Hubris In Oedipus The King
Ashley Davis
Patchell
English 201B
November 19, 2014
Oedipus Was the First Mother F***er Although, Oedipus the King, by Sophocles was written in Athens, Greece in the year 425
B.C., it is still incredibly relevant regarding modern moral issues. Oedipus has become one of the most well known stories, even to this day: a man murders his father and then marries his mother.
When it comes to a matter of morality, this play is a fascinating one to analyse. In the analysis of this tragedy we find that Oedipus is morally guilty of murder, and hubris, although hubris is not the reason for his eventual demise.
In the beginning of the play, King Oedipus (current king of Thebes) declares to the murderer of Laios (previous king of Thebes), …show more content…
He later goes on to say, “I must be shunned by all… am I all evil, then? It must be so”
(969). Although, he says this, claiming to feel guilty for his previous actions, it is hard to believe that Oedipus even remotely cares that he killed those men. One could even argue that he does not truly feel any remorse for those actions until after he finds out that it was King Laios that he slaughtered and not just four random travelers.
The real question here is, is Oedipus morally guilty for his actions? In regards to his murders, yes. He is guilty of murder, whether he knew it was his father/King Laios or not. He still killed a bunch of people on the side of the road because, “a herald came towards me, and a chariot drawn by horses… the groom leading the horses forced me off the road at his lord’s command” (968). So Oedipus assassinates a slew of four men (one servant gets away) and then leaves like nothing happened. The fact that it turns out to be his father should not change how guilty he feels about his actions. He still killed people, and he should feel remorse regardless of
who those people where. As for punishment for his crimes, Oedipus should be punished …show more content…
Oedipus blames the gods for his tragedy of a life, but is it really their fault? Really, in
Oedipus’ world, it is his own fault for angering the gods (if the gods even do give a damn about him). On many occasions throughout the play, Oedipus is blatantly offensive and arrogant towards the gods. The top of scene I starts with Oedipus speaking to all of Thebes about the
terrible famine and disease, “Is this your prayer? It may be answered. Come, listen to me, act as the crisis demands, and you shall have relief from all these evils” (954). He is bluntly telling the people of Thebes that he knows they have been praying to the gods for help, and here he is to save the day. Oedipus is outstandingly pompous towards the gods, so if they did want to cause him pain and suffering, it is understandable and justly deserved.
Oedipus the King is a tragic tale of one man’s downfall, into a treacherous pit that is his fate. But is fate a reality, or just some obscure, celestial thought that was created in order to have something to blame for our own collapse. Oedipus seems to think so, but then again he also blames otherworldly gods for his mistakes. In the end, fate is what we make
Patchell
English 201B
November 19, 2014
Oedipus Was the First Mother F***er Although, Oedipus the King, by Sophocles was written in Athens, Greece in the year 425
B.C., it is still incredibly relevant regarding modern moral issues. Oedipus has become one of the most well known stories, even to this day: a man murders his father and then marries his mother.
When it comes to a matter of morality, this play is a fascinating one to analyse. In the analysis of this tragedy we find that Oedipus is morally guilty of murder, and hubris, although hubris is not the reason for his eventual demise.
In the beginning of the play, King Oedipus (current king of Thebes) declares to the murderer of Laios (previous king of Thebes), …show more content…
He later goes on to say, “I must be shunned by all… am I all evil, then? It must be so”
(969). Although, he says this, claiming to feel guilty for his previous actions, it is hard to believe that Oedipus even remotely cares that he killed those men. One could even argue that he does not truly feel any remorse for those actions until after he finds out that it was King Laios that he slaughtered and not just four random travelers.
The real question here is, is Oedipus morally guilty for his actions? In regards to his murders, yes. He is guilty of murder, whether he knew it was his father/King Laios or not. He still killed a bunch of people on the side of the road because, “a herald came towards me, and a chariot drawn by horses… the groom leading the horses forced me off the road at his lord’s command” (968). So Oedipus assassinates a slew of four men (one servant gets away) and then leaves like nothing happened. The fact that it turns out to be his father should not change how guilty he feels about his actions. He still killed people, and he should feel remorse regardless of
who those people where. As for punishment for his crimes, Oedipus should be punished …show more content…
Oedipus blames the gods for his tragedy of a life, but is it really their fault? Really, in
Oedipus’ world, it is his own fault for angering the gods (if the gods even do give a damn about him). On many occasions throughout the play, Oedipus is blatantly offensive and arrogant towards the gods. The top of scene I starts with Oedipus speaking to all of Thebes about the
terrible famine and disease, “Is this your prayer? It may be answered. Come, listen to me, act as the crisis demands, and you shall have relief from all these evils” (954). He is bluntly telling the people of Thebes that he knows they have been praying to the gods for help, and here he is to save the day. Oedipus is outstandingly pompous towards the gods, so if they did want to cause him pain and suffering, it is understandable and justly deserved.
Oedipus the King is a tragic tale of one man’s downfall, into a treacherous pit that is his fate. But is fate a reality, or just some obscure, celestial thought that was created in order to have something to blame for our own collapse. Oedipus seems to think so, but then again he also blames otherworldly gods for his mistakes. In the end, fate is what we make