Oedipus Tragic Hero Essay

Oedipus Tragic Hero Essay
As we journey through life, there are people we come across who remind us of the characters in the
Oedipus Plays of Sophocles. There are heroes and there are tragic heroes in life. Heroes don't think
of themselves first but act quickly to help others in dangerous situations. Tragic hero are those who
act before thinking about other consequence and the final outcome. Aristotle suggests that a hero of a
tragedy must make one remember of the things he does to stir up trouble and bring strong feelings
of memories of the past. "Oedipus is a tragic hero in the plays of Sophocles." A tragic hero has
self–confidence and pride and does not always see the truth in every situation. "Oedipus cannot be
considered as a tragic hero."
Aristotle suggested Oedipus struggled against the strength of his fate throughout the play. His ego
and pride did not allow Oedipus to see the truth in every situation. He refused to listen to Tiresias
who predicted Oedipus has killed his father. Oedipus asked Jocasta to be his wife but later finds out
she is really his mother. Being the King of Thebes, he loses power and status as a result of situations
beyond his control which determines Oedipus outcomes.
Jocasta speaks to Oedipus about his rage. "In God's name,...show more content...
Oedipus showed good qualities as a King. He was a good leader and has been their ruler for a
long time. He inherited the kingdom at birth. Oedipus showed bravery and confidence when
fighting. He has saved Thebes from a curse stating "Her I am myself the world knows my fame".
When the citizens of Thebes beg him to do something about the plague, Oedipus had already
showed he cared by sending Creon to the oracle at Delphi for advice. He listens to his people and
their problems. Oedipus cares deeply for his country. Oedipus is an honest man because he stated if
he was the one to kill the king, then he would be punished as if he were anyone
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Oedipus-a Tragic Hero
Running head: Oedipus–A Tragic Hero
Research Paper
ENGL 102: Literature and Composition)
Fall 2015
Melinda Meeds L26683811
APA
Outline
Thesis: In Sophocles' "Oedipus", Oedipus is exemplified as a tragic hero according to Aristotle's
definition because his story appeals to the reader's humanity in the way he maintains his strengths
after inadvertently causing his own downfall.
I.Oedipus
A. The noble birth.
B. Describe Oedipus' character.
II.Tragedy
A. Describe what a tragedy is.
B. Describe the tragedies Oedipus has faced.
III.A tragic hero
A. Describe what makes Oedipus a tragic hero.
B. Describe how Oedipus handles life after the pitfalls he has faced.
Oedipus–A Tragic Hero...show more content...
949–986). Boston, MA: Pearson.
Knox, B. M. (1998). Hero. In Oedipus at Thebes: Sophocles' tragic hero and his time (1st ed., p. 4).
New Haven, NY: Yale University Press.
Reeves, C. H. (1952). The Aristotelian Concept of the Tragic Hero. The American Journal of
Philology, 73(2), 172–188. http://doi.org/10.2307/291812
Vernant, J.–P., & DuBois, P. (1978). Ambiguity and Reversal: On the Enigmatic Structure of
Oedipus Rex. New Literary History, 9(3), 475–501. http://doi.org/10.2307/468451
Wilson, J. P. (1997). The hero and the city: An interpretation of Sophocles' Oedipus at Colonus. Ann
Arbor, MI: University of Michigan

Oedipus Tragic Hero
Killing his father, marrying his mother, blinding himself, abandoning his country; these are all
actions the main character, Oedipus, commits in Oedipus the King and Oedipus at Colonus, which
adds to his tragic heroicness. He starts off with the potential to be great, but was doomed to
eventually fall and by the end, he meets his moral victory. Although some may disagree with the fact
that Oedipus is a tragic hero, there are a plethora of examples to prove that he is the tragic hero of
both plays. In fact, almost every major action Oedipus takes throughout the two plays are actions
that could qualify him as being a tragic hero. In order to be a tragic hero, one must have all the
characteristics that a tragic hero possesses. Oedipus, clearly...show more content...
His previously immense hubris becomes completely nonexistent. On page 76 of the first play, the
chorus states, "Count no mortal happy till he has passed the final limit of his life secure from
pain". Although he did not actually die, his life will be filled with pain until he does and he is no
longer the same person he once was before he died emotionally. According to the Oracle, after the
citizens of Thebes banished him, he traveled into Athens where he went to his final resting place. He
accepted that his death happens when "there should come signs, earthquakes and thunder, Zeus's
lightning" (Sophocles 83). Thus, he acknowledges that the Oracle knows when his time on earth
is up. Finally, the last trait of a tragic hero is the pity of the audience for the tragic hero. When
Creon comes to exploit Oedipus, the audience pities him because Oedipus left Creon, his trusted
brother in law, in charge of his precious daughters. Instead, Creon kidnaps them in order to benefit
himself and to try to get closer to the benefits Oedipus can provide. Despite Creon's efforts to
persuade him, Oedipus obeys the words of the Oracle and dies on his own terms, fulfilling his
moral victory. He makes the choice to not help Creon or either of his sons; his death was for
Theseus and himself, since Theseus let him stay and gives the promise to bury him. Theseus benefits
just as much as Oedipus

