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How Oedipus is a tragic hero
Character analysis of king oedipus
The act of hubris in oedipus
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In the story of the tragic hero, Oedipus, the reader can instantly predict that they main character is very prideful. In the beginning of the story, readers find out about Oedipus’s victory when the priest reminds him that”…. [He] freed [them] from the Sphinx” (Prologue.44). The Sphinx was a creature that had been terrorizing their city, killing those who could not solve her riddles. However, until her encounter with Oedipus, no one could stop her, and upon him solving one of her riddles, she flew into the sea and never lived to tell a riddle again. For Oedipus to be the only one to beat her at her own game made him great. He must have felt like a gift from the gods to the world and the people’s praise could have only driven his ego higher. Moreover, readers also can establish that Oedipus was an equal to the gods. He had so much pride that he put himself before the gods, asking the people of his city to “ …let [him] grant [their] prayers” (Prologue. 245), which is really a dangerous gesture. He has so much pride that he thinks he should be the only one to whom the people can pray. The people of Thebes even worship and call to him, “Oedipus, king, we …show more content…
Throughout the story the main character makes sure that he is seen as the local hero. He first reveals his flaw of pride after a plea from the priest as he replies, “…you all know me, the world knows my fame: / I am Oedipus” (Prologue. 78), as if to prove something. He boasts about himself as if the news were unknown to the priest and beggars. His idea of killing such a wicked creature could have brought global news as he says, but that is only in his mind. In addition, Oedipus reveals another evident statement during an argument with Tiresias, a prophet, justifying that “[He] stopped the Sphinx! With no help from the birds, / the flight of [his] own intelligence hit the mark.” This statement is used
The only true statement that Oedipus makes in this quote is pointing out the Queen’s shame. Iocastê has just come to the realization that Oedipus is her son. She must be beyond embarrassment not only because of her failed attempt to abandon her son, but also because she is now married to him. Oedipus believes his birth to be lowly and he takes pride in this. In reality, he is the son of a king.
Oedipus's pride leads to the story's tragic ending. He is too proud to consider the words of the prophet Teiresias, choosing, instead to rely on his own investing powers. Teiresias warns him not to pry into these matters, but pride in his intelligence leads Oedipus to continue his search. Oedipus thinks he can change fate. He just tries to ignore it, because he counts on his own ability to root out the truth. Oedipus is a clever man, but he is blind to the truth and refuses to believe Teiresias's warnings. He suffers because of his hamartia. I t is this excessive pride fuels his own destruction. I would just say Oedipus is a tragic hero.
In book IX of Homer's Odyssey, Odysseus ventures into the isle of the Kyklopes. Here he encounters a loutish and cannibalistic Kyklops named Polyphemos. The events that occur as a result of this encounter reveal much about Odysseus's heroic characteristics. Odysseus possesses composure in the face of danger, prowess in devising clever plans of action, and the ability to lead others in the execution of his well-conceived plans of action; all of which appear in direct opposition to Polyphemos's simplistic and brutish nature. In these events, Odysseus is not only contrasted with Polyphemos but also with his crew. Odysseus's desire for glory separates him from his crew whose chief desire is a safe return home. In the end, his prideful quest for grandeur dulls the greatness of his deeds and causes the downfall of him and his crew.
Aristoteles’s “Theory of Tragedy” suggests that the tragic flaw in Sophocles’ play Oedipus is the King’s “self-destructive actions taken in blindness,” but a worse flaw is his arrogance. There are a few opposing views that stray from Oedipus being fully arrogant. First is that he took actions to save himself from further pain. Second, by putting himself in charge was the right thing to do as the leader of his people. Third, Oedipus never tried to outwit the gods but used the prophecy as a warning to leave Corinth.
Ironically, he initially became a King by solving a riddle and now he is trying to solve another to try and maintain his image and control his destiny. “Human happiness is built on an illusion” (Dodds 27). This quote is a good connection to the role of Oedipus, because while attempting to keep the Kingdom under control and keep his image unharmed, he is left in the dark by ignoring the signs. The irony of ignoring the past continues when “Creon brings the information that there will be no relief until the murderer of Laius is expelled from the city… [And] the murder mystery slowly becomes a quest for Oedipus ' identity” (Derrida). Building upon the investigation, Oedipus grows a keen interest for who he truly is. Is there any truth to the prophecies that which he and Jocasta have seemingly forgot about? At this point, it seems as though Oedipus must finally face his fear and discover the truth that he has been avoiding for so long. The only way for Oedipus to find out the lies he has been living is to seek for the only witness of his father’s murder, a shepherd. Only until Oedipus threatens to kill the shepherd does he tell the truth and reveal the tragic events which have been avoided for so long. In this moment before certainty of the past is brought to light, the relationship between self-control and self-image is linked and soon to be changed
From the opening dialogue we sense the character of Oedipus. When confronted by his subjects praying for relief of the plague he reacts kingly and graciously, saying, “I am king, I had to come....How can I help?...Ask me anything. Anything at all.” He obviously cares for the people in his kingdom, but he goes on to say how he pities “these poor shattered people of [his].” The pity he feels is rooted not only in his love and sympathy, but his arrogance as well. Perhaps this attitude is duly deserved, for Oedipus had solved the Sphinx’s riddle, an apparently heroic feat, and was seen to be “greater than any man”, but the leader that he had become still possessed the hubristic tendencies which doomed him from the time he fled Corinth.
