Why Is Oedipus The King Wrong

Pride is considered one of the worst of the seven deadly sins because of its destructive properties. It is a common quality of many tragic figures throughout literature, but Oedipus Rex takes the cake for the most destructive case of pride. A plague spreads across his city of Thebes, threatening the entire population. King Oedipus swears to his people that he will do whatever it takes to save the city. He finds out he has “to take revenge upon whomever killed [King Laïos]” (Sophocles 962) in order to save everyone. When the fingers begin to point in Oedipus’ direction, his pride blinds him from the truth. Oedipus’ pride drives him until he finds that he killed his father and married his mother, ultimately leading to his downfall.

Oedipus has

He believed he outsmarted the gods as he never killed Polybus nor married Merope. The gods are known for their power over all people but Oedipus believes he was the first to escape their grasp. This can be considered a great accomplishment especially since none of his citizens or family know the truth. Oedipus also defeats the Sphinx that stands between travellers and the city of Thebes. If a traveler answered the riddle of the Sphinx wrong, it would consume them. Oedipus is the first and only one to successfully defeat the Sphinx and was crowned King of Thebes as a result. For years, Oedipus ran a successful and happy reign. Even though Oedipus boasts all of his accomplishments, he is deserving of some recognition at the least. Despite the achievements that Oedipus boasts about, he does murder King Laïos. Some may think that he kills his father out of anger, but the source of his anger is pride. Oedipus left Delphi and Corinth to escape killing his father and marrying his mother as the oracle prophecies. Oedipus takes pride in believing that he can escape the oracle the gods created. On his journey away from Delphi, he meets the carriage with King Laïos. Oedipus recalls

Oedipus could have just as easily surrendered to them and gone on his way, but he did not. He says that he struck the charioteer out of rage but there is an unspoken ulterior motive. Oedipus proves he is better than them and takes pride in killing everyone in the carriage. He recalls the story when speaking with Iocastê about the incident. I killed him. I killed them all. (979)

Oedipus feels the anger as he recalls the story but pride is the source of it. Oedipus takes pride in the idea of escaping the prophecy of the gods, though he was forced to leave his home in order to escape. He is angry at the oracle for forcing him to leave home so he takes his anger out on the people that made him get off the road. If Oedipus stayed home and accepted the prophecy, then he would have never killed King Laïos nor the Sphinx on his way to Thebes. In attempt to beat the gods, Oedipus becomes King anyways and takes pride in his job. In the beginning of the play, citizens of Thebes pray in hopes it rids the city of plague. After being informed of the nature of the plague, Oedipus says: Each of you suffers in himself alone His anguish, not another’s; but my