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Oedipus and the Curse of Good Deeds

 

            No one would doubt Oedipus as a glorious king, especially the King of Suffering. His confronting with Sphinx, his tender empathy for the Thebans, and his resolve to rescue Thebes from the plague successfully prove his greatness, which makes him an honored king. In addition to a successful king, he possesses the capabilities of investigating as well-swiftness, perseverance, and wisdom. However it is also these great traits that curse Oedipus and lead him to the ultimate truth which he strives for and, ironically, he fatefully suffers from. He saves the Thebans from the Sphinx but fails to do so from Laois's murderer-Oedipus himself, which makes the investigation so agonizing and eventually leads his life to an even poorer end. .
             Oedipus, like Sherlock Holmes, moves ahead of others. Holmes visualized the geographical characteristics of the moor with a detailed map before he arrives at Devonshire, a preparation which largely helps him. Similarly, Oedipus's swiftness also gives his investigation a good start. He anticipates the subject and has already sent Kreon to Delphi for oracles. After Kreon came back from Delphi with Apollo's words, Oedipus starts to summon witnesses to decipher those vague clues. However he sometimes acts too fast and cannot ponder the outcome. When Oedipus travels down the crossroads, he has a road rage with Laois and his company (1045). They try to shove him off to make the way for the king. Both Laios's and his driver's aggressive behavior stimulate Oedipus's defense in a sudden which causes Laois's death and agitates Oedipus to kill the band with only one survivor left. Had Oedipus not hastened to travel on the road but waited until Laios passed him, this whole story would not have happened regardless of the fact that he is doomed to kill Laios. .
             Besides his swiftness which starts the whole investigation, his determination triggers his perseverance and thereafter motivates him to continue this difficult process which lacks witnesses' cooperation and clues.


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