Assessment of Oedipus' Character- Mara V. Garcia

After having read Oedipus, my initial impression about his character is that he is arrogant, or Hubris, and also a bit oblivious. He misses pivotal signs about his situation despite the fact that it is being said, practically, outright to him. “If indeed you care for your own life, do not go after this!” (Sophocles 350) He seems to be dense in some ways, though other behaviors are in stark contrast to the idea of him being dense, i.e., the solving of the Sphinx.

Indispensable to his character is the incessant need to find the truth, which I personally could not understand, since all indications pointed to the truth not being favorable. However, it was only after understanding the connection between responsibility and character that was essential to the Greeks, did this search of his begin to make sense to me. That is something I admire in his character. His need to hear the truth, even though, on some levels he is aware that the truth can potentially destroy him. “Let it all burst out if it must!” (Sophocles 355) Almost as if the most bitter of truths is better than living in a sweet denial. Which in and of itself is the polar opposite of his constant denials to everything Tiresias says to him, earlier in the play.

Oedipus is intelligent and clever. However, there is an absence of wisdom, and insight for himself. He can see so clearly the situation of others, while he is blind to his own. Oedipus can also be intolerable when he is not given the information he desires. He has a sharp tongue, which seems almost genius, since it causes those withholding things from him to snap and tell him what he wants to hear. As was the case for Tiresias: “I say to you: Abide by that decree you made earlier, and from this day address neither these men here now me, since you are he unholy polluter of this land.” (Sophocles 133) Yet, this illustrates further his lack of wisdom. He is not receptive. A wiser man would have started connecting things by that point in the play, which is the very thing that can make him seem dense, in spite of his other virtues.