IndexIntroductionAnalysis of Oedipus' characterPersonal strengthsOedipus' weaknessesConclusionIntroductionSophocles' "Oedipus the King" reveals how human strength can overcome our weaknesses. The strength of an individual is perceived through emotions, actions and the very essence of one's character. The protagonist Oedipus has power, high status, and great influence in Thebes. Thebes is struck by another plague that is rapidly spreading throughout the city. The only way to destroy this plague is to seek out the individual who killed King Laius. Oedipus begins the search for the truth. The people of Thebes admire Oedipus' strength and turn to him for help in defeating the plague. They believe that this epidemic hit Thebes because the individual who killed Laius remained alive and unpunished. However, in the search for the killer of Laius, Oedipus comes closer to fulfilling the prophecy, according to which he will kill his father and marry his mother. This essay explores the strengths and weaknesses of Oedipus' character. Its strength is demonstrated in its ability to put the needs of its citizens first, helping them in times of need. His strength is also shown in tenacity; as he is so eager to find out the truth and finally does. Although he always means well, Oedipus' tragic flaw is his excessive pride which ultimately leads to his downfall. However, Oedipus makes many unalterable mistakes throughout the play, but he recognizes these flaws and holds himself responsible for them, which makes this play optimistic rather than pessimistic. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Character Analysis of Oedipus Personal Strengths One of the greatest strengths that Oedipus possesses is his ability to always put the needs of the Thebans first. At the beginning of the play there are numerous issues that drastically affect the city of Thebes. The Chorus comes to speak to Oedipus about the terrible conditions the city finds itself in; in his Royal Palace. The choir leader said: “there is no way to count the pain we suffer. All our people are sick. There is no sword of thought that will protect us. The fruits of our famous land do not ripen...". This statement reveals the pain and suffering that the citizens are enduring, their crops are destroyed, women suffer in childbirth, and the plague has taken the lives of numerous people. Overall, the city of Thebes is in great difficulty. The courageous Oedipus decides to act seriously, since his number one priority is always the concerns of the citizens; sending Creon, his brother-in-law, to the Oracle of Delphi to find a solution to eliminate this problem. Another great strength that Oedipus possesses is his tenacity; which is a characteristic that every leader should embody. Throughout the play, Oedipus is eager to learn the truth about the murder and refuses to step back. He remains persistent until he finds out. He had to forcefully extort particular information from multiple people, but eventually found the truth he was looking for. Jocasta warns Oedipus and tells him to stop pursuing the truth he is anxiously seeking, Jocasta states, “In the name of God, if you value your life, do not pursue the quest. It's enough that I'm sick as hell. Oedipus, anxious to discover the truth, states: "nothing will move me, I will discover the whole truth". This statement reveals that Oedipus was not willing to change his mind and refuses to give up until he finds this truth. Furthermore, his persistence helped Thebes get out of the plague because no one knows what the cause of the plague is and how to put an end to this fatal problem. Creon goes to Apollo and there he learns that the individual he killed.