Oedipus the King

International Baccalaureate World Literature

"Although envied by all his fellow men, Oedipus is destroyed by his own flaws"....Discuss.

Introduction

Oedipus is a strong leader who often feels then need to search for self confidence and self knowledge, “I, Oedipus”. Oedipus’s competence as king is displayed at the very beginning, and the confidence in Oedipus that the reader experiences is fully valid. This is an important structural design because it means it becomes such a shock when it is discovered that Oedipus is the killer. Oedipus’s ability as king is often admired and envied by his fellow men, this being particularly demonstrated by Creon. Oedipus manages to command the palace very well except for a number of pressing flaws which, together, end up destroying him and all his power.

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Oedipus’s primary flaw is his eagerness to rush into things. Oedipus demonstrates cunning and forward thinking, this is demonstrated at the very beginning of the play, Oedipus the King when the villagers come pleading to him for help with the plague. Oedipus reassures that he has already sent for help, thus being one step ahead. However, this unplanned forward thinking often results with dire consequences. This being probably the most prominent theme in “Oedipus the King”. The meeting between Oedipus and Creon at the start of the play is almost like a simile for the rest of the play because Creon comes baring news and suggests that they go elsewhere to discuss it privately. Oedipus prohibits this suggestion and charges into accepting the quest that Creon brings. Although this seems innocent enough, it is the beginning of the end for Oedipus.

Oedipus, countless times ignores Creon’s not-always-subtle advice. This is displayed in the very first scene where Creon suggests that privacy would help. But another important part where Oedipus’s ignorance is a crucial attribute to his undoing is the encounter he has with the Peasant, although Creon’s hinting advice to not further question the peasant, Oedipus continues to interrogate but nonetheless continues to seal his fate. Oedipus’s insistence to only listen to himself is most likely due to the way that he became king. It seems that because Oedipus solved the “unsolvable” in answering the riddle of the sphinx; he believes that he can solve any problem that is laid out in from of him.

Although Oedipus demonstrates many personal flaws and problems in the way he goes about ruling. He is still completed admired by fellow men and all the people in the palace regard him with absolute awe. This is because Oedipus (as is well known), freed the village from the curse of the sphinx. This somewhat blinds the villagers into realising some of the mistakes he creates. This blindness being somewhat represented by the blind soothsayer who, unlike the village people cannot physically see, but is much more wise than any of them. The villagers love and devotion for their king is the reason why so many people, particularly Creon, envy his power and popularity. Although Creon claims that he we never want to be king, towards the end of the play he seems quite eager to fill the position.

Oedipus’s misunderstanding of his own flaws if most definitely the reason that he eventually became undone.