Oedipus Tragic Flaws

Everyone tries to convince themselves that it is all lies when you receive bad news about anything that you don’t believe in. In the play Oedipus the King, written by Sophocles in 430 BC, Oedipus is in denial about who killed the previous king, Laius. The town has asked Oedipus to save them from the disease that has spread killing all the life in town by finding the person who killed Lauis. Oedipus tells the people he will find the culprit and do whatever he needs to do to punish them. When he is given the truth, he is unwilling to accept the truth. Therefore, he will have to punish himself as he promised the people of the town.

In the novel Oedipus Rex, the protagonist Oedipus Rex exhibits many flaws throughout the play. Whilst the novel,Critical Interpretations Dodds and Goulds essay argues that Oedipus “never possessed any flaws” (Bloom 1). However, one can conclude that he had two major flaws; which were, his ability to quickly accuse others instead of owning up to his mistakes, and his obsession with being the hero.While in the Tragic Hero essay, it is said that we should, “have sympathy with Oedipus” (Barstow 2). One must also glance back at the mistakes that Oedipus made along the play. While yes, his demise was not entirely his fault, some of his actions had sped up the progress. For example, in the beginning of the play, Oedipus declares that he will rescue his subjects and rid of the sickness that spreads across his land. Here he is boasting himself, trying to make his subjects see that he is their hero. Later Oedipus then announces that he had sent his brother in law; Creon, to learn the cause of the curse, and how to rid themselves of it. After learning that the people must purify themselves and rid of the killer of King Laius, can they truly be free again. Once more, Oedipus declares himself the ally, and the hero. Oedipus then continuing his heroism goes to the seer Teiresias,where it is there that Teiresias does not wish to grant Teiresias the information to solve the murder of the king, and out of anger Oedipus then accuses him of the murder of the king, claiming, “Had you had eyes, I would have claimed alone that you murdered him”(Grene 6). Teiresias then reveals that Oedipus is the true murderer of the king. Outraged, Oedipus begins to point fingers and lay accusations that Teiresias, the seer, was plotting

Oedipus certainly deserved his fate. Oedipus and his actions are clearly disrespect to the gods , he faces the fate he deserves. He was doing things that would eventually lead up to the unfortunate event of his death , he was even warned by the great and wise Teiresias , but he being himself was to stubborn and did not listen. All the things Teiresias said would happen became the truth. He killed his father, married his mother, yet he tempted his fate , he deserved everything that came his way . He did not want to believe any of it he didn't listen , he thought he knew what was correct , and being the way he was , got the worst part.

Back tracking to his birth, why was Oedipus destined to kill his parents? Did Oedipus’s parents kill someone? Which in return led them to have a baby who would eventually lead them to their demise.

Unlike some other characters, Oedipus’s fate appears to be predetermined. For example, characters like Creon, who are not involved in the prophecy, can do as they please and have free will. In contrast, characters that are involved in the prophecy, specifically Jocasta, Oedipus, and Laius, do not have free will and no matter what they do, their fate is still the same. Although at the start of the tragedy Oedipus appears to have free will, near the middle this soon changes and what he does to try and change his fate does not do anything. Furthermore, much to his dismay, Oedipus, trying to bring Laius’s slayer to justice, ends up sentencing himself. For example, the prophecy said that the king’s son would marry his mother and kill his father;

While reaching toward the climax of the play, Oedipus continues to investigate Laius’s murder which leads to some awful secrets to be discovered. Jocasta attempts to calm Oedipus down after the ordeal with Creon, stating she does not believe that prophets are always correct due to a previous prophecy, claiming

Life of Oedipus Rex Literary Analysis Oedipus Rex was a tragic hero in his title story. He mostly doesn’t know he’s the murderer until the end of the story. The prophesy that was told to Oedipus about the one who killed his father and married his mother. Oedipus is mostly contrasts to Jocasta,

Tragedy is a key part of understanding human nature. If nothing is tragic, there is little joy in comedy. However, every good tragedy needs a hero. The more human this protagonist is, the clearer and more afflicting his unavoidable downfall is. Sometimes, though, this tragic hero’s flaw harms not only

Defined by Aristotle a tragic hero is a human being who is of high stature or who is respected in his community. They must portray positive personality traits, but also must possess a major character flaw, which will bring upon the downfall of the hero. By Aristotle’s definition Oedipus displays all these traits making him a tragic hero.

n Enemy of the People 1. The play's title title is just altogether ironic. Dr. Stockmann, the man disgraced with this label, is only trying to help the people on both a small scale, the health of the town; but also on a large scale, the

All throughout the history of storytelling, authors have turned basic characters into tragic figures in order to get a certain point across. They also use this idea to portray particular ideas, and to draw in a specific type of readers. Within plays, authors tell a story of its characters and how they either overcame certain obstacles, or let the obstacles totally define and conquer them. As each story unfolds, certain trials and errors occur that lead to urgent, important decision-making skills to be put to the test. Aristotle defined a tragic figure as “a virtuous man whose misfortune is brought about not by depravity, but by some error of frailty,” meaning that the hero is not some idea of perfection ,but is not a villain either. In the play, Oedipus the King by Sophocles,

In the tragedy of Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, A King trying to rid his people of a Plague ends up uncovering a terrifying truth of his past. And since Oedipus previously dealt with the monstrous Sphinx there is hope that he will be able to stop the plague. And now

Every character in stories or in plays has their flaws and strengths; Oedipus is no exception to this. Oedipus has his strengths and weaknesses that shape him into the character he is perceived to be in the play. He is intellectual which is why the city looks up to him, he is caring, and tenacious. Like any other character Oedipus also has his flaws, he jumps to conclusions and makes rash decisions, he has anger issues, and hubris which eventually leads to his downfall.

Greek theatre was formed back in 500 BC by the Greek civilisation that used performing, miming and dancing as ways and means to tell stories, imitate others and for their rituals. They were two forms of plays that were showcased in the City of Dionysia; tragedy and satyr. The City of Dionysia was the festival celebrating the God Dionysus. Throughout this essay I will be describing the characteristics of Greek tragedy while using Sophocles’ ‘Oedipus the King’ as a reference.

Oedipus, the tragic hero of Sophocles’ play Oedipus Rex, has a flaw that causes his downfall. Aristotle, in his Poetics, says that “Tragedy is essentially an imitation not of persons but of action and life, of happiness and misery” (135). This tragic flaw is what causes Oedipus’ fate to hurt him and is why he loses everything. Oedipus’ tragic flaw is his blindness, which is seen in the play when he argues with the blind seer Teiresias, when he ignores the messenger from Corinth, and when he does not connect the evidence from Iokaste.