Introduction
Pride is termed as the “silent assassin” to good leadership. It is normally referred to as the general state of one feeling proud or rather a pleasure arising from performing a certain task. In a community context pride come before a fall therefore an emergence and adoption of such a trait is considered as suicidal to the leadership skill and would result to a downfall of that particular leader. The scenario is well illustrated in the play Oedipus the king. When Oedipus managed to save the people of his kingdom against the curse of sphinx he was declared the king before down falls. He went ahead in the public and proclaimed his name with lots of pride as though it is a charm of healing on itself. ”Here I am myself, all the people know, the world knows my fame, I am Oedipus”
Oedipus the King is a play by Sophocles in which Christopher Plummer plays the role of the psychologically disturbed Oedipus. This play is about a successful kingdom, which begins to fall apart as the king discovers that he had killed his own father and married his mother. It is paradoxical that Oedipus sleeps in the same bed that he was conceived with his mother. These facts disturbs Oedipus mother to an extent that she commits suicide.
The setting of the play is at the Thebes Palace, the same palace from which king Lauis (Oedipus father) ruled. It is quite disturbing and ironical for Oedipus to know that downfall strikes him at the same place that he ascended to power. This leaves Oedipus at a very desperate position, fighting back a heavy past full of mistakes which cannot be rectified.
However, atrocities that took place in the hand and ruling of Oedipus had earlier been prophesied. But due to his pride and brutality nature he never bide to the prophet hence getting in different terms with gods and basing his fate in the will of man versus that of the gods.it contradicted any conclude that his entire family were no at any good position to avoid the wrath of the gods neither did his pride allow him to review his crooked ways. This prepares audience for the tragedy in the play. The play lacks a narrator and the emotional aspects of the play are taken care of by a chorus, which carries the various moods and feelings with it.
The major concepts with the follow of event in Oedipus kingdom is that accountability should get a priority number. For the all his action for instance in the case where he kept his promise to see that Laius death would not go without justice not know that he was the murderer. He set in place an board to interrogate the people that might be linked with murder including prophet Teiresias who was blind these reveal that he believe and trusted that human being can see beyond even without the eyesight.
Oedipus deserves the consequence and all that happened to him since it was an outcome of his action of which he is opted to be accountable for. Also these were prophetic event that were purported to come true eventually and nobody could or was in a position to reverse that prophecy. In other words it was part and parcel of his role for the events to take place so as to accomplish the will and wishes of the gods.
Having done unrepeatable and countless evils towards the society he finally come to get what he actually deserved.it is human nature for every act one to receive an equivalent reward so in Oedipus case he encountered the best of the punishment that could stand for his wrong deeds.
As a prosecuting attorney Oedipus would have to face charges of murder, misuse of power. The case is based on the evidence of him being the adopted child with another family and had at one time killed a man on the road who now has come out to be his biological father. His misuse of power is seen at the way he conducted his investigation of his father death and the general evils in the society with were as a result of his power leadership skills. This therefore calls the court to stand and see justice prevail to the people of that kingdom especially those that were direct victims of his atrocities.
His pride was among the factors that lead to the multiple problems that befall the people for instance when he was addressing the blind prophet he got into an anger rage and made an insult “You would provoke a stone! Oh, diss.” Forcing Teiresias reveal that the true killer to be Oedipus. This information turn everything round causing Jocasta mother of Oedipus to committed after realizing that she was exactly married to his son whom he up for adoption and they already had kids together. Followed by the sad reaction from Oedipus of gouging his eyes out and was exiled from his current kingdom.
Throughout the play, Sophocles points out that it is wrong to believe in fate. We should not tie our lives to what has been predicted or prophesied to happen. As much as we cannot control certain events in our lives, it is important to do what is right. It is inexcusable to do what is wrong because, it was prophesied to be so.
The play carries a strong message or moral lesson. The moral lesson is so clear in the play. Prophecies and fate should not control life. The play reinforces the idea that we should strive to do what is right and shy away from doing what is wrong since it comes with consequences. The mistakes or wrongs that Oedipus did brought untold suffering and misery to him and the entire monarch. Fate only exists to teach people a lesson but not to determine future.
The entire event happened since most of the characters in the play had no control of whatsoever that was taking place in their life. King Oedipus was a ruthless proud leader who wiped those who did not approve his leadership. Through his command those characters were opposed to him were killed brutally. He did this because he had the power as opposed to others who were just helpless. This story is a full expression of misuse of power. He always thought and had perception that other characters had the intention of stealing his power and that is why he never listened to their wisdom. He was so unperceptive and arrogant to an extent that he could not listen to anybody’s advice including that of the prophets. He was so mean to the people around him, a strategy to keep them at bay so that they will not find out his secrets.
When one is proud of himself he usually thinks negative of other people and gives them credit for anything that comes by. King Oedipus story is a good example of pride that leads to one’s downfall. A person achievement must not be used as a criterion to victimize other people who may not have been lucky enough to get the same kind of achievement. Oedipus was made the king because saved the people of his kingdom against the curse of sphinx. This single achievement was a stepping stone towards his rise of power.
In conclusion, there is a lot to learn from king Oedipus story that pride always comes before a fall. One therefore ought to thank God for whatever success that He has enabled him or her to achieve without despising other people. Humility is the only way to achieve and maintain success.
Works Cited
Sophocles, Stephen Berg, and Diskin Clay. Oedipus the King. New York: Oxford University Press, 2008. Print.
