Oedipus: How He Becomes His Own Worst Enemy

The Tragic Hero’s Flaw

When you think of Oedipus, you likely picture the king who tragically fulfilled a prophecy that no one wanted to believe. But here’s the thing: Oedipus is not just a victim of fate. He is, in many ways, his own worst enemy. Actually, it’s his decisions—his drive for knowledge, his pride, and his anger—that lead him to his downfall. It’s a story so captivating, it’s almost like watching someone self-destruct without realizing it.

In Sophocles' "Oedipus Rex," the protagonist, despite his wisdom and leadership, is consumed by a series of choices that set the stage for his undoing. Let’s dive into how Oedipus' biggest enemy isn’t fate, but himself. (I know, sounds a little crazy, right? But stay with me here).

The Power of Hubris: Oedipus’ Fatal Flaw

Oedipus' pride—his hubris—is a fundamental part of his downfall. Hubris, for those unfamiliar, is an exaggerated sense of self-confidence. Oedipus had it in spades. He was confident he could solve the riddle of the Sphinx and save Thebes, but this overconfidence would also be the source of his undoing.

What’s interesting about Oedipus is that he believes he can outsmart fate. His belief that he can avoid the prophecy by leaving Corinth actually drives him straight into its arms. Now, let’s be real for a second—who hasn’t been a bit overconfident at some point? I remember a time when I was certain I could fix a software issue in record time without asking for help. Long story short, it took me twice as long, and I ended up making the issue worse. Oedipus is basically doing the same thing, except, you know, on a much grander scale with his own life.

The Curse of Knowledge: His Quest for the Truth

Another layer to Oedipus’ tragic self-sabotage is his unrelenting search for the truth. This might sound noble at first. After all, he’s determined to save his city from a plague. But as he digs deeper into his past, he’s unknowingly digging his own grave. Oedipus is warned multiple times by Tiresias, the blind prophet, that his quest for knowledge is going to end in disaster.

It’s like that moment when you get a bad feeling about something, but you keep pushing forward anyway. You know deep down it’s probably not a good idea, but you just can’t help yourself. Oedipus is like that—he wants to know the truth, no matter the cost. But the more he learns, the more he seals his own fate. And honestly, there’s a part of me that gets it. I’ve been there, obsessing over the details and digging myself into a hole, even when it’s clear I should step back and leave things alone.

Anger: The Catalyst for His Destruction

If you think about it, Oedipus’ anger is another huge part of how he becomes his own worst enemy. His temper flares up in the most critical moments, and those moments often lead to irreversible decisions. One of the pivotal scenes in the play is when Oedipus argues with Tiresias, calling him a liar and a fool. This outburst comes at a critical point when Oedipus could have listened and avoided further conflict.

But Oedipus doesn’t just lash out in small moments—his anger leads to action. Think about how he reacts when he unknowingly kills his father. He’s enraged at the road rage incident (something so small in the grand scheme), but it sets off a series of unfortunate events. It’s the ultimate irony—his anger becomes the reason he fulfills the prophecy that he was trying to avoid. I mean, haven’t we all been in situations where we acted on impulse and ended up regretting it? Oedipus takes it to a whole new level, though.

Oedipus and the Irony of Self-Destruction

What makes Oedipus’ tragedy so painful is the heavy irony that he’s the cause of his own demise. He literally fulfills the prophecy he tried to escape. It's almost as if fate didn’t need to intervene at all—Oedipus was already heading down the path of destruction on his own.

I remember once hearing my friend Mark talk about his failed relationship. He said, “I kept pushing away the signs and eventually, I couldn’t fix the mess I made.” And in some ways, Oedipus is in the same boat. By the time he realizes his truth, it’s too late to undo the damage. The self-doubt, guilt, and shame he experiences are all because of choices he made, not fate. It’s tough to wrap your head around, but it’s the core of what makes him his own worst enemy.

The Tragic Consequences: Oedipus' Realization

In the end, Oedipus does realize the full scope of his actions, but by then, it’s far too late. His tragic realization isn’t just about the prophecy—it's about how his own choices, ego, and actions led to his downfall. The very things that made him great—his intelligence, his strength, his courage—are also the reasons he falls from grace.

At the heart of Oedipus’ downfall is the idea of fate and free will clashing. Oedipus’ choices are ultimately shaped by his desire to control his destiny, but those choices are the very things that fulfill the prophecy he was trying to escape. If you’ve ever tried to control every little thing in your life, you know how this feels. Sometimes, it’s the act of forcing control that slips through your fingers and causes everything to crumble.

Conclusion: Oedipus as a Reflection of Ourselves

Oedipus' story isn’t just a mythological tale—it’s a cautionary one. We all have our flaws, our pride, our moments of overconfidence. And like Oedipus, we sometimes find ourselves as our own worst enemies, making decisions that we think will protect us, only to end up undoing ourselves.

The key takeaway here is this: you can’t outrun fate by forcing control. Sometimes, stepping back, listening to advice, and accepting the unknown can lead to a better outcome. If Oedipus had done that, maybe, just maybe, he wouldn’t have been his own worst enemy.

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.