Question

At which point in the play do you think that Oedipus stops being a good leader? Or, to put it another way, at which point in the play do you think that Oedipus begins to act and / or make decisions that are not wise?

Answer 1

• An instance where we see Oedipus' hubris is when he proclaims that he, himself, will end the pestilence that plagues Thebes. In not foreseeing that making such a proclamation could result in fated disaster, one sees his hubris in full view. Both of these instances can demonstrate that his bad choices were made out of pride and not wisdom.
• Oedipus is responsible for the tragedy of his downfall. Oedipus is presented with a series of choices throughout the play, and his arrogant and stubborn nature push him to impulsively make the wrong decisions, the decisions that ultimately lead him to his downfall.
• Oedipus has plenty of opportunities to make a better choice; he is just blind to those opportunities because of his flaws. He becomes convinced that Tiresias and Creon are plotting to overthrow him, though he has no evidence to prove it and thus insults the seer which was a great crime at that time because he let himself be ruled by his anger.