Oedipus The King by Sophocles

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According to Bernard Knox, “these attributes of divinity – knowledge, certainty, justice – are all qualities Oedipus thought he possessed – and that is why he was the perfect example of the inadequacy of human knowledge, certainty, and justice”. The lack of these qualities pushed Oedipus farther from the truth and closer to his great downfall. In Sophocles’ Oedipus the King, Oedipus’ tragic downfall was caused by his alleged certainty of knowledge, his rash actions and judgment, and his unwavering sense for justice.
In Knox’s statement, he refers to Oedipus’ “inadequacy of human knowledge [and] certainty” as a cause of his downfall. Oedipus believed he possessed certainty of knowledge; however, his knowledge was based on false assumptions. During the search for Laius’ killer, his certainty led him to believe that he was innocent of the crime. As Teiresius proclaimed, “Alas, how dreadful to have wisdom where it profits not the wise!” (Sophocles 120). Oedipus’ false certainty caused him to disregard the all-knowing seer, Teiresius. Due to his certainty, Oedipus ignored wise advice an...

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