Essay on Oedipus the King: A Tragic Hero
A tragic hero, as defined by Aristotle, is a man who is great but also terribly flawed, who
experiences misfortunes while still remaining admirable to the audience at the end of the play. One
of Aristotle's favorite works, Oedipus the King, a play by Sophocles, is a play that above all others,
defines the meaning of what a true tragic hero really is. In the play, Oedipus the King, the story
unfolds after Oedipus unintentionally kills his own father and goes on to marry his mother. The
events of the play are tragic, but it is the way that Oedipus handles the tragedies that make him a
tragic hero.
From the very beginning of the play, we can already see that Oedipus is a great but flawed man. He
proves to us...show more content...
However, in spite of all of his positive qualities, he is a man that is prone to arrogance and
impulsive behaviors. At the opening of the play, when he addresses the city about the plague, he
tells them not to worry for "Here I am myself...the world knows my fame: I am Oedipus" (7–8),
implying that he can solve any problem simply because of who he is. Oedipus also shows his
arrogance by comparing himself to the gods. After hearing the chorus' cries to the gods for help he
tells the city of Thebes to "Let [him] grant [their] prayers...listen to [him]"(245–246). Oedipus
displays his quick temper after the prophet Tireseas declines to tell him who Laius's murderer is; he
hastily becomes infuriated at the prophet, telling him he is "scum of the earth . . . [a man who]
would enrage a heart of stone" (381).
The heart of the story unravels when Oedipus apparently begins to suffer a reversal of fortunes. At
the beginning of the play, Oedipus is referred to by the priest as the "king of the land, [the city of
Thebes'] greatest power" (16). Through all of Thebes he is thought of as a hero, a man who saved
the city from the Sphinx and in his bravery has promised to find the killer of King Laius in order to
save the city from doom and death. However, at the climax of the story Oedipus learns that he has
been "cursed in [his] birth, cursed in marriage / and cursed in

Oedipus, a Tragic Hero?
Elizabeth Howell
English 102– B33
Professor Katie Robinson
Liberty University
October 12, 2012
Thesis: Using Aristotle's five different descriptions of a tragic hero, we will show that Oedipus in
Oedipus the King is in fact a tragic hero and how his decisions led to his downfall.
Outline: I. Introduction and Thesis Statement II. Is the character of noble birth? A. King of Thebes
B. Real father was king III. Though the tragic hero is pre–eminently great, he/she is not perfect. A.
Freewill B. Fallibility IV. The hero's downfall, therefore, is partially his/her own fault. A. Easily
angered B. Unwilling to accept truth. V. The hero's misfortune is not...show more content...
Oedipus decides that he does not want to look upon the misery that he has caused and gauges his
own eyes out with pins from a dress. He then banishes himself from the city of Thebes. Oedipus
takes the responsibility as king and does not want his children shunned upon. As a consequence,
Oedipus will live the rest of his life in blindness, as a punishment far worse that what he deserved.
When Oedipus had vision he was in the dark for not knowing the past. However, when Oedipus
blinded himself, he was brought from the darkness into the light because he finally knows of his
destiny. Besides being a tragic hero whose punishment was not wholly deserved, Oedipus is also
a tragic hero because his fall is not pure loss; his fall involves an increase of selfknowledge.
Throughout the play, Oedipus is lacking the knowledge of who his real parents are. Also, Oedipus
is stuck with the prophecy that he will eventually kill his father and marry his mother. The
combination of these two things leads to changes in Oedipus's actions which lead him to actions that
lead to his downfall. Basically, what it comes down to is that Oedipus was blind, figuratively, his
entire life. It must be tough to live an entire lifetime without having full self–awareness and
self–knowledge. Although the

