Oedipus

The Heroism of Oedipus
Name:
Date:
Class:
The play follows the life of the titular character, the king of Thebes, who fulfils an unsavoury prophecy on patricide and incest. It highlights the plight of one King Laius, whose wife Jocasta brings forth a son. Initially, the king is excited at the prospects of an heir but this change after oracle prophecies that his son will kill him. He asks his wife to kill the child, but she is unable to do it, delegating this lewd act to a servant. In a twist to the plot, the baby is adopted by King Polybus. While travelling in his youth, Oedipus encounters a delegation, and a scuffle ensues. He is enraged, culminating in the death of Laius, his birth father. He then ascends to the kingdom in triumph and marries Jocasta, his birth mother. Unbeknownst to them, the prophecy had been fulfilled. It is noteworthy that Oedipus marked the advent of a literary genre with a focus on a tragic hero. However, it is a worthy concession that Oedipus stands out in the play as a strong character, emerging triumphant from challenging situations numerous times.
Sophocles exhibits quintessential literary abilities, highlighting numerous of Oedipus’ weak traits. It is noteworthy that the play is rife with instances of implicit pride by Oedipus. The pride is evident when the king is enraged by the oracle Tiresias, belittling him and accusing him of incompetence. He described the Oracle saying, ‘this mountebank, this juggling charlatan, This tricksy beggar-priest, for gain alone’ (Scene 1, Line 445) Further, Oedipus is reminiscent of the triviality of the oracle before the sphinx’s reign of terror over the kingdom prompted Oedipus to act.

He asks, ‘wherein thou wast found lacking; neither birds nor sign from heaven helped thee, but I came. The simple Oedipus; I stopped her mouth’ (Scene 1, Line 450) Through these statements, Oedipus negates any prospects or relevance of help. His pride eventually leads to his literal blinding when he gouges out his eyes out of shame.
Oedipus is also evidently short-tempered and is seldom shy to express his annoyance. It is a worthy concession that the series of events, which marked the realisation of the revered prophecy, commenced when Oedipus met Laius. Angered, he descended upon them in a murderous fit. Creon also laments and says, ‘look at you, sullen in yielding, brutal in your rage— you will go too far.’ (Scene 2, Line 745) Here, Oedipus’ anger was more out of paranoia than an actual cause for concern. The rage, which was characteristic of Oedipus, was relentless and often exerted towards those around him. It is also noteworthy that the events, which led to his death, were attributable to his rage. Upon realisation of the truth, he is delusional in a raging fit. His mother’s demise so angers him that he gouges out his own eyes and asks to be exiled, both are impulsive decisions.
On the other hand, Sophocles afforded Oedipus many traits that qualify him as a heroic character. The initial scenes of the play are rife with instances implicit of a plausible character. The king exhibits an ironic sense of empathy towards the death of Laius. He implies that the loss was relatable, and prayed for justice for the bereaved. Sophocles may have painted the king this way in a build up to the unexpected plot-twist. The king promises to expose Laius’ murderer, in a display of empathy. He says, ‘now my curse on the murderer… let that man drag out his life in agony, step by painful step—‘ (Scene 1, Line 280)The king makes a solemn vow to eliminate the people’s suffering, and bring them good fortune once more.
It is also noteworthy that Oedipus displays a considerable degree of heroism in his triumphs; from his castaway childhood to his tenure as a tyrant. This series of events, are not merely chance occurrences but are influenced mainly by Oedipus’ will, military acumen and his overall strong character. The latter is often manifesting itself as instances of a seemingly authoritarian rule. The kingdom is also at peace owing to Oedipus’ success in solving the riddle, all which are attributable to his appropriateness as a leader. This is evident from the chorus’ praise of the mighty king saying, ‘you who set our beloved land—storm-tossed, shattered— straight on course. Now again, good helmsman, steer us through the storm!’ (Scene 2, Line 765)Oedipus had since sealed his place as the savior for the people and their symbol of hope.
In conclusion, the king Oedipus lives up to the expectations of the classic tragic hero, perhaps seeing as Sophocles used his image as a pioneering instance of the concept. It is indeed undisputable that Oedipus falls short of the stellar reign, characteristic of exemplary rulers. Not only did he lose his grip on the kingdom, but he also fails to overcome personal follies when carrying out his kingly duties. However, not all about his reign is calamitous; Oedipus was instrumental in saving the condemned kingdom from the wrath of the Sphinx. He also expressed a great deal of military heroism in his life. His role in the prophecy does not necessarily negate his heroic deeds, as he was merely a victim of fate. Arguably, he would have loved to oversee a stellar reign but was bound by fate and forces beyond his means.

References
Dawe, R. D. (Ed.). (1982). Sophocles: Oedipus Rex. Cambridge University Press.