Throughout the Oedipus Cycle by Sophocles, Oedipus showed that happiness may not last forever, but to live through it respectably takes a great deal of understanding along the way. The way Oedipus paid for his mistakes throughout his life after learning of his fate proved him in the end an honorable man. Critic Paul Landis said, "The fall of Oedipus is the fulfillment of a prophecy, but Oedipus in his reaction to the circumstances shows himself a good man." The question is, do I agree?

There are immediate reactions and there are gradual reactions to everything. Oedipus' immediate reaction to the realization that he had indeed killed his father and married his mother was that he should not go against the laws he made. Although he punished himself and attempted suicide, when he did not succeed in killing himself he decided his punishment would suffice. This unsuccessful attempt...