Oedipus Rex Research Paper

If you were in Oedipus’ position, would you go through drastic measures to find out who your real parents are knowing that you have relationships with one of your parents or would you banish yourself from the kingdom after listening to Teiresias; believing him? The author Sophocles wrote an Athenian playwright called “Oedipus Rex” that was a tragedy of a king whose life was going fine for him at first and then, hit a bump which made everything get thrown off track. In the end, I believe Oedipus deserved what came to him and he learned his lesson about fate. Oedipus in the beginning of the story showed his true attitude of being powerful and showing traits of being treated like a king all of his life. While the people in the beginning are talking to the preacher, Oedipus comes out and
holds the floor as if everyone is supposed to have the attention on him. He even gives himself a nickname of being ‘The Great’. “I did not think it fit that I should hear of this from messengers but came myself, I Oedipus whom all men call the Great (pg. 1).” This shows that he is obviously too full of himself and possibly gave himself that nickname because he believes that he can do everything and he thinks that he is an outstanding being. He let his ego get the best of him and in the long run it all came back to haunt him. Oedipus thinking of being ‘the Great’ made him think that he was of the superior power; as of the gods. “Call the assembly and let it meet upon the understanding that I’ll do everything (pg. 3).” He is making the counsel believe that he can take care of everything within his hands with no help or assistance. Oedipus’ ego seems to get the best of him throughout his life. As Oedipus went to seek out the truth about his birth and life, it seemed as though he became weak and was more and more in denial about the truth of his life and the truth about his past life. As he encounters the truth, it seems to penetrate him like a bullet. “I say you are the murderer of the king whose murderer you seek(pg. 6)” Teiresias is telling Oedipus the truth and Oedipus is shooting him down; not wanting to listen or try to understand that Teiresias might actually be right. I believe that Oedipus’ making fun of Teiresias being blind mentally made him feel more cocky about himself. “He shall be proved father and brother both to his own children in his own house; to her that gave him birth, a son and husband both; a fellow sower in his father’s bed with the same father he murdered(pg. 7-8).”It seemed as if though he wanted to cover up the truth by making fun of Teiresias’ blind sight; as it still backfired. He was in search of a murderer but he was holding the murderer’s shadow under his feet. Oedipus does not want the truth to be real but as he listens to it, everything becomes more clear to him. When Oedipus sinks deeper and deeper into his journey, his eo seems to have faded and his hope is now forever lost.
He seems to be hopeless at this point. “Curse on the man who took the cruel bonds from off my legs...had I died then I would not be so burdensome to friends (pg. 21).” This quote shows that he is starting to fully understand the truth about his life; even though he still does not want to believe it nor does he like it. He wishes death and does not care at this point what happens since he has to live with something he has done with his own hands. He is completely miserable and at first he was all about himself; now he does not care about anything that happens to him. “When he saw her he cried fearfully...he tore the brooches away from her and lifting them high dashed them on his own eyeballs (pg. 20).” He did not want people to see the truth or guilt in his eyes nor did he want to see it himself. He even thought that Jocasta did not anything to do with him. It seemed as though he did not want anything to do with life. He seemed depressed and it seems as if though the old Oedipus was no longer here and he now was a normal man bathing in this horrible
truth. Oedipus let his ego get to him and did not seem to understand who he actually was until it was proven to him. If Oedipus was not such a bully and actually showed that he had a common mindset, he would have dug himself so deep into this situation but instead, crawled out and seeked help. He should have turned himself in for murder when Teiresias finalized the truth instead of going on the pointless journey. He should not have let his king like instinct take over his words. If I was in his shoes, I would have listened to Teiresias; knowing that he was wiser and of higher being than me. Think about it, if someone was telling you about your life and they had some type of mental power, would you throw their intellect back in their face, make fun of them and call them a liar? I would have taken the truth with me and told my people to make sure they knew and felt a slight bit safer knowing the truth was out and I was honest enough to care.