Prompt #1
Hamartia
Richard C. Armitage once said “I have a bit of pride, which is always my downfall.” Throughout history there have been many examples of leaders that had a flaw such as pride which lead to his/her downfall. For example, Napoleon Bonaparte, the emperor of France, was too arrogant as he overestimated his military power. Bonaparte’s dissatisfaction with the size of his empire caused him to fight for more land resulting in the downfall of himself and his nation. The Greek word Hamartia, a fatal flaw leading to the downfall of someone, applies to many historic leaders as well as Oedipus. In Oedipus the King, by Sophocles, Oedipus is crowned the king of Thebes because he was able to lift the curse of the sphinx. He marries the queen, …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 “Thinking it best, children, to hear all this not from some messenger, I came myself, the world renowned and glorious Oedipus” (Sophocles 6-8). Evidently, Oedipus is very proud of his accomplishments as he refers to himself as “world renowned and glorious”. Ever since he saved Thebes from the curse of the Sphinx, he has thought very highly of himself and his pride will lead to his downfall. Oedipus thinks he might have been the one that killed his father. To confirm, he talks to a servant who knows about Jocasta and Laius giving Oedipus away in fear of the prophecy. Oedipus’s suspicions are correct in that the random traveler who he killed is in fact his father. Oedipus is filled with shame and says “I am shown to be born from those I ought not to have been. I married the woman I should not have married, I killed the man whom I should not have killed” (1149-1152). Oedipus admits to the murder even though he was unaware of the identity of the traveler. He could have lied to his people and they would believe the word of their king. But instead, Oedipus, a prideful man, takes the blame. This led to his downfall because he was then banished from Thebes. Oedipus would not have had to face all this misfortune if he could just swallow his pride and lie but he could not do it. If it weren’t for Oedipus’s pride, this tragic outcome would have never
Hamartia
Richard C. Armitage once said “I have a bit of pride, which is always my downfall.” Throughout history there have been many examples of leaders that had a flaw such as pride which lead to his/her downfall. For example, Napoleon Bonaparte, the emperor of France, was too arrogant as he overestimated his military power. Bonaparte’s dissatisfaction with the size of his empire caused him to fight for more land resulting in the downfall of himself and his nation. The Greek word Hamartia, a fatal flaw leading to the downfall of someone, applies to many historic leaders as well as Oedipus. In Oedipus the King, by Sophocles, Oedipus is crowned the king of Thebes because he was able to lift the curse of the sphinx. He marries the queen, …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 “Thinking it best, children, to hear all this not from some messenger, I came myself, the world renowned and glorious Oedipus” (Sophocles 6-8). Evidently, Oedipus is very proud of his accomplishments as he refers to himself as “world renowned and glorious”. Ever since he saved Thebes from the curse of the Sphinx, he has thought very highly of himself and his pride will lead to his downfall. Oedipus thinks he might have been the one that killed his father. To confirm, he talks to a servant who knows about Jocasta and Laius giving Oedipus away in fear of the prophecy. Oedipus’s suspicions are correct in that the random traveler who he killed is in fact his father. Oedipus is filled with shame and says “I am shown to be born from those I ought not to have been. I married the woman I should not have married, I killed the man whom I should not have killed” (1149-1152). Oedipus admits to the murder even though he was unaware of the identity of the traveler. He could have lied to his people and they would believe the word of their king. But instead, Oedipus, a prideful man, takes the blame. This led to his downfall because he was then banished from Thebes. Oedipus would not have had to face all this misfortune if he could just swallow his pride and lie but he could not do it. If it weren’t for Oedipus’s pride, this tragic outcome would have never