How Does Oedipus Suffer

Oedipus the King

The Greek drama Oedipus the King is clearly a tragedy. In the play there are numerous accounts of physical and mental suffering. Although Laius and Jocasta are the catalyst that starts the story in Oedipus the King, Oedipus takes the role of the catalyst and becomes the cause of all tragedy to others.

In the play Oedipus causes some of his own suffering. Oedipus’s pride gets him into situations that cause him to suffer later on in the play. “He tore the brooches-the gold chased brooches fastening he robe –away from her and lifting them up high dashed them on his own eyeballs...”(pg.446). Oedipus finds Jocasta in her room after she hung herself and is ashamed. Oedipus has so much pride that he puts himself into denial when he is faced with any situation that can hurt his pride. To protect his pride he stabs himself in the eyes and pokes them out. After truly blinding himself he Oedipus exiles himself because he feel that he doesn’t deserve to die immediately ,he must suffer for the rest of his life. Not only does he have to deal with self-inflicted suffering but the suffering dealt by others.
In the play Oedipus is also a victim if suffering.
Numerous characters cause Oedipus to suffer throughout the play and that is what makes the play a tragedy. Oedipus’s parents Laius and Jocasta cause him the most significant suffering by abandoning him on the mountain because his fate was still decided. In the play the oracle Teiresias tells Oedipus “you are the land’s pollution” (pg.441). Teiresias is telling Oedipus that he is the reason why the plague has been placed on the city and that the prophecy has come true. Oedipus is then angry and denies the real truth which is being told by Teiresias. Oedipus causes others to suffer because he has too much pride and refuses to hear the truth from other characters in the
play.

Oedipus’s metaphorical blindness causes him to inflict suffering onto others. Oedipus’s uncontrollable anger and drive to learn the truth turns him into an evil character. Oedipus tells Creon “Yes, and it’s there you’ve proved yourself false friend.”(pg.446). Oedipus tries to defend his pride by accusing Creon of killing Laius and committing treason. Oedipus then tells Teiresias “Had you had eyes I would had said alone you murdered him.” Being accused angers Teiresias and tells Oedipus that prophecy has come true and he killed his own father.

Oedipus’s inability to see the truth is the source of the tragedy in the play. Oedipus is so eager to find Laius’ murderer hi ignores Teiresias who tells him that he is the real killer. Oedipus tells Teiresias; “And who has taught you truth? Not your profession surely!”(pg.441). Oedipus is insisting that Teiresias isn’t a real prophet and he is threating him because Teiresias is repeatedly calling him a murderer. Oedipus’s temper blinds him greatly and causes him to suffer even more.

Oedipus takes the role of the catalyst and becoming the lead cause of tragedy although Laius and Jocasta were the catalyst at the beginning of the play. Greek tragedy is exemplified in Oedipus the King because of the subject matter and the action onstage. Oedipus falls from his high position due to fate that he cannot escape, which is typical of a tragic hero.