Oedipus: a Tragic Hero Essay
Oedipus: A Tragic Hero Aristotle's tragic hero is one of the most recognizable types of heroes among
literature. A tragic hero combines five major points all of which have to do with the hero's stature in
society, his faults, how these faults effect him, the punishment his faults gets him, and how he reacts
to this punishment. Aristotle explained that the story of Oedipus the King, written by Sophocles, is a
perfect example of a tragic hero. In the play, Oedipus is given a prophecy in which he is told that
he will kill his father then marry his mother. As in many Greek plays, Oedipus tries to run from his
prophecy and ends up fulfilling exactly what it is foretold. Through the play we see that Oedipus
posses many of the characteristics...show more content...
That is only the beginning of his downfall though as he earlier told the Chorus that anyone
harboring the murderer would be cursed, even if it was himself, "...if by any chance/he proves to be
an intimate of our house...may the curse I just called down strike me!" (284–287). This shows just
how serious that Oedipus was about punishing this person and even though he doesn't understand
that it is himself, and takes awhile for him to realize, that he was responsible for what happened to
him. The final discussed characteristic that Oedipus possesses is that his punishment was not wholly
deserved. There are three main punishments that Oedipus has to go through because of his crime.
Those punishments are his exile from Thebes, the suicide of Jocasta, and the loss of his sight.
However, the punishment that pushes everything over the edge is when Oedipus strikes out his
own eyes. When he appears to the Chorus he comes out and speaks of how horrid he feels for
everything in saying, "The blackest things/a man can do, I have done them all!" (1541–1542).
During this very scene the Chorus speaks, not to Oedipus directly, but to each other and the literally
shrink away from him. It is obvious that they don't believe he deserves this through their words, "O
the terror––/the suffering, for all the world to see/the worst terror that ever met my eyes,/what
madness swept over you?" (1432–1435). The Chorus continues to

Oedipus Tragic Hero
In Sophocles' captivating ancient Greek tragedy play widely known as Oedipus Rex, which was
performed at the Dionysiac Festival that was in honor of Dionysus, the god of wine and revelry
a.k.a partying. Sequentially, Oedipus Rex is the first in a trilogy, that encompasses of Oedipus Rex,
Oedipus at Colonus, and Antigone. During Sophocles lifetime, the plays were performed by three
actors who played all of the characters. In fact, Sophocles before his plays were staged , ancient
Greek plays only used two actors. The protagonist of Oedipus Rex is Oedipus, and he is condemned
for destruction. This play is set in ancient Greece, specifically the city of Thebes and Oedipus's
palace. Oedipus is indeed a tragic hero, who's life seems to be filled...show more content...
Before the play begins, Oedipus had left Corinth and eventually happened to stumble upon the
city of Thebes. As stated before, Oedipus left his hometown because an oracle had told him that
he is destined to to sleep with his mom and kill his dad. Nevertheless, in leaving Corinth and
coming to Thebes, unconsciously causing the prophecy into coming true when he murders Laius
at the triple crossroads and marries Jocasta which are his birth parents. Without a doubt, Oedipus
of course did not want any of this to occur but some things are inevitable. To further more in ways
Oedipus's actions lead to his downfall is when Oedipus endeavors to discover why the plague is
taking place in Thebes. So when Oedipus sends Creon on a quest to Delphi and also request
Tiresias to come to the palace to only unearth the disheartening truth of that he is the source of the
plague. Fatally Oedipus just wanted to investigate the root of the plague and save the people of
Thebes yet, everything goes spiraling south that results the death of his mom and his exile.
Disregarding all the events that transpired Oedipus refused to give up and calls forth the sole
survivor of the massacre at the triple crossroads to come converse with him. The sole survivor
indicates that one person annihilated Laius's party at the triple crossroads not a group of individuals
as Oedipus had been

