In Oedipus the King Sophocles concocts one of the most famous and intricate characters of Greek drama. Oedipus' desire for self-discovery and understanding, which can be described as his tragic flaw, leads Oedipus to the lucid realization of his ominous fate. In the end, it can be seen that Oedipus' tragic flaw is his own determination and persistence. Contrary to Knox's belief that Oedipus' search for the truth is his only freedom or salvation, Oedipus unremitting need to know and his overbearing curiosity about his life traps him and leads to his demise.

Oedipus's zealous curiosity is illustrated when Oedipus forces his prophet, Teiresias to reveal information that will lead to Oedipus' knowledge about the fate that awaits him. Initially, Oedipus unknowingly inquires about his own fate by asking Teiresias the identity of the murderer of King Laios. With the knowledge that Oedipus was the murderer of King Laios, Teiresias decides that it in his best interest, as a servant to his King, not to tell Oedipus the truth. After being asked who murdered King Laios, Teiresias responded, "How dreadful knowledge of the truth can be When there's no help in truth! I knew this well but made myself

Knox believed that searching for the truth gave Oedipus his salvation. However, it seems Oedipus' misfortune happens in the first place because of his unending search for the truth, and that ignorance would have served as his salvation. If he hadn't been so over zealous about learning about the awful fate, which he was destined, to live then Oedipus would never have known that he killed his father, King Laius, and married his mother, Jocasta. In his ignorance, Oedipus would have been shielded from the horrors of his actions, and it can be suspected that he would have gone on to live a happy life. At the end of Oedipus's search for the truth, instead of gaining salvation through truth, Oedipus gains misery. Oedipus becomes a tortured old man; he gouges out his own eyes because he can't bear the pain of living with the "truth" which he learned. The revelation of who Oedipus really was also has an effect on his children. Oedipus realizes that his children have to live with their !

been avoided. Instead of remitting, Oedipus continues questioning a scared and sully Teiresias. Upon receiving more adamant refusals to answer his questions Oedipus scolds Teiresias as he yells "What you say is ungracious and unhelpful To your native country. Do not refuse to speak."(Sophocles 17). A heated verbal battle between an unremitting Oedipus and an unwilling Teiresias ensues. Af

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Approximate Word count = 925
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)