Oedipus is a self-confident, intelligent, strong-willed man and a great king. Paradoxically, these are precisely the traits that determine his tragic discovery. There are many themes in the play that add to his character, which ultimately instigates his own downfall. Going through the play the audience recognizes the reasons why Oedipus ends up the way he does, blind but seeing the truth. The audience learns how his character develops by observing his behavior and interaction with the other characters in the play. The chorus also plays an important role in his characterization, as do the numerous references to light, darkness and sight in the opera Say No to Plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay King Oedipus is portrayed as a great and respected king. He is ready and willing to do everything he can to help his people rid Thebes of the polluter of their land. "I would gladly do anything to help you, in fact I would be heartless if I closed my ears to a general petition like this." The priest is the first character the audience is introduced to in the play other than Oedipus. The priest speaks very highly of Oedipus, asks for his help and gives the audience the first impressions of the main character "Now Oedipus great and glorious." The dialogue between the priest and Oedipus helps the viewer understand the character and how he develops throughout the play. The next major speech given in the play is by Oedipus to the people of Thebes. He is extremely confident in warning the citizens of Thebes of their fate if they do not cooperate with his investigation. It promises exile and shame for anyone found guilty; the tragic irony is that he is the polluter of Thebes and actually curses himself. The audience then realizes that Oedipus is the blind fool whose confidence and arrogance will lead to his death. The third main dialogue that further reveals the character of the tragic king is that of Tiresias and Oedipus. Tiresias is a blind prophet whom Oedipus has summoned to his palace to tell him who the polluter is. First of all, Tiresias refuses to speak because he knows, as the audience knows, that Oedipus is responsible for the murder of the former king Laius, which is causing the plague of bad luck. The first example of Oedipus' ignorance is when Tiresias constantly implies "you are all deluded. I refuse to reveal the heavy secrets of my soul - and yours." He tells Oedipus and the ignorant king doesn't see how this has anything to do with him "I know, as you do not, that you live in a sinful union with the one you love, living in ignorance of your own ruin." It is frustrating for the audience that Oedipus still cannot see his sins, this adds to his character arrogance, ignorance and selfish behavior. The fourth main speech is between Oedipus and his trusted brother-in-law Creon. This comes after Oedipus has just been confronted and some have accused Tiresias of being the polluter of Thebes. Oedipus lets his insecurity get the better of him and jumps to the conclusion that Creon set it all up. “You have the gall to appear before my door, a proven conspirator against my life, a thief of my crown.” He is so confident that he turns to his most trusted relative, this only shows that arrogance and ignorance have once again emerged in Oedipus' character. At the end of page 43 the audience has seen the confident and respected king transform into an ignorant and narrow-minded victim of his own tragic fate. The use of the chorus is also an important part of the play that helps us learn more about Oedipus. The choir's first appearance in the show takes the audience through the problems Thebes is facing "beyond.