Pride In Oedipus The King

Sophocles, a well-known Greek play writer, demonstrated in many ways how Oedipus led to his downfall. Sophocles used Oedipus the king to describe the time period and Greek culture. Sophocles exaggerates Oedipus’ actions and attitude to convey the story line. Sophocles gave Oedipus excessive pride and anger for the reader to acknowledge his downfall. Oedipus had complete power over Thebes. The people of Thebes were desperate until Oedipus came and solved the Sphinx’s riddle and the monster plunged to her death. Sophocles made Oedipus immediately become the king of Thebes to show his instantaneous authority and the vulnerability of the people for a leader after the Sphinx. A few years later, Thebes is suffering from a plague. The play begins …show more content…
His arrogance and blindness was the major characteristics of Oedipus’ personality. Sophocles made Oedipus overly prideful and very full of himself. This caused him to not only become blind, but also act blind from the truth. Oedipus didn’t believe anything people said unless they had proof. He believed that he knew it all, even the truth over the gods. The truth was very symbolic throughout the play. Everything referred back to Oedipus’ pride getting in the way of him “seeing the truth” until the ending. Oedipus’ actual downfall was because of him seeing the truth. All of his actions came forward and reality hit Oedipus. If Oedipus hadn’t been so prideful or full of himself, maybe he would have realized what was truly happening. Sophocles made significant references to “eyes” and “seeing” all throughout the play. Tiresias states: “How terrible—to see the truth when the truth is only pain to him who sees!” (lines 359-360). Although Oedipus truly knew what the truth was, he couldn’t get his mind to see it. He was so prideful that he thought nothing could stop him. Oedipus believed nothing could get in the way of what he wanted or how he would live his life. Sophocles proves his pride when Oedipus kills his father and fulfills the prophecy. Not being able to see the truth of Oedipus’ life, his pride, and the events that occurred because of it was the reason for his downfall. Everything Oedipus did for …show more content…
Sophocles made Oedipus do the one thing they are not allowed to do; think they are higher and more important than the gods. Oedipus explained how since he had gotten Thebes back and stable, that he was superior. Not only did he disrespect other powerful people, but he also disrespected the gods. There was a prophecy set on Oedipus when he was born stating that he would kill his father and marry his mother as he grew up. Oedipus tried to escape his fate by running away and killing the man who told him about the curse. While letting his pride and power get in the way, he fulfills the prophecy. If Oedipus didn’t believe that he was invincible, he could have been more careful with his decisions. The gods punished Oedipus for his disrespect and baffling pride. After finding out the truth about his family and what he had done, Oedipus stabs his own eyes out. Oedipus can’t believe what he had done and is ashamed. It is ironic that Oedipus was “blind” from the truth throughout the play, but in the end he ends up truly being blind. Sophocles made Oedipus stab his own eyes because he truly did kill himself through his actions and the way we treated everyone. In Greek culture, the Gods control your life and fate. The gods can punish you, and reward you. Everyone lived in the Greek culture to please the gods and worship them. Oedipus did the opposite and it shocked the people of Thebes. They knew Oedipus had power, but they never thought