Oedipus Flaws
Another flaw of Oedipus that leads to his self-destruction is his excessive self-pride. He made it his mission to find the killer of Laius in order to end the misery that the plague in Thebes caused. He was sure of himself that he will save the land, ironically not realizing that he is the one at fault. He sees himself as being all mighty since he presumably escaped his fate. He was able to save Thebes from the Sphinx so he thinks history can repeat itself and he can be a hero ones again for his people. He thinks the oracle will provide “what act or word of mine I might redeem this city” (Sophocles 3). When Tiresias reveals the truth, Oedipus does not believe it is o be true. He lets his temper take over and blind him from seeing the truth
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The problem-solver, the problem and the solution” (Versenyi 23) If he listened to Tiresias, he would have escaped a public humiliation, but he instead he angrily demanded. Tiresias had no choice but to announce that “This day shall give you birth and death in one” (Sophocles 16). He had so much pride and confidence that he will be able to save the day. In the end, the truth lifted the curse off the people of Thebes but it brought about is own self destruction. Tiresias did not want to say what he knows, because he knew that Oedipus would not believe him and accuse him of being a liar. He knew that whether he said anything or not, the prophecy already happened so truth will eventually come …show more content…
Versenyi writes, “What he fulfills and saves, by not deviating from it, is his own nature. But that is also what destroys him, his own nature—daimon, fate, portion or need, the need for self-knowledge… know your limit and stay within it” (Versenyi 25). He disregarding Tiresias warning and hesitation to reveal the truth. He states “How could I ever in the issue prove Other--- that I should leave my birth unknown” (Sophocles 39). He had to find a meaning to everything. If he just left it alone and kept going on with his life, the truth would not have come out into the light. He had to go through this whole painful process to actually see the truth. He needed evidence and the stories of the events to relate everything. Living a life in of ignorance was way simpler and less dramatic. When he “Oedipus tries to know himself, equate himself (what he knows himself to be) with himself (what he essentially is), but the final result is merely the revelation that there is something basically wrong with the equation” (Versenyi 26). When the truth was revealed, so what the realness of the prophecy and power of the Gods. In the end, Oedipus stops running and accepts the course of life he was destined for. He chooses the most honorable option at the end of his. He does not commit suicide because that is a sign of weakness. He chooses to live a life with complete blindness. He takes this as a punishment for his crimes because
The problem-solver, the problem and the solution” (Versenyi 23) If he listened to Tiresias, he would have escaped a public humiliation, but he instead he angrily demanded. Tiresias had no choice but to announce that “This day shall give you birth and death in one” (Sophocles 16). He had so much pride and confidence that he will be able to save the day. In the end, the truth lifted the curse off the people of Thebes but it brought about is own self destruction. Tiresias did not want to say what he knows, because he knew that Oedipus would not believe him and accuse him of being a liar. He knew that whether he said anything or not, the prophecy already happened so truth will eventually come …show more content…
Versenyi writes, “What he fulfills and saves, by not deviating from it, is his own nature. But that is also what destroys him, his own nature—daimon, fate, portion or need, the need for self-knowledge… know your limit and stay within it” (Versenyi 25). He disregarding Tiresias warning and hesitation to reveal the truth. He states “How could I ever in the issue prove Other--- that I should leave my birth unknown” (Sophocles 39). He had to find a meaning to everything. If he just left it alone and kept going on with his life, the truth would not have come out into the light. He had to go through this whole painful process to actually see the truth. He needed evidence and the stories of the events to relate everything. Living a life in of ignorance was way simpler and less dramatic. When he “Oedipus tries to know himself, equate himself (what he knows himself to be) with himself (what he essentially is), but the final result is merely the revelation that there is something basically wrong with the equation” (Versenyi 26). When the truth was revealed, so what the realness of the prophecy and power of the Gods. In the end, Oedipus stops running and accepts the course of life he was destined for. He chooses the most honorable option at the end of his. He does not commit suicide because that is a sign of weakness. He chooses to live a life with complete blindness. He takes this as a punishment for his crimes because