Oedipus Rex Oedipus began Oedipus Rex as a king, only to end the tale as a blinded beggar. Oedipus' fall from his kingly status was not by accident or because of some other person. Oedipus is the only one that can be blamed for his misfortune. Oedipus' character traits are shown most clearly during his spiralling downfall, thinking he is "a simple man, who knows nothing", yet knowing more than he realizes by the end …showed first 75 words of 554 total…

…showed last 75 words of 554 total…mother. The decline of Oedipus' was started by himself. His traits of anger, haste, and truthfulness, each helped accelerate his decline of power. Unfortuanately, for Oedipus, this decline of power led to the plucking of his own eyes. "Oedipus, noblest of all the line of Kadmos, have condemned myself to enjoy these things no more, by my own malediction, expelling that man whom the gods declared to be a defilement in the house of Laios."