If he were not so full of pride he would not have been so irrational and quick to bring terror upon himself for his sins. Although he feels it was necessary for him to suffer, he came across this particular decision very quickly because his ego had been shattered. As a result of a chain of arrogant decisions and acts in attempts to control and change his fate, Oedipus was eventually brought down hard, and his destiny became ruinous.
Much as Oedipus brought upon his own downfall with arrogant behavior, Jocasta and Laius did the same. From hearing the prophecy that condemned the two to a horrible fate they believe that they can alter the course their lives have been set upon. Jocasta and Laius assumed that their attempts to do so, by having their child Oedipus die, went along as planned and continued their life arrogantly believing that they had won the fight. If the two had been cautious, they would have found that Oedipus was not dead. Jocasta and Laius would have had no reason to be so arrogant. If their mindset were not so, they would not have done things the same as they were done. .
Laius just might have survived that day at the crossing. If not for their arrogant assumption he might have been cautious enough to avoid this situation entirely. Maybe realizing that the defiant man who questioned his authority looked much like himself. As well he may have been a little more intelligent than to do as he did that day. Oedipus described it that he, "Waited until I passed, then, seizing for weapon/The driver's two pronged goad, struck me on the head," (L 810, pg 48). If Laius had been careful and less arrogant, he might not have been so "surly" (L 806, pg 48) as he was with Oedipus, and less hasty to attack him. .
Much of the arrogance of this play is depicted in that particular story that Oedipus narrates. It also contributes a great deal to the tragic end. Though with Jocasta her arrogance plays a role in another part of the play.
