Prompt: Hubris is defined as excessive personal pride. As Oedipus is about to learn the devasting truth of his origin and his destiny, the chorus observes, "Audacity sires the tyrant." In a well-written essay, argue whether or not hubris is the essential cause of Oedipus's downfall. Avoid plot summary.
Oedipus vs. Hubris
Since the day Oedipus was born, fate destined him to marry his mother and kill his father. There are ways Oedipus is able to avoid this fate, but his arrogance over-powers him. Getting rid of his hubris, Oedipus handles his situations differently to lower his chances of the prophecy coming true, but he does not do that. Apollo knows Oedipus' future before he is born, so the prophecy purposely correlates with his hubris. If Apollo sees Oedipus living a generous life, then the prophecy cease to exist. Oedipus' hubris is the cause of his downfall because he refuses to listen, he is self-centered, and he makes the wrong decisions.
In Oedipus Rex, Oedipus' refusal to listen leads him to his downfall. Teiresias tells Oedipus that he murdered Laius, but Oedipus thinks there is no possible way he is that blind to kill the previous king. In Oedipus Rex, Teiresias says to Oedipus, "You yourself are the pollution of this country," (Oedipus Rex, Scene 1, line 338). Oedipus' argument demands Teirsias to repeat himself because Oedipus says, "I did not understand it. Say it again," (Scene 1, line 346). Oedipus' outrage continues toward Creon after Teiresias brings him up in the conversation. This is when Oedipus displays his self-centered character.
In Oedipus Rex, Oedipus believes everything centers around him, and everybody envies him. Oedipus thinks Creon attempts to over-throw the kingdom in place of the crown. In the story Oedipus Rex, Oedipus exclaims, "What savage envy is stored up against these, / If Creon, whom I trusted, Creon my friend, / Creon desires in secret to destroy me!" (Scene 1 368-371). According to Oedipus, everybody wishes to be him. This is one reason that leads to his downfall because he is first to accuse everybody for the trouble of his own mistake. Once he finds out the truth, all of the accusing is meaningless. In the beginning of the play, Oedipus believes that nobody lives a harder life than he does. Even with the plague going around, nothing seems to matter. In Oedipus Rex, Oedipus announces to the people, "I know that you are deathly sick; and yet, / Sick as you are, not one is as sick as I," (Prologue 62-63). This is an example of Dramatic irony because the audience knows Oedipus speaks the truth according to the prophecy, but Oedipus does not even know the truth behind his own words. Along with Oedipus' lack of listening skills and selfishness, he also veers off into a lack of decision making skills.
In the play, Oedipus Rex, Oedipus continously makes the wrong decisions. His bad choices are part of the reason his fate comes true. If he avoids murdering, then it is impossible for the prophecy to come true. In the story of Oedipus, the prophecy states, "Their son would one day kill his father," (page 200). Going along with the prophecy, Oedipus kills his father making it possible to depict his fate. Furthermore, Oedipus decides to listen to himself. When Teiresias tells the truth, Oedipus' decision to blame others leads him to a dreadful ending.
Oedipus' hubris is the reason for his downfall. If Oedipus chooses a different route, then his foster parents and his biological parents live. All he has to do is stay in Corinth in order to keep everybody safe. This goes to show, life depicts upon decisions, so make the right ones.
Reflection
In my original Oedipus Rex essay, I noticed my sentences would match better if I rearranged my words. In many of my sentences I switched up the word order. For instance, my second sentence said, "There could be ways through which Oedipus could have avoided his fate, but his arrogance over-powered him." To fix my verb tense and "be" verb, I revised the sentence to: "There are ways Oedipus is able to avoid this fate, but his arrogance over-powers him." Also, in the third paragraph I shortened the qoute, so I was able to get to the main point. Before it said, "What savage envy is stored up against these, / If Creon, whom I trusted, Creon my friend, / For this great office which the city once/ put in my hands unsought-if for this power/ Creon desires in secret to destroy me! / Why, he is no more clairvoyant than I am!" (Scene 1 368-372 line 374). I noticed I was able to eliminate much of that qoute, and it would still make sense.
