Oedipus the King Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Oedipus the King - Essay Example A true hero is characterized by his emotional strength. Analysis of Oedipus suggests that Oedipus was a true as well as tragic hero. Human experience tells that a responsible king strives hard for the peace of the nation. In the start of the play, Oedipus takes all measures in the capacity of the King of Thebes to protect his people from the plague that has caught them. He not only provides everything that his people need, but also makes sure that they stay in good health. Therefore he sends Creon to the house of Apollo to seek the oracle’s advice. This is expected of a responsible king. Then to find Laius’s murderer, Oedipus seeks advice from the Chorus and hence approaches Teiresias for help. The fact that Oedipus consults the Chorus regarding the way he should proceed with the investigation speaks of the value he gives to his people and immense confidence that he places in them. People feel honored when they have been consulted by the ruler before he makes important decisions. Human experience tells that subordinates’ morale is vital to the success of any system, be that as small as an organizational setup or as large as a country. Oedipus cares a lot for his people, and involves them in the decision making. By doing this, he provides another proof of being a people’s property. ... He would go to any length to provide his people with a safe environment to live in. His efforts to search for the cure of plague, his involvement of the public in decision making and his dare to know the truth despite having been warned make Oedipus a hero. Oedipus has no other way but to suspect that there has been a deal between Teirasias and Creon. He fully believes that Creon is the traitor and yet he lets go of him when his wife and the Chorus plead him to be open-minded. Such generosity and forgiveness can be expected of nobody else but a hero. This potentially means that Oedipus forgives a person that insults him overtly in front of the whole public and for something, that Oedipus has not even done. Oedipus was in power. He could have got Creon as well as Teirasias killed for their act. Even a king who has actually done all the crimes Teirasias accused Oedipus of would not spare Teirasias and Creon for bringing this secret in the public eye, but Oedipus was kind enough to let go of them when he was actually innocent! Oedipus also knows what forgiving Creon means. Creon says to the Chorus, â€Å"I would have you know that this request of yours really requests my death or banishment†¦Well, let go him then – if I must die ten times for it†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Sophocles and Grene, line 669). There is little wonder he does so because heroes do that! Oedipus has sufficient evidence to believe what Teirasias said. He had killed a stranger at a place where three roads met. He could tell that Jocasta was talking about the very stranger as she mentioned some identity marks for Laius. He also knows that his ankles are pierced. All of these together with an oracle’s prediction that Oedipus would kill his own father and marry his own mother before he left his hometown