Universal Character Traits In Sophocles 'Oedipus The King'
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September 9, 2007
Universal character traits in _Oedipus the King_
In Sophocles play, _Oedipus the Kin_g, there are many themes universal to all
humans. The main character, Oedipus, exhibits traits that humans possess and covet. We
do not wish to kill our father and marry our mother, but we can relate metaphorically to
his situation. We relate to the broad range of emotions he displays and his reaction in
various situations.
Oedipus mistakenly thinks he can change his fate by using his intelligence.
Ironically, it is his intelligence that causes him to (literally) blind himself. Oedipus is a
good person who ultimately succumbs to his fate through his temperament, intelligence,
and pride. We can see from the beginning …show more content…
Huddling at my altar, praying before me, your branches wound in wool.
Our city reeks with the smoke of burning incense, rings with the cries for
the Healer and wailing for the dead. I thought it wrong, my children, to
hear the truth from others, messengers. Here I am myself-you all know me,
the world knows my fame: I am Oedipus. (1-9)
This is a great introduction to Oedipus the _man_. His true character is revealed
right in the opening scene. He loves his people. I picture him standing central to the
crowd. His people are looking upon him with adoration and hope in their eyes. They are
praying to him like a god. Oedipus likes this adoration. He has let it go to his head that
it was _his_ intelligence that saved the city.
It seems Oedipus is being a good leader and a decent man when he decided to
investigate the murder of Laius. When boasting of what he will do, he displays selfish
characteristics. He pointedly tells his people that the end result is merely to serve
himself, "by avenging Laius, I defend myself" (158-159).
When Oedipus confronts Tiresias, many things become …show more content…
When the unthinkable does occur,
the tendency is to shift the blame or flat out deny. Even when Jocasta, discusses the
possibility of Oedipus being her son and Laius ' murderer, she refuses to believe
information or the source. She mockingly says, "A prophet? Well, then free yourself of
every charge!"(778-779). She takes another jab at denial when later on she says, "So
much for prophecy. It 's neither here nor there. From this day on, I wouldn 't look right
or left."(948-949).
Oedipus attempts to project the blame elsewhere, even when he
finally discovers the truth:
Die, die-
whoever he was that day in the wilds
who cut my ankles free of the ruthless pins,
he pulled me clear of death, he saved my life
for all this kindness-
Curse him, kill him!
If I 'd died then, I 'd never have dragged myself,
my loved ones through such hell.
(1483-1490)
This is a selfish way to think about the person who saved your life. It is true he had no
choice into what family he was born, or that someone was good enough to save him from
death. This was predetermined by a combination of fate and actions of others. He did
have a choice in his OWN attempts at altering his fate but he still refuses to see that.
September 9, 2007
Universal character traits in _Oedipus the King_
In Sophocles play, _Oedipus the Kin_g, there are many themes universal to all
humans. The main character, Oedipus, exhibits traits that humans possess and covet. We
do not wish to kill our father and marry our mother, but we can relate metaphorically to
his situation. We relate to the broad range of emotions he displays and his reaction in
various situations.
Oedipus mistakenly thinks he can change his fate by using his intelligence.
Ironically, it is his intelligence that causes him to (literally) blind himself. Oedipus is a
good person who ultimately succumbs to his fate through his temperament, intelligence,
and pride. We can see from the beginning …show more content…
Huddling at my altar, praying before me, your branches wound in wool.
Our city reeks with the smoke of burning incense, rings with the cries for
the Healer and wailing for the dead. I thought it wrong, my children, to
hear the truth from others, messengers. Here I am myself-you all know me,
the world knows my fame: I am Oedipus. (1-9)
This is a great introduction to Oedipus the _man_. His true character is revealed
right in the opening scene. He loves his people. I picture him standing central to the
crowd. His people are looking upon him with adoration and hope in their eyes. They are
praying to him like a god. Oedipus likes this adoration. He has let it go to his head that
it was _his_ intelligence that saved the city.
It seems Oedipus is being a good leader and a decent man when he decided to
investigate the murder of Laius. When boasting of what he will do, he displays selfish
characteristics. He pointedly tells his people that the end result is merely to serve
himself, "by avenging Laius, I defend myself" (158-159).
When Oedipus confronts Tiresias, many things become …show more content…
When the unthinkable does occur,
the tendency is to shift the blame or flat out deny. Even when Jocasta, discusses the
possibility of Oedipus being her son and Laius ' murderer, she refuses to believe
information or the source. She mockingly says, "A prophet? Well, then free yourself of
every charge!"(778-779). She takes another jab at denial when later on she says, "So
much for prophecy. It 's neither here nor there. From this day on, I wouldn 't look right
or left."(948-949).
Oedipus attempts to project the blame elsewhere, even when he
finally discovers the truth:
Die, die-
whoever he was that day in the wilds
who cut my ankles free of the ruthless pins,
he pulled me clear of death, he saved my life
for all this kindness-
Curse him, kill him!
If I 'd died then, I 'd never have dragged myself,
my loved ones through such hell.
(1483-1490)
This is a selfish way to think about the person who saved your life. It is true he had no
choice into what family he was born, or that someone was good enough to save him from
death. This was predetermined by a combination of fate and actions of others. He did
have a choice in his OWN attempts at altering his fate but he still refuses to see that.