gly curses himself. "Tis a just zeal for the cause of that slain man. And right it is in me that ye shall see me fighting that cause for Phoebus and for Thebes”. In order for Sophocles' play to be categorized as tragic, the tragic hero had to have some sort of a flaw. The hero’s tragic flaws are the qualities, which ultimately lead to his downfall. Oedipus’ pride, ignorance, insolence towards the gods, and unrelenting quest for the truth ultimately contributed to his destruction. When Terrisias told Oedipus that he was responsible for the murder of Laius, he became enraged and calls the old oracle a liar. He ran away from his home in Corinth, in hopes of outsmarting the gods divine will. Like his father, Oedipus also sought ways to escape the horrible destiny told by the oracle of Apollo. The chorus warns us of man's need to have reverence for the gods, and the dangers of too much pride. "But if a man tread the ways of arrogance; fear not justice, honour not the gods enshrined; evil take him! Ruin be the prize of his fatal pride!”the chorus asks him what god urged him to blind himself. Oedipus replied, "’Twas Apollo, friends, willed the evil, willed, and brought the agony to pass! And yet the hand that struck was mine, mine only”. He claimed full responsibility for his actions. Oedipus was guilty of killing his father and marrying his mother, but perhaps the true sin lay in his overzealous attempt to raise himself to the level of the gods by trying to escape his fate. Ultimately Oedipus was judged for his pride in his conquests surrounding Thebes. This judgement brought him a loss of everything and an exile from Thebes. Although Oedipus was unaware of the facts concerning the true nature of Laius and Jocasta, the extent of his crimes were still malicious. When he tears out his eyes Oedipus is accepting the full burden of his acts and knew that he must be punished for his sins. Therefore the last act o...