A tragic hero has many traits and characterized in many lights, but what mainly encompasses a
tragic hero six things. The first is called the Hamartia, this is the tragic flaw that causes the
downfall of the hero. The second is called the Hubris, this is the excessive pride or,it can also be
labeled as over confidence, and their disrespect for natural order. The third thing is called the
Peripeteia this is known as the reversal of that the the hero experiences. The fourth thing is called the
Anagnorisis, this is the moment in which the hero makes an important discovery. The fifth is known
as Nemesis this is the fate of the protagonist. The sixth and final characteristic of a tragic hero is
Catharsis and these are the feelings of pity and pity that usually the audience feels for the
protagonist after the downfall of the hero. In this book, Oedipus the King, Oedipus posses all of
these traits. Throughout the play Oedipus reveals to us different sides to him and one side that we
clearly and quickly see is his arrogance. He constantly expresses his abilities to bless the land of
Thebes and grant others wishes. When others challenge Oedipus' power he lashes out and defends
himself to let all know he is the king and he has the highest power. "You've lost your power,...show
more content...
He constantly suspects that he is the murderer and with the messengers constantly delivering
messages to Oedipus, he is putting his life puzzle together. "I curse myself as well...if by any
chance he proves to be an intimate of our house." Here Oedipus seems to be accepting the fact
that he might be the one to murder Laius. Oedipus' guilt builds and is constantly eating him as the
days pass. "My god, my god, what have you planned to do to me?" Oedipus is accepting his fate and
in fact he expects his downfall. He is aware that the end is near and doesn't expect

Oedipus Tragic Hero
Oedipus Critical Essay
There are various meanings of what a tragic hero is, but Aristotle follows the character of Oedipus
most specifically. Aristotle's definition of a tragic hero has many different parts that a person must
have. The first thing that the person must have is the man has to be a man of noble stature. The
noble stature is usually gained by becoming a prince or a king. The second guideline is that the tragic
hero has to be a good person, but his downfall results from his committing of an act of prejudice
through obliviousness. Thirdly, the hero's downfall is his own fault, no one else's. His fate may
contribute to his downfall, but it is eventually the hero's own varieties and arrangements that signal
to his downfalls. The blend...show more content...
Even though fate played a significant part in Oedipus' actions it was him who made the decision
the ultimately led to his departure. Once Oedipus heard that he was destined to marry his mother
and kill his own father he chose to flee Corinth forever knowing that his father and mother were the
king and the queen. Thinking about made me think that he may have been better off staying in
Corinth. There was not one time during the entire play where the oracle says that if Oedipus left
Corinth that he would be able to free himself from his fate. Instead of staying and making sure it did
not happen he took matters into his own hands and fled his home land. When coming in contact with
the men he did not have to kill them, that was his own choice. Oedipus told the story of the gruesome

Oedipus Rex Tragic Hero Essay
A tragic hero is one that wants to achieve greatness, but in the end all of his or her efforts are futile
as they face a true reality, failure. The ways Sophocles and Aristotle describe a tragedy are different
and can be seen in the way Oedipus Rex is written. Oedipus Rex is a story that portrays a tragic hero,
Oedipus, who goes through events ultimately leading him into despair. Comparing qualities of tragic
heroes between authors can show their writing style even while using the same theme. The story of
Oedipus Rex can be used to differentiate what it means to be a tragic hero to Sophocles and Aristotle.
Sophocles was a man who lived a normal life but was able to portray absolute despair in his stories
through the characters. "A tragedy is a serious drama featuring a main character, often of noble
birth, who strives to achieve something and is ultimately defeated" (Sophocles I.i.199). Just as a
character must be of noble birth, he or she must also have a tragic flaw that leads to his demise
when solving the problem presented to them. "The problem given to a character is done to test
their faith in divine or human justice" (Sophocles I.i. 198). When the gods were angered and
punishing people, this was a sign that a problem has occurred and the main character is involved.
These distinct features of a tragic hero are what has made Oedipus Rex one of the greatest
tragedies in history. Oedipus Rex is a unique story that has all the qualities it take to be a tragedy
written by Sophocles. He requires that the tragic hero must be born from noble birth, and
Oedipus is exactly that as he was born from Queen Jocasta and King Laius of Thebes. "I know
that you are deathly sick, and yet, as sick as you are, not on is as sick as I," is Oedipus stating his
opinion on how the city of Thebes was given a plague by Apollo. The flaw that keeps Oedipus
from solving this problem is that he is the source of the problem. The prophecy that Oedipus has
been cursed with since birth states, "Their son would one day kill his father and marry his mother"
(Sophocles I.i 200). As Oedipus tries to solve this problem the truth slowly unravels, the prophecy
comes true, and Oedipus suffers a horrible fate worse then death. The story ends

