The Pride of Oedipus The King by Sophocles Greek tragedy is characterized by the emotional catharsis caused by the horrible suffering of a heroic figure. In Sophocles' Oedipus Rex, the attack of pain that attacks the protagonist is a consequence of his tragic flaw. Sophocles often used the character's hamartia to alter or influence the hero's outcome or future. Oedipus' arrogance traps him to fulfill the oracle and intensifies his punishment. Oedipus' pride is an innate characteristic. Even before his glory and power as king of Thebes, he allowed his self-importance to cloud his judgment and govern his actions. Unknowingly, Oedipus fulfills Apollo's oracle when he encounters a group of men at a crossroads. The driver offends Oedipus as he passes by, inciting Oedipus' anger. Although the contact is only a slight intrusion, Oedipus, outraged that anyone dared to disturb him, "gave them back with interest" and "killed each of them, every mother's son." In hindsight, as he recounts the incident to Jocasta, he feels no remorse for the loss of his life nor for his role in the crime. Instead, Oedipus' tone is one of satisfaction at having obtained revenge. If his arrogance had not intervened, Oedipus would not have made the rash decision to kill the entire group and would not have fulfilled the prophecy. Oedipus' self-confidence blinds him to the impossibility of escaping the fate predestined by the gods. Dramatic irony is present when Oedipus tries to circumvent the horrible prophecy that he would kill his father and mate with his mother, because by fleeing Corinth to avoid killing Polybus, he is taking steps that will fulfill the prophecy. Once again his overconfidence contributes to the impending catastrophe; in believing that... middle of paper......or torturing the pastor, "So you will not speak willingly, then you will speak painfully." In fact, Oedipus' cruelty literally snatches his end from the shepherd: "You are a dead man, I have to ask you again". Once again, Oedipus is blind to the subtle hints the shepherd leaves for Oedipus to decipher. So far Oedipus' pride has blinded him from the truth and from seeing the intentions of others; he was stubborn. When isolated, each of these events can be excused as a simple mistake, but when viewed together a pattern emerges. The tragic outcome of Oedipus' life is caused by his underlying character flaw: pride. However, Oedipus is a tragic hero because he becomes aware of his guilt and takes responsibility for his actions. Works Cited Sophocles. The three Theban comedies (pp.159-251). Penguin Classics.New York, New York:1984.