Pride In Oedipus The King
Richard C. Armitage's quote “I have a bit of pride, which is always my downfall.”, is an acknowledgement of a personal fatal flaw, pride, which incidentally is a flaw shared by many of history's great leaders. One example is Napoleon Bonaparte, the emperor of France, whose pride drove his desire to conquer all of Europe, eventually leading to the downfall of him and the nation he built. Similarly, the Greek word Hamartia, a fatal flaw leading to one’s downfall, applies to many historical leaders as well as a particularly iconic figure in Greek mythology, Oedipus. In Oedipus the King, by Sophocles, there is a tragic figure named Oedipus who fled his home in Corinth in fear of a prophecy that he would kill his father and marry his mother. On his journey away from home, he, unknowingly, kills his father and when he arrives at Thebes, Oedipus is able to solve the riddle of the Sphinx thus filling himself with pride. The people of Thebes crown Oedipus as their king and Oedipus marries the queen of Thebes, Jocasta. However,
…show more content…
In the beginning of the story, priests appear at the front of his house. They say that Thebes has been struck with plague and they ask Oedipus to lift it off them. Oedipus says “the world renowned and glorious Oedipus” (8). Evidently, Oedipus is very proud of his accomplishments as he refers to himself as “world renowned and glorious.”. When he first arrived at Thebes, he was able to get rid of the curse of the Sphinx and ever since then, he has thought very highly of himself. Later in the story, Oedipus has a suspicion that he is the one that killed Laius. He begins to worry and sends for a peasant who might be able to confirm this suspicion. The chorus
In the beginning of the story, priests appear at the front of his house. They say that Thebes has been struck with plague and they ask Oedipus to lift it off them. Oedipus says “the world renowned and glorious Oedipus” (8). Evidently, Oedipus is very proud of his accomplishments as he refers to himself as “world renowned and glorious.”. When he first arrived at Thebes, he was able to get rid of the curse of the Sphinx and ever since then, he has thought very highly of himself. Later in the story, Oedipus has a suspicion that he is the one that killed Laius. He begins to worry and sends for a peasant who might be able to confirm this suspicion. The chorus