oedipus a tragic hero essay

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How is Oedipus a Tragic Hero

In the play Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, Oedipus is a classic tragic hero. According to Aristotle’s definition, Oedipus is a tragic hero because he is a king whose life falls apart when he finds out his life story. There are a number of characteristics described by Aristotle that identify a tragic hero. For example, a tragic hero must cause his own downfall; his fate is not deserved, and his punishment exceeds the crime; he also must be of noble stature and have greatness. Oedipus is in love with his idealized self, but neither the grandiose nor the depressive Narcissus can really love himself (Miller 67).

All of the above characteristics make Oedipus a tragic hero according to Aristotle’s ideas about tragedy, and a narcissist. Using Oedipus as an ideal model, Aristotle says that a tragic hero must be an important or influential man who makes an error in judgment, and who must then suffer the consequences of his actions. Those actions are seen when Oedipus forces Teiresias to reveal his destiny and his father’s name. When Teiresias tries to warn him by saying I say that you and your most dearly loved are wrapped together in a hideous sin, blind to the horror of it (Sophocles 428).

Oedipus still does not care and proceeds with his questioning as if he did not understand what Teiresias was talking about. The tragic hero must learn a lesson from his errors in judgment and become an example to the audience of what happens when great men fall from their lofty social or political positions. According to Miller, a person who is great, who is admired everywhere, and needs this admiration to survive, has one of the extreme forms of narcissism, which is grandiosity. Grandiosity can be seen when a person admires himself, his qualities, such as beauty, cleverness, and talents, and his success and achievements greatly.

If one of these happens to fail, then the catastrophe of a severe depression is near (Miller 34). Those actions happen when the Herdsman tells Oedipus who his mother is, and Oedipus replies Oh, oh, then everything has come out true. Light, I shall not look on you Again. I have been born where I should not be born, I have been married where I should not marry, I have killed whom I should not kill; now all is clear (Sophocles 1144). Oedipus’s decision to pursue his questioning is wrong; his grandiosity blinded him and, therefore, his fate is not deserved, but it is far beyond his control.

A prophecy is foretold to Laius, the father of Oedipus, that the destiny of Oedipus is a terrible one beyond his control. But when it is prophesized to Oedipus, he sets forth from the city of his foster parents in order to prevent this terrible fate from occurring. Oedipus’s destiny is not deserved because he is being punished for his parent’s actions. His birth parents seek the advice of the Delphi Oracle, who recommends that they should not have any children. When the boy is born, Laius is overcome with terror when he remembers the oracle.

Oedipus is abandoned by his birth parents and is denied their love, which is what results in what Miller calls Depression as Denial of the Self. Depression results from a denial of one’s own emotional reactions, and we cannot really love if we deny our truth, the truth about our parents and caregivers as, well as about ourselves (Miller 43). The birth of Oedipus presets his destiny to result in tragedy even though he is of noble birth. In tragedies, protagonists are usually of the nobility that makes their falls seem greater.

Oedipus just happens to be born a prince, and he has saved a kingdom that is rightfully his from the Sphinx. His destiny is to be of noble stature from birth, which is denied to him by his parents, but given back by the Sphinx. His nobility deceived him as well as his reflection, since it shows only his perfect, wonderful face and not his inner world , his pain, his history (Miller 66). When he relies on his status, he is blind, not physically, but emotionally. He is blind in his actions; therefore he does not see that the questioning would bring him only misery.

Later, after his self- inflicted blinding, Oedipus sees his actions as wrongdoing when he says What use are my eyes to me, who could never – See anything pleasant again? (Sophocles 1293) and that blindness does not necessarily have to be physical as we can se when he says, If I had sight, I know not with what eyes I would have looked (Sophocles 1325). In the play Oedipus Rex , Sophocles portrays the main character, Oedipus, as a good- natured person who has bad judgment and is frail. Oedipus makes a few fatal decisions and is condemned to profound suffering because of them.

