Essay on Oedipus the King The Hubris of Oedipus - 1681 Words

Oedipus the King written by Sophocles, is a powerful Greek tragedy story. The protagonist, Oedipus is a heroic mythical king who had it all. Oedipus pursues to find the true answers to his identity and destiny, while at the same time trying to avoid fulfilling his destiny. Oedipus the King was introduced around 429 B.C.E. in Athens. This was Sophocles most celebrated play. It is recognized by many titles, such as its Latin title Oedipus Rex and Oedipus Tyrannus. Sophocles performed this play at the annual festival of Dionysus--a religious festival, which celebrated Dionysus, the god of intoxication, death, and fertility. Sophocles was one of the dramatists that reigned supreme at these festivals. Most of the†¦show more content†¦A dramatic conflict occurs when Oedipus gets into a fight with a group of men where three roads meet; one of those men is his father King Laius. He kills all the men except for one who flees from the scene and then notifies the Thebians of the tragic news. Oblivious to Oedipus, the first half of his fate (that he was trying so hard to avoid) is fulfilled. Usually crossroads signify a decision point. If Oedipus made the choice of being civil toward the strangers and not letting his temper get the best of him, he could have avoided his fate. Oedipus ends up in Thebes were he is granted the honor of being the King--he solves the Sphinxs riddle which results in the city being free from captivity. In addition, Oedipus marries his predecessors wife, Queen Jocasta--the women who gave birth to him. Once again Oedipus has crossed paths with his fate and is still blind to it. Hubris is Oedipuss tragic flaw. He is now overly full of himself because: he rescued the city of Thebes from the Sphinx, people admire him, the citizens worship him as if he were an idol, the citizens think of him as their hero, and the Thebans have such a high esteem for him, that they made him King. One instance that proves he is filled with overbearing pride is when he proclaims, I, Oedipus, a name that all men know. (8) This statement also brings about irony. It is ironic because his name will be remembered and well-known everywhere--as a polluter, theShow MoreRelatedThe Hubris of Oedipus in Oedipus the King Essay1865 Words   |  8 PagesHubris is defined by the Webster-Miriam dictionary as â€Å"Exaggerated pride or confidence† (Miriam-Webster Dictionary) in Oedipus the King, by Sophocles, In Oedipus The King, by Sophocles, the onslaught of pain assailing the protagonist is a result of his tragic flaw. Sophocles often used a characters’ flaw to alt er or influence the outcome or future of the hero. Oedipus hubris influences him to fulfill the oracle and further intensify his punishment from the Gods. Oedipus pride is an essentialRead MoreThe Characters Of Hubris In Oedipus The King1032 Words   |  5 PagesHubris is one characteristic of humans that leads to people committing evil deeds. In the play Oedipus the King, Oedipus struggles with facing the truth about his fate. His hubris leads him to be an arrogant and ignorant person throughout the play. Hubris also leads Oedipus to lose control over his emotions on multiple occasions in the story. In Sophocles’ play, Oedipus the King, Oedipus’ character flaws clearly outweigh his positive qualities. Oedipus’ rage, pride, and ignorance are the main characterRead MoreEssay on Hubris in Oedipus the King by Sophocles766 Words   |  4 Pages There are many historic and fictional figures where hubris led to their downfall. Hubris is defined as being arrogant and having pride for your self. There are many people that are led to their downfall because of hubris. People that are hubris are blinded and can’t see what they did wrong. Those who contain hubris only think about themselves and can’t see the big picture. They think the world revolves around them and think they are the best. They are always going to be successful but suddenlyRead MoreOedipus Downfall Essay example774 Words   |  4 PagesPrompt: In a well-developed essay, consider whether hubris, fate or both are the use of Oedipus’ downfall. Use evidence from the text to support your support. Hubris is defined as excessive pride or self-confidence, while fate is defined as the supposed force, principle, or power that predetermines events. Ancient Greeks believed in Hubris, or pride. Pride may have been seen as good or bad. Many people that exhibit pride may come off as being proud of their achievements or lives; however, prideRead MoreCompare Odysseus and Oedipus Essay1739 Words   |  7 PagesOdysseus and Oedipus There are many legendary epic stories have been passed on from generation to generation in the Greek culture. Even though each story has different outcomes, every epic character has certain features in common. Odysseus in The Odyssesy and Oedipus in Oedipus the King are great examples of epic heroes with a variety of similarities. Odysseus and Oedipus are similar in which they both god-like men who are considered heroes because of their cautious ways and relentless tenacityRead MoreThe Tragic Downfall Of Oedipus The King By Sophocles924 Words   |  4 Pageshave flaws that lead to a tragic downfall. One of these tragic flaws is hubris, which is defined as â€Å"exaggerated pride or self-confidence† (Merriam-Webster). This trait is most commonly found in characters who come to power and allow themselves to be consumed by their newfound hierarchy. The play Oedipus the King by Sophocles embodies the trait and displays it in different ways throughout the story. Oedipus is a vic tim of hubris as seen when he disregards the prophecy given to him, challenges a groupRead More Oedipus and Creon in Sophocles Oedipus the King Essay1128 Words   |  5 PagesOedipus and Creon in Sophocles Oedipus the King   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  At first glance, Oedipus and Creon are two very different people. But as time progresses their personalities and even their fates grow more and more similar. In Sophocles’s play â€Å"Oedipus the King†, Oedipus and Creon are two completely opposite people. Oedipus is brash and thoughtless, whilst Creon is wise and prudent. In â€Å"Oedipus the King†, Oedipus effectively portrays the idea of the classic â€Å"flawed hero†. He becomes arrogant and brash.Read MoreEssay on Oedipus Versus Creon1141 Words   |  5 PagesOedipus Versus Creon At first glance, Oedipus and Creon are two very different people. But as time progresses their personalities and even their fates grow more and more similar. In Sophocless play Oedipus the King, Oedipus and Creon are two completely opposite people. Oedipus is brash and thoughtless, whilst Creon is wise and prudent. In Oedipus the King, Oedipus effectively portrays the idea of the classic flawed hero. He becomes arrogant and brash. He accuses Creon and Tiresias ofRead MoreTheme Of Irony In Oedipus The King913 Words   |  4 Pages and knowledge, from their audience. In Sophocles’, Oedipus the King, Oedipus’ power and knowledge are unparalleled by man as he is the only man able to solve the Riddle of the Sphinx and save Thebes. Yet after receiving an unpleasant reading from the Oracle at Delphi during a quest to find his true self, Oedipus directly challenges Apollo, and his hubris ends up preventing him from finding out who he really is; The murderer of his father, Ki ng Laius, and husband of his own mother, Jocasta. ThroughoutRead MoreThe Perfect Aristotelian Tragedy: Sophocles Oedipus the King918 Words   |  4 Pagesconsidered Sophocles Oedipus the King to be a nearly perfect example of Greek tragedy. His reasons were based on the structural perfection of the play, in which the protagonists recognition of his circumstances (anagnorisis) comes at the same moment as his reversal of fortune (peripeteia). But the terms whereby Aristotle defines character in Greek tragedy are slightly harder to work out where is the hubris of Oedipus? An examination of the plot will demonstrate that Oedipus hubris is manifest in the