamus has been described as “100% accurate at predicting events //after// they happen.”



Cassandra



Warren Buffett

Warren Buffett is an U.S. investor and business man extraordinaire, born in 1930. He was named the second richest man in the world and has been given the nicknames “Oracle of Omaha” and “Sage of Omaha” for his amazing abilities to invest and predict stock market changes. But Warren discovered his talents much earlier in life, when he sold Coke for a five cent profit, starting when he was just six years old. His company, Berkshire Hathaway, became hugely successful in the 1960’s when he took over. Perhaps what people say is true; maybe Warren Buffett //is// the Oracle of the business world.

Grandmother Willow (Pocahontas)

In the movie Pocahontas, Pocahontas frequently turns to the talking tree spirit, Grandmother Willow, for advice. Pocahontas first comes to Grandmother Willow seeking advice because she does not want to have to marry Kocumum, the man her father wants her to marry. Grandmother Willow tells her to listen to her heart, which is a good example of the type of advice oracles give. Oracles generally don’t give direct advice; instead, they give a broad answer which will guide the person to do the right thing. This way the advice can be interpreted into several different meanings depending on the person receiving the advice.



Oracle of Apollo at Delphi

The Oracle of Apollo at Delphi was the most famous shrine in all of Greece and was even considered the center of the world. Positioned on the top of Mount Parnassus, the Oracle at Delphi dated all the way back to 1400 BC. Pythia’s (the priestess of Apollo) prophecies were viewed as the most reliable thus causing people from all over Greece to come seeking advice. From farmers coming asking when to plant and harvest seeds to world leaders seeking advice on capturing countries, the Oracle at Delphi played a huge role in ancient Greece. Some believed that God was speaking through her, other’s believed it was Poseidon, and then it was decided Apollo was presiding over Delphi. It was ended in the 4th century because prophesying conflicted with Christian views.



 Jesus Christ

Many religions have a God, ruler or other superior being, in Christianity it is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ, the son of God, is viewed to be the Messiah (“chosen one”.) Christians believe that God gave his prophets prophecies about the future, to prepare people about the future. God’s has hundreds of prophecies in the Bible, some of them fulfilled thousands of years ago and some fulfilled in last century.

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