Oedipus Rex Research Paper

Oedipus Rex is a tragic play from ancient Greece. One of the reasons this play is tragic is because Oedipus’s downfall comes about because he tried to do something moral, and save his people form the plague. When the play starts, the reader knows that Oedipus has killed his biological father, and married his biological mother, but Oedipus doesn’t. This happens because Laios, Oedipus’s father, heard of Oedipus’s fate from the oracle Delphi before Oedipus was born. Laios decided to kill Oedipus, so Oedipus couldn’t kill him. Laios gave Oedipus to a shepherd to be killed, but instead the shepherd gave Oedipus to another shepherd. The second shepherd gave Oedipus to the King and Queen of Corinth, who raised him as their own son. After many years,

Oedipus’s hamartia was saying that he will find Laios’s killer. Oedipus said he will find Laios’s killer because “By avenging the murdered king I protect myself” (Prologue, 9). This was his fatal error because he is the killer. When he said, he would find, and banish or kill Laios’s killer, he was dooming himself. He was banishing himself without realizing it, because he killed Laios. Oedipus committed this error because of his pride, or hubris. Oedipus was too proud to consider he might be the murderer. Oedipus said that, “once more I must bring what is dark to light” (Prologue, 9). Oedipus made this error because he was too arrogant to think that he was the killer. He decided to bring the truth to light because he was too proud to see that he was the killer. In the end, the effect of these actions doomed Oedipus. Oedipus said, “as for me, this curse applies no less” (Scene I, 14). By saying this Oedipus ensured that the fate he set for the killer would be his. Because Oedipus said this, when it is discovered that he killed Laios he was banished. The reason Oedipus was willing to proclaim this is because he was convinced, because of his hubris, that he couldn’t be the killer, so he thought his decree won’t matter, or affect him. Oedipus declared Laios’s killer would be exiled, or killed, which was his hamartia, and lead to his

Oedipus questioned Teiresias in a way that caused Teiresias to tell him he is the killer. Teiresias told Oedipus, “You yourself are the pollution of this country” (Scene 1, 19). Oedipus was so sure he isn’t the killer that when Teiresias refused to tell him who the killer is Oedipus pushed him even more. Oedipus was offended that Teiresias didn’t obey him even though he is king, and because of his pride, and his pledge to find the killer he tried to get Teiresias to reveal the truth. Eventually, Teiresias gave in and told Oedipus that he was the killer he was searching for. This caused Oedipus to question the details of Laios’s death, and eventually figure out he was the killer. Oedipus’s pride caused him to ignore the fact he might be the killer. Oedipus accused Creon of being the killer by shouted at him, “you murderer!” (Scene II, 28). Oedipus was so focused on others, and was so convinced that Creon was the killer, that he didn’t consider that Teiresias may have been telling the truth. If Oedipus had realized this sooner he might have been able to stop the investigation, instead of encouraging it, and dooming himself. Oedipus began to question Jocaste about the details of Laios’s murder. Jocaste told Oedipus Laios was killed “not long before you came” (Scene II, 39). By questioning Jocaste Oedipus found out information that would