Free Essays - Impatience and Disrespect in Oedipus the King (Rex)

Then, Oedipus's pitiless murdering causes several subsequent tragedies such as the incestuous marriage of Oedipus gets into the flight with Laius. However, Oedipus's characteristics after Laius's death imply that Oedipus could avoid the fight as well as the murder of his father, but did not. Ultimately, Oedipus gets what he deserves due to his own characteristics that lead him to murder Laius: impatience, delusion, and arrogance. One characteristic that leads Oedipus to flight his father is impatience. Oedipus?s impatience is obvious when Creon reports news from Apollo.

So Oedipus accuses Tiresias of being an accomplice to the murderer, forcing him to speak. Tiresias then charges Oedipus of the murder, which infuriates him, and also preludes to his “shameful intimacy. '; Oedipus then draws upon his solving of the riddle of the Sphinx to undermine the blind prophet, convinced that he, in alliance with Creon, was plotting against him. Creon’s modest rebuttal consisted only of a threat to himself- that if Oedipus’ claim against him were true, then let him not live out the rest of his days. Later, in a conversation with Oedipus, he justifies his denial of the charge that Oedipus had placed against him by illustrating the irrelevance of attempting to dethrone the king.

Oedipus demands that the citizens come forth and speak if they knew of Laois’s murderer. In addition, Oedipus demanded Teiresias to tell him what the oracle had foreseen and threatens Creon for planning a scheme with the prophet. Oedipus demonstrated how angry he was throughout the play since he had no idea who was the murderer he continues pointing fingers at Creon. Oedipus says to Iocaste; “I have caught him squarely plotting against my life” (Sophocles, 401 BC, p. 1323). In addition, as the play progressed, Oedipus also demonstrated animosity.

Oedipus summons Creon and accuses him of conspiring with Tiresias against him and threatens him with death or exile. Jocasta, Oedipus's wife, enters and asks why the men are fighting. Jocasta reassures Oedipus saying that prophecies cannot be trusted. She sites as proof a prophecy given by the oracle of Delphi who said that Laius would be murdered by his own son. However, their only son was killed as a baby and Laius was murdered by a band of thieves at a place where three roads meet.

The two then get into a huge argument because Oedipus believes that Teiresias is lying to him. Teiresias warns Oedipus by saying, “This day will reveal that and destroy you” (Sophocles line 529). At this point, Oedipus is still blind to the fact that he is the one that has caused this plague. Oedipus believes that Creon and Teiresias are joining together to plot against him and to get rid of him. Creon states, “…I have just discovered that Oedipus, our king, has levelled charges against me, disturbing allegations” (Sophocles lines 612-14).

So why this…useless interrogation? You’ll get nothing from me" (321) Tiresias says. This enrages Oedipus and he blames him for the murder, and then for conspiring with Creon to take his throne. These accusations Oedipus makes are caused by his fear of the truth he is too blind to see. This blame causes an argument... ... middle of paper ... ...dentity from this man, that he even speaks of torture to get him to talk.

Oedipus also reacts irrationally when Creon suggest again that Oedipus is the murdered. He speaks to Jocasta and says, “He’s right, Jocasta, for I find him plotting,” (“Oedipus Rex” I. 750). Afresh, Oedipus believes that anyone that accuses or suggest he is the murderer, he automatically thinks they are a traitor. Oedipus has a tendency to think irrationally and not reflect on his past and makes impulsive

Now god tells you plainly: with your own hands punish the very men whos hands killed Laios.” Not realizing Kreon was talking about him Oedipus becomes blinded by his sense to help his people and begins a manhunt, for himself. One could say that at this point in the story, Oedipus is just being retarded. How could he kill someone and not even know the name of the person he killed? Medea has been cheated on at this point in her story, all she does is cry. “Friends talk to her, try to give her good advice; she listens the way a rock does, or an ocean wave.” Ignorantly ignoring her friends, she comes to the realization that she doesn’t like her children and that leaving her homeland was a bad idea in the first place.

Oedipus shares a trait with many tyrannical rulers: a deep sense of irrationality. After taking it upon himself to find Laius’s murderer, he becomes desperate. His desperation to know the truth about his situation leads to paranoia and anger. He becomes blind to the truth and only sees what he wants to see. This is evidenced when Oedipus is accusing Creon of the murder.

The hero’s tragic flaws are the qualities, which ultimately lead to his downfall. Oedipus’ pride, ignorance, insolence towards the gods, and unrelenting quest for the truth ultimately contributed to his destruction. When Terrisias told Oedipus that he was responsible for the murder of Laius, he became enraged and calls the old oracle a liar. He ran away from his home in Corinth, in hopes of outsmarting the gods divine will. Like his father, Oedipus also sought ways to escape the horrible destiny told by the oracle of Apollo.