Flaws In Oedipus Rex

First performed around 429 BC, Oedipus the King is part two of the trilogy play Oedipus Rex, written by Sophocles. It is a lively and riveting play with many of the scenes demonstrating character flaws relatable to the reader. The main character Oedipus is awash with excessive pride and anger. Blinded by his flaws, he creates an invariable static world within himself in which he cannot fathom the truth, fails to learn from his mistakes and eventually leads to his own destruction. The blindness Oedipus experienced throughout the plot was metaphorical. It was inside of him, an inner blindness. This blindness was brought about by numerous flaws in his character. These include that of hubris, or excessive pride, anger, wisdom, and fate. Before

This excessive pride, otherwise known as hubris, plagued him long before he became a king and saved the city of Thebes from peril. As a prince and son of the king of Corinth Polybus, it would be fitting to his station in life that he be prideful concerning himself and his family. Unfortunately, Oedipus learns of the fateful prophecy that he is destined to kill his father and sleep with his mother. He leaves the city, hoping this will prevent the prediction from coming true, but his pride stays with him on his journey. As he travels on, Oedipus passes by the famed city of Thebes, a place plagued by a Sphinx who captures and kills the residents of the city at random. The Sphinx refuses to leave the city in peace until someone can decipher her riddle. Using only his wit, Oedipus solves the riddle causing the Sphinx to slit her own throat and thereby saving the city. With King Laius being dead, and the people of Thebes indebted to him, Oedipus is crowned the new king. After having defeated the Sphinx, and being worshipped by the people it would be understandable for Oedipus to be prideful. His pride, though, makes Oedipus believe that he can overcome fate and play the role of God. No doubt, Oedipus is a strong man whose self determination causes him to have this prideful notion that he can change the future. This is a constant throughout the story, and emphasizes the static nature of Oedipus’ character. His hubris prevents him from taking sound advice from his good friends. For instance, anytime he would try to speak to Teiresias, his best friend who was blind and also an oracle, he would dismiss his advice and mock him. “A DIRECT QUOTE ABOUT OEDIPUS DISMISSING TEIRESIAS” Oedipus, blindly relying on his own wisdom, would mock him saying that Teiresias couldn’t see a thing, couldn’t see the future. It is obvious to the reader however, that Teiresias could see better than Oedipus