"In Oedipus Tyranus, Oedipus is destroyed by his own flawed character." Asses this statement.

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Henning Fotland        

B00339586

Prof. O’Brien

Dec. 9th 2002

“In Oedipus Tyranus, Oedipus is destroyed by his own flawed character.” Asses this statement.

        To asses the accuracy of this claim, it is first necessary to view the character of Oedipus in the historical context in which Oedipus Rex was written.  The prevailing political thinking in Ancient Greece was that a man was defined by his position and role within the polis.  Oedipus is unquestionably a man of the people, his opening remark “Oh my children,” (Soph. OT. 1) while addressing the priests and men gathered to ask his advice, indicates his authority and compassion for the suffering of his subjects.

        The period in which Oedipus Tyrannus was written was also one of incredible philosophical, scientific and mathematical progress, as such, the qualities most admired by Athenian society were those of rational and logical thought.  The seeds of democratic ideals were sowed through the application of these faculties in the pursuit of truth and justice.

        Oedipus, the man who solved the riddle of the Sphinx, is the embodiment of all these highly valued ideals, his character is also one marked by reflective but decisive action.  When his parentage was brought into doubt by a guest in his adoptive parent’s house, the assurance of his parents would not satisfy him.  When the Oracle at Delphi prophesized his future, Oedipus fled what he believed to be his native home to save himself and his family the horror of his destiny.

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        By all appearances, Oedipus is a character decided on controlling his own destiny using the formidable rational capacities afforded to him.  His subsequent rescue of Thebes from the plague of the Sphinx is indicative of both his capacity to understand the nature of man, but later points to his lack of understanding of himself.  It is his dedication to understanding the nature of man as opposed to his nature as a man which is his downfall.

        As indicated earlier, Oedipus’ commitment to the polis and his quest for truth are unshakeable.  In search of a ‘tragic flaw’ in his character, ...

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