Oedipus Tragic Hero
Picture yourself going from being the King of Thebes to a widowed, motherless man who is
forced to exile and fend for himself without sight. This is what occurred in Sophocles' play, Oedipus
Rex. A tragedy is composed of six elements that determine the quality of each part. It starts off with a
flaw that leads to a hero's passing, the acknowledgement of these flaws, and lethal punishment of the
tragic hero. The play,Oedipus Rex, is about a king who finds out that he killed his own father and
married his mother. Throughout the discovery, he doubted the citizens and a new side of Oedipus
arose. Aristotle, the creator of the tragic hero cycle, thought Oedipus was the ideal example of a
tragic hero. The six elements are present within Sophocles' play beginning with the hamartia, leading
to the anagnorisis, and concluding with the nemesis....show more content...
The hamartia in Oedipus is his lack of knowledge about his own identity. Oedipus has no suspicion or
doubt that Polybus and Merope are his biological parents, until an intoxicated man approaches him
with the accusations. In the following quote, Oedipus learns about the rumors that were spread
throughout Cithaeron, "A drunken man maundering in his cups cries out that I am not my father's
son!" (Sophocles, Scene 2, Part I, Lines 735–736). Oedipus thinks that the accusations are absurd but
in reality they're the truth. Following the hamartia is the

Oedipus Rex Tragic Hero Essay
Sophocles' tragedy Oedipus Rex details the catastrophic downfall of Oedipus, King of Thebes, who
kills his father, marries his mother, and plagues his kingdom unknowingly. Aristotle's discourse
Poetics references Oedipus Rex as containing several elements of the ideal tragedy (CITE). Among
other factors, Aristotle stresses that the tragic hero's collapse does not occur in response to his or her
depravity, but in reaction to a "serious error" (CITE). Throughout the play,Oedipus demonstrates to
readers "vice or depravity" did not incite his actions (cite). Rather, he is an ethical man who makes
fatal mistakes. Oedipus Rex is not a corrupt villain, but an impulsive man who lacks the knowledge
to understand the implications of his actions. Oedipus...show more content...
(CITE) Oedipus demonstrates his morality through his deep care for others, especially the
Thebans. Upon his arrival to Thebes, he cures the city's plague by solving the Sphinx's riddle, a
task which no Theban could complete. The chorus praises Oedipus' success, saying "you came here
... and freed us from the tribute we were paying to that cruel singer – and yet you knew no more than
we did and had not been taught" (Sophocles 40–43). Oedipus risked his safety by interacting with
the Sphinx to protect the Thebans. This act shows Oedipus' care for Thebes through his selflessness
and concern for others, despite not even knowing the Thebans. Even after Oedipus becomes King of
Thebes, in honour of his ability to solve the Sphinx's riddle, he still cares about Thebes. Oedipus
demonstrates this when he listens to the chorus' concerns, which represent Theban concerns. When
the chorus shares its anxiety about the plague with him, he responds "I am not ignorant of what you
yearn for ... I sorrow for myself, and for the city, and for you – all together ... I've been shedding
many tears" (Sophocles 67–77). This quote shows that Oedipus is already aware of and worried
about the plague's implications for his subjects. Thus, it demonstrates Oedipus' compassion.
Oedipus' care for those "below" him in rank shows that he wants to help his subjects regardless of
their role in the hierarchy and is not a cold

The ultimate tragic hero is presented in all its glory in the play "Oedipus the King." Rather than
being a typical tragic hero, "Oedipus," has gone beyond the traditional into the unbelievable.
"Oedipus" when we come to him in this play has already taken three noble positions. He was born
the babe, and prince of one Royal Family, then discarded because of an oracle. This cast off
prince, was then brought low to die, facing the flaw of naivety, which a babe only knows. A
shepherd discovered him and took him to another royal couple, to which he became a prince once
more. Later, as he became older another oracle was spoken of him and in his flaw of fear, he fled
from the second royal family, becoming of no account once more. The purpose for this
qualification. Following this, on the way he killed several men in ignorance, impulsiveness and
anger. Later, when he would sit in his own father's throne, sleeping with his mother, who bore
children of this ungodly union, his tragic flaws would strike at his core and be brought lower than a
man could ever or should ever know. Thus, the identification of "Oedipus" as a tragic hero is fulfilled
and demonstrated three times over in this heartbreaking tale of woe....show more content...
It was this glimpse of what might be that caused one's imaginations to ponder whether Oedipus, was
that self–same child. It was only upon the reflection of her deceased husband's death that this infant
prince was remembered, as Jocaste counted the traumatic losses she had suffered. It was not
discovered until much later that the infant prince was cast off as a murderer before his time, guilty
of naГЇve trust for those who were to love, protect and raise him as their first–born heir: a prince.
Sent out, losing title, position, and had there not been intervention, his

