Consequences in life are caused by one’s own decisions and people learn from these consequences. In Oedipus the King, a play written by Sophocles, tragedy, downfall or disaster that one faces, builds up with the character’s incorrect decisions. While fate alone seems to be the factor that brought Oedipus to his own downfall, Oedipus’ decisions also contributed to his consequence and this helped him gain some self-knowledge which fulfills Aristotle’s requirements for a tragic hero.
Decisions are key factors that collaborate with fate to bring Oedipus to his downfall. In the very first scene, Oedipus was already the king of Thebes and he questions Creon, his brother-in law, about the past king, Laius, who was killed accidentally by Oedipus
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After Oedipus figures out Jocasta, the wife of Laius, was his mother and whom he married and that he was the murder who he had been looking for, he stabs his eyes to make himself blind. While he couldn’t believe the truth, he realizes his hubris was a factor that contributed to his consequences. For example, Oedipus facing his people, says, “Oh you my friend! Still friends and by my side! Still staying by the blindman!” (Sophocles, 72). The word, friend, indicates equality between Oedipus and his people as it shows that they can be friends instead of in the relationship of a leader and a citizen. Oedipus had always believed he had more power than anyone else which includes his men. He now believes that all his men who he onced called children were exactly as powerful as he was since children represents weaker while friends represent a close relationship. Oedipus learns his lesson that the prowess which he believed he had never helped him succeed in any way, but brought him to his own downfall. Although Oedipus ends up being banished from Thebes, he learns that underestimating another’s power and being arrogant or over confident with his own power is his tragic