Mythology, which served as the basis for ancient poetry, especially for tragedy, receives its interpretation from each tragedian. Sophocles used the myth of the unfortunate King Oedipus in the plot of his drama to show the clash of the will of the gods and man’s choice. Sophocles shows the strength of character, the desire of a person to direct life at will. Sometimes a person cannot avoid troubles conceived by the gods, but the reason for these troubles is the character manifested in actions leading to the fulfillment of the will of the gods. Oedipus the King has his own character traits, which are also inherent in the heroes of other works and people from real life.
King Oedipus is an example of bravery, as he saved Thebes from the monster that oppressed the city. He states: “But I Who rank myself as Fortune’s favorite child…” (Sophocles, 1081). Oedipus feels his responsibility for the fate of people, for his homeland, and is ready to do everything to stop the pestilence in the country. Thinking only of the state’s good, he suffers at the sight of the citizens ‘ distress. The intemperate nature of Oedipus was the reason for the murder of an older man on the road. It was enough for the driver to push Oedipus, as he, not controlling himself, hit him. Oedipus knows how to feel deeply since suffering from a crime is more terrible than death. He is guilty before his parents, before his children born in a sinful marriage. For this guilt, although involuntary, King Oedipus severely punishes himself.
Some of the character traits of King Oedipus are also inherent in modern people, for example, the ruler of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf. He, like Oedipus, is characterized by periodic outbursts of anger, which are especially clearly manifested in communication with other people. Oedipus claims: “When a man has no fear of doing the act, he’s not afraid of words.” (Sophocles, 625). King Oedipus and the President of Pakistan are similar in that they are wise and strong rulers, as well as a complex sharp character. The difference between these people is how they were overtaken by death. Hamlet is killed by a poisoned blade, and Musharraf was sentenced to death.
William Shakespeare’s character Hamlet can also be compared to Sophocles’ Oedipus. Both heroes are forced to struggle with their destined fate. Oedipus says: “His fate moves us only because it could have been ours—because the oracle put the same curse on us before we were born as it did on him.” (Sophocles, 755). The difference between these heroes is that Hamlet still had the opportunity to fix everything, and Oedipus no longer had such a possibility because of his character traits. Hamlet is the same purposeful and strong person as the ruler of Pakistan. This is expressed in the results of the actions of both people. However, Hamlet has a softer character, even despite his purposefulness, unlike the president of Pakistan.
In conclusion, the tragedy of Oedipus the King is one of the most outstanding works of Ancient Greece, which is still widely studied. Oedipus is a wise ruler, a brave man, and could have become a role model if not for a number of mistakes made. Not obeying the predictions, trying to avoid them by all means, Oedipus makes the fatal mistakes of his life. His strong character, demonstrated to readers at the beginning of the work, is replaced by absolute helplessness and suffering. Oedipus can be compared and contrasted with many literary heroes and modern people. Such a comparison will make it possible to see how much Oedipus was a wise ruler but a selfish person.
Work Cited
Sophocles. Oedipus Rex. Independently Published, 2019.