Oedipus Tragic Hero
Tragedy is a broadly used literary term most often associated with various pieces of dramatic
literature, both old and new, where the actions of the main protagonist cause a drastic catastrophe at
the end of the story. Most commonly found within these tragedies are tragic heroes, a literary
concept created by the famous philosopher, Aristotle. According to Aristotle, atragic hero is a
character who inhabits a stature of power and nobility, but also experiences a downfall or change
in fortune from happiness to misery because of some tragic flaw. Yet, the fate of the hero evokes an
emotional purging or catharsis in pity and fear for readers because the tragic hero incarnates the
qualities we value most like courage, generosity, and bravery....show more content...
However, when he finds the prophecy to be true in the end, Oedipus has a moment of realization
as he gouges at his eyes. He finally understands his involvement within the prophecy and takes
responsibility for the decay of Thebes. He says, "but never ask my father's city here/ to welcome me
alive within its walls./ No, let me wander hills where I belong" (Sophocles 1449–1451). That said
Oedipus' story exemplifies how destiny is inescapable, and how his quest to outwit fate follows in
his own pitiful destruction. By attempting to defy the knowledge and warnings of Tiresias, and,
thus, the power of fate, Oedipus's stubborn sense of pride goes directly against the will of the gods.
Yet, it is Oedipus who still states, "You argue justly, yet there's not a man/ can force unwilling
deities to act" (Sophocles 279–280). Ironically, Oedipus cannot see that his actions are doing just
that, and it is only when he is punished for his hubris, and he loses his eyesight, can he finally see
the truth. This experience can be seen as patheimathus, a Greek term that translates to "in suffering
comes learning." Through Oedipus's journey to find the truth behind his prophecy, he suffers a great
deal, which leads to a learning experience at the end of

There are certain elements present in tragic stories that qualify them to be identified as tragic.
Because tragedy as a genre was not an inexorable matter, authors have been able to take it into their
own hands, diverting from the traditional styles as they desire. Among the traditional elements of the
genre is the inclusion of a tragic hero who finds defeat through his fatal flaw. While still confining to
certain attributes of tragedy, these remodeled stories portray tragic heroes in an especially unique
way. Two such tragic tales that modify the idea of a tragic hero are Sophocles' Oedipus Rex and
Euripides' Medea. The characters Oedipus from Oedipus Rex and Medea from Medea alter the
perception of tragic heroes evident in their many differences and few shared tragic hero qualities.
Oedipus and Medea are tragic heroes in their own tragic tale. However, they share only a few
attributes. The most apparent similarity is the two character's' tragic flaw. A tragic flaw in Greek
tragedies is a quality in a character, usually defined as an error in judgement, that brings about their
demise. For both Medea and Oedipus, this was excessive...show more content...
Oedipus understood justice as punishing and rewarding people adequately for the magnitude of
their actions. For example, Oedipus promised a lesser punishment to the man who killed Laius if
the man turned himself in: "If any man's conscience is guilty, let him give himself up. He will suffer
the less" (Sophocles, 227–228). Medea's perception of justice was self–justice, as she said, "there is
no justice in the world's judgmental eyes" (Eupholus, 221). She felt the world was insufficient to
provide justice, so she had to take it into her own hand. She rebelled against the justice system
about the treatment of women in a society ruled by men. She was wronged by Jason, and she felt
justified to wrong him in a way that he truly would feel her pain: by killing everyone he

