Oedipus: flawed by his own devices Essay Example

responsibility will be banished.

However, if one hides and does not come forward, the punishment will be death. Ultimately, Oedipus himself is revealed to be the defiling thing, and his own proclamation results in his exile from Thebes. These facts demonstrate that Oedipus's downfall is partly caused by his egotistical ways. Despite being advised against it, Oedipus persistently seeks information about his birth, leading to his disastrous ruin. Teiresias, a blind prophet, approaches Oedipus and informs him that he is the defiling thing. However, Teiresias does not make this declaration openly, allowing Oedipus a chance to escape his initial tragic flaw.

Oedipus fails to understand the warning of the seer and accuses him of treason. He misses his first opportunity but is presented with a second one when Jocasta intervenes in the argument between Creon and Oedipus regarding the issue raised by Teiresias. Jocasta interrogates the two, but the chorus interrupts and advises, "Enough, surely enough, when our land is already vexed, that the matter should rest where it ceased." (pg94) The chorus suggests leaving the matter alone with these lines.

Oedipus is becoming increasingly upset with all of the events at this point. However, he stubbornly ignores them and persists. Jocasta, who has already realized that she is both mother and wife to Oedipus, gives him a final warning. In her distress, she begs him, saying "For the gods' sake, for your own life, please stop this investigation! My anguish is already too much."

quote pg103 Oedipus's last chance to escape doom ends tragically when he ignores Jocasta's advice. Upon realizing this, Jocasta despairs and vanishes, never to be seen alive by Oedipus again. This incident definitively demonstrates

that others' counsel is useless to Oedipus, as he remains stubbornly deaf to their words and ultimately brings about his own ruin. The driving force behind the tragic events in Oedipus is his rage.

The violent and vengeful behaviors become apparent during the middle of the play. One instance of this is when Oedipus verbally attacks Creon following the negative news from Teiresias. Oedipus accuses Creon of treason without evidence, displaying his violent tendencies. Ironically, it is Oedipus's own violent actions that lead to his distress. When Jocasta questions him about his arrival to Thebes, he recounts a moment of road rage where he aggressively confronts a group of travelers who had forced him off the road. It is later revealed that this group was actually his father, Laius.

This passage confirms Oedipus's guilt in the murders. As Oedipus finally comprehends his tragic fate, he suffers immense mental anguish. A messenger delivers distressing news and repeats Oedipus's final words before he blinds himself, "quote smote full on his own eyeballsnot once alone but oft he strucktoday lamentation, ruin, death, shame, all earthly ills that can be namedall are theirs. quote pg108" With Oedipus now blind and Jocasta deceased, the play concludes.

Oedipus experiences a profound change, becoming a pitiful blind beggar due to tragic circumstances. It is truly unfortunate for one to reach such a nadir in life, especially after achieving immense success. These calamitous events highlight the significant role of rage in Oedipus's downfall. Undoubtedly, Oedipus succumbs to his own inherent imperfections.

The public's loss of respect for him stems from his excessive pride, which ultimately leads to his downfall in his relentless quest for his origins. Undoubtedly,

it is his anger that ultimately brings about his violent demise. The pitiable character that Oedipus becomes towards the end of the play serves as a message to the audience, conveying either a moral lesson or a cautionary tale about the negative consequences that accompany such imperfections. It is essential for the audience to acknowledge these flaws in order to avoid repeating them in their own lives.