Oedipus Rex
Oedipus began Oedipus Rex as a king, only to end the tale as a blindedbeggar. Oedipus' fall from his kingly status was not by accident orbecause of some other person. Oedipus is the only one that can be blamedfor his misfortune. Oedipus' character traits are shown most clearlyduring his spiralling downfall, thinking he is "a simple man, who knowsnothing", yet knowing more than he realizes by the end of the story. Throughout the story, Oedipus' haste or lack of patience is mostevident. Wishing to end this mystery of the death of Laios as quickly aspossible, Oedipus passes an edict to kill or exile anyone who withholdsinformation. Teiresias tested Oedipus' patience in the beginning of thestory with the information he was holding; "You'd try a stone's patience!
"Oedipus, noblest of all the line of Kadmos, have condemnedmyself to enjoy these things no more, by my own malediction, expelling thatman whom the gods declared to be a defilement in the house of Laios. This trait was the binding trait that brought Oedipus' downfall. Later, this passerby whom he angrily and quickly killed, wasrevealed to be Laios, Oedipus' father. There is no fairer duty", Oedipus' respect for Teiresias quickly changed asTeiresias refused to tell of what was the trouble's cause. The decline of Oedipus' was started by himself. Unfortuanately, for Oedipus, this decline of power led to the plucking ofhis own eyes. Oedipus beganclaiming that "Creon has brought this decrepit fortune teller" to mean thatTeiresias was thought of as a traitor in Oedipus' thinking. As the plot grew to the uppermost point, Oedipus persistedtestimony of the shepherd as he was "of dreadful hearing, yet he must hear"more. If Oedipushad been more patient and waited, he might have not been quite so upsetabout the future, nor shaken up about what was to happen. Oedipus never held backany evidence pointing to his possible future eviction and loss of hiskingly status. As soon as it wassuspect that Oedipus was involved, he acknowledged it; "I think that Imyself may be accurst by my own ignorant edict". However, that one trait did not alone take away his position of highauthority. During the story, we learn of Oedipus' anger as heknocked a passerby at the meeting of the three highways; "I struck him inmy rage". His traits of anger,haste, and truthfulness, each helped accelerate his decline of power.
Common topics in this essay:
Laios Oedipus',
Oedipus Rex,
Unfortuanately Oedipus,
oedipus' anger,
oedipus rex,
decline power,
anger throughout,
kingly status,
throughout story,
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