Tragic flaw with regard to Oedipus in the drama Oedipus Rex.
The calamity must non be a spectacle of a virtuous adult male brought from prosperity to hardship: for this moves neither commiseration nor fright ; it simply shocks us ; nor once more. that of a bad adult male go throughing from hardship to prosperity…It must concern a adult male who is non eminently good and merely. yet whose bad luck is brought about non by frailty or corruption. but by some mistake or infirmity. ( The Poetics ) In Oedipus Rex. the character of Oedipus is a victim of tragic flaw. and his peculiar defect is hubris. “Hamartia “is an Aristotelean term which frequently finds its use in Grecian calamities. It is frequently referred to as a “tragic defect “or “tragic error” . Aristotle in his work. ”Poetics’’described Oedipus Rex a calamity by Sophocles as a perfect illustration of the presentation of the term “hamartia” .
It is hamartia that creates a tragic hero. It is besides said to intend losing the grade. or moral shortage or tragic mistake. Hamartia is what causes the tragic hero to make the antonym of what he intends to make. In instance of Oedipus it is his defect of character or nescient mistake that can be said to hold led to his ruin. It can be argued that it is non hamartia entirely that led to Oedipus’ ruin. the elements of destiny. and free will besides are 1s to be considered but the fact remains that it is the fatal defect or fatal mistake or headlong opinion of the character or characters involved that triggers off a set of tragic sequences predestined or non which finally lead to a tragic terminal. and this remains relevant in instance of Oedipus Rex.
Hubris besides seems to be the root cause for most of the actions undertaken by the characters in the play including Oedipus’ biological parents. In the gap scenes of the drama Oedipus comes across as the ideal King. insightful. concerned for his citizens and a adult male of action. Oedipus main defect or tragic flaw appears to be his “hubris” or pride. The whole point of calamity is how mistakes can undo even good purposes and lead to downfall. Oedipus is considered a great adult male. the Chorus calls him “the foremost of work forces “ . Throughout the drama we come across both the good and bad side of Oedipus. He is good intentioned but however there are intimations of pride and self-love. “I will convey everything into light’ ’and ironically in the procedure of making so in a mentally unsighted manner loses his sight physically in the terminal.
In the gap scenes of the drama the audience does see hints of Oedipus’ “self-glorification. “I Oedipus whose name is known afar” . His assurance in his ain perfection is what. paves the manner for his ruin. his hubris lies in his unconditioned sense of righteousness. and he thinks himself to be above reproach. Oedipus comes across as impulsive. hasty in opinion and speedy to take discourtesy during his het exchange with Teiresias. his brother-in-law Creon and the old shepherd. It is of importance to observe that the Greek rubric of the drama was. Oedipus Tyrannos/ Oedipus the autocrat. It is of significance that the Chorus references that it is pride that ‘breeds the tyrant’ . “from castled height pride tumbles to a pit” . They besides say that he who walks in ‘his ain cavalier way’ will non get away ‘doomed prides’ punishment’ .
His offenses of patricide and incest although done through ignorance and contrary to his aristocracy. It can be said that his central wickedness. pride is what led to his murdering his biological male parent Laius in the first topographic point. although he was provoked. his volcanic choler and pride is apparent because he did non even save the grooms all except the 1 who escaped with his life. And such a rash reaction can non be justified. We come across his haughtiness. rash pique and haste in opinion. He hurls abuses at Teiresias and even accuses him of co-conspiring with Creon without any scintilla of cogent evidence. He goes every bit far as to tease his sightlessness. Oedipus is over confident of his wisdom ; he shuns the truth and prognostications of a tested and sure wise adult male like Teiresias. Oedipus during his het exchange with Creon appears as one willing to utilize his power in a oppressive manner. stating that he would instead hold Creon dead than exiled.
Oedipus exercises a terrible deficiency of opinion his one time celebrated wisdom is clouded by his pride. The Chorus advises cautiousness yet he takes none. He is speedy to take offense. He is apparently preoccupied with his ain aristocracy and rigid in his pursuit for the truth. Oedipus ‘blindness to what is field to the audience is what creates the image of a tragic hero described by Aristotle. Even if we excuse Oedipus ‘actions as those done in ignorance we yet can non deny that he shuns wholly good intentioned advice from Teiresias. the Chorus. Jocasta and this is surely because of his pride which is his instance can be said to be his tragic flaw or that which leads him to his ain ruin.
Hubris in this drama is non one that Oedipus’ entirely displays. Pride can besides be seen in this play in the position of the characters seeking to hedge the prophet which in antediluvian Greek times would be considered pride in itself because the Gods determined destiny and to overreach the Gods wasn’t a wise thing to make in the eyes of the Grecian audience. Get downing with Laius and Jocasta acquiring rid of Oedipus. and subsequently on Oedipus who does non cognize that he is adopted foliages Corinth to maintain from harming his parents. If Oedipus was baronial plenty to go forth his adoptive parents for the interest of the prophet non being fulfilled so he would hold been baronial plenty to maintain from murdering Laius had he cognize that he was his male parent. The equivocation is caused by tragic flaw nevertheless we may see it. as a fatal defect or headlong opinion. in instance of defect chiefly hubris ; pride in seeking to avoid what was in shop itself led the manner for Oedipus ‘tragic terminal.
The calamity of Oedipus is his pride in his aristocracy and ability to a certain extent. had he non tried to avoid the godly prophet. he would hold remained in Corinth and the prophet may ne’er hold been fulfilled. Had he non been disdainful and roseola in his actions. he would non hold slayed Laius out of hurt pride. He is full of self –confidence that makes him drop the ball systematically. “I am a kid of Fortune. the giver of good and I shall non be shamed …Born therefore. I ask to be no other adult male than what I am. and will cognize who I am. This is an illustration one of the many fatal defects of Oedipus.
Hence tragic flaw is a literary tool used to to the full mensurate the effects of 1s actions. Hamartia is what highlights the ruin of a hero and what makes a calamity a calamity.