As tragic hero Oedipus displays all of the usual canon; power, arrogance, and pride. Oedipus manifests himself in a position of confidence, which he derives from his success at solving the riddle of the Sphinx and marrying a queen.“It was you who came / and released Cadmus’ Town from the tribute / we paid to the cruel songstress…” (Sophocles, 33-35) , “CREON: Then tell me this - / are you not married to my sister?” (Sophocles, 696-697). In turn, it also enabled him to make rash decisions, such as slaying his father, without personal recompense. “I was to slay my father. And he dies, / And the grave hide...
Oedipus Rex is a Greek play written by Sophocles. The play is set in Thebes; Thebes is infected with a plague that is killing its crops and unborn children. This plague is caused by the prophecy. The prophecy states that Oedipus would kill his father and wed his mother. Laius threw out Oedipus when he was a baby to avoid this fate, but he failed because Oedipus was not killed. Oedipus was raised as a prince in Corinth. One day he was told the prophecy and feared that he would kill his father Polybus. While running away from Corinth to escape the prophecy, Oedipus killed Laius. When Oedipus arrived in Thebes, he freed the people from the sphinx. He was named king and married Jocasta. Towards the end of the play, Oedipus finds out that he had fulfilled the prophecy and is exiled from Thebes.
Oedipus, the king of Thebes, is shown to be quick to anger and hubris. Oedipus is shown through the book to be a violent. In the book, Oedipus’ fight with Creon towards the beginning shows that Oedipus doesn’t take the blame for problems on himself. He always at first put the problem on someone else on himself. Oedipus, at first, thinks that Creon wants to kill him and steal his throne, saying “Do you think i do not know that you plotted to kill me, plotted to steal my throne?” Oedipus always puts himself to a higher standard than everyone esle and has excessive pride in his own abilities. Thus, he has hubris, massive pride in his own person. Oedipus is thus shown is be narsasitic, believing his own person to be above other people. Oedipus’
Oedipus, by his hasty actions, and decisions commits terrible sins: kills his father, commits incest, and disobeys the gods. His fate continues his path as he becomes king of Thebes. He deciphers the monstrous Sphinx’s riddle by correctly answering: It is man, who crawls as a baby, walks in his adulthood, and uses a cane at an old age. He gains power over the people of Thebes. He considers himself powerful and mighty above all. He demonstrates his true hubris and ego character in line 8: “I, Oedipus, a n...
In conclusion, I think that if Oedipus had not had this huge sense of pride things would have turn out a lot better for him.
Oedipus’ personality clearly reflects pride and determination throughout the play. When Oedipus heard the oracles’ prediction that he was to kill his father and marry his mother, he was determined to prevent the prophecy. Therefore he left his homeland of Corinth never to return. Then when he solved the Sphinx’s riddle, Oedipus’ pride rose to a new level. He was praised by the people of Thebes, resulting in his marriage to Jocasta, Queen of Thebes. Oedipus also shows his determination when in search of Laius’ murderer. He stated that he would avenge the King’s death as if Laius were his own father. He cursed the murderer, announcing “May he drag out an evil death-in-life in misery.” These characteristics of pride and determination, which Oedipus emanates throughout the play, may appear to be positive attributes to one’s personality. However, Oedipus’ actions, based on these characteristics, are what led him to his eventual downfall and suffrage.
Sophocles’ tragic drama, Oedipus Rex, presents to the reader a full range of conflicts and their resolution after a climax.
In the play Oedipus Rex, the author Sophocles, attempts to create feelings of sympathy towards the main character, Oedipus. This is achieved by using dramatic irony, the prophecy that guided Oedipus towards the truth regarding his childhood, and key scenes in the play, which help to build the audiences understanding and opinions concerning his situation.
Oedipus is with good reason proud of his achievements. Having solved the riddle of the Sphinx and saved Thebes from destruction, his exuberant confidence shines through when he says, “Here I am myself – you all know me, the world knows my fame: I am Oedipus.” The poignant irony that the audience is aware of is this: by attempting to avoid his fate through fleeing Corinth and then subsequently answering the Sphinx’s question, he unwittingly positions himself so it is more likely the prophecy will be fulfilled. Portrayed as the pinnacle of humanist endeavour – Sophocles’ imagery simultaneously defines him as a conqueror of sea and land – Oedipus’ confidence naturally transfers into his quest for the truth behind Laius’ death. Success therefore naturally pro...