Pride In Oedipus The King

We as humans are defined by how we react to certain situations and certain stimuli. Each individual person will react differently when faced with a same dilemma. People are characterized by their repeated responses to these circumstances. People or literary characters become famous for their characteristics, such as Oedipus, who is well known for his hubris, or excessive pride. Most people are known for their positive characteristics, but Oedipus is defined by his pride, and the actions he completes as a result. His view of himself leads to his own downfall, and on the way down he brings people he loves.

Oedipus did not start off displaying his pride; it came out of him as a result of the actions that took place. At one time, Oedipus feared

We can see that his belief in himself and his capabilities starts become excessive. He really thinks he can control the world, and everything that happens within it. Oedipus is tasked with figuring out the cause for the recent plague in Thebes. The plague has stricken the vulnerable citizen of Thebes. The crops and cattle will not grow and the women and children are dying in childbirth. The people become desperate, begging for help from Oedipus. To Oedipus this seems like another golden opportunity to show off his intelligence and his skill. He wants to solve the problem, and does not want anyone to interfere with his progress. He even scolds a commoner for asking the Gods for help. He questions “You pray to the Goads? / Let Me grant your prayer”. Oedipus thinks he can solve anything, and wants people to know about it. Oedipus not only wants to cure the plague of Thebes, but he wants to be recognized for it. This is the true sign of someone with a hubris problem. Completing the action is not enough for them, their sense of accomplishment come from other’s knowledge about the action. Oedipus displays his exaggerated confidence even when dealing with the Gods. He has this ludicrous thought that they work for him, and are forced to favor him. He proclaims “I count myself the son of Chance/ the great goddess, giver of all good things/ I’ll never see myself disgraced. She is my Mother!”(1187-1190).

Not only does this phrase apply to Oedipus’s physical failure, but it also applies to his mental breakdown. An adjusted phrase would more clearly describe Oedipus and his story, the bigger the ego, the more dramatic response to failure. And Oedipus’s response was dramatic. He was ripped from his throne by the very force he believed he was favored by, fate. He had this bizarre idea that he was the God’s champion, and therefore untouchable. But he was very wrong, the prophecy came to fruition, he killed his father and had children with his mother. A man with excessive pride is bound to have an excessive reaction to failure, and forcibly blinding himself with dress brooches, is excessive. The man who at one point realistically believed that he was more powerful than the God’s words, and that he can change the fate that was set for him, has been diminished to a mere mortal begging for mercy. Now who or what can possibly do this to a man, and the only answer is the man himself. Just like his eye wounds, the damage he has done to his reputation and character were self inflicted. But the weapon was his hubris. It blinded him and caused him to not see the terrible path he was traveling on. Humans will never be able to find success if they do not have a sense of realism or humility, and Oedipus is the greatest example of this