Oedipus

Oedipus

Every person has different facets in his or her personality.   Generally, the good traits outweigh the bad.   However, when this does not happen, the unpleasant aspects break through and hide the favorable conditions.   In the play, Oedipus, by Sophocles, the character Oedipus, in a search for the truth, at first appeared to be a caring individual.   Because of Oedipus’ persistent quest for the truth,   his unpleasant aspects became very apparent.   While Oedipus was a noble king, he was incredibly stubborn and had an egotistical hunger for power.
Oedipus cared for his people.   When Oedipus arrived at Thebes, after unknowingly killing King Laius, his father, he was halted by a Sphinx.   The Sphinx had confined Thebes until someone could answer his riddle.   Oedipus answered it and the town was overjoyed.   The priest told Oedipus, “...think upon your fame; your coming brought us luck...” (305).   The town felt that they owed everything to Oedipus, however, he was the cause for their plague that came later.   Oedipus yearned for the truth about the killer of Laius.   As Creon stated, “God now bids us revenge it on his murderers.”   (305).   Oedipus felt he had to seek vengeance on Laius’s murderer for the good of the town.   Oedipus believed the Gods put the plague on Thebes because they wanted revenge on Laius’s murderer.   This proves Oedipus had noble intentions because he only started the search for truth for the good of his people.   Later, after Oedipus revealed the agonizing truth, he banished himself.   Oedipus said, “It is his purpose to cast himself out of the land that he may not bring all this house under his curse” (325).   This is significant because it shows even after the turmoil Oedipus went though, he still thought of his people before himself.
Even though his intentions started out noble, Oedipus had irrational persistence and stubbornness.   Oedipus continually asked Tiresias for a prophecy, but then would not believe him.   An example of this is when Oedipus...