Oedipus Pride Quotes

The only true statement that Oedipus makes in this quote is pointing out the Queen’s shame. Iocastê has just come to the realization that Oedipus is her son. She must be beyond embarrassment not only because of her failed attempt to abandon her son, but also because she is now married to him. Oedipus believes his birth to be lowly and he takes pride in this. In reality, he is the son of a king.
Similarly to Oedipus’s response to Teiresias, Oedipus once again will not take the advice of those who know the truth. He ignores his wife who has this knew knowledge and his arrogance and pride lead him to push her commentary aside and pursue more information. This is a continuing pattern for Oedipus. He rejects any words that do not fit his

desires but at the same time tries to force people to speak as he does before Iocastê flees.
In this quote, what Oedipus considers Luck, is really fate. He uses “Luck” instead of “luck” perhaps to emphasize the fact that despite his biological family, he is really only the child of Luck or fate. Such words then are proper nouns or given physical meaning. Here, Oedipus feels he is the son of Luck or good fortune, that the gods smile down on him. He won’t be ashamed to come from low origin because that will only add to his pride that he has made himself great though he came from nothing. But Oedipus, “a child of fate”, is instead fate’s pawn. Luck or fate, his “parent” works throughout time, “his brothers.” Using these terms it sounds as if Oedipus wants to belittle fate and time for his manipulation which is a recurring theme in the play.
How could Oedipus wish he were someone else? He is about to find out. Often the truth (which Iocastê and Teiresias tried to protect him from) hurts.