HCI/IHE LIT/2014
IHE LITERATURE
ESSAY PRACTICE - CHARACTERISATION
Name: __________________________________
Class: _____ ( )
Date: _________________
“Oedipus is a good king but a flawed human being.” Discuss
Sean Tay has crafted a succinct and nuanced thesis:
Yes, I agree that Oedipus is a good king but a flawed human being. Oedipus’ decisiveness and
firmness as a king make him a man who does not delay completing tasks at hand, yet this very
decisiveness is also what causes him to be quick to condemn someone and that makes him a
stubborn human being. Even though Oedipus is a good king, he is ultimately brought down by
his hubris.
Eugene Lau has also crafted a nuanced thesis, where he shows exactly how each flaw is also a
positive aspect of Oedipus’ character:
Oedipus is a good king because he is honest and confident and cares passionately for his
people. However, ironically, the very merits that make him a good king also make him a flawed
human being. What we may see as honesty in the arena of governance also translates to
brashness or aggressiveness. His passion for justice and commitment to the people’s welfare
makes him impatient when dealing with individuals. Finally, while he is a confident leader in
times of crisis his confidence also smacks of hubris.
Walter Kong’s essay is confidently written—note how he changes the tense, pronouns etc. of
the quotes so as to incorporate the quotes into his sentences:
Oedipus is a sincere king who commands the respect of his people as a fatherly character.
However, he is far from being a wise king. He is easily angered and thereby leads himself to his
own downfall. Yet, until the end of the play, he remains loyal to his people in his own ways.
As a sincere king, Oedipus feels the pain and suffering of his people. He does his best to
connect with his people and protect them from the plague. At the start of the text, Oedipus
mentioned how he “would not have [the people of Thebes] speak through messages, and
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therefore [he has] come [himself] to hear [them].” This displays his sincerity based on the fact
that he is willing to speak to the commoners directly. Another reason he may have done so may
be that he understands the suffering of his people and the desperation of the situation. This is
exemplified when he exclaims that as “sick as [his people] are, not one is as sick as him,” for
“each of [them] suffers in himself alone” but Oedipus’ spirit “groans for the city, for [him]self,
for [them].” This time, he responds to the calling of his people and reinforces the point that he
can empathise with them and is willing to listen to them.
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