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At this point, no room is left for Oedipus's self-defense. He has dissolved from proud, father-like king to delusional denying maniac to an irrational, sorrowful self-abuser. At Colonus, the reader is given another glimpse into Oedipus's evolving character. Now, he is resigned to his fate, hating the fact that he must often retell his story. Still, he regains some of his pride, insisting his mistakes were not his fault. In addition, Oedipus at Colonus has undertaken almost solely his role as a family man. Here, he is aided by his two daughters, whom he loves, and refuses to take part in the battle between his sons. Knowing that the place of his death will be blessed, Oedipus rationally and calmly chooses to die in the land of his friend Theseus.
Oedipus's character development from proud, father king to resigned, dying old man tells the story of one who was wronged by fate. Oedipus is Sophocles's tragic hero because the king never does anything to sow the miseries he has reaped. Tossed about by a fate that he cannot control, Oedipus's character...
Of course, he takes time to break down, as suggested in his irrational and self-destructive behavior after determining that he has, indeed, murdered his father and slept with his mother, but in the end, he is determined, as always, to be right. In addition, even after he hears the hard truth about his family, he remains loyal to them, remaining in the company of his daughters, in addition to refusing to take sides in the battle of his sons. Thus, Oedipus faced major challenges during his life's journey, and it is these challenges that caused developments in his character. While he is a strong, father-like king before he learns the truth about his parentage, his initial bizarre reaction to the news is paired with his resolute, calm ending, in search of what is right. This suggests that while Oedipus could do nothing to prevent his fate, his attitude made all of the difference.
Works Cited
Sophocles. "Oedipus the King." nd. The Internet Classics. 28 October 2008. MIT. http://classics.mit.edu/Sophocles/oedipus.html
Works Cited
Sophocles. "Oedipus the King." nd. The Internet Classics. 28 October 2008. MIT. http://classics.mit.edu/Sophocles/oedipus.html
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