Pride In Oedipus Rex

In the story of the tragic hero, Oedipus, the reader can instantly predict that they main character is very prideful. In the beginning of the story, readers find out about Oedipus’s victory when the priest reminds him that”…. [He] freed [them] from the Sphinx” (Prologue.44). The Sphinx was a creature that had been terrorizing their city, killing those who could not solve her riddles. However, until her encounter with Oedipus, no one could stop her, and upon him solving one of her riddles, she flew into the sea and never lived to tell a riddle again. For Oedipus to be the only one to beat her at her own game made him great. He must have felt like a gift from the gods to the world and the people’s praise could have only driven his ego higher. Moreover, readers also can establish that Oedipus was an equal to the gods. He had so much pride that he put himself before the gods, asking the people of his city to “ …let [him] grant [their] prayers” (Prologue. 245), which is really a dangerous gesture. He has so much pride that he thinks he should be the only one to whom the people can pray. The people of Thebes even worship and call to him, “Oedipus, king, we

bow to you, your power…” (Prologue. 50). The citizens of Thebes give him the power and strength. If they are always bowing to him, praying to him, worshiping him and idolizing him, then there is no reason Oedipus should not feel so much pride.
Likewise, in the story of Oedipus, readers can see through the main character’s own words that he is prideful.

Throughout the story the main character makes sure that he is seen as the local hero. He first reveals his flaw of pride after a plea from the priest as he replies, “…you all know me, the world knows my fame: / I am Oedipus” (Prologue. 7­8), as if to prove something. He boasts about himself as if the news were unknown to the priest and beggars. His idea of killing such a wicked creature could have brought global news as he says, but that is only in his mind. In addition, Oedipus reveals another evident statement during an argument with Tiresias, a prophet, justifying that “[He] stopped the Sphinx! With no help from the birds, / the flight of [his] own intelligence hit the mark.” This statement is used

against
Tiresias to prove himself better and to belittle the prophet for his strong words against Oedipus. Oedipus uses his defeat of the Sphinx as a defense mechanism to shut the prophet down. He is angered, which is why more of his flaws are revealed. Oedipus’s anger is what truly bring out his key flaw and allows the reader to see what type of man he really is.