Pride In Sophocles Oedipus The King

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To avoid the consequences, it is sometimes best to set aside one’s pride and learn to yield and live open-minded. This concept is hammered into the play from beginning to end. First, both Creon and Haemon acknowledge the benefits of the “one who obeys,” the “tree that bends in the storm” in their opening speech. Next, even the lowly sentry, seen outsmarting the king at some points, claims that “A man should never be too sure of anything” (Scene 2 I. 1). Finally, from the mouth of the most respected person in the play, Teiresias comments that “A good man yields when he knows his course is wrong...the only crime is pride...[one] should be able to yield for [their] own good” (Scene 5 II. 34-40). This idea that yielding is immensely beneficial …show more content…
Sophocles says that pride is a natural hindrance, for “what mortal arrogance transcends the wrath of Zeus?” (Ode 2 II. 13-14). If we don’t yield, we will surely be punished, as “no pride on earth is free of the curse of heaven” (I. 20) and “Fate works most for woe, with folly’s fairest show” (II. 26-27). Yielding doesn’t mean running like a coward, it means being strong enough to set aside one’s pride rather than foolishly push it. It doesn’t mean accepting outside opinion as truth either, “never it be said that my thoughts are his thoughts” (Ode 1 I. 24). “There is no happiness where there is no wisdom; no wisdom but in submission to the gods. Big words are always punished, and proud men in old age learn to be wise.” (Scene 5 II.139-142 emphasis added). Being prideful and boasting with “big words” will always result in some form of “punishment.” With age, men learn to be “wise” in avoiding punishment, in not acting on pride with “big words,” in learning to yield, for though it may be “hard to give in, it is worse to risk everything for stubborn pride” (II. 92-93 emphasis …show more content…
Whether we are raised with them or grow up to adopt them, we all have values which we hold to guide us in life. No value is right or wrong or innately better than another, and we need to remember that. We cannot live only looking at the world of innumerable values with tunnel vision, in much the same way that a “city cannot take orders from one voice, lest it be a desert.” We must also be wary of the pride we have in the values we live by. The sense of pride we have put into our unique values can be powerful, for “it is hard to deny the heart.” Still, no matter how strong the pride, we must resist letting it control us, for when the stubborn, pride-driven fools make their “fairest show,” fate will always “work most for woe.” Sophocles says it is sometimes best to stand down, for though “your thoughts” may not be “another’s thoughts,” “big words are always punished.” Being wise with our pride means learning to surrender the unworthy battles. Wisdom means not immediately attacking those that barely tread over your beliefs. “For which of us can say what the gods hold wicked?” (Scene 2 I. 116) We can never be sure if what we believe is truly right or absolutely wrong. We must remain open to outside ideas and not fight a meaningless fight. And should the time finally come and the battle that cannot be surrendered arises, we cannot allow ourselves to be guided by pride and learn to fight with humility, always maintaining an open
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