ts: he pits himself in some way against whatever…seems to him to be wrong…”(Levin 178). Oedipus can not let this investigation be overlooked; he must solve the riddle of who killed King Laius because his pride overpowers him. Oedipus' pride also reveals itself again in his loyalty to the truth.Oedipus' constant struggle to discover the truth for the sake of his people ruined him the most in the end. Although he is warned many times to stop seeking the truth, he keeps on searching. Oedipus' need to uncover the truth about Laius and then about himself is proof of his commitment to uphold his own nature, pride. He cannot live with a lie, and therefore must learn the truth behind the illusion he has lived for so long. Teresias, Jocasta, and the herdsman all try to put an end Oedipus’ questioning, but persists in solving the riddle. The hero's conscious choice to pursue and accept his doom makes him a tragic figure. Oedipus Rex single-handedly ruined his own life through his arrogant pride. He “is a free agent, and he is responsible for the catastrophe”(Fagles/Knox 149). Oedipus' pride as a hero, a loyal King, and a truth seeker turned him into a tragic figure. He is a victim of fate, but not a puppet; he freely sought his doom though warned against pursuing it. Fate may have determined the actions of his early years, but what he did as King of Thebes he did of his own free will. It was his own choice to kill Laius, his own choice to seek an answer to heal his people, and his own choice to learn the final truth. He claimed full responsibility, as a hero should, when Choragos asked what god drove him to blind himself. Oedipus' pride stood in the way of a life of happiness. Sophocles ends this tragic story by warning his audience not to take anything for granted lest they suffer like Oedipus, a lesson in which many should take heed. ...
