Pride Blocks True Sight In Oedipus The King

A person filled with pride can’t see things as they truly are. The story of Satan portrays this statement. Full of his pride and ego, Satan thought he could overthrow God and take his kingdom. His ego obstructed him from seeing the truth. Pride blocks true sight; in Sophocles’ Ancient Greek tragedy Oedipus Rex, Oedipus’ denial of his fate, his altercations with others, and his responses to the prophecy demonstrate the truth of this statement. Oedipus’ denial of his fate demonstrates that pride blocks true sight. Tiresias accuses Oedipus and thinks he caused the plagues. He says that Oedipus murdered King Laios. Oedipus angrily reacts to this and doesn’t believe it. He tries to shift the blame to Creon thinking that he set the whole thing

Looking for the murderer of King Laios, Oedipus asks Tiresias for his help. He refuses to Oedipus his knowledge of the incident resulting in Oedipus accusing Tiresias of the murder. Oedipus says, “And I’ll tell you what I think: You planned it, you had it done, you all but killed him with your own hands: if you had eyes, I’d say the crime was yours, and yours alone” (19). Oedipus refuses to be wrong in any argument with others about his prophecy. Oedipus doesn’t believe that he murdered King Laios. He thinks he knows the truth while others simply don’t. Whenever Oedipus gets into an altercation with someone else, he knows everything. Due to Oedipus getting blinded by his pride, he believes that he could never be the person who killed his father and sleeps with his mother. With hints that Creon attempts to overthrow him, Oedipus tries to banish him. Although people believe Creon to be innocent, Oedipus gets blinded by his pride. Finally, Creon gets released by Oedipus. Oedipus replies to Creon, “If you think a man can sin against his own kind and not be punished for it, I say you are mad” (29). Oedipus stays stubborn and oblivious to the truth. He believes that Creon makes this up, thinking he attempts to overthrow him. In reality, Oedipus just makes an excuse so he doesn’t have to believe he murdered his father. Oedipus sees what he wants if it makes him innocent. Oedipus’ altercations with others

A messenger comes with the news that Oedipus’ father has died. This makes Oedipus even more confident that the prophecies about him aren’t true. Although these weren’t his true parents, he still does not believe in the truth of the prophecies. Iocaste reassures her husband, “Why should anyone in this world be afraid, since fate rules us and nothing can be foreseen? A man should live only for the present day” (51). The messenger comes from Corinth with news of Polybos’ death. With this news, Oedipus gets reassured that he didn’t kill his father. Oedipus denies the prophecies once again thinking he has concrete proof of their inaccuracy. Oedipus requests for the witness of Laios’ murderer: the shepherd. The messenger reveals that the shepherd gave him a baby from the mountains which he gave to the king. The shepherd then reveals that he disobeyed the order to kill the baby from King Laios. Oedipus exclaims, “It was true! All the prophecies! -Now, O Light, may I look on you for the last time! I, Oedipus, Oedipus damned in his birth, in his marriage damned… (64). Oedipus finally accepts his fate with the information that the shepherd didn’t;t kill the boy from the mountains. Oedipus, using his true sight, finally believes the prophecies. He lets go of his pride and looks at the facts and evidence against him. If he had not done this, he would still be blinded by his pride and in disbelief of the