How Does Oedipus Suffer
Oedipus the King
The Greek drama Oedipus the King is clearly a tragedy. In the play there are numerous accounts of physical and mental suffering. Although Laius and Jocasta are the catalyst that starts the story in Oedipus the King, Oedipus takes the role of the catalyst and becomes the cause of all tragedy to others.
In the play Oedipus causes some of his own suffering. Oedipus’s pride gets him into situations that cause him to suffer later on in the play. “He tore the brooches-the gold chased brooches fastening he robe –away from her and lifting them up high dashed them on his own eyeballs...”(pg.446). Oedipus finds Jocasta in her room after she hung herself and is ashamed. Oedipus has so much pride that he puts himself into denial when he is faced with any situation that can hurt his pride. To protect his pride he stabs himself in the eyes and pokes them out. After truly blinding himself he Oedipus exiles himself because he feel that he doesn’t deserve to die immediately ,he must suffer for the rest of his life. Not only does he have to deal with self-inflicted suffering but the suffering dealt by others. …show more content…
Numerous characters cause Oedipus to suffer throughout the play and that is what makes the play a tragedy. Oedipus’s parents Laius and Jocasta cause him the most significant suffering by abandoning him on the mountain because his fate was still decided. In the play the oracle Teiresias tells Oedipus “you are the land’s pollution” (pg.441). Teiresias is telling Oedipus that he is the reason why the plague has been placed on the city and that the prophecy has come true. Oedipus is then angry and denies the real truth which is being told by Teiresias. Oedipus causes others to suffer because he has too much pride and refuses to hear the truth from other characters in the
The Greek drama Oedipus the King is clearly a tragedy. In the play there are numerous accounts of physical and mental suffering. Although Laius and Jocasta are the catalyst that starts the story in Oedipus the King, Oedipus takes the role of the catalyst and becomes the cause of all tragedy to others.
In the play Oedipus causes some of his own suffering. Oedipus’s pride gets him into situations that cause him to suffer later on in the play. “He tore the brooches-the gold chased brooches fastening he robe –away from her and lifting them up high dashed them on his own eyeballs...”(pg.446). Oedipus finds Jocasta in her room after she hung herself and is ashamed. Oedipus has so much pride that he puts himself into denial when he is faced with any situation that can hurt his pride. To protect his pride he stabs himself in the eyes and pokes them out. After truly blinding himself he Oedipus exiles himself because he feel that he doesn’t deserve to die immediately ,he must suffer for the rest of his life. Not only does he have to deal with self-inflicted suffering but the suffering dealt by others. …show more content…
Numerous characters cause Oedipus to suffer throughout the play and that is what makes the play a tragedy. Oedipus’s parents Laius and Jocasta cause him the most significant suffering by abandoning him on the mountain because his fate was still decided. In the play the oracle Teiresias tells Oedipus “you are the land’s pollution” (pg.441). Teiresias is telling Oedipus that he is the reason why the plague has been placed on the city and that the prophecy has come true. Oedipus is then angry and denies the real truth which is being told by Teiresias. Oedipus causes others to suffer because he has too much pride and refuses to hear the truth from other characters in the