Arrogance In Oedipus Rex

Throughout the play Oedipus the King written by Sophocles, there are many themes portrayed, however hubris appears to be a prominent trait. Oedipus, the main character displays such pride that impacts his ability to perceive and understand the past as well as interact with others. When pronounced King of Thebes, he is filled with pride from such honor. The citizens of Thebes glorify him and come to him for help and comfort in their time of need. However, Oedipus doesn't treat them with the same respect, referring to the townspeople as his "poor children" (Sophocles 65) even though they are all adults. Oedipus also believes he is more valuable than everyone else for "his suffering is greater" (Sophocles 67) and he "suffers the most" (Sophocles

In Oedipus Rex, Oedipus faces a terrible tragedy mostly caused by his own insecurities. Sophocles literally shows us the human nature for always wanting to know more information about ourselves no matter the cost. Had Oedipus not cared about what was being said about him and left well enough alone he could have avoided his whole predicament and lived a happy life with his wife and children.

Oedipus causes a catharsis of emotion among the audience. They feel pity for Oedipus, who

In Oedipus Rex hubris, or excessive pride, is theme that is presented throughout the text. Hubris is the main reason for Oedipus’ downfall in the story because it clouds his judgement from the truth.

In Oedipus the king, by Sophocles, Oedipus arrogance and pride, combined with Oedipus’s willpower and concern for his subjects, compel him to search for the murderer of Laius and in turn, unknowingly discover the truth of his own life. Ultimately, Sophocles suggests, had he controlled his curiosity and arrogance, Oedipus would have lived his life peacefully without the acknowledgement of the fulfilment of the infamous prophecy about him. As soon as Oedipus enters the stage, he brings an stench of arrogance along with him. When Oedipus enters the altar, the citizens are praying to him to save Thebes; however, the priest reminds Oedipus, “you cannot equal the gods... But we do rate you first of men” (161).

Oedipus has problems because at the very beginning because of his arrogance. Oedipus blindness affects everyone. However, he does not change and continues giving orders till the very end until he tells Creon to bury his mother/wife and deport him. Without realizing it Oedipus actions which are full of arrogance has a negative effect on him and everyone else that surrounds him.

Oedipus believed that he could change his destiny in his excessive pride, by running from the prophecies, not believing Tiresias and not ending his life but gouging his eyes out. These qualities all happen because Oedipus has too much pride in himself throughout the whole story. The story of Oedipus includes a lot of drama because of what happens to Oedipus’s life which he finally realizes at the end. Oedipus did not believe in what had happened in his life and he would try to run from it. Oedipus the King a story written by Sophocles involves a very interesting plot and characters.

The tale of Oedipus and his prophecy has intrigued not only the citizens of Greece in the ancient times, but also people all over the world for several generations. Most notable about the play was its peculiar structure, causing the audience to think analytically about the outcomes of Oedipus’ actions and how it compares with Aristotle’s beliefs. Another way that the people have examined the drama is by looking at the paradoxes (such as the confrontation of Tiresias and Oedipus), symbols (such as the Sphinx), and morals that has affected their perceptions by the end of the play. Nonetheless, the most important aspect is how relevant the story is and how it has influenced modern ideas like that of Freud and other people of today.

The first quality of Oedipus that proves him as a tragic hero is in his pride which is the cause of his hamartia. “I thought it wrong, my children, to hear the truth from others, messengers. Here I am myself—you all know me, the world knows my fame: I am Oedipus”- Oedipus. Oedipus believes he can control his fate reveals his pride. Oedipus assume he can escape the prophecy of the gods.

In ‘Antigone”, Ismene says, “To them that walk in power; to exceed is madness, and not wisdom”. Her statement makes it clear, those who “walk in power”, allow it to corrupt them. Throughout the history of humanity there has been a correlation between those who have excessive power and corruption. Webster’s Dictionary defines corruption as, “impairment of integrity, virtue, or moral principle”. In the story of Antigone the tragic hero Creon, shows all of the common characteristics of corruption. Before one can analysis the character of Creon they would first have to look at the story of Oedipus the King.

While reading the play Oedipus the King the audience experiences both pity and fear. The chorus portrays the feelings of the characters in the play to the readers/ audience. When Oedipus threatens to kill Creon the audience fears him and what he might possibly do. Because Oedipus suffers from hubris it is easy for him to become angry when he does not get what's he wants, because he is a royal and usually royals get what they want. When the audience finds out the Oedipus killed his father and married his mother and fulfilled the prophecy the audience felt pity towards him.

Oedipus. Many students in this day and age believe he is a great, heroic leader. This is false. The story of Oedipus is about a king who married his mother and killed his father. This ultimately leads to the downfall of his wife and himself.

Benjamin Whichcote once said, “None are so empty as those who are full of themselves.” The words ring true through the character Oedipus whose tragic flaw of arrogance brought his downfall. In his timeless play, Oedipus Rex, author Sophocles unflinchingly illuminates the haughtiness and hubris displayed by the hero Oedipus. Through his candid exploration of the ship/captain and light/dark motifs, Sophocles makes an effort to ultimately bring the reader to the realization that arrogance creates an illusion to the truth and the potential dangers such pride poses for both the guilty party and those for whom the arrogant are responsible.

The audience also feels angst, particularly when Oedipus

exercising his free choice by making bad decisions . Oedipus certainly meets these portrayals of a tragic hero. The dialect of tragedy consists of two circles: one is a relative point and the other is impacted and the effect on its audience. Sophocles and Aristotle’s achieve that task with absolute clearness. The modern reader, coming to the classic drama not entirely to the enjoyment, will not always surrender himself to the emotional effect. He is apt to worry about Greek ‘fatalism’ and the justice of the downfall of Oedipus, and, finding no satisfactory solution for these intellectual difficulties, loses half the pleasure that the drama was intended to produce . In dramatizing stories, there will dependably blends of passionate sentiments, suspense, and fervor to discover what’s