Believe me, I know all that you desire of me, all that you suffer; and while you suffer, none suffers more than I. You have your several griefs, each for himself; but my heart bears the weight of my own, and yours and my people's sorrows. I am not asleep. I weep; and walk through endless ways of thought." (lines 53-59) He truly cares about his people and wishes to put an end to their troubles. It is for this reason that the priest speaks to him with such great respect. Through this we see that the pride of Oedipus had been earned. While pleading for the aid of Oedipus, the priest says to him that he and the people hold Oedipus as "the first of men" (line 30). And we see the origin of this title when the priest says, "It was you, we remember, a newcomer to Cadmus" town, that broke our bondage to the vile enchantress. With no foreknowledge or hint that we could give, but as we truly believe, with the help of God, you gave us back our life" (lines 33-37). Oedipus" strong standing is clearly evident. He has reason to have such pride, and the people of Thebes are confident in him as their leader. They trust that he will act boldly and wisely and save them once again with his celebrated intellect. .
It is because Oedipus thinks so highly of himself that he reacts so badly to Teiresias" initial refusal to share his prophecy and then his eventual oracle. Oedipus blinds himself with his stubborn pride. Teiresias tells Oedipus that he does not want to share his knowledge with the king. This leads Oedipus to believe that Teiresias is hiding incriminating information from him. Because he thinks so much of himself, Oedipus decides that he "knows" that Teirisias is wrong and lashes out, calling Teiresias an "insolent scoundrel" (line 335) and accusing he and Creon of lying and attempting to frame him. He responds angrily saying:.
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Why come tell me how you can be a true prophet? Why when the versifying hound was here did you not speak some word that could release the citizens? Indeed, her riddle was not one for the first comer to explain! It required prophetic skill, and you were exposed as having no knowledge from the birds or from the gods.