Oedipus

No One Man Should Have All That Confidence Sophocles, a renowned Greek writer, once said that “all men make mistakes, but a good man yields when he knows his course is wrong, and repairs the evil, [but] the only crime is pride”(Antigone). By exploring the negative connotation of the word pride, Sophocles explains that arrogant individuals refuse to accept their mistakes and do not find solutions to their own predicaments. Additionally, arrogance often prevents individuals from making rational decisions since it blinds them from good judgment. Although some ignorant critics of this notion may argue that pride is never a bad thing as it continuously motivates individuals seeking to achieve, they are erroneous because pride can only benefit an individual so much. Sophocles’ view has been proven through hundreds of major literary works, historical events, and modern affairs. Three significant individuals that prominently exemplify the notion that an excess of pride can lead to downfall are Sophocles’ tragic hero in “Oedipus the King”, Napoleon Bonaparte, and Kanye West. Set in ancient Greece, Sophocles’ “Oedipus the King” supports the notion that arrogance can lead to negative consequences when Oedipus unknowingly kills his father and when he pursues the murderer of Laius. Oedipus’ pride causes all of his problems because he forces King Laius to “me[e]t with his death” when he realizes that the king and his men want to push him to the side of the road (Mays 1585). The arrogant king has the opportunity to prevent his horrid prophecy about killing his father and marrying his mother from happening by simply acting humble and solving the problem diplomatically. However, once pride gets to his head, Oedipus reacts violently because he does not want to be disrespected by Laius. Oedipus also shows his arrogance when he accuses Tiresias of wanting “a place by Creon’s throne”, after Tiresias’ proclamation that Oedipus is a murderer (Mays 1574). Without thinking rationally,