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Character Analysis Oedipus The King

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Character Analysis Oedipus The King
In the book,Oedipus Rex, part of the Sophocles series, Oedipus, the powerful king of Thebes, is a very ego full ruler. He believes that one must prove himself in order to be a leader. “I am aware that no king can expect his subject’s complete loyalty without proving himself first.” Oedipus demonstrated to his peoples that he was qualified to govern them after saving the province of Thebes. “You saved us from the Sphinx, that flinty singer, and the tribute we paid her so long; yet you were never better informed than we, nor could we teach you: It was some god breathed in you to set us free.(pg.5)” The people are declaring how he saved them once, and now can save them again from a sickness. What Oedipus does not realize is the sickness is his …show more content…
Towards the end of the story, he was grief-stricken after realizing he “killed his father and sowed the womb of her who bore him!(pg.78)” “Is there no pity for me? I was dead and you words are death again.” The death he talks about is learning about his prophecy coming true. He stabbed his eyes out after he found Iocaste’s corpse hanging from a rope around her neck. He succumbs to the prophecy after he comments on himself. “I had neither sight nor knowledge then.(pg.78)” Stabbing his eyes out enabled him to truly understand without relying on his eyesight. He left with his daughters, who guided past the end of the story.
What was dramatic irony was in the beginning, the people were sweet talking Oedipus and he agreed with all the amazing things said about him; “Ah, when your years of kingship are remembered, let them not say We rose, but later fell-- You brought us fortune, bring it again!” Oedipus, the magnificent ruler of Thebes, went from bathing in his glory, to stabbing his own eyes out of agony, then exiled himself, so people wouldn’t have to look upon “this pollution of a man.” What could have caused this rapid change in a king who loved
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