Oedipus Rex

A high-minded man is one who speaks the truth. In “The High Minded Man” Aristotle writes “He must care for truth more than for what men will think of him, and speak and act openly. He will not hesitate to say what he thinks.” (Witt 160). He explains

Throughout the play we find that Oedipus, the protagonist of this Greek tragedy, is tested by life in a number of ways. To those in Athens who watched the performance of Oedipus the King, Oedipus appeared to be the embodiment of a perfect Athenian. He is self-confident, intelligent, and strong-willed. Ironically, these are the very traits which bring about his tragic discovery. He is portrayed as a character of

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, who cares for his subjects, also feels their pain and shares it alongside them. He is empathetic towards, which drives Oedipus to work hard for them. While giving a speech to his people, Oedipus proclaims, “my spirit/ Groans for the city, for myself, for you” (849). ✔ Although his words could be interpreted as arrogance, when combined with his other actions in the prologue, it is clear to see that Oedipus genuinely feels for his people. A king who cares for his subjects will also feel for them and wants the best for them.

Sophocles' Oedipus is a clever man and a sage ruler. Unfortunately, he thinks too much of himself and believes that he knows better than the gods.

Typically, a disability is seen as a limitation and an impairment. Oedipus’s figurative blindness is indeed an impairment that shrouds him from piecing the truths of the prophecy together. It cast him into the world of the unknown in which he had no authority over his life. He was in the palm of the gods’ hands, walking in line with the destiny fated to him. But at the realization of the truth, he is unclouded from the figurative blindness.

The character Oedipus in Oedipus The King by Sophocles is a prideful, headstrong man weakened by his hamartia- tragic flaw. Oedipus believes that his intelligence and strength are superior to all. However, the gods must let him reach his zenith before they strip him of these arrogant beliefs along with everything else he values.

good man and of high stature. Believing that Oedipus was a good man would have only made the tragedy

In his tragedy Oedipus Rex, Sophocles utilizes irony to show that sometimes the true fatal flaw lies not within how closely a character conforms to society’s definition of idealness, but instead, it lies intrinsically within society’s very definition of idealness itself. When Oedipus questions the shepherd who first found Oedipus, and the shepherd initially refuses to answer, Oedipus threatens, “So, you won’t talk willingly—then you’ll talk with pain” (228: 1266-1267). Here, Oedipus demonstrates his quality of quick decision-making, which, despite coming across to the modern audience as rash and headstrong, contemporary Athenians strongly valued. This action, selfless from Oedipus, ironically leads to his demise. At the fateful crossroads

Pride like that of Oedipus had been the downfall of many great leaders. Oedipus is blinded by his arrogance and won’t accept the fact that he can’t avoid his fate. His pride first affects him when he is told about what his fate has in-store for him. Oedipus

The first criterion of a Greek tragedy is that the protagonist be a good person; doubly blessed with a good heart and noble intention. Sophocles reveals immediately at the start of the play that Oedipus is such a man. As is common in the Greek tragedy Oedipus is also an aristocrat. Born of the King and Queen of Thebes he is of

In Oedipus the king, he was a very intelligent man, who choose his fate and that led him to a tragedy later on throughout his years a king. A few factors that find their way into the

In Oedipus Rex, the title character displays many great heroic qualities. He is portrayed as a good ruler who cares for his people and aims to protect the city he has been trusted with. From the moment he solves the Sphinx’s riddle, Oedipus’ relationship with Thebes begins and with it the implicit trust its citizen place on him. It’s obvious from the very beginning of the play that he is written as a strong capable ruler who takes his people’s needs into consideration. As the play opens, he says to the begging citizen: “You can trust me. I am ready to help, I’ll do anything” (Sophocles, line 13-14, p. 159). It shows the strong relationship he has with his people. Furthermore, when the Theban people beg Oedipus to act against the plague that has been troubling their land, it is revealed that he has already sent Creon

The first quality of Oedipus that justifies him as a tragic hero is in his lack of self-knowledge. Oedipus can be seen has someone who is not genuinely satisfied until he or she solves all of his life’s puzzles and the last riddle of his life. Oedipus physical strength gave him a great opportunity to be the king. This physical strength which he possesses and misuses also marked the beginning of his downfall. In the beginning of the play Oedipus has perfect vision; however, he is blind and ignorant of the truth about himself and his past. As a result; he gains too much pride and confidence and starts to believe he is impalpable. He desperately wants to know, to see, but he can’t. His actions must somehow overcome his blindness. Ironically, into the play a prophet was introduced, a seer, Teresias, who is physically blind, but who is clairvoyant. Teresias says to Oedipus, I tell you, no man that walks upon the earth/ shall be rooted out more horribly than you (S1. .1117). This describes Oedipus as a man ignorant to the true appearance of things, this blind man could see the truth about Oedipus, yet Oedipus in all of his physical strength cannot.

In the opening scene of the first play in the trilogy, Oedipus the King, Sophocles depicts Oedipus as a man of great stature, ruling his lands justly but hints at his own catastrophic fate condemned by his overly arrogant conduct. Initially, Oedipus exhibits intelligence, love and concern for his subjects, and deep-rooted wisdom, upholding a reputation of high moral standards. His wisdom, however, becomes self-righteous, his arrogance becoming very clear on the eighth line of his opening monologue, “Here I am – myself – you all know me, the world knows my fame: I am Oedipus. ” (159). The irony of this statement rests behind the notion that Oedipus’s fame will be known and surpass the ages, but it is