NEMESIS:
Greek mythology) the goddess of divine retribution and vengeance.
Nemesis in Greek thought a personification of the gods’ resentment and anger at man’s insolence, hubris towards themselves. Thus nemesis was punishment; what overtook and befell the tragic hero.
As a result tragedy is worsened by Oedipus's punishment which is unfitting of the crime he committed. When his nemesis occurs, the chorus, plays a crucial role in generating sympathy towards Oedipus. The tragic nature of the play, is not only brought out by Oedipus's characteristic flaws, but also by the way he was treated by the gods. sending Oedipus away, Oedipus also tries to change his destiny, by leaving Corinth "At this I fled away, putting the stars between me and Corinth, never to see home again. It was the driver that thrust me aside and him I struck" Oedipus at that stage, should have been careful about who he kills, and what he does, but his indiscriminate, violent and careless nature leads him to killing his own father over an incident only pride would cause. Nemesis is inflicted upon Oedipus with his loss of sight, his banishment from Thebes, the death of Jocasta and through the degradation of his children. Good tragedies are filled with irony, and dramatic irony is reflected in the play through the theme of blindness versus sight. Laius orders him out of the way at a crossroad, but Oedipus's pride, anger and temperament drives him to kill Laius for what he perceives as an insult. "Insensate agony! What demon of destiny with swift assault outstriding has ridden you down?" Oedipus's nemesis is like a fate worse than the death, being forced to live on with the sins he had committed. " His language and tone when he accuses Teiresias "Do you think you can say such things with impunity?" displays his rash nature, and tendency to make quick deductions without further thinking. The plague has ended brining a sense of relief and order back to the town, with Oedipus having solved his...