How is Oedipus a bad king?

On the bad side, Oedipus suffers from hubris (pride) which makes him blind to his own flaws. As he is promising dire punishment to whoever is responsible for bringing the plague, it never once occurs to him that the person might be him. He is blind to himself and thinks he can do no wrong.

How is Oedipus neither good or bad?

Oedipus was not completely good or bad. He was a man filled with arrogance and pride. Oedipus is a man who people want to be like, he has everything a man can want and comes from a high power. arrogance, which causes his downfall.

How is Oedipus as a king?

Prior to the start of Oedipus Rex, Oedipus has become the king of Thebes while unwittingly fulfilling a prophecy that he would kill his father, Laius (the previous king), and marry his mother, Jocasta (whom Oedipus took as his queen after solving the riddle of the Sphinx).

Is Oedipus a hero Why or why not?

In terms of the Aristotelian theory of tragedy, Oedipus is a tragic hero because he is not perfect, but has tragic flaws. Aristotle points out that Oedipus’ tragic flaw is excessive pride (hubris) and self-righteousness. He also points out certain characteristics that determine as tragic hero.

What bad qualities does Oedipus have?

King Oedipus, though a smart, capable, and caring ruler, is blinded by a tragic flaw (a weakness that a person can’t overcome). His weakness is hubris, an excessive pride that makes him ignore his ancient Greek belief in the superiority of the gods.

What is Oedipus flaw?

Oedipus fits this precisely, for his basic flaw is his lack of knowledge about his own identity. Moreover, no amount of foresight or preemptive action could remedy Oedipus’ hamartia; unlike other tragic heroes, Oedipus bears no responsibility for his flaw.

What are Oedipus strengths and weaknesses?

Whilst the novel,Critical Interpretations Dodds and Goulds essay argues that Oedipus “never possessed any flaws” (Bloom 1). However, one can conclude that he had two major flaws; which were, his ability to quickly accuse others instead of owning up to his mistakes, and his obsession with being the hero.

What was Oedipus greatest mistake?

Knowing the gods and the prophecy are set against him, they wonder what could happen next for this man who saved Thebes. With the city besieged by a plague, the noble Oedipus’ fatal flaw is his unwillingness to accept what the prophecy has declared as his fate. Finally, the requirement of catharsis.

How was Oedipus prideful?

Oedipus’ pride is revealed in his belief that he is greater than the gods. He believes that he is capable of establishing his own destiny apart from the gods’ control or help. The priest is referring to Oedipus’ answer to the riddle of the Sphinx, which delivered the people of Thebes from the Sphinx’s oppression.

What is hubris in Oedipus the King?

Hubris is defined by the Webster-Miriam dictionary as “Exaggerated pride or confidence” (Miriam-Webster Dictionary) in Oedipus the King, by Sophocles, In Oedipus The King, by Sophocles, the onslaught of pain assailing the protagonist is a result of his tragic flaw.

What are Oedipus bad qualities?

The play Oedipus Rex is a literary tragedy, and its hero Oedipus’ most famous character trait is also his tragic flaw: hubris, or excessive pride.

What are the good qualities of Oedipus the king?

lsumner | Certified Educator. Like many great kings, Oedipus has many good qualities. First, he learns of the prophecy that he is to grow up and kill his father and marry his mother. Not knowing that he is adopted, Oedipus leaves his home and family in order to prevent the prophecy from manifesting itself true.

How would Aristotle have judged Oedipus?

In this light, Aristotle would have judged Oedipus to be a good man, or more precisely, a good ruler because Oedipus’ labor was “for the benefit of others,” one of Aristotle’s characteristics of a good ruler. Similarly, in Oedipus’ quest for the truth, he established his goodness under another category of Aristotelian virtue.

Why does Oedipus seek out the murderer of his father?

Again, unknowingly, he seeks out the murderer of King Laius, his father, in order to rid the land of the plague from the gods. Oedipus displays a genuine, deeply concerned attitude. Truly, Oedipus cares for his new kingdom and its people. He meets directly with his subjects and promises to kill the man who has caused the plague.

Was Oedipus a poor ruler or a tyrant?

Displaying this willingness to help his citizens and earning such lofty acclaim as being called “great” or “greatest,” Oedipus could not have been a poor ruler or a tyrant.