Agreeing with Aristotle that Oedipus’ misfortune happens because of his tragic flaw . If he hadn’t been so judgmental or narcissistic, as Miller would characterize a personality like Oedipus, he would never have killed King Laius and called Teiresias a liar. In the beginning, Teiresias is simply trying to ease him slowly into the truth; but Oedipus is too proud to see any truths, and he refuses to believe that he could have been responsible for such a horrible crime. He learns a lesson about life and how there is more to it than just one person’s fate.

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Oedipus as a Tragic Hero Research Paper

Introduction, works cited, further study: faq.

Oedipus is a tragedy because it fits the definition of a tragic hero as established by Aristotle in the Poetics. In a classic tragedy, we see a noble and a heroic protagonist whose destruction is caused by a flaw in his character. This flaw can cause him to get involved in circumstances, which overpower him or make him unable to deal with a destructive situation caused by another character or by circumstances.

Although the play ends with the tragic hero’s death, he does experience an insight or awareness, which makes him and the audience more perceptive and aware. This research paper seeks to explain how Sophocles’ Oedipus exemplifies Aristotle’s description of a tragic hero. The paper incorporates research mainly from primary and secondary scholarly sources. By the end of the paper, the reader should be able to identify a strong correlation between Oedipus and the tragic hero outlined by Aristotle in the Poetics.

Oedipus is a tragedy because it fits the definition of a tragic hero as established by Aristotle in the Poetics. In a classic tragedy, we see a noble and a heroic protagonist whose destruction is caused by a flaw in his character.

This flaw can cause him to get involved in circumstances, which overpower him or make him unable to deal with a destructive situation caused by another character or by circumstances. Although the play ends with the tragic hero’s death, he does experience an insight or awareness, which makes him and the audience more perceptive and aware.

This research paper seeks to explain how Sophocles’ Oedipus exemplifies Aristotle’s description of a tragic hero. The paper incorporates research mainly from primary and secondary scholarly sources. By the end of the paper, the reader should be able to identify a strong correlation between Oedipus and the tragic hero outlined by Aristotle in the Poetics. (Else 17)

By following the theory outlined by Aristotle on the theory and definition of a tragic hero, it is evident that Oedipus the hero of Sophocles fits this description. According to Aristotle, a tragic hero must have the ability to provoke the spectator’s pity and trepidation and to make them more perceptive. In the play, Oedipus has nearly all the characters of a tragic hero as outlined by Aristotle.

Ideally, the perception of tragic hero is essential in the creation of tragedy since it should be the central cause of sympathy and awe. Usually, the tragic character as outlined by Aristotle evolves between two limits. According to the description, the character should border between being virtuous and evil. Additionally, this character is superior to the ordinary men and he has excellent traits. As a tragic hero, the character moves from bliss to despair and hence his downfall.

Usually, a flaw in character causes the downfall of the tragic hero and not through the chords of evil or corruption. Additionally, the tragic hero is usually prosperous and has high social standing. By reading the story, one is able to realize that all these characteristics befit Oedipus and one is therefore right in claiming that he is a tragic hero. (Golden 35)

Actually, every aspect in the description of a tragic hero seems to fit Oedipus character. To begin with, Oedipus is naturally a noble man. By his virtue, he helps the people of Thebes to solve the riddle of Sphinx something that saves their city. After solving this riddle, Oedipus is made the Theban king and this is where we find another good nature to his character.

Once he is in the throne, the king shows a deep concern for the suffering of Thebans owing to the plague. He actually tells the Thebans that his suffering is greater than their own. Since his aptitude and wit had saved Thebans before, all the people are now looking up to him for their salvation from the ravaging plague. In fact, the people compare his intelligence to that of God.

Even before the people begin complaining, Oedipus has already sent Creon to consult the oracle of Apollo. This shows that he is a great man and as a king, he knows the right thing to do for his people. Another virtuous quality in Oedipus is demonstrated when he decides to inflict himself with blindness just to fulfill the punishment that he had sworn would be given to the king’s killer.

