Oedipus Rex

You Are Not The Boss Of Me!!!

Oedipus is a very complex character. He can be viewed as either caring and sympathetic to his subjects or he can be viewed as a self-centered ruler who only puts on an act in hopes of gaining the adoration of his subjects. Oedipus Rex in fact was a very prideful king. This was proven in many of his speeches. For instances in scene one, line 180, in scene two, line 280, and finally scene 3,line 148 all prove that Oedipus is a self-centered king.

In scene one, line 180 Oedipus says "the simple man, who knows nothing I thought it out for myself." This line comes from a conversation that Oedipus was having with Teiresias. In this conversation Oedipus is responding to the news that he was just given. His attitude was that of I know everything and you know nothing. Oedipus is making reference how he Oedipus from Corinth solved the riddle of the Sphinx and saved the town of Thebes.

Then again in scene two, line 280 Oedipus says "as the charioteer lurched over towards me I struck him in rage." In this passage is he is telling the story of how he killed the men on the road. The men asked Oedipus to move out of the way and he didn't see why he should move, so as the driver of the chariot went to move him he attacked him. His attitude was saying that he didn't have to move and no one had the right to make him move. With this train of thought he attacked and killed the men.

Another example is in scene 3, line 148 "My own good, Snaps my patience, then; I want none of it." Oedipus is talking with Jocasta and she is trying to warn him and he simply refuses to listens. Oedipus has the belief that he knows best for him and no one else. He refuses to listen to reason and just doesn't have time for anything other than what he believes.

In conclusion, Oedipus is a self-centered ruler who pretended to look out for the good of Thebes, but in actuality only wanted to make Oedipus look good. He refused to listen to any one and dismissed all he didn't want to hear.