Oedipus
Extended Character Analysis
Oedipus is often considered the quintessential Aristotelian tragic hero. In Oedipus Rex, he begins the play at a high point as the benevolent and beloved King of Thebes. However, at the end of the play, he blinds himself and prepares to enter into a self-imposed exile. Oedipus is destroyed by the knowledge that he has killed his father and married his mother. Oedipus remains a compelling and tragic figure because he does not realize his mistakes until it is too late. The true tragedy of his fall is that he bears minimal fault but must carry all the blame.
Oedipus is born the son of the Theban King Laius and Queen Jocasta. An oracle predicts that he will grow up to kill his father and marry his mother. Hoping to avoid this fate, Laius sends the infant Oedipus to the mountains to be killed. However, a shepherd takes pity and instead delivers Oedipus to Corinth, where he is raised by Polybos and Merope, the King and Queen of Corinth. In a bout of irony, Oedipus learns of the prophecy and, believing that he is truly the son of the Corinthian King and Queen, flees to the city of Thebes. On his way to Thebes, he quarrels with and kills his real father, King Laius. After the death of the former king, Oedipus attempts to answer the riddle posed by the Sphinx who has taken up residence in Thebes. When Oedipus correctly solves the riddle, the Sphinx takes its own life. After he saved Thebes, the grateful Thebans name Oedipus their new king, and he weds Laius’s widow, Jocasta, who is Oedipus’s real mother.
Under Oedipus’s rule, Thebes prospers—until a deadly plague sweeps through the population. Oedipus, a wise and good king, sends his brother-in-law Creon to consult the Oracle of Delphi. The oracle reveals that in order for the plague to come to an end, Laius’s murderer must be found and exiled. Oedipus vows to avenge Laius’s murder “as though [Laius] were [Oedipus’s] sire,” not realizing that he is both Laius’s son and murderer. As Oedipus approaches the truth, those around him attempt to shield him, but his honor does not allow him to cease his pursuit of the murderer. Upon learning of his mistakes at the end of the play, Oedipus is overcome with grief, blinded by his own hand and committed to living in exile.
As an Aristotelian tragic hero, Oedipus’s fall is caused by his hamartia, or tragic flaw. Modern scholars have long debated the nature of Oedipus’s hamartia. Some believe that Oedipus’s own deficient character resulted in his downfall while others believe that ignorance led Oedipus to sin.
By reading Oedipus’s downfall as resulting from his own deficiencies, his most apparent tragic flaw is hubris. Hubris is often interpreted as referring to excessive pride. However, it more accurately describes someone who attempts to defy the will of the gods, specifically by circumventing fate. Oedipus’s hubris is seen when he flees from Corinth after hearing the prophecy that he will kill his father and marry his mother. By attempting to circumvent fate, he sets himself in opposition to the gods. His ill treatment of the blind prophet Teiresias further insults the god Apollo, who holds dominion over prophecy.
Oedipus’s personal failings also include excessive pride and a violent temper. These traits are exhibited most clearly in his treatment of Teiresias and Creon. Though neither man harms him, Oedipus lashes out verbally and physically, going so far as to threaten to kill Creon. Similarly, when Laius provoked Oedipus, Oedipus rashly killed him and all of his men. This showcases Oedipus’s violent temper and lack of humility, both of which ultimately contribute to his tragic fall.
These traits also extend to his treatment of his wife and mother, Jocasta. Oedipus and Jocasta both believe that they have free will over their lives throughout most of the play. However, Oedipus becomes increasingly obsessed with solving the crisis alone, and he fails to recognize Jocasta's concerns.
Hamartia does not necessarily refer to a specific character flaw. On a literal level, it means “to miss the mark” or “to err.” By this interpretation, Oedipus’s downfall is the result of a series of mistakes made in ignorance. Though his actions lead to his downfall, Oedipus is largely a victim of fate and circumstance. He strives to do the right thing by the Corinthian King and Queen who raised him by fleeing to Thebes. He also strives to do the right thing by the Theban people by marrying Jocasta and becoming king. Oedipus’s downfall is made all the more tragic by the fact that he sins blindly.
Oedipus’s decision to blind himself at the end of the play speaks to his regret over his actions and to the maturation of his character. Aristotle wrote in Poetics that in order for a character to be a tragic hero, they must confront and acknowledge their hamartia. By blinding himself, Oedipus acknowledges his transition from ignorance to knowledge and accepts the pain that accompanies it. Though on a straightforward level Oedipus’s blinding himself is a form of atonement, it also takes on a symbolic meaning. Earlier in the play, Oedipus mocks Teiresias for his blindness. He accuses the prophet of being “blind” both literally and metaphorically. In response, Teiresias tells Oedipus that though Oedipus “hast eyes,” he is the blind one. Upon learning of his own ignorance, Oedipus symbolically exchanges his ability to physically see for the ability to see the truth. He enters his exile an enlightened but tormented man. He returns in Sophocles's second story in the Oedipus Trilogy, Oedipus at Colonus.
Expert Q&A
How did Oedipus kill his father?
In Oedipus Rex, Oedipus killed his father by unknowingly striking him with his staff. He had just visited the oracle at Delphi and was upset with the information he received. When Laius's driver spoke rudely to Oedipus and shoved him, Oedipus lashed out at the driver. Laius struck Oedipus, and so Oedipus struck back at Laius, not realizing that this old man was actually his father.
The role and consequences of hubris in Oedipus Rex
In Oedipus Rex, hubris, or excessive pride, leads to Oedipus's downfall. His determination to defy fate and solve the mystery of his birth ultimately results in his tragic realization and suffering. Oedipus's hubris blinds him to the truth and propels him towards his inevitable fate, demonstrating the catastrophic consequences of human arrogance against divine will.
The major internal and external conflicts in Oedipus the King
In Oedipus the King, the major internal conflict is Oedipus's struggle with his own identity and guilt upon discovering his true parentage. The primary external conflict involves Oedipus's efforts to rid Thebes of the plague by uncovering and punishing the murderer of the former king, Laius, which ultimately leads to his own tragic downfall.
Fate vs. Free Will in Oedipus Rex
In Sophocles' Oedipus Rex, the tension between fate and free will is central. Oedipus is seemingly a victim of fate, as the gods predetermined his tragic destiny to kill his father and marry his mother. Despite attempts by Oedipus and his parents to avoid this fate, their actions ironically lead to its fulfillment. Sophocles uses irony to highlight this paradox, showing how Oedipus's hubris and choices contribute to his downfall, reinforcing the supremacy of destiny over free will.
The motivation and symbolism behind Oedipus blinding himself in Oedipus Rex
Oedipus blinds himself in Oedipus Rex as a symbolic act of taking responsibility for his ignorance and his failure to see the truth about his origins. His self-inflicted blindness represents his acknowledgment of his metaphorical blindness throughout the play and serves as a form of self-punishment for his actions and the resulting consequences.
Oedipus's Tragic Flaw and Downfall
In Sophocles's Oedipus Rex, Oedipus's tragic flaw is his hubris, or excessive pride, which leads to his downfall. Despite the divine prophecy that he will kill his father and marry his mother, Oedipus tries to defy fate by leaving Corinth, unknowingly fulfilling the prophecy. His pride blinds him to the truth, causing him to dismiss warnings and accusations. Ultimately, Oedipus's realization of his fate leads to his self-inflicted blindness and exile, symbolizing his newfound humility and insight.
What is the relationship between Oedipus and Jocasta in Oedipus Rex?
In Oedipus Rex, Oedipus and Jocasta have a complex relationship. Initially, they are a loving couple, but tension arises when Oedipus seeks the truth about his past. Jocasta, who intuits the truth, tries to protect Oedipus from discovering that she is his mother, ultimately leading to her suicide. Their relationship shifts from harmony to tragedy as the truth unfolds.
Pride and Arrogance in Oedipus Rex
In Sophocles' Oedipus Rex, pride and arrogance are central themes that drive the plot and lead to Oedipus's downfall. Oedipus exhibits pride by attempting to defy the prophecy that he will kill his father and marry his mother, believing he can outsmart the gods. His arrogance is further highlighted in his interactions with Tiresias and Creon, where he dismisses their warnings and accusations. This hubris blinds him to the truth and ultimately fulfills the prophecy, illustrating the destructive power of pride in the play.
The key qualities and characteristics of Oedipus
The key qualities and characteristics of Oedipus include his intelligence, determination, and sense of justice. He is known for his quick thinking, as demonstrated by solving the Sphinx's riddle. Oedipus is also relentless in his pursuit of truth and justice, even when it leads to his own downfall. His tragic flaw is his hubris, or excessive pride, which blinds him to the reality of his situation.
Oedipus' Flaws and Their Role in His Tragic Fall
In Sophocles' Oedipus Rex, Oedipus' tragic fall is driven by a combination of his good and bad qualities. His sense of responsibility and desire for justice compel him to save Thebes from a plague, but his hubris blinds him to his own flaws, leading to his downfall. Despite his honesty and determination, his overconfidence and arrogance prevent him from recognizing his role in the city's woes. His tragic flaw, or hamartia, is his excessive pride, which ultimately causes his exile and suffering.
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