In the first play of Sophocles’ trilogy, Oedipus Rex, we are introduced to Oedipus. He is a very complex and very human character. We learn first that he is quite intelligent and clever, yet, we see, right away, his pride, which is often a fatal flaw that destroys the main characters. We see him at his worst when he meets with Teiresias, the seer, and when he confronts Creon, whom he believes has conspired with the prophet to accuse him falsely of horrible crimes in order to seize the throne. By the end of the play, he realizes his mistakes and regrets his rash accusations of his brother-in-law. He begs forgiveness for his accusations and begs the man to take care of his daughters because they are kin and will not have any other support, since they will never be considered suitable for marriage because they are the products of incest. The sin of pride is often a fatal flaw in the main characters. In Oedipus, it is exaggerated by the heroic deeds he has, apparently, done. He saved Thebes by his wit and has brought peace and prosperity since defeating the Sphinx by solving her difficult riddle. However, after years of peace and prosperity, Thebes is, once again, in need of a healer and the chorus begs Oedipus to find the cause. When Creon explains what the oracle has said about banishing or shedding the blood of the vile pollutant whom he assumes murdered Laius, Oedipus assures him that he will find the person and banish him forever from Thebes. He honestly believes that he can do this, and he says he will do so for his own safety also, since the person who did this may also come after his person. This seems a little odd since much time has passed since Laius died. The pride of Oedipus is not unfounded, as he is very clever, but he fails to give credit to the gods and the people around him as if he is the only source of wisdom. Yet he does not appear to use this intellect when he is confronted by the very emotional issue of his own guilt. “The audience and all the other characters in the play, even the blind Teiresias, see the appalling truth long before the proud and cunning Oedipus. Creon exclaims, ‘I can see you are blind to the truth.’” (Lines, p. 4) He is not open to any other interpretation but his own. He would easier believe that a holy seer and his brother-in-law, co-ruler and friend, and his uncle too as it is revealed, would conspire together for his throne than to believe he could be wrong. If he had never killed anyone, he could be certain he was right. “Oedipus the King believed that he could simply discover who killed Laius and mete out appropriate justice. Hubris blinds him. When at last he sees the truth, he wishes only to be blind again” (Lines, 1999, p. 4). It shows here that Oedipus does not really trust anyone. That may be why he has to maintain control at all times. Even after Creon shows him cold logic why he would not want the throne, Oedipus persists in believing he is a traitor. It is easier for him to believe in faults in others than in himself. He is self-reliant to a fault. Otherwise, he would have sought help or council when the first oracle made the dire prediction that he would kill his father and marry his mother. Maybe if he had gone to his father he would have learned the truth