In Oedipus Tyrannus, Sophocles’ offers a perfect juxtaposition of the divine and secular justice of antiquity through the dual nature of Oedipus’ crime, which also allows for further juxtaposition with modernity’s conception of justice. Oedipus’ primary crime in the eyes of humanity is sleeping “in the same bed where he was bred” and patricide (Sophocles 57). Oedipus’ considers his crimes “humanity’s foulest deeds” due to the Greek conception of justice which emphasized a system of punishment based on humiliation, and since Oedipus experiences overwhelming shame, his belief that his crimes were terrible is validated (Sophocles 59). The fountainhead of antiquity's justice is pathos, and all crimes are met with punishments meant to conjure pain and emotional torment. In an act of defiance and relief, Oedipus gouges his
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However, the act also shows that while Oedipus has gained insight, he still fails to realize his true crime.
Since the characters in Oedipus Tyrannus are static, Oedipus’ true crime was a foregone conclusion due to his nature: he was destined to offend Apollo through lack of reverence. Although no hamartia is immediately evident in Oedipus, his power, intelligence, and perpetual attempts at self-determination demonstrate that his true flaw is his similarity to the gods, especially Apollo. Solving the riddle of the Sphinx earned Oedipus a reputation for intelligence which follows him into his position as king, causing his people to treat him as though he is almost more than human. Oedipus is referred to as the people's “master and greatest power,” and though such flattery tends to bolster a person’s ego, Oedipus remains devoid of hubris (Sophocles 2). In doing this, Oedipus begins to encroach on Apollo’s domain by accepting the mantle that has been thrust upon him, and this encroachment is seen by Apollo as an extraordinary lack of
However, the act also shows that while Oedipus has gained insight, he still fails to realize his true crime.
Since the characters in Oedipus Tyrannus are static, Oedipus’ true crime was a foregone conclusion due to his nature: he was destined to offend Apollo through lack of reverence. Although no hamartia is immediately evident in Oedipus, his power, intelligence, and perpetual attempts at self-determination demonstrate that his true flaw is his similarity to the gods, especially Apollo. Solving the riddle of the Sphinx earned Oedipus a reputation for intelligence which follows him into his position as king, causing his people to treat him as though he is almost more than human. Oedipus is referred to as the people's “master and greatest power,” and though such flattery tends to bolster a person’s ego, Oedipus remains devoid of hubris (Sophocles 2). In doing this, Oedipus begins to encroach on Apollo’s domain by accepting the mantle that has been thrust upon him, and this encroachment is seen by Apollo as an extraordinary lack of