Oedipus The King, written by Sophecles focuses on the tragic hero, Oedipus. All tragic heros have a tragic flaw, which leads to their downfall. Oedipus' flaw is his fiery temper. His lack of control over it causes him to lead a life of misery and despair, which he will never be able to overcome.
Oracles had prophesied that Oedipus would kill his father and marry his mother. Oedipus was frightened to think that it might come to pass, so he fled his "parents" in Corinth. He was unaware that he was moving to the land where his real parents lived. There they were known as the king and queen. When traveling he came to a crossroad where he go into an argument with people in a carriage. He ended up killing all of them except for one and later went on to marry Laius' widdow. Little did he know that he had just killed King Laius, his father and married Jocasta, his mother. His temper caused him to fulfill Oracles prophesy. .
Teiresias, an old, blind prophet, knew many things about Oedipus' past and future. Oedipus wanted to know the truth about Laius' death, so he was determined to get Teiresias to tell him who killed the king. Teiresias knew that Oedipus was the murderer, but he did not want to tell him out of fear of what he might do. Again Oedipus let his temper get the best of him and he forced Teiresias to tell him the truth. In his stupidity, he still did not realize that he killed the king.
A herdsman, who came to Oedipus apon request, knew that the king and queen of Corinth were of no kin to Oedipus. He did not want to tell him this, but was forced to by Oedipus who was inflicting pain on him. "If you'll not talk to gratify me, you will talk with pain to urge you," he said in a rage of temper. The herdsman told him about finding him as a baby and watching his friend give him to the king and queen who could not have children. Oedipus suddenly began to piece together the lost information of his childhood and was devestated to know the truth.