Blog Post #2 Hubris

           After Oedipus is told he is the murderer of Laius, he doesn’t believe it, but he soon starts to. Oedipus is angry at Creon for revealing all of this bad information. Oedipus has an element of hubris in this scene. Everyone accuses Oedipus of the murder and even lay down the facts. Oedipus is persistent in denying the murder. He has hubris and lets it get to him. He says when talking to Tiresias: “Mock me for that, go on, and you’ll reveal my greatness (502).” When Oedipus realizes he may have actually murdered Laius, he begins to defend himself as he says “…I saved the city (504)…“ Oedipus believes what the people don’t know can’t hurt them, but Creon and Tiresias are close to ratting him out. Oedipus knows neither of them will say anything. When the people find out though he will be destroyed. The chorus do not think Oedipus did it. They love him and think he is a great king. When they see Oedipus and Creon fighting they try to stop it because they don’t think either one of them could have possibly committed such a crime.                Oedipus is confident that no one will ever find out the truth and he has no doubt that Creon will not find any proof. He is not worried and now that he knows what he did he will try as hard as he can to protect the people from his truth, so he can continue to be a “successful” king. His hubris will be his destruction.

Oedipus acts like there is no way he can be convicted of this crime,
but his hubris has no chance against the wave of uncertainty coming his way.