Had he been a weak character, Oedipus would have chosen to commit suicide alongside his mother Jocasta. Instead, Oedipus chooses the option of confessing his hideous mistake to the Thebans. This account is proof enough that Oedipus has a good character and this makes him fit the role of a tragic hero as outlined by Aristotle. (Steiner 107)

On top of being a noble person, Oedipus has royal blood since he later emerges to be the son of King Laius. Even before the people know that he is King Laius son, Oedipus tells Jocasta that he is indeed the son of Polybus who is the Corinth king. Indeed, Oedipus left Corinth once he received prophecy that he would kill his father and marry his mother.

Afraid of this prophecy, Oedipus flees from Corinth to Thebes where he marries Jocasta. In the course of events, Jocasta tells Oedipus of a prophecy that had been given to the late king that he would give birth to a son who would cause his death and marry his own mother.

Jocasta then tells Oedipus that he should disregard this prophecy since no man has the ability to see in to the future. In fact, things get more complicated for him once he learns from Jocasta that they killed their own son to escape this prophecy. As the events unfold, it is proved that Oedipus in indeed the son of King Laius and Jocasta something that confirms his royalty. Despite the fact that Oedipus is of royal blood, he has a flawed character that makes him a tragic hero as outlined by Aristotle. (Kaufmann 120)

There is no doubt that Oedipus is a virtuous, courageous, and smart king. Despite his admirable personality, he also has some flaws in his character that seem to be inborn. As a tragic hero, these errors finally cause his eventual downfall from glory. By clearly analyzing the whole text, one quickly learns that Oedipus is stubborn in character. In fact, all the ills that he suffers are caused by this stubbornness since he does whatever he thinks is right despite the consequences.

At first, Tressias declines to divulge the truth about the death of King Laius but Oedipus pressures him to disclose the truth so he can save Thebes. Upon being pushed to the limit, Tressias reluctantly tells him that he was indeed the killer of the king. When his wife Jocasta tells him to stop inquiring of the matter, Oedipus dismisses her and instead continues to question the shepherd.

Despite the warnings, his stubbornness makes him want to know the bitter truth from the shepherd. Indeed, this stubbornness becomes the source of agony once he realizes the identity of his parents. Apart from his stubbornness, Oedipus is also presented as a moody person and can do anything when he is in a bad mood. This is demonstrated when he kills King Laius on his way to Thebes.

It is clear that Oedipus was in a bad temper when he committed this act owing to the prophecy that had been given to him. On top of this, he is a quick character who speaks without stopping to think. This is demonstrated when he accuses Creon of plotting with Tressias to deny him the right to the throne.

This can definitely be attributed to bad temper owing to what Tressias had told him. Just before this confrontation with Creon, Oedipus is seen mocking and insulting the blind prophet Tressias. Tressias tells him that both of them are alike since he is unable to see the sinful union that he has with his mother. Indeed, this stubbornness and quick speech leads to his downfall. (Hyde 322)

By closely analyzing the situation, one easily finds the link between Oedipus downfall and his stubbornness. This therefore leads to the conclusion that his downfall did not come from malice or depravity but it is rather caused by natural flaws in his personality. In fact, the tragic end of this hero occurs once the audience learns that he is indeed the real son of Laius and Jocasta.

This not only brings to fulfillment the prophecy given at Delphi but it also brings to pass the words of Tressias that no man would know greater suffering than Oedipus. This happens when he gets to a point where is unable to know if he is the father of his daughters or their brother.

After his identity is revealed, Oedipus leaves Thebes to free the city of the plague and gorges out his eyes to fulfill the punishment he had promised the killer of King Laius would get. In fact, neither the prophet nor the shepherd is willing to make the truth known to him but his own stubbornness becomes his downfall. This clearly fits Aristotle’s’ description of a tragic hero when he claims that his downfall is caused by a flaw in his character. (Miller 2)

By the time the curtains fall, it is clear that that the audience is in a state of purgation. Throughout the play, Oedipus attains the sympathy and fear of the spectators. Nearly everyone fears the real identity of the hero and they keep on hoping that he does not discover it. Once the truth is out in the open, the audience is moved to pity by what happens to Oedipus.

By arousing both pity and fear from the audience, it becomes clear that Oedipus has the traits of a tragic