Oedipus The King Research Paper

Oedipus The King is most likely one of the greatest tragedies ever recorded. This play tells the story of the great downfall of a once honored king who by the end of the story, becomes a great curse. This is mainly due to his great sense of pride. It was believed by the Greeks that people with this immense pride thought that they were above the gods. Aristotle believed that the protagonist of every tragedy must have some type of tragic flaw that will eventually lead to his demise. To Oedipus ,of Oedipus The King, pride is his tragic flaw that leads to his downfall. Some examples of his pride taking over him were: when he correctly answered the Sphinx’s riddle, when he abandoned his adoptive parents in Corinth, and when he killed Laius in the crossroads.
Oedipus is almost blinded by his pride when he left
On his way to Thebes, Oedipus encounters King Laius and his servants. There was major road rage on both ends over who had the right of way. Oedipus killed Laius and his servants with the exception of one. At the time, Oedipus had no knowledge that he was his biological father. Oedipus fulfilled the prophecy of the oracle that it was fate for him to murder his father.
Oedipus does possess a tragic flaw. His tragic flaw is his great pride. Throughout the play, Oedipus lets his pride get the best of him. This eventually leads him to his demise. Even Aristotle pointed out Oedipus’ excessive pride. He did what he did out of pride.
Sophocles’ Oedipus The King is a great tragedy, possibly one of the best. It is with pride that Oedipus in a way contributes to his downfall. Pride is the greatest factor when it comes to identifying his tragic flaw. His pride is what lead him to kill his father, leave Corinth, marry his mother, to answer the Sphinx’s riddle and etc. Oedipus did indeed possess a tragic flaw that lead to his downfall. This is how his tragic flaw lead to his