HAMARTIA in OEDIPUS THE KING:

Conventions of a Classical tragedy

By: Karissa May Cortez

Page1 In this paper, I hereby, propose to deal with some difficulties and uncertainties in Sophocles Oedipus the King, of which some might have discussed before others I think have not. Why does a man suffer? Why does he fall from the pinnacle of success into the pit of disaster? As a human being, I think we are prone to our own mistakes; we cannot grasp the reality that all of us are flawed. All humans will commit tremendous wrongdoings and fatally, we can and we might even cause our own downfall. Every human individual has its own flaw. Because, concerning the valid truth that we are all shape and mold in imperfection. It is tragic is it? In his works The Poetics, Aristotle discusses the concept of hamartia often translated as tragic flaw. The meaning of the Greek word is closer to mistake than to flaw (Aristotle VIII).In what Aristotle perceived as a perfect tragedy is when the protagonist will mistakenly bring about his own downfallnot because he is sinful or morally weak, but because he does not know enough(Aristotle VIII). And yet the role of the hamartia in tragedy comes not from its moral status but from the inevitability of its consequences (Aristotle VIII). In the Play Oedipus the King, Oedipus as a protagonist is renowned and prosperous, so his change of fortune is unexpected. Yet, this change should come about as the result, not of vice, but of some great error or frailty in a character (Aristotle VIII). Furthermore, in his works Sophocles defined Oedipus as a tragic hero due to his flaws. Nonetheless, what is a tragic hero? Using Oedipus as an ideal model, a tragic hero as Aristotle would imply is a morally good but not perfect hero who is brought from happiness to unhappiness because of a mistaken act, to which he or she is led by a hamartia, an error in judgment( Aristotle VII). From this definition, he further expanded it by defining the profile of the Classical Greek tragic hero, correlating in on what he considered as the greatest tragedy ever written, Sophocles Oedipus the King. For the reason that, the accurate classical tragedy of life, is what dies inside a man, whom we considered King Oedipus of Thebes while he lives. Additionally, even though some critics may argue that Oedipus had no tragic flaw, that he was an innocent victim of the gods, I propose to refute that ignorance. Sophocles presented unto us the greatest tragedy of all classical

Page 2 literature. Although Oedipus vigorously tragic tale appears that he seems flawless that his actions were justified and hes a puppet of the gods. However, I was convinced that the play Oedipus the King by Sophocles is evidently indicating the proposal that Oedipus had tragic flaws; and his flaws are the basis and the cause of his own obliteration. The question is often asked: Is it fate or is it Oedipus flaws that contributed to his downfall? The thought of what Oedipus accomplishes, commits and saves is his own nature. We can all conclude that Oedipus is a great king and is the quintessence of the perfect Theban. He is poised, intellectual, honorable and determined. Moreover, he demonstrates his heroism on his ability to acquire higher traits of intelligence that proves his authority by committing great deal of courage, might, compassion and knowledge. However, we can also conclude that Oedipus is doomed in damnation since birth. As Oedipus is, plagued to kill his father and marry his mother in which he had committed unwittingly and unknowingly. In his essay, Oedipus and Job, Meyer Fortes discusses the aspect that Oedipus doesnt bear any flaws at all by saying, Oedipus is the victim of destiny; it was appalling fate and not his own choosing that made him suffer (Fortes 50). I cannot understand Meyers idea that gods had played Oedipus like child and force himself the knowledge of his horrendous crime. Therefore, I hereby disagree and disclaim this proclamation, whereas, I firmly believe that Oedipus is flawed, it is neither fate nor the gods that are responsible for his immediate ruin but himself. The immediate cause of Oedipus destruction is neither gods nor fates, because theres no evidence in the text at all concerning that Oedipus must discover the truth. What causes his ruin is his strength in courage, his loyalty to Thebes, love for his people and his desire for knowledge. Hence, through these, he has shown us his weaknesses and his faults, his ignorance, his persistence in knowing the truth, his pride and his selfishness. It is plausible that these qualities can also lead to his demise. Nonetheless, we can perceive that he is not evil. He is essentially a good individual, like any human, he commits mistakes and has his own flaws and that what makes his story a tragedy.

Page 3 Aristotle stated in The Poetics 13 in tragedy, misfortune should fall on an eminent man not because he is vicious but because there is something wrong about him, an error, hamartia (Aristotle XIII). Hence, Aristotle illustrated that the word hamartia is ambiguous in ordinary usage it is sometimes applied to false moral judgments, sometimes to purely intellectual error (Aristotle XIV). Even though the validity of the plague and the solving of the riddle of the Sphinx is particular instance brought up Oedipus heroism, as the play progresses, other characteristics appear and further add to the problem to such a point that it is inevitable he will further meet his catastrophic end. Therefore, Oedipus tragic end is not a result of a plot by the fates, but rather a result of the characteristics that Oedipus himself possessed. In the end we can all identify that Oedipus encompass tragic flaws or hamartia that lead to his ruin. I What has man done to deserve such doom? What is Oedipus hamartia? Oedipus has a lot of flaws to begin with. An example of Oedipus flaws is his ignorance. Hence, The greatest enemy of any one of our truths may be the rest of our truths (James 43), the widely popular piece of advice from William James directly applies to Oedipus. Unfortunately, for Oedipus, he is incapable of following such advice. As Winnington affirmed, Oedipus trusts his intellect too much and must learn how fullible it is (Winnington 53). It is in clear understanding that through his ignorance Oedipus become impulsive in his decisions and becoming more and more judgmental. He accused Teresias as the murderer without even thinking. An instance is when Oedipus is speaking to his people who are experiencing the plague that has overcome the city of Thebes he says to his people, I know that you are deathly sick; and yet, sick as you are, not one is sick as I (Prologue Line 62). It is evident that Oedipus is ignorant whereas he does not acknowledge the suffering that his people are experiencing. In his work, Know thy self and Nothing too much, Martin Kallich argued that the philosophical theme of Sophocles play is mild agnosticism or neutral fatalism (Kallich 33). Likewise, Oedipus error lies in his ignorance of material facts and circumstances (Aristotle XIII). Besides,

Page 4 Bowra acknowledged and supported the thought that Sophocles allows no doubts, no criticism of the gods.If divine ways seem wrong, ignorance is to be blame (Bowra 82). Its unambiguous that Oedipus failures lie in his false judgment, his lack of knowledge on the circumstances and the consequences that he himself is encountering. II A second substantial instance of Oedipus flaws Oedipus inability to see the truth and his persistence on knowing the forbidden truths about his destiny. Oedipus passion for the truth and his goal for wisdom becomes his vanity that he refused to believe anyone who is against him. When Oedipus speaks to Teresias, he says, What a wicked old man you are! Youd try a stones patience! Out with it! Have you no feeling at all? (Scene I line 321) Oedipus admits that Teresias is blind and mocks the prophet for his blindness; However Oedipus also knows that the prophet can help overcome the plague brought on by Apollo. The only problem is Teresias refusal to help in which Teresias then responds to Oedipus. He says, You are all ignorant. No, I will never tell you what I know. Now it is my misery, then it would be yours (Scene I line 314). At the beginning of the play, in scenes where Teresias refused to tell Oedipus the truth about King Laois death, Oedipus even accused Teresias as the murderer. You planned it, you had it done, and you all but killed him with your own hands: if you had eyes, Id say the crime was yours, and yours alone (Scene I line 331). As Oedipus begins to unravel his weakness, he is persistent in knowing everything. While Teresias fully knows the truth of Oedipus cursed origin, he knows that he must not reveal his identity. Teresias is deeply concerned for Oedipus but he cannot go against Oedipus temperamental actions: I do not intend to torture myself, or you. Why persist in asking? You will not persuade me (Scene I line 320) and I have gone free, it is the truth that sustains me (Scene I line 340). Teresias know deeply that it is terrible to see the truth when the truth is only pain to Oedipus. As their discussion turns into an argument, subsequently, Teresias gave in and told Oedipus the truth but Oedipus does not want to believe the truth. I say that you are the murderer whom you seek (Scene I line 347). Oedipus begins to insult the prophet. He says, Has

Page 5 your mystic mummery ever approached the truth. Oedipus has flaws in a sense that he demonstrates error in judgment when he disregards Teresias warning. He is too stubborn to listen to what Teresias has to say to him. In doing this, he creates his own tragic pathway to obliteration. He disregards all the information given to him, his persistency in seeking for the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth shows his weakness. We, do, however know that as Oedipus learns of Laiuss death, he pursues knowledge of the tragedy and tries to expose the murderer to no end. Nevertheless, we all can expect that in a time of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act (Orwell). Even his beloved Iocaste and the shepherd refused to explain to him of his cursed life. Yet he never gives up, even if every step he takes to solve the mystery of the murder brings him closer to self-exposure, yet Oedipus never hesitates to finding the truth, no matter what it is: If you have, tell me, it is time things were made plain (Scene III lines 1003). Jocasta tells Oedipus, For Gods love, let us have no more questioning! Is your life nothing to you? My own pain is enough for me to bear." Jocasta is telling Oedipus not to listen to the oracles and let it go. However, Oedipus persistence in equating his identity is unstoppable: Such being my nature, I cannot become something else, I cannot give up the search into my origin, and I will know who I am (Scene IV 1084-1085). Oedipus need not have forced the truth from the shepherd, but because he cannot rest with sufficient lies, he must tear away his illusion of his own life in which he had lived and contented for so long. In the near end, he had forced himself to recognize the last puzzle, the puzzle of his own existence. You will die now unless you speak the truth (Scene IV lines 1093). Nevertheless sometimes, it is in constant validity that some truths are better kept, whereas, as Nietzsche stated that The edge of wisdom is turned against wise man; wisdom is a crime committed on nature (Nietzsche 135). Consequently, that is Oedipus major flaw, he is keen to know more than he should, and he disregards himself against it, is an act of selfdestruction. Because self-destruction as Verseyni established is the natural outcome of self-assertion through self-knowledge (Verseyni 205). Therefore, in the case of Oedipus, his knowledge necessarily leads to his own catastrophe rather than his salvation.

Page 6 Oedipus hamartia is clearly becoming more apparent as the story progresses. When Oedipus discovered the tragic truth about his life, he failed as a human being because he is insufficient unto him self. As Warlock relates Oedipus hamartia is He was in fault for not perceiving the truth, now he is in fault because he is too urgent to see it (Warlock 113). Therefore, it is inevitable that Oedipus blinded himself after he knew what horrible misdeeds he had committed before, he cannot fathom the idea that all the time the only person that he was searching for is himself: No more, No more shall you look on the misery about me. Too long, you have the horrors of my own doing! Know the faces of those, whom I should never have seen, Too long been blind to those for whom I was searching! (Exodus line 1221) As Verseyni indicated, Oedipus tries to know himself, equate himself with himself, but the final result is merely the revelation that there is something basically wrong with the equation (Verseyni 206). Oedipus biggest flaw is evident here, he cannot live without knowing himself yet he cannot live having found out who he really is. In addition, Verseyni quotes in evidence that Oedipus is responsible for his downfall: Neither blindness nor sight is conducive to life: not knowing what he is, a man cannot be what he is; knowing what he is, man cannot bear to exist (Verseyni 206). III Other attempts to convey the thought that Oedipus is flawed is his pride in himself Hubris and his egotistical behavior (Aristotle VIII). After all, how can Oedipus The king a tragedy without a sin? Oedipus arrogance and hasty temper seems to compile his flawed characteristics. In The beginning of the play, Oedipus shows arrogance. In the prologue scenes, he says, I Oedipus, who bears the famous name (Prologue line 8). This apparently justifies that Oedipus has much pride for himself. He feels that he is far important than anybody else, and that no one is above him. According to Claudianus

Page 7 Pride sullies the noblest character (Claudianus). This specific quote clearly reflects to Oedipus. Hence, Oedipus demonstrates nobility yet again; he pride himself with paramount arrogance that he thinks no one can stop him. Moreover, there are other parts on the play in which he shows too much pride, as Oedipus is saying that he can't be accused of the murder, and that no one can threaten his kingship which is caught with wealth and numbers? (Scene2 line 547). Unfortunately, Oedipus failed to avoid his hubris. In his essay, The Tyrannus: Actions and Actors, John Jones argued about the matter that Oedipus failed to control and evade his hubris: he is confident of his own success, he is quick to accuse Teresias and Creon of plotting against his royal person and station (Jones 144).Another instance in which Oedipus express conceit is by taunting Teresias of his blindness. In Scene 1, Oedipus affronted Teresias and pride himself by stating You child of endless night! You cannot hurt me or any other man who sees the sun (Scene I line 361). IV Such arrogance can lead into narcissism and yet almost an equal function of Oedipus hamartia, is his flaw and his idea that he is far superior and far crucial than any body else. I consider the thought that Oedipus is selfish, whereas he demonstrates and exhibits his self-centered behavior in times where he refers to his kingship and how authoritative he is. In the beginning of the play where he stated, I know that you are deathly sick; and yet, sick as you are, not one is sick as I, Each of you grieves alone, while my heart must bear strain of sorrow for all-myself (Prologue Line 62). This is definitely showing his self-importance, he pays no attention to his populace tormented with disease and havoc in which the plague had caused. Additionally, Oedipus expresses egotism Its for me, for God, and for the city that staggers toward ruin that you must fulfill these junctions (Scene 1 line 221). Hence, we can perceive here, Oedipus is far more concerned in himself rather than his country. Others may contradict this statement; others may argue with this, they could disagree that Oedipus is devoted to his country, that he had clashed with his fate and ruined him self because of this admirable act.

Page 8 Nevertheless, although I have some pity on him because He is a marked man and doomed since birth, I found his character somewhat deplorable. After all, as the realist author Joanne Kathleen Rowling had affirmed in my generation, It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities (Jk Rowling). Hence, Oedipus is possessed with far great qualities, yet he succumb himself in his weakness, he choose to act with conceit and is far more concerned that his image will be damage by the allegations, that he murdered King Laius than whether they may be true. He seems revolted at the thought that he is not faultless, that his illusion of his life may be entirely the contrary. Oedipus believes that he can do no wrong. There are many examples in the story of his conceit. In the beginning, he claims to act for King Laius in his own self interest. He associates himself with the oracle, daring his audacity on the idea that he was the only one to be able to solve the Sphinx's riddle: Where were you when the monster was here weaving her spells and taunts? What words of relief did Thebes here from you? I came and smothered her, using only my wit (Scene I lines 383). Moreover, Oedipus also exclaims Wealth, power, craft of statesmanship! Kingly position, everywhere admired! Although he was speaking to Creon, condemning him of yearning for his throne, Oedipus clearly states that he holds the position everyone admires and wishes to obtain. Oedipus also wants to keep his throne and save himself. Even the Chorus is aware of his overwhelming arrogance and selfishness. In the first Chorus, the chorus criticized and announced Oedipus as the tyrant is a child of Pride, Who drinks from his great sickening cup, Recklessness and vanity (Scene 1 line 164). It is obviously comprehensible that Oedipus is exhibiting his ego in the play. Might that perhaps the reason why people and gods have been so cruel to him because of his pride and his selfishness? It seems reasonable. Whereas, I firmly believe that Sophocles had established this awful behavior of Oedipus as an instance. Accordingly, these several cases of hamartia is established as several cases in point that provides us a rationale explanation in which Oedipus with flaws validate his downfall.

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The question which I have raised in this paper may well have other aspects to some readers. Others may refute my proposal and yet thats what intrigues me about Oedipus the King, It allows our minds, heart and souls to search and grasp the causes and effects of Oedipus characteristics. Without limits we try to unravel his tragic story like a modern day CSI, we try to find clues and justify them in a sense. We are left grasping for leftovers, often read texts; we will be left devouring over different points of view, trying to conjure and convey our ideas to Sophocles. And yet, we know deeply that our arguments and questions will by no means be answered sufficiently and accurately. So far as I can criticize and conclude, that it is Oedipus himself who encompass flaws of his and not the reality that he killed his father and wed his mother that ruined him. For the matter that Oedipus is atoning for guilt, for his mistakes and for the sake of populace of Thebes is suitable enough. This affirmation is surmises by Jean Nidetch its choice not chance that determines your destiny ( Nidetch). Besides, it is factual that Destiny is a tyrants authority for crime and a fools excuse for failure (Bierce). In the end, we can envision that Sophocles excels in composing an exceptional prose of tragedy. He demonstrates that ones writer has to be concerned with an individuals heart, body and soul in writing tragedies. Whereas, individuals can be universal therefore, one can completely acquire its own qualities and still every individual can still identify with that person. Furthermore, Adams has a generalized theory about Oedipus The King, he indicates Oedipus stands for something ideal man, or all humanity, or like the play has been supposed to represent expiation through suffering, and the tragic hero has even been compared to later projects of veneration (Adams109). That aphorism evidently associates with Aristotles idea of a noble turned tragic hero due to the mistakes that he had committed. Yet, even though Oedipus is flawed, I have come to realize that theres more to him than we will ever know. Because of his error he had found who he really is, he tears himself in tragic humility. In our age, were books are tarnished by video games and computers, its remarkable that we can learn something from Oedipus, a work of masterpiece penned 2,000 years ago. We can learn something of valuable; the

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consequences of our Hamartia, considering all of us are flawed, this book does inspire us to take a better look on our self and our own mistakes in life.