“People of this city, look, this man is Oedipus,/...who rose to greatness,/Envy of all in the city who saw his good fortune,/And now what a fearful storm of disaster has struck him” (1478-80), said the Chorus towards the end of the play. Human greatness is measured by inner qualities rather than achievements, wealth, or social status, and this idea is well-established in Oedipus the King. Although the playwright, Sophocles, wrote this play in 429 B.C., the concepts can still be applied to one’s life and morals. The Athenian tragedy focuses on the consequences that come from emphasizing one’s own self-importance and disregarding the opinions and advice of others over maintaining ego. A major example of this is the personality of Oedipus, the
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The play illustrates the sentiment of internal greatness in variety of ways. The most notable is the downfall of Oedipus. As explained in the quote above, Oedipus is a well-known figure among Thebes. He is able to use his wits against the Sphinx, become known as the savior of the city, and is eventually crowned king. The Thebans revere in his glory, but do not realize that a single act does not make one fit to be a ruler. This is considered external greatness originating from others rather than oneself, as inner strength and nobility is not revealed simply by defeating a monster. Instead, it is revealed through a series of noble, righteous, and honorable acts that show the strength of internal qualities of a person as well as building character, but the Thebans miss this. Consequently, the glorification of Oedipus’ single deed plays a substantial role in how his downfall affects the city. Its effects seem more distressing to the society than they should. Later, Creon is crowned king of Thebes, which is a wise and sensible decision on behalf of Oedipus and the Thebans since Creon has the internal greatness required to be an effective ruler but also has the courage and strength to banish his brother-in-law, which shows his
The play illustrates the sentiment of internal greatness in variety of ways. The most notable is the downfall of Oedipus. As explained in the quote above, Oedipus is a well-known figure among Thebes. He is able to use his wits against the Sphinx, become known as the savior of the city, and is eventually crowned king. The Thebans revere in his glory, but do not realize that a single act does not make one fit to be a ruler. This is considered external greatness originating from others rather than oneself, as inner strength and nobility is not revealed simply by defeating a monster. Instead, it is revealed through a series of noble, righteous, and honorable acts that show the strength of internal qualities of a person as well as building character, but the Thebans miss this. Consequently, the glorification of Oedipus’ single deed plays a substantial role in how his downfall affects the city. Its effects seem more distressing to the society than they should. Later, Creon is crowned king of Thebes, which is a wise and sensible decision on behalf of Oedipus and the Thebans since Creon has the internal greatness required to be an effective ruler but also has the courage and strength to banish his brother-in-law, which shows his