Oedipus Rex

A detailed Summary of Oedipus Rex

Oedipus began Oedipus Rex as a king, only to end the tale as a blinded

beggar. Oedipus' fall from his kingly status was not by accident or

because of some other person. Oedipus is the only one that can be blamed

for his misfortune. Oedipus' character traits are shown most clearly

during his spiralling downfall, thinking he is "a simple man, who knows

nothing", yet knowing more than he realizes by the end of the story.

Throughout the story, Oedipus' haste or lack of patience is most

evident. Wishing to end this mystery of the death of Laios as quickly as

possible, Oedipus passes an edict to kill or exile anyone who withholds

information. Teiresias tested Oedipus' patience in the beginning of the

story with the information he was holding; "You'd try a stone's patience!

not help him at all. During the story, we learn of Oedipus' anger as he

The decline of Oedipus' was started by himself. His traits of anger,

claiming that "Creon has brought this decrepit fortune teller" to mean that

The final trait that was Oedipus' greatest enemy throughout the

knocked a passerby at the meeting of the three highways; "I struck him in

revealed to be Laios, Oedipus' father. Oedipus' anger also quickly

about the future, nor shaken up about what was to happen.

is also shown as he begins to insult Teiresias by calling him a "wicked old

Approximate Word count = 551
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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