The Tragic Downfall Of Oedipus The King

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Bernard Knox said that Oedipus’ fall was because “these attributes of divinity - knowledge, certainty, and 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.” Oedipus’ hubris nature led to his tragic downfall. He lost everything because he thought that he had knowledge, acted without certainty, and tried to administer justice without knowing the truth. Oedipus tries to administer justice even though he does not know the truth, which is a sign of hubris. He can not administer justice because he does not seek answers before making judgement. Oedipus admits his uncertainty when he said “At a banquet a man full of wine cast …show more content…

When he hears that he is not the son of Polybus, Oedipus travels to Delphi. There he learns that he is fated to kill his father and marry his mother. His uncertainty led him to act rashly and in turn he fulfilled the prophecy because of it.When he realizes that, he blinds himself, “ Why was I to see when light could show me nothing sweet?”(Sophocles 144). Oedipus now sees that everything that did, brought on all of this. He knows the truth and is ashamed of his decisions and actions. Even though Oedipus thinks he is knowledgeable, when in reality he is ignorant. This is because of his stubbornness. Instead of listening to people that are known for their wisdom, he decides to listen to himself, even when he is uncertain. The seer Teiresias said, “Alas, how dreadful to have wisdom where it profits not the wise!”(120). He knows the truth, but he also knows that Oedipus will not believe him because he is hubristic. Oedipus thinks that he is innocent so he disregards what Teiresias says. The tragic downfall of Oedipus was brought on because he thought he had qualities that he did not have. He suffered from the sin of hubris and he lost everything because of it. His rash decisions took him from the highest stature to the lowest. Oedipus serves as a lesson of humility to everyone. He is a perfect example of what happens when someone acts without knowledge and

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