Oedipus The King – Tragic Hero Essay
The character Oedipus in oedipus the king is a tragic here by definition, according to Aristotle.
There are five specific features a character must possess to be a tragic hero in Greek Theatre. The
first is the character must have have a noble birth, ( add info )
The second is the character must have Hamartia, the tragic flaw that eventually leads the hero to
his downfall. It is debatable which flaw specifically lead Oedipus to his downfalls. The trait
Oedipus demonstrated often was stubbornness, or determination. Determination steered Oedipus
to discover and fulfill his fate, he was determined to save Thebes by finding who killed Laius. But
Determination is not a flaw, Oedipus did what he morally thought was correct to do; find the
murderer of Laius and save Thebes from the plague. The flaw that led Oedipus to his downfall was
how prideful he was. He would ignore others who warned him about his fate. Oedipus believed he
was above others, more powerful, clever, and...show more content...
O light – now let me look my last on you!" (Sophocles 232)
Next, is Oedipus' actions resulting in an increase of self awareness and self–knowledge. Oedipus,
after putting the pieces together, found his true identity and fate. "Oh no, what can I say to him?
How can I ever hope to win his trust? I wronged him so, just now, in every way. You must see that
I was so wrong, so wrong." As shown in this quote, Oedipus realizes that he was wrong, and gains
self awareness. Finally, the audience must feel pity and fear for the character. In the following
quote, Oedipus is punishing himself and it would be hard to not feel pity, "He digs them down the
sockets of his eyes, crying, "you, you'll see no more pain I suffered, all the pain I've caused!"
(Sophocles unknown pg) Oedipus is a tragic hero, all given features from Aristotle are found to be
true and match

Essay on Oedipus, The Tragic Hero
Born into a royal family, Oedipus was one of the bearers of a disastrous generational curse. He
had no idea what he was born into, or what he would become. Poor Oedipus was put into to the
world to serve as an example from the gods. Although Oedipus was said to be a victim of fate, he
contributed to his own fate more than the gods. He was placed into the world to with a prophecy
that he will kill his father and married his mother and conceive children with her, but that was just a
prophecy not his destiny. Oedipus could have determined a new destiny for himself, but instead he
did more things to make the prophecy true rather than false. The life of Oedipus was a great tragedy,
not only for him but for his entire family. Although the gods...show more content...
In my opinion if Oedipus did not believe his parents in Corinth were his real parent why kill
someone who is old enough to be your father. Why kill someone in general?
Oedipus also puzzled me when he married someone who was old enough to be his mother and
conceive children with her. It was not just a coincident that he killed a man that was old enough
to be his father and wedded a wife, a woman old enough to be his mother. "But I am the king now,
I hold the throne that he held then, possess his bed and a wife who shares our seed". Just by
Oedipus saying these word he is repeating the prophecy that was set out for him. If someone had
predicted that I would have married my mother, I would avoid marrying someone who is older than
me, I might try avoid being married at all. Oedipus although so brave, and strong ignored the small
signs that shouted "you are going in the wrong way son". If Oedipus had just put aside the thought
and ego that he saved Thebes and the queen and throne is now his, I think he might have figured out
that he was headed in the wrong direction.
Although Oedipus was a great leader, he still had a great flaw of having a bad temper. Oedipus
accused his own fellow right hand man of trying to kill him and of killing the former king. Creon,
the brother–in–law of Oedipus, was accused plotting to kill Oedipus because Tiresias accused

The Tragic Hero
Oedipus The King, a play written by Sophocles, features Oedipus, a tragic hero incorporated in a
tragic play. Oedipus, biological son of the king and queen of Thebes, is unknowingly adopted and
raised by King Polybus and Queen Merope after his biological parents decide to abandon him due to
a curse lashed upon the city of Thebes long ago. Nonetheless, Oedipus, like all other tragic heroes, is
raised in nobility and lives in prosperous circumstances. However, it is not only his social status that
classify him as a tragic hero but also his ideal traits in his individual personality. Sophocles first
depicts Oedipus' keenness when he is able to "solve the riddle by [his] wit alone" (27) of the
Sphinxes and liberate Thebes...show more content...
The melancholy of the plague strikes Thebes, which can only be saved once the "pollution" of
the nation, or the man who killed King Laius, will be eradicated. By exploiting Teiresias unique
gift, Oedipus hopes to elicit the murderer's identity. Hesitant to reveal his prophecy, Teiresias
finally speaks and avows that Oedipus "[is] the land's pollution" (25). An element of irony is
introduced when Oedipus fails to see the truth in Tiresias accusation. Tiresias might be physically
blind but he can see more than Oedipus ever will. It is this very blindness, the "darkness on [his]
eyes, that now have such straight vision" (28), that will lead to his downfall. Tiresias might be
physically blind, but it is the emotional blindness which afflicts the King of Thebes. He is unable
to see the truth and accuses Tiresias of felony and of an alliance with Creon to steal the throne.
However, Oedipus doesn't realize that Tiresias is speaks nothing but the truth and attempts to
inform him of his unforgivable murder and his incestous relationship: "He shall be proved father
and brother both to his children" (30). Even when the puzzle pieces start to come together Oedipus
denies it all and turns a blind eye on his reprehensible sin. In conclusion both characters are afflicted
by blindness however Oedipus suffers from emotional blind and Tiresias from

