Summary:
An overview of Sophocles' saga of Oedipus, which depicts the king's downfall from the pinnacle of reverence to the depths of despair. Despite Oedipus' possession of personable characteristics typical of a king or hero in a great epic, his immense pride and ignorance fuels his cycle of demise, leading to his own self-mutilation.
September 2005
World Literature
OEDIPUS: A TRAGIC HERO
Through out history, every civilization has recorded great accomplishments completed by their Kings. Stories have been told expressing their admiration, being passed down from one generation onto the next until their feats become forever etched into history or onto monuments built in their honor. Great Epics illustrate characteristics that only a King or a hero could posses, leaving one in fascination and awe. However, the saga of Oedipus, written by Sophocles, depicts another, more grim account of one King's colossal legacy. Oedipus, King of Thebes, Conquer of the Sphinx's almighty riddles, fell from the pinnacle of reverence down into the depths of despair. Despite Oedipus' personable characteristics, his downfall can ultimately be attributed to his immense pride and ignorance. The cycle of demise was fueled by his immense pride and began with his ignorance towards Tiresias' prophecy, continued with his inability to grasp the notion that he was in fact the murderer Thebes was in search of, and, in a final chaotic act of realization, desperation and despair, ended with self-mutilation of his own body.
Oedipus' fate was prophesized, but only he made the conscious decisions to fulfill it. When certain similarities seemed to be more than coincidences he denounced all accusations that he indeed was the murderer of Lauis, his Father. He was ignorant to the fact that he, great King of Thebes, Savior of the Sphinx's riddles could be plagued with such a fate, an absurdity of the Gods' power. He felt as if he was superior, almost Godly, and therefore some trivial details regarding the Lauis' death should not cause people to assume that an old man's prophecies are being fulfilled. He, Oedipus, couldn't possibly be a victim of the Gods' ill humor. However, his pride caused him to seek out the truth. He wanted to clear his name and uphold his reputation. Tiresias warned him not to seek the truth, because the truth would cripple him, but Oedipus refused. He insisted Tiresias speak the knowledge he was protecting. Tiresias, on the other hand, knew that Oedipus would refuse to accept what would be said. .".. [Truth] it has no strength for you because you are blind in mind and ears as well as in your eyes" (p.440). Oedipus responded by mocking his own physical blindness as well as his old age, " You are a poor wretch to taunt me with the very insults which everyone will soon heap upon yourself" (p.440). When Tiresias finally divulges his knowledge, Oedpius reacts by accusing he and Creon of plotting this whole affair in hopes to overthrow him. He is bluntly ignorant to the truth that Tiresias has set before him: He, Oedipus: King of Thebes, is the murderer of his father and the son of his wife. The wheels are set in motion and Oedipus begins his spiraling downfall from a man saw as great, to a man whose ignorance and pride resulted in his inability to see at all.
Oedipus' character dwindles as does his hopes that he can escape the wrath of the God's. He is transforming from a cool, collective, straightforward man into a callous, irrational man desperately trying to escape a guilty conscience. He accuses Creon, his friend, of plotting his demise and goes as far as trying to banish or kill him. He believes there is a conspiracy in the city of Thebes against him. When Creon tries to confront Oedipus for his accusations, Oedipus responds angrily. He is desperately trying to blame someone else for his own mistake. Again, he is too ignorant and stubborn to listen to Creon's voice of reasoning. ."..tell me what you saw in me, what cowardice or what stupidity that made you lay a plot like this against me?" (p. 445). His image had been blemish when Tiresias exposed the truths he had been hiding, and now Oedipus hopes to regain his fame. He wants somebody else to be responsible for Lauis' murderer. By killing, or even banishing Creon, Oedipus hopes that others will see this as a deed done for the common good of the people of Thebes. However, the Chorus, as well as Jocasta, plea in Creon's favor, " He has been your friend before all men's eyes. Do not cast him away dishonored on an obscure conjecture" (p.449). The people of Thebes are beginning to realize that Oedipus is making rash decisions and question his credibility.
In an moment of comprehension, Oedipus is able to grasp the fact that Tiresias was right: He is the son and murder of his Father, the husband to his own mother. This realization doesn't come easily however. First, Oedipus focuses on minor discrepancies to prove his innocence. He physically forces the herdsman to reveal all that he knows. Again, he feels superior to him, as did he towards Tiresias. Of what importance does this herdsman have to hold the key to his, the King of Thebes' ancestry in his own hand. He belittles him and mocks him for his age and status. Finally, after his arm is twisted, the herdsman reveals what Oedipus had searched so hard for but also feared. Oedipus recognizes that the prophecy had been fulfilled. His pride and arrogance led to his demise. In a final act of desperation, he pokes out his own eyes. This act of self-mutilation is significant because by blinding himself, he escapes being able to fully see what he has done. Others see him for what he truly was, a man blinded only by his own ignorance. "Insolence breeds the tyrant...If a man walks with haughtiness of hand or word and gives no heed to Justice and the Shrines of the Gods despises-may an evil doom smite him for his ill-starred pride of heart" (p.456)
This is the complete article, containing 958 words
(approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page).
