Sophocles' epic poem, Oedipus Rex, is a classic elegy that explores how irony can influence life and how "fate works closer" than we know would wait. This is why many argue about how to react to the character of “King Oedipus, the ruler of” Thebes (13). Although arrogant and overly assertive at times, one must look more closely at Oedipus' life. He is a man whose leadership required such qualities to overcome the Sphinx and other challenges along his path to becoming king. From this we must become understanding, and understand how a man so determined and admirable in doing good to his people, could possibly have the same qualities as an arrogant person. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay A man fleeing from a prophecy of his destiny, the story opens with Oedipus king of Thebes with a population dying of plague. Wanting to help his people, Oedipus opens his heart to the audience by saying, “Here I am –/You all know me, the world knows my fame:/I am Oedipus” (lines 7-9). By declaring this, he declares that he is on the city's problem, deliberating on what to do. When the old priest asks him what Oedipus intends to do, Oedipus quickly replies that "after a painful search [he] found a cure: /[he] acted immediately. [He] sent Creon, /[his] wife's brother, to Delphi-/oracle of the Prophet Apollo - to know/what [he] must do or say to save [the] city" (lines 80-84). This resolve demonstrated how much Oedipus cared about his people and what bothered him. He later said that the plague "tormented him" and that the city "now has [him] to fight" for them (lines 86+153). This determination to solve his people's problems and help them is shown throughout the poem. Even after Jocasta, his wife, urged him to let it pass as usual and forget the curses he had brought upon himself, he could not. He challenges his wife when she declares, "What, give up now?? / Can't solve the mystery of my birth? Not for all the world!" (lines 1160-1162). Although unshakable, he has good reasons. By solving his birth, he could perhaps solve the riddle of Apollo and thus discover who the real killer is. In this way he would save his people and his kingdom. However, as Oedipus continued in his admirable quest, he became impious towards the Gods thinking that he could keep their prophecy. Probing deeper into his past he realized that he was the real killer, something he couldn't believe. It was after seeing his wife (who was his mother) kill herself that Oedipus understood how everything was connected. Crying, Oedipus cried out in disappointment: "You, / will no longer see the pain I have suffered, all the pain I have caused! / For too long you have looked at those you should never have seen, blind to those you would have wanted to see, to know ! Blind / from this hour onwards!" (lines 1405-1409). Having said this, the now humble Oedipus gouged out his own eyes and became blind. Even the mocking leader of the chorus felt pity for him, for he said, "Oh poor man, how miserable - / Has he any rest from the pain now?" (lines 1422-1423). The anguish of the pitiful Oedipus continued until the end of the poem as Creon, the one whom Oedipus accused of treachery, brought further chaos into Oedipus's gloomy life. Creon, now in power, plays with the once proud Oedipus and his final wishes. Oedipus, bending down, beseeches Creon and says, "Do I command you, please?" (line 1583). Creon, wanting to exploit his power, mocks Oedipus into seeing his children again, making him believe that they will go with him. It is only afterward that Creon undresses them, saying, “Still the king, the master of all things?/No more: here your power ends./None of your power follows you.