Oedipus Rex Essay

The Ultimate Flaw: Personality As individuals take their journey into life, they are obligated to make significant choices that create powerful effects and shape the outcomes of future situations; therefore, all people have influence over their destiny. In Sophocles’ tragic Theban play, Oedipus Rex, King Oedipus, or the King of Thebes, answers his citizens’ pleas to end the dreadful plague that has fallen upon their city. In order to heal Thebes from its illness, Oedipus must discover the killer of the previous King of Thebes, King Laius. Once the prophecy uncovers itself, “[Oedipus] realizes the ambiguity of words, of values, and of the human condition,” conveying that the King becomes intelligible with the idea of error in human judgment (DuBois and Vernant 2). By displaying Oedipus the King’s complex personality, Sophocles expresses that human beings control their fate, but the hamartia in their personality will create their downfall. Because of his authoritative announcements to assist the Thebans, Oedipus fails to protect himself from the horrendous truth. After Creon expresses his knowledge about Laius’s murder, Oedipus declares, “I must bring what is dark to light” (I.Prologue.134). Although he reveals compassion towards his citizens, Oedipus’s swiftness in thought portrays his eagerness to exploit the truth. Due to proclaiming his decision to solve King Laius’s murder, Oedipus willingly chooses to unfold and learn about his atrocious fate. To uphold his promise to name the individual that caused Laius’s death, Oedipus vows “I pray that man’s life be consumed in evil and wretchedness,” (I.i.134). Within this affirmation, Oedipus becomes vehement towards Laius’s slayer; he promises that the person will be several punished for their wrongdoing even if they possess a close relationship with Oedipus himself. In addition, due to his scrupulous qualities, Oedipus does not exhibit mercy on the delinquent in the assertion which truly allows him to