Examples Of Tragic Flaws In Oedipus

Tragically Flawed While his intentions were well meaning in the beginning, Oedipus finds himself weighed down by his own flaws. Tragically his flaws cause him to lose focus of his true objectives and damn himself to a life of misery. The tale of Oedipus depicts his rapid descent from Oedipus, savior and king of Thebes to Oedipus Tyrannus the man who slew his father and married his mother. Since Oedipus has so many tragic flaws there is a plethora to choose from. However, if Oedipus’s tragic traits could be described with two words it would be arrogant and imperceptive. First, Oedipus is arrogant. Additionally, Oedipus is imperceptive. To begin, Oedipus is arrogant. There are many instances throughout the play where Oedipus’s arrogance is

Despite earlier Teiresias being referred to as: “A lord clairvoyant to the lord Apollo” (Scene 1. 966). Teiresias is the one: “in whom, alone of all men, truth was born” (Scene 1. 967). Yet, when provided the divine wisdom, Oedipus rejects it and creates his own wisdom. He feels he is above the gods and anything foolish enough to get in his way. However, this incident is not the last time Oedipus’s arrogance rears its ugly head. For instance, he accuses Creon of plotting to kill him with no proof. After his violent argument with Teiresias, Oedipus summons Creon to confront him about his plot to over throw him. He has no proof in this accusation and even has the audacity to tell Creon: “You are evil incarnate” (Scene 2. 975). Oedipus assumes he has the power to rightfully accuse and judge Creon as an enemy of the gods as if he were a god himself. The chorus echoes this sentiment: “Prove his heroic mind! These evil words are lies” (Ode 1. 972). His illogical accusation is cautioned against others but still, he finds his truth to be absolute: “Let him go. And let me die, If I must. / Or be driven by him in shame from the land of Thebes” (Scene 2. 976). In a tactful choice of words, he both allows the ones who oppose his assumption that Creon is guilty and protects his

Oedipus cannot see that Teiresias, one who knows all, has given him the answer he desperately sought after. Oedipus ironically mocks Teiresias for his blindness, he tells him he is a fool for not only can he not see with his eyes but he cannot see the truth as well. Teiresias, however, sets the record straight and provides another dose of truth: “You mock for my blindness, do you? / But I say that you, with both your eyes are blind” (Scene 1. 969). And Oedipus for all he sees with his eyes is blind in the face of truth. For instance, a prime example of Oedipus’s lack of vision when faced with the truth is when he and his wife, Iocaste exchange stories of their truths. His wife tries to comfort him in the fact that the prophecies and the gods are not accurate by sharing her own, which she believes never came true “If it is a question of soothsayers, I tell you/ That you will find no man whose craft gives knowledge/ Of the unknowable” (Scene 2. 977). She finds this knowledge to prove her point, but after Oedipus reveals his own ‘inaccurate’ prophecy, she realizes her lack of perception: “For God’s love, let us have no more questioning! / Is your life nothing to you? / My own pain is enough for me to bear” (Scene 3. 985). She tries to protect Oedipus from himself because while she has opened her eyes to the truth, Oedipus is still blind to it: “The Queen, like a woman, is perhaps ashamed/ To think of my