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Oedipus The King Research Paper

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‘King Oedipus’ addresses multiple issues that make references to the inner workings of the human mind and thought processes. Though this play was written more than 2000 years ago, the prevailing characteristics in mankind then still remains dominant now. Man seems to possess more flaws than positive traits, with the former overshadowing the latter. The context of the play may be ill fitting to society today but it is easy to draw comparisons between the people of the past and the modern man on the street today. The decisions made by man and how it is derived remains strikingly similar to the decision-making today.
Humanity often values his or her own personal well being over anyone else’s especially when in a life-threatening situation. Oedipus …show more content…

This sets off a chain of unprecedented events that causes much devastation. His rashness leads to his own destruction and he suffers the consequences for the rest of his life. Sophocles may have wished to emphasise how a decision made in haste and uncontrolled emotions could invariably lead to anguish and ruin. Oedipus is a well-respected man who is ‘wise and resourceful’ (pg 24), possessing many outstanding qualities which signifies the makings of a great king. However, it is this fatal mistake that ruthlessly destroys everything he built. He loses everything, his wife, his sight, his children and his kingdom. In his extreme grief, which snowballs from the realisation of his crimes, from discovering the death of his wife, he stabs the golden brooches from his wife’s dress into his eyes rendering himself blind forever (pg 61). It shows deeds done in unrestrained emotions and an unstable state of mind would cause heinous and irreversible …show more content…

He is resolute to find the killer and resolve the mystery of the deaths of the citizens of Thebes. He is obstinate and insistent about finding out the truth, ignoring the warnings and pleas of Teiresias, the shepherd and his wife. Refusing to heed the forewarnings that fuels his desire to find out the truth, he ends up with nothing. Sophocles may have wanted to highlight that there is no wisdom in turning a deaf ear on advice and relying only on self-belief. Oedipus is too proud and blind to his own folly of relentlessly pursuing the truth. He may have his sight yet he is unable to see what the blind could. One needs to be open-minded to the counsel of trustworthy

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