rother/uncle Creon, and the prophet Tiresias. When Tiresias comes to talk to Oedipus, and does not tell Oedipus who Lauis’ murderer is; Oedipus gets angry and accuses Tiresias of taking part in the murder. In turn this enrages Tiresias who declares that Oedipus is himself the murderer that he seeks. Outraged Oedipus believes that Tiresias and Creon are the killers of the previous king. Upon his arrival from Delphi Creon hears rumors that Oedipus has accused him of being involved in the murder of Lauis. When Creon returns he says, “I hear that King Oedipus brings terrible charges against me”(Sophocles 1238). When Creon confronts Oedipus about these false accusations, Oedipus tells Creon that when his enemy moves against him, and plots in secret, he in turn moves quickly and plots to pay him back. If he relaxes his guard for a moment, his enemy wins and he looses. Creon then asks, “What do you want? You want me banished?”(Sophocles 1241). Oedipus responds, “No, I want you dead”(Sophocles 1241). After Oedipus has accused Creon of plotting to kill the king, Creon tells Oedipus that he does wrong when he takes good men for bad, bad men for good, and in time Oedipus will know this well.Wilkins 6Every tragic hero has a downfall Oedipus’ fall from grace begins with his self discovery. Oedipus’ discovery of himself is the climax in the play. The messenger recognizes the king as the child whose life he saved years before on Cithaeron. But this is not special because the messenger recognizes Oedipus, but because Oedipus discovers himself. After Oedipus realizes the crimes he has committed and that the prophecy has been fulfilled, he blinds himself and so begins his tragic fall. Instead of seeing a proud king who was present in the beginning of the story, we see a helpless, blinded sufferer. Ultimately Oedipus possessed all the proper traits and characteristics of the hero, but these characteris...
