How Is Oedipus Selfish

Oedipus Rex is one of the tragedies of Sophocles. Oedipus is a king and has the strength and the power of a king. For that reason Oedipus suffers from a tragic flaw which is his excessive pride. This pride makes him fall from status. Also, Oedipus is responsible for his downfall. We can see his tragic flaw in the exposition, with the announcement that makes to his people, his discussions with Kreon, Teiresias and Iokaste. Moreover, the priest who provides the background, the exposition, that Oedipus is indeed a tragic hero.
Oedipus has a paternalistic attitude. He refers into citizens, men, women, with the word “children” and he mentions the word “children” three times. This attitude shows us that Oedipus is very proud of himself and very
selfish. We can see that with the words that he uses like “My children”, “poor children”, he has an excessive pride of his abilities.
Another point that we can see that Oedipus is selfish is the repetition of the first personal pronoun (I).
“I have come myself to bear you-I, Oedipus, who bear the famous name.” , “Then once more I must bring what is dark to light.”
Furthermore, we can see in his announcement that Oedipus is in a hurry, he does not want to waste his time, Also, we can see another repetition of the I, “I am not wasting time: Kreon spoke of this, and I have sent for him”. He makes decisions very quickly. We can understand that Oedipus has not common sense. He is not a cautious man. Also, he is quick in thought and action.
Moreover, we can see some other characteristics of his character in his discussion with Teiresias. Teiresias is a blind priest of Apollo and he knows the truth. Oedipus gets angry because Teiresias does not want to speak. The word “rage” is repeated twice. With only fury and rage in his mind can not think with logic or clearly. Teiresias mentions the word “prudent’. He means that Oedipus who suffers from excessive pride is not prudent. Another point of his anger is when Oedipus commits hubris and blasphemy: “What a wicked old man you are! You’d try a stone Patience!” We can see that Oedipus is very selfish. Oedipus is blind to the pattern of the events that define his life. Oedipus is so blind that considers Teiresias responsible of the murder of Laios. Oedipus is also unreasonable, violent and as a result of this accuses Teiresias and Kreon for the murder of Laios. We can also
see that he is selfish because of his hubris against the Gods and the priest of Apollo.
Another clue of Oedipuse’s tragic flaw is revealed from the choros. “He may have spoken in anger, not from his mind”, ‘A friend so sworm should not be baited so, in blind malice, and without final proof.” Furthermore, Kreon is the opposite of Oedipus. He is a sensible man and not as stubborn as Oedipus. Kreon tries to wake up Oedipus with telling him that he has no evidence to accuse Kreon but Oedipus insists and continues to accuse him. Oedipus has several times the opportunity to stop searching but Oedipus also, insists. Kreon tells Oedipus “I do not know; and I am the kind of man Who holds his tongue when he has no facts to go on.” Kreon also tells Oedipus that “Nature like yours chiefly torment themselves.” In other words, Oedipus will be isolated and alone.
Moreover, Oedipus ironically accuses Iokaste of vanity, the vanity .”Let us leave this woman to brag of her royal name”. This sentence reveals Oedipuse’s tragic flaw.
Consequently, we can see that Oedipus is a tragic hero and he suffers from excessive pride. Also, he allows his passion and quick temper to rule his own instincts. The tragic flaw of Oedipus is clear from the repetition of the “I’, the paternalistic attitude and mainly from the discussions with Teiresias, Kreon and Iokaste.