Oedipus Tragic Hero
The Unnatural Murderer: Oedipus as a Tragic Hero
Tragedy and truth. Sophocles' famous play Oedipus the King, shares the destined fate of King
Oedipus who embarks on a journey of self discovery, only to reveal a wicked truth about himself. A
tragic hero can be identified as someone who contains five traits which are: larger than life, driven
by an impossible dream, expecting more then the world can return, having a tragic flaw that leads to
downfall and lastly, doomed to fail. Throughout the story ofOedipus, there can be many connections
made that he, by definition, is a tragic hero and can apply to all these traits. As Oedipus tries to
discover who he is, he realizes that in the end he was always doomed to fail, led by his dream of
being...show more content...
One way Oedipus is doomed to fail comes from the fact that since the very beginning of his life,
he never actually knew of his past, and how his parents could never properly dispose of him.
Furthermore, if he was neglected, none of these horrible things might have actually happened to
him, "O God! I think i have just called down on myself a dreadful curse–– not knowing what I did"
(10). For Oedipus, it was destined for everything to occur, and this unexpected pain and truth led
him to his fatal end. In addition, another way Oedipus is doomed is due to his inability to accept
his fate. Since he does not want to believe that he will kill his father and marry his mother, he
attempts to run away from the prophecy. Just as he discovers the dreadful truth, even after he was
told not to. Eventually he finds that he killed his father and "it has all come true. Light let this be
the last time I see you. I stand revealed born in shame, married in shame, an unnatural murderer"
(69). Once Oedipus discovers the bitter truth, he cannot handle it and stabs his eyes, leaving him
blind. He feels as though he does not deserve his sight, as it represents knowledge that he admits he
does not have. Finally, the last reason why Oedipus is doomed from the start comes from his

Essay about Oedipus: A Tragic Hero
Oedipus: A Tragic Hero
Oedipus Rex, or Oedipus the King is Sophocles's first play of "The Theban Cycle." It tells the story
of a king that tries to escape his fate, but by doing so he only brings about his downfall. Oedipus is a
classic example of the Aristotelian definition of a tragic hero. Aristotle defines a tragic hero as a
basically good and noble person who causes his own downfall due to a flaw in his character.
Oedipus is a man of noble blood; his parents, who raised him as a child, were King Polybus and
Queen Merope of Corinth. Oedipus also becomes a king himself when he solves the Sphinx's riddle,
thus saving Thebes and taking over the throne of the late King Laius. Oedipus then marries Jocasta,
Laius's widow,...show more content...
Oedipus was clever enough to solve the riddle, and then took on the throne of Thebes. When he
began ruling Thebes, Oedipus thought that he had beaten his fate; he thought that his father
would live and that he would not marry his mother. Instead, it is revealed to Oedipus that he is
really the son of King Laius and Queen Jocasta. When Oedipus was a baby, Laius went to the
oracle and his future was revealed to him; his son who would later marry his mother would kill
Laius. Perturbed by this, Laius ordered the death of his son, so a shepherd took the baby to a
mountain to dispose of the baby, but he couldn't do it. Instead he gave the baby to a messenger of
King Polybus. Oedipus, while trying to avoid his future kills King Laius in self–defense, and then
takes on the throne of Thebes. Inadvertently, Oedipus kills his father and marries his mother.
Oedipus causes his own downfall through his arrogance. He thinks that Teiresias is falsely
accusing him of murdering Laius when Teiresias says, "...you are the murderer whom you seek"
(Sophocles 1264). Teiresias then tells Oedipus that the man who he seeks will be brother and
father to his children and husband and son to his wife. Oedipus's hubris is also a major cause of
his downfall. Because he tries to escape what fate has in store for him, he ends up falling right into
what was planned

Oedipus Tragic Hero Essay

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