Oedipus

The Heroism of Oedipus
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The play follows the life of the titular character, the king of Thebes, who fulfils an unsavoury prophecy on patricide and incest. It highlights the plight of one King Laius, whose wife Jocasta brings forth a son. Initially, the king is excited at the prospects of an heir but this change after oracle prophecies that his son will kill him. He asks his wife to kill the child, but she is unable to do it, delegating this lewd act to a servant. In a twist to the plot, the baby is adopted by King Polybus. While travelling in his youth, Oedipus encounters a delegation, and a scuffle ensues. He is enraged, culminating in the death of Laius, his birth father. He then ascends to the kingdom in triumph and marries Jocasta, his birth mother. Unbeknownst to them, the prophecy had been fulfilled. It is noteworthy that Oedipus marked the advent of a literary genre with a focus on a tragic hero. However, it is a worthy concession that Oedipus stands out in the play as a strong character, emerging triumphant from challenging situations numerous times.
Sophocles exhibits quintessential literary abilities, highlighting numerous of Oedipus’ weak traits. It is noteworthy that the play is rife with instances of implicit pride by Oedipus. The pride is evident when the king is enraged by the oracle Tiresias, belittling him and accusing him of incompetence. He described the Oracle saying, ‘this mountebank, this juggling charlatan, This tricksy beg…