Characterization of Oedipus

A detailed Summary of Characterization of Oedipus


A tragic hero would not be as tragic were they not to realize the truth or become enlightened in the end. At the end of Oedipus Rex, Oedipus comes to terms with himself and the truth from which he had been avoiding. The things that shape Oedipus throughout the story are what make him this thing we call a tragic character. The way he reacts and changes his perception all the while is what creates and characterizes Oedipus the King.

At the beginning of Oedipus Rex, Oedipus is the king of Thebes. He has all the adoration and acclaim he could ever desire. "The world knows my name; I am Oedipus", is the biggest indication that he is getting a big head about things. The people are coming to him for help with the most recent plague. They are, once again, calling on him to solve the problem. His confidence in himself is most noticeable for his has already sent his brother-in-law Creon to talk to the Oracle at Delphi. Oedipus thinks he can handle the plague by himself, he seems to not be relying whatsoever on the gods and their wisdom. Instead he is taking his own meas


In the end Oedipus is a broken, sad man. His mother has killed herself and he has stabbed out his own eyes with her hair pins. Oedipus had finally seen the truth and could not bear to see it any longer. He begged for exile and banishment, wanting only for his destiny to be his alone. He cries out as any man would in his desperate moment. Oedipus is more human than king in his long lament. He curses his birth, marriage, and life. His daughters weep for him but are taken away. No man will touch him and he must be forced to leave. "So all life is miserable, and only death can bring peace." Those words ring true for Oedipus now that he has been brought down from his high position. All knowledge has been given to him whether he liked it or not. At the beginning he was King and glorified and now he is the incestuous son who killed his own father. The transition from high to low, what Aristotle calls 'Peripetia', the reversal of situation, is now Oedipus' reality. Oedipus is taken from king to beggar and from light to dark. His character is no more the great king of Thebes. "Oedipus, the greatest

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Approximate Word count = 749
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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