What was Oedipus' hamartia?
Hamartia according to an online dictionary is "a fatal flaw leading to the downfall of a tragic hero or heroine." Oedipus' story fits this description perfectly. He tried to outrun his fate and as a result he fulfilled it. In the play excerpt from Greek Tragedies, Oedipus' unknowingly curses himself by saying that whoever is the murderer of King Laius "whether he is one man and all unknown, or one of many-- may he wear out his life in misery to miserable doom" (246-249). This self inflicted doom was part of his downfall. He was ignorant to the fact that he might have been the murderer and so later on when he discovers it was he who murdered the king, he fulfills the curse upon himself reflecting his hamartia.
Another example of Oedipus' hamartia is when he is trying to get the answer to who killed the king out of the the prophet Teiresias. He accuses the prophet of the murder since he will not answer him and in his anger the prophet reveals all. He says, "I say you are the murderer of the king whose murderer you seek...You have your eyes but see not where you are in sin, nor where you live, nor whom you live with" (362; 413-414). This shows that Oedipus is quick to anger. His anger is his hamartia. An additional example of Oedipus' anger is shown when he is telling his story to his wife Jocasta of the man he killed. He says, "And as I journeyed I came to the place where, as you say, this king met with his death....the old man himself wanted to thrust me out of the road by force. I became angry and struck the coachman who was pushing me... And then I killed them all" (799; 805-806; 812). So as we can see, Oedipus fulfilled the prophecy that he would kill his father and marry his mother. He tried to escape his fate and in his anger and fear, he fulfilled it and this was his hamartia.
Yes, Oedipus does have a serious anger issue. It might be hereditary. And I find it depressing how he seems unable to escape his fate, however horrid it might be.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, Oedipus' hamartia was in his anger and his ignorance to fate. Good use of examples!
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting how fate plays a role in Greek stories. I liked your analysis of how Oedipus's ignorance in not knowing he killed his father until the end. I think anger and pride kept Oedipus blind throughout and that lead to his ultimate downfall.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting how fate plays a role in Greek stories. I liked your analysis of how Oedipus's ignorance in not knowing he killed his father until the end. I think anger and pride kept Oedipus blind throughout and that lead to his ultimate downfall.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting how fate plays a role in Greek stories. I liked your analysis of how Oedipus's ignorance in not knowing he killed his father until the end. I think anger and pride kept Oedipus blind throughout and that lead to his ultimate downfall.
ReplyDelete