Oedipus The King example essay topic

The downfall of a hero follows from his very nature. In Sophocles play, Oedipus the King, the playwright focuses on a man named Oedipus, the king of Thebes, who is trying to discover the truth about his past. When he was born, his parents learned from an oracle that their child would someday be the cause of their death. Believing the oracle, they abandoned their infant son with the intention of killing him. However, without their knowledge he is rescued and raised by another couple. After many years, Oedipus visits a different oracle and is informed that one day he will kill his father and sleep with his mother.

He flees his home for fear that he is a danger to his parents safety. The frightened Oedipus travels to Thebes, but on the journey he becomes engaged in a quarrel. He kills King Laios and Laios' men not realizing that the king is his biological father. Af ter reaching Thebes he becomes the new king by solving a riddle and lifting a plaque from the city. Oedipus quickly marries a woman named Iocaste, the queen, and together they have four children. In Thebes the murder of the old King Laios remains unknown, a plaque is again placed upon the city by the gods.

Oedipus, being the new leader of Thebes, pledges to discover the identity of the murderer so he can end the disaster. In his searching, Oedipus discovers that he is the murderer of the king and eventually discovers that Iocaste is really his own mother. In a Greek tragedy the hero is a character amply capable of choices, capable, too of accepting the consequences. Whether Oedipus's ufferings are due to a flaw of character or to an error of judgement, we discover that his downfall results from acts for which he himself is responsible. Oedipus is responsible for his own downfall. Through anger he lost control of his actions.

On his way to Thebes, Oedipus came upon a chariot drawn by horses. As the charioteer pushed him off the road, Oedipus struck him with rage. The old man saw me / and brought his double goad down upon my head / Swinging my club in this right hand I knocked him / Out of his car and he rolled on the ground. / I killed him / I killed them all.

(S 2 1127). Oedipus never stopped to consider his actions. He unknowingly fulfilled half of the prophecy by letting his anger get the best of him. He was capable of controlling his emotions, but chose not to. He is responsible for the consequences of his father's death. Physical and Intellectual blindness resulting from Oedipus' arrogant judgement of himself lead to his ruin.

He is respected by Thebes and thought of as the smartest human for solving the Sphinx's riddle. As a result, he gains too much pride and confidence and begins to believe he is untouchable. In the beginning of the play Oedipus has perfect vision, however, he is blind and ignorant to the truth about himself and his past. He desperately wants to know, to see, but he cannot. His actions must somehow overcome his blindness.

Ironically, into the play is introduced a prophet, 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" (S 1.2. 1117). This just reaffirms Oedipus as a man ignorant to the true appearance of things - this blind man can "see" the truth about Oedipus, yet Oedipus in all of his physical perfection cannot. Through his pride, he blamed others and pushed them to reveal the truth.

Oedipus's ufferings are due to the character flaw of frustration of acceptance. Toward the end of the play, it is shown how Oedipus learns the true nature of things - his past is revealed to him and he learns the oracle was correct. Now Oedipus can see all to clearly what the truth is, but he desperately does not want to accept his fate. So, in response, "he strikes his eyes - not once, but many times; / And the blood spattered his beard, / bursting from his ruined sockets like red hail" (EX. 1140). He blinds himself so that he may not see, but unfortunately this does not help the problem.

He did not want to accept the situation the way he "saw" it, and decided instead not to see at all. Oedipus's else of justice allows no excuse; he punishes himself by self-blinding. The audience is left with feelings of pity and fear. Oedipus does not curse God and die though, he does eventually accept his fate, prays for blessings upon his children, and prepares to endure his own exile.

He falls from a high estate, but is uplifted in moral dignity. Anger, overconfidence, pride and frustration misguided Oedipus to think he was in control of his own life. He is ultimately in control of his own downfall. He is responsible for the consequences of his choices.

Even the greatest of men can crumble to ruins. All human are subject to suffering and pain.