Hubris - Oedipus
Oedipus like some other well-known Greek heroes was guilty of equating temporal success with godliness. Thus despite the prophecy of Apollo, Oedipus pushed himself into the very fate that was pre-ordained for him, while he was deliberately ignoring the negative tidings. He did not heed the prophecy believing that no one and nothing could destroy him, yet he himself brought destruction upon himself by his ruthless means and his arrogance. This excessive pride and arrogance is known as hubris and this was the tragic flaw of Oedipus that led to his downfall. It is because of this that Oedipus becomes spiritual blind and later becomes the cause of his physical blindness as well. Physical blindness was an indication of the destruction that his hubris had wrought. Spiritual blindnes
Thus he fulfilled both the prophecies of patricide and incest. Oedipus, despite being an intelligent person, was imprudent enough to believe he could escape destiny. On one occasion, Oedipus' hubris becomes all too apparent when commenting on his spiritual blindness, Creon exclaims: "I can see you are blind to truth. This had all been predicted by Apollo but Oedipus was so blinded by arrogance and over confidence that he could discern what was happening. Oedipus goes on to prove his worth, intelligence and brilliance by solving the riddle of the Sphinx and saving Thebes. When he learns about the Delphic prophecy of patricide and incest, he flees his home, thinking this would help him escape fate. He becomes the cause of his father's death, sleeps with his mother and has children with her. s was indicated by his consistent rejection of Apollo's prophecy. Hubris blinds him completely when in a god-like fashion, he goes out to punish Laius's killer- only to be told later that he himself was the killer. The corresponding virtue for this vice was moderation. When Choragos asks Oedipus, "What god was it drove you to rake black / Night across your eyes?" He replies in extreme state of agitation and anguish: Apollo, Apollo, DearChildren, the god was Apollo. He brought my sick, sick fate upon me. But the blinding hand was my own!How could I bear to seeWhen all my sight was horror everywhere? Hubris thus becomes the greatest obstacle to deliberation- to the ability to reflect, think, ponder and react in moderation. But he eventually meets the pre-ordained fate when he kills Laius on the highway, not knowing his connection to the king and later marries his widow. Sophocles was deeply concerned with excess.
Common topics in this essay:
Oedipus Oedipus,
Apollo Oedipus,
Dear Children,
Choragos Oedipus,
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physical blindness,
spiritual blindness,
patricide incest,
apollo oedipus,
oedipus blinded,
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