Oedipus vs. Hubris
Since the day Oedipus was born, fate destined him to marry his mother and kill his father. There are ways Oedipus is able to avoid this fate, but his arrogance over-powers him. Getting rid of his hubris, Oedipus handles his situations differently to lower his chances of the prophecy coming true, but he does not do that. Apollo knows Oedipus' future before he is born, so the prophecy purposely correlates with his hubris. If Apollo sees Oedipus living a generous life, then the prophecy cease to exist. Oedipus' hubris is the cause of his downfall because he refuses to listen, he is self-centered, and he makes the wrong decisions.
In Oedipus Rex, Oedipus' refusal to listen leads him to his downfall. Teiresias tells Oedipus that he murdered Laius, but Oedipus thinks there is no possible way he is that blind to kill the previous king. In Oedipus Rex, Teiresias says to Oedipus, "You yourself are the pollution of this country," (Oedipus Rex, Scene 1, line 338). Oedipus' argument demands Teirsias to repeat himself because Oedipus says, "I did not understand it. Say it again," (Scene 1, line 346). Oedipus' outrage continues toward Creon after Teiresias brings him up in the conversation. This is when Oedipus displays his self-centered character.
In Oedipus Rex, Oedipus believes everything centers around him, and everybody envies him. Oedipus thinks Creon attempts to over-throw the kingdom in place of the crown. In the story Oedipus Rex, Oedipus exclaims, "What savage envy is stored up against these, / If Creon, whom I trusted, Creon my friend, / Creon desires in secret to destroy me!" (Scene 1 368-371). According to Oedipus, everybody wishes to be him. This is one reason that leads to his downfall because he is first to accuse everybody for the trouble of his own mistake. Once he finds out the truth, all of the accusing is meaningless. In the beginning of the play, Oedipus believes that nobody lives a harder life than he does. Even with the plague going around, nothing seems to matter. In Oedipus Rex, Oedipus announces to the people, "I know that you are deathly sick; and yet, / Sick as you are, not one is as sick as I," (Prologue 62-63). This is an example of Dramatic irony because the audience knows Oedipus speaks the truth according to the prophecy, but Oedipus does not even know the truth behind his own words. Along with Oedipus' lack of listening skills and selfishness, he also veers off into a lack of decision making skills.
In the play, Oedipus Rex, Oedipus continously makes the wrong decisions. His bad choices are part of the reason his fate comes true. If he avoids murdering, then it is impossible for the prophecy to come true. In the story of Oedipus, the prophecy states, "Their son would one day kill his father," (page 200). Going along with the prophecy, Oedipus kills his father making it possible to depict his fate. Furthermore, Oedipus decides to listen to himself. When Teiresias tells the truth, Oedipus' decision to blame others leads him to a dreadful ending.
Oedipus' hubris is the reason for his downfall. If Oedipus chooses a different route, then his foster parents and his biological parents live. All he has to do is stay in Corinth in order to keep everybody safe. This goes to show, life depicts upon decisions, so make the right ones.
Reflection
In my original Oedipus Rex essay, I noticed my sentences would match better if I rearranged my words. In many of my sentences I switched up the word order. For instance, my second sentence said, "There could be ways through which Oedipus could have avoided his fate, but his arrogance over-powered him." To fix my verb tense and "be" verb, I revised the sentence to: "There are ways Oedipus is able to avoid this fate, but his arrogance over-powers him." Also, in the third paragraph I shortened the qoute, so I was able to get to the main point. Before it said, "What savage envy is stored up against these, / If Creon, whom I trusted, Creon my friend, / For this great office which the city once/ put in my hands unsought-if for this power/ Creon desires in secret to destroy me! / Why, he is no more clairvoyant than I am!" (Scene 1 368-372 line 374). I noticed I was able to eliminate much of that qoute, and it would still make sense.