Realizing Identity, Realizing Flaws

In Sophocles' Oedipus as well as Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the main character embarks on a journey to self-discovery, ultimately gaining the knowledge of his own flaws. Yet the differences in their failings cause the two characters to have very different endings. After Oedipus learns of his true identity, he realizes that he has cursed himself with his arrogance and pride, and the play ends tragically. Sir Gawain, on the other hand, has good reason for his mistakes as he simply fears for his own life and his story ends on a lighter note. While self-discovery can humble a character, the nature of his flaws ultimately determine his end.

Initially Oedipus appears blind to the knowledge of his heritage, but, by the end of the play he gains the horrifying knowledge of his true identity and the information he has indeed fulfilled the prophecy. Once Oedipus realizes that he has fulfilled the oracle, he panics and cries out, "LIGHT LIGHT LIGHT / never again flood these eyes with your white radiance, oh gods, my eyes. All, all / the oracles have proven true" (ll. 1492-1494). Oedipus finally comes out of figurative blindness and into the "light," or knowledge, that he has indeed killed his father and married his mother. He essentially curses he new-found wisdom and begs that "light never again" reach his eyes because of its horrifying consequences. In addition, Oedipus recognizes the fact that he "knew nothing until now, saw nothing until now, and became / the husband of the woman who gave him birth" (ll. 1926-1927). He admits that that until his conversation with shepherd he "knew nothing until now," as he believed that he would not complete the prophecy by fleeing to Corinth. Unfortunately, this new i...

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...r Gawain's reminder of his faults into a sign of "honour" which turns out as "good for the Round Table's renown." The court chooses to forgive Sir Gawain's shameful cowardice and wear the green out of respect for King Arthur's knight. In fact, the symbol whose original purpose served as a reminder of Sir Gawain's failings, now becomes a positive sign "for the Round Table's renown." Consequently, Sir Gawain does not fall for his actions but instead maintains the respect he receives from King Arthur's court.

While Oedipus' pride and arrogance causes him to fall into disgrace once he learns his true identity, Sir Gawain's pride initially causes him shame, but ultimately is forgiven. Because Oedipus acts arrogantly for his own selfish purposes whereas Sir Gawain acts out of fear, Oedipus' pride cannot be absolved and he therefore becomes a blind outcast.