Assignment: Q. Discuss " Oedipus " qualities as ruler of Thebes in Sophocles' play " Oedipus the King ".

Hello Aspirant..

Oedipus' most prominent attributes in the play are his sheer tenacity, devotion to truth and justice, and ambition to be king not only for himself but also for the people of Thebes. The play's greatest irony occurred when Oedipus saved Thebes from the Sphinx's curse and became heir to the throne of Thebes overnight.

Oedipus is a man of tremendous intellect and quick action. These attributes make Oedipus the King a good ruler who anticipates his subjects' needs, as we witness at the beginning of the play. When the residents of Thebes urge him to intervene in the plague, for example, Oedipus is one step ahead of them, having already dispatched Creon to Delphi's oracle for guidance.

But, as we'll discover later, Oedipus's proclivity for responding quickly has a dark side. When Oedipus narrates the account of killing a group of travellers who tried to push him off a three-way crossroads, he demonstrates his willingness to act rashly.

Oedipus is overconfident at the start of Oedipus the King, and for good reason.

He has almost single-handedly saved Thebes from the Sphinx's curse and ascended to the throne. “Here I am myself-/ you all know me, the world knows my fame: / I am Oedipus,” he says confidently, as if his name were a healing charm. By the end of the play, however, Oedipus' name will have become a curse, to the point where the Leader of the Chorus in Oedipus at Colonus is afraid to say his name.

Oedipus' quickness and confidence are seen throughout Oedipus the King. We witness him question Creon, summon Tiresias, threaten to exile both Tiresias and Creon, summon the servant who escaped Laius' attack, summon the shepherd who brought him to Corinth, rush into the palace to stab out his own eyes, and then demand to be exiled.

I hope this information helps.

Regards.