Oedipus' Downfall
Prompt: 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, pride can rise to levels in where it may annoy or offend others. Therefore, pride may cause ones downfall. Sometime fate can also cause ones’ downfall such as pride. , since events in someone’s life are predestined. In a play, there may be such a character in which both fate and hubris cause the character’s downfall. But in Sophocles’ play Oedipus Rex only hubris and free will are the uses of Oedipus’, who is the tragic hero of the story, downfall. He was destined, according to Apollo the prophet, to murder his father King Laius and marry his mother Queen Jocasta. However, a big part of the tragedy could have been avoided if Oedipus had been kinder and more tolerant instead of prideful and arrogant.
Hubris played a large role in the horrid downfall of King Oedipus. As Oedipus killed King Lauis, whom he did not know was his father, over a dispute on who was to cross the intersection first Oedipus felt very prideful and powerful in which led him to solve the riddle of the Sphinx. Because he solved the riddle of Sphinx the city-state of Thebes admired him dearly and crowned Oedipus King of Thebes, and allowed him to marry Jocasta. Since he became king he started referring to the people of Thebes as “…[his] poor children” and making it seem as if he was a god, for “what …[the people of Thebes] desire is known and not unknown to [Oedipus]…”(Oedipus Rex, 62-63). He also refused to listen to Tiresias give him clues about being married to his mother and Oedipus himself being the
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, pride can rise to levels in where it may annoy or offend others. Therefore, pride may cause ones downfall. Sometime fate can also cause ones’ downfall such as pride. , since events in someone’s life are predestined. In a play, there may be such a character in which both fate and hubris cause the character’s downfall. But in Sophocles’ play Oedipus Rex only hubris and free will are the uses of Oedipus’, who is the tragic hero of the story, downfall. He was destined, according to Apollo the prophet, to murder his father King Laius and marry his mother Queen Jocasta. However, a big part of the tragedy could have been avoided if Oedipus had been kinder and more tolerant instead of prideful and arrogant.
Hubris played a large role in the horrid downfall of King Oedipus. As Oedipus killed King Lauis, whom he did not know was his father, over a dispute on who was to cross the intersection first Oedipus felt very prideful and powerful in which led him to solve the riddle of the Sphinx. Because he solved the riddle of Sphinx the city-state of Thebes admired him dearly and crowned Oedipus King of Thebes, and allowed him to marry Jocasta. Since he became king he started referring to the people of Thebes as “…[his] poor children” and making it seem as if he was a god, for “what …[the people of Thebes] desire is known and not unknown to [Oedipus]…”(Oedipus Rex, 62-63). He also refused to listen to Tiresias give him clues about being married to his mother and Oedipus himself being the