Section 4. Lines 963-967:
“Pride breeds the tyrant violent pride, gorging, crammed to bursting with all that is overripe and rich with ruin—clawing up to the heights, headlong pride crashes down the abyss—sheer doom!”
This conversation on the outcomes of pleasure happens when Oedipus is rapidly discovering extra small print about his two-edged curse and does no longer quit making an attempt to locate the truth, notwithstanding pleas from Jocasta. The sentiment of delight being Oedipus’s downfall is one that is repeated at some point in the play, with Tiresias being the first to point out it. Oedipus is a proud man, he is praised as the King of Thebes and the defeater of the Sphinx, however, it is his pride, his very own trust that he is a proper man who is liked by the gods, that leads him to unravel this very belief. In his strive to discover the historic proof to show he liked the gods, he solely proves to himself and those around him that he suffers from a merciless fate.
Section 5. Lines 1188-1190:
“I count myself the son of Chance, the great goddess, giver of all good things—I’ll never see myself disgraced”
These lines are spoken using Oedipus earlier than he is conscious that the prophecy he tried to keep away from has come true. However, this quote is simply as authentic as the end of the play, the place Oedipus is aware of and accepts his horrible fate. In Greek mythology, Fortune is the goddess of destiny and she is depicted as veiled, as to be impartial to those to whom she was once distributing suitable or terrible luck. In the state of affairs in which he says this line, Oedipus is dealing with the newfound truth that the humans who raised him have been now not his parents. He thinks that due to the fact his patronage is unknown, Fortune is to be his mother, on the grounds that he has been talented with greatness. At the end of the play, the irony is that Oedipus is nonetheless significantly underneath the guidance of Fortune, however rather than favoring him, it destroys him.
2 thoughts on “Christian Alvear Discussion 6”
Christian, thanks for the good post. Please do keep your remarks within the confines of the week’s readings though so as not to ruin the suspense for those who might be reading the play for the first time. Thanks!
Excellent Observation. It definitely feels like the quote is a precursor of what was to come the saying “pride befalls a man” comes into play. He was to proud in his station to allow himself to see the potential trouble he would be facing he showed no forethought towards his actions and faced the consequence of his head strong choices.