The Tragic Outcome of Intemperance in Sophocles' Oedipus Rex
Brilliantly conceived and written, Sophocles' Oedipus Rex (429 BC) dramatises the self-discovery and tragic downfall of Oedipus, the King of Thebes. Because of his concern for the welfare of Thebes, Oedipus continues to pursue the truth impulsively and rashly, facing the terrible consequences of his deeds. He finds out, as foreordained by the Oracle at Delphi, that he has killed his own father (Laius), married his own mother (Jocasta) and thereby brought down a plague on his beloved Thebes. Undaunted, however, by his terrible predicament, he faces the horrible results of his actions unflinchingly; in agonized expiation, he even blinds and exiles himself. As Oedipus relentlessly seeks out the truth, it is apparent that though he has wisdom, justice and courage, his intemperate words and actions, which issue out of his hubris (pride), lead him to his inevitable nemesis. Out of the four cardinal virtues of Greek heroes, Oedipus possesses wisdom, justice and courage, but lacks temperance. He displays wisdom, for instance, upon his arrival at Thebes, when he successfully answers the riddle of the Sphinx and saves the city from oppression. Oedipus has a strong sense of justice too; he proclaims valiantly that he will find and exile
the murderer of Laius, the former king of Thebes. When he finds out ironically that he himself is the perpetrator of the crime, he blinds himself in agony and willingly accepts his own banishment as just punishment. Finally, Oedipus has immense courage; even when he realizes the horrific nature of his past, he continues to pursue the truth bravely, in the hope that he may save Thebes from the plague. His good traits of wisdom, justice and courage enhance his stature while he persists in his heroic course of self-discovery, though it is flawed by his hot temper and impulsiveness. To his great credit, Oedipus does not give up his pursuit of the truth and the identity of Lauis' murderer, despite the accumulation of events that weigh against him. In fact, when Oedipus first encounters the blind seer and prophet Teiresias, who refuses to divulge the truth he knows, Oedipus becomes angry and reveals his intemperance. Teiresias attempts to be civil, but Oedipus is impatient and responds with caustic accusations against him. Though Teiresias tries to warn him gently, Oedipus does not want anything withheld from him and becomes ever more heated in his demands. Eventually, Teiresias spits out the truth in d
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Approximate Word count = 816
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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