Length: 922 words (3.4 pages)
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Impatience and Disrespect in Oedipus the King

 

 

A bad attitude causes most fights between people. People showing disrespect by saying hurtful or crazy words without thinking them through upsets almost everyone. In the play, Oedipus the King, written by Sophocles, Oedipus was trying to find the murderer of his predecessor, King Laius. In doing so, Oedipus' impatience caused quarrels that brought out his paranoia and hot-temper.

 

Oedipus' impatience was flagrant during his search for Laius' assassin. Oedipus threatened the citizens of Thebes, the city in which Oedipus ruled, to come forward if they knew anything about the murder of Laius. "I order you, every citizen of the state where I hold throne and power: banish this man-whoever he may be-never shelter him, never speak a word to him, never make him partner to your prayers, your victims burned to gods..."(172). Oedipus was impatient to find Laius, and in his impatience he had no toleration for citizens hiding the criminal, even though the criminal was himself. Later on, Oedipus called on Tiresias, a blind prophet, to help find Laius' killer. Oedipus was trying to force Tiresias to tell the story that Tiresias was hiding. "Nothing! You, you scum of the earth, you'd enrage a heart of stone! You won't talk? Nothing moves you? Out with it, once and for all!"(178). Oedipus was so impatient with Tiresias that he insulted and degraded Tiresias. After speaking with Tiresias, Oedipus had a contention with his wife's brother, Creon. Oedipus had proclaimed Creon the assassin of Laius and created the plot of Creon's supposed wrongdoing. Oedipus exclaimed, "Then leave me alone-get out!"(198). Oedipus would not accept any other idea than Creon being the killer, so when Creon tried to defend himself, Oedipus grew impatient and sent Creon away. Oedipus' impatience was the spark for his paranoia. Without his impatience, Oedipus would not have jumped to so many harsh, offensive, and paranoid conclusions.

 

Oedipus' paranoia estranged him from people he was close to. One of the main examples of Oedipus' paranoia was the discussion he had with Tiresias. Oedipus came up with ideas in his head that Tiresias was more than what he seemed. "Oh I'll let loose, I have such fury in me-now I see it all. You helped hatch the plot, you did the work, yes, short of killing him with your own hands-and given eyes I'd say you did the killing single-handed!"(178). Oedipus was so upset and frustrated with Tiresias that he turned paranoid and accused Tiresias of the crime of murdering Laius. Tiresias was there to help Oedipus to see who the assassin was, and had no involvement in killing Laius. Another example of Oedipus' obvious paranoia was when Oedipus was accusing Creon of the murder. "When my enemy moves against me quickly, plots in secret, I move quickly too, I must, I plot and pay him back. Relax my guard a moment, waiting his next move-he wins his objective, I lose mine"(194). Oedipus stated that Creon was plotting against him, with no proof whatsoever. Oedipus was just impatient and frustrated that he could not find the murderer, so he became paranoid and blamed Creon, his brother-in-law. After Creon left Oedipus, Oedipus was talking to Jocasta, Oedipus' wife. Oedipus and Jocasta were discussing why Creon thought Oedipus killed Laius. Oedipus stated, "Oh, he sent his prophet in to do his dirty work. You know Creon, Creon keeps his own lips clean"(200). Oedipus claimed that Creon sent Tiresias to find out if Oedipus was the murderer. In actuality, Oedipus was the one who called on Laius, not Creon. Oedipus jumped to paranoid conclusions that turned Creon against him. Not only was Oedipus obviously paranoid, he also had a hot-temper.

 

Oedipus' hot-temper got him into a lot of trouble. Oedipus' anger was displayed very often while talking to Tiresias. Oedipus was very upset with Tiresias for not revealing the assassin of Laius, so he insulted Tiresias. Oedipus said, "Who could restrain his anger hearing you? What outrage-you spurn the city!"(178). Oedipus told Tiresias that Tiresias was an outrage and that he defiled the city of Thebes, just because Tiresias did not reveal Laius' killer. Near the end of Oedipus' confrontation with Tiresias, Oedipus' hot-temper grew much stronger.

 

Tiresias had told Oedipus that Oedipus' life was soon to become a disgrace. Oedipus replied, "Enough! Such filth from him? Insufferable-what, still alive? Get out-faster, back where you came from-vanish!"(183). Oedipus shouted for Tiresias to leave him alone, when Tiresias just came to help Oedipus as Oedipus requested. Oedipus also showed a hot-temper often in discussion with Creon. After Oedipus confronted Creon with paranoid conclusions that Creon was Laius' executor, Oedipus and Creon were discussing if Oedipus wanted Creon banished. Oedipus stated, "No, I want you dead"(194). Oedipus was so upset and angry with Creon for supposedly betraying Oedipus, that Oedipus wanted Creon dead. Oedipus' temper was very strong and flagrant with anyone who did not know who the killer of Laius was.

 

Quarrels brought on by impatience brought out Oedipus' paranoia and hot-temper. After accusing and offending many people, the killer of Laius was revealed to be Oedipus himself. Luckily for Oedipus, the people whom he offended were still there for him after his downfall of finding out that he killed Laius. Oedipus said many harsh and hurtful words to people who supported him. Having a bad attitude does not get people anywhere in life. Disrespect for another causes anger and hostility and can bring nothing but pain.