So You Think You're Great?

 

While writing about the complex character of Oedipus, I noticed that not only is he a narcissist, but reaches the highest point of narcissism, grandiosity. Someone with grandiosity usually think they are superior to all other things and people, and have an exaggerated sense of one’s importance, knowledge, power, etc. One place you can see evidence of this is in line 6, where he states he is one “whom all men call the great.” We get it Oedipus, you defeated the sphinx with your almighty wits, but would I say you are the greatest among all mankind? I am afraid not. There is nothing wrong with a little confidence or even arrogance when necessary, but this guy thinks he is a god, or something. While reading the play, Oedipus has made very difficult for me to like him. From calling himself the great to pitying his own citizens, (“I pity you children,” line 6) I was getting very close to leaving this dude right on the page.

However, there is a quote in the bible that I thought would be applicable. In Romans 7:19, the Apostle Paul states, “For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.” I started thinking—What if Oedipus is doing the best he can, but just cannot seem to control himself? I do not think we should label him as either good or bad, even if his decisions and behaviors are flawed.