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Does Oedipus's self-questioning reflect not just his identity, but also the characteristics of Western man? Is Sophocles commenting on man's place in the universe?
Quick answer:
Oedipus's self-questioning reflects broader human traits, notably hubris and the struggle against fate, making him relatable and a symbol of Western man's existential dilemmas. Sophocles uses Oedipus to comment on humanity's place in the universe, showing how our pride and blindness to flaws lead to downfall. The play underscores universal themes of human life cycles and dependency, suggesting that fate is unavoidable and that peace comes through acceptance, as further explored in Oedipus at Colonus.
Absolutely! If the tragic hero had nothing in common with regular people, we would be a lot less inclined to care about his life. Oedipus is very human, and it is likely the result of our identification with his flaws that we develop empathy for him.
Oedipus is proud, of course, and his hubris caused him to try to outwit fate and defy the gods—he is determined not to return to his home in Corinth but to go to Thebes instead, and this actually enabled his prophecy to come to fruition. He is also angry and rash, making impulsive judgments and knee-jerk decisions. For example, he calls the blind prophet, Tiresias, to the palace so that he can enlist his help; then, when Tiresias says things Oedipus does not want to hear, Oedipus flies off the handle and accuses him of plotting with Oedipus's brother-in-law, Creon , to overthrow...
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him and seize the throne. Most of us have made rash decisions once or twice and then deeply regretted them later.
Oedipus's wife, Jocasta, advises him to stop seeking information about his identity because he might regret it, but he doesn't take her advice either. Again, most of us have ignored good advice at some point and gone on to regret our failure to listen. Sophocles shows an incredibly human man in an incredibly difficult situation, compelling our empathy because we can all relate to his flaws (if not the specific details of his situation).
Oedipus Rex has remained popular until this day—a very long time—because it is highly relatable and deals with universal themes. Sophocles is commenting through this play on mankind in general, not just the single individual Oedipus. In this way, Oedipus becomes a representative of all of humanity.
A chief characteristic that Oedipus shares with most humans is hubris or pride. Most of us tend to overestimate our own powers and to believe we can do no wrong. Like Oedipus, it would probably never occur to us that a plague or other widespread evil was our own fault. We tend to think of ourselves as pure—until we hit a point of crisis that causes us to question our identity.
Since most of us are blind to our flaws, we, like Oedipus, can be led to our downfall. For most of us, the consequences are not as serious, because we are not powerful rulers. The play, however, remains relevant because we constantly see around us, even millennia later, the same kinds of downfalls besetting the powerful because they are blind to their own weaknesses. The play remains relevant too because it encourages us to look at ourselves and try to locate our own blind spots and to know ourselves better.
The answer that Oedipus gives to the Sphinx is indeed a universal one. All humans start out as babies completely dependent upon their elders for their very survival, mature and develop strength and independence, and then age and become more feeble, reduced again to the state of dependence.
This generic account of humanity is even more pertinent to Oedipus than to most people. As an infant, he was condemned to be exposed on a mountain and his feet pierced. Through the kindness of a servant, he was placed in a loving and nurturing household and grew into a strong and powerful man. After he blinds himself, he is instantly reduced again to a state of dependency.
This cycle of human life applies to all of us to a degree, as does our having some special relationships with our parents that form us. The notion of a curse suggests that we are brought into a world in which much of our fate is determined by things external to us. Sophocles seems to be suggesting that we cannot escape our fate no matter how much we struggle. Oedipus only finds peace in another play by Sophocles, Oedipus at Colonus, after he has embraced his fate and seen how even his curse can be turned to something beneficial.