Q What Role Did Oedipus Pride
Q. What role did Oedipus pride and excessive self-confidence play in his tragedy? Discuss. Oedipus the King, by Sophocles, the onslaught of pain assailing the protagonist is a result of his tragic flaw i.e. hubris and over self-confidence. Sophocles often used a characters hamartia to alter or influence the outcome or future of the hero. Oedipus' hubris traps him to fulfill the oracle and intensifies his punishment.
His wisdom, however, becomes self-righteous, his arrogance becoming very clear on the eighth line of his opening monologue, “Here I am – myself – you all know me, the world knows my fame: I am Oedipus” Oedipus' pride is an innate characteristic. Even before his glory and power as King of Thebes he allowed his conceit to cloud his judgments and rule his actions. Self-confidence in his own wisdom is an outstanding feature of his character, Oedipus says: “Then once more I must bring what is dark to light”
Even more unworthy is Oedipus’ boast that he is a greater solver of riddles than the blind Teiresias and his taunting of the seer for having failed in tackling the Sphinx. He speaks out of pride: “There was a riddle too deep for common wits; By mother –Wit, not bird loard”
He probably would agree with the priest that he had achieved this “with the aid of a god”. Priest: “It was some god breathed in you to set us free” Pride and self confidence induce Oedipus to despise the prophecy, and to feel utmost superior the gods. He mocks the chorus’ prayer in an arrogant way, “Is this your Prayer? It may be granted” Again he shows pride and says, “Listen to me”, in this way you will be saved from plague. As John Weigel puts it:
His wisdom, however, becomes self-righteous, his arrogance becoming very clear on the eighth line of his opening monologue, “Here I am – myself – you all know me, the world knows my fame: I am Oedipus” Oedipus' pride is an innate characteristic. Even before his glory and power as King of Thebes he allowed his conceit to cloud his judgments and rule his actions. Self-confidence in his own wisdom is an outstanding feature of his character, Oedipus says: “Then once more I must bring what is dark to light”
Even more unworthy is Oedipus’ boast that he is a greater solver of riddles than the blind Teiresias and his taunting of the seer for having failed in tackling the Sphinx. He speaks out of pride: “There was a riddle too deep for common wits; By mother –Wit, not bird loard”
He probably would agree with the priest that he had achieved this “with the aid of a god”. Priest: “It was some god breathed in you to set us free” Pride and self confidence induce Oedipus to despise the prophecy, and to feel utmost superior the gods. He mocks the chorus’ prayer in an arrogant way, “Is this your Prayer? It may be granted” Again he shows pride and says, “Listen to me”, in this way you will be saved from plague. As John Weigel puts it: