Oedipus Rex

In Sophocles' Oedipus Rex, the role of hubris is in full display throughout the entire tragedy. In the opening scene, Sophocles depicts Oedipus as a man of great stature, ruling his land justly, but Sophocles hints at his catastrophic fate due to his overly arrogant ways. Initially, Oedipus exhibits intelligence, love and concern for his subjects, and deep rooted wisdom, upholding a reputation of high moral standards. His wisdom, however, becomes self-righteous, as his hubris makes him arrogant and blind to the subtle, and even at times obvious signs in front of him. From the start Oedipus displays his hubris when he says to Creon,"I will start afresh and once again/Make dark things clear." Without any hesitation, without fully knowing the situation, and without having any type of counsel, Oedipus believes he can fix the crisis. This line shows how much hubris dictates Oedipus, as Oedipus's arrogance blinds him. Throughout the play Oedipus is blind to the truth due to his hubris. Even when Tieresias unequivocally tells Oedipus, "I say thou art the murderer of the man/Whose murderer thou pursuest," he still doesn't get it. It seems that Hubris, defined as exaggerated pride or self confidence, is the earmark character trait of Oedipus, as well as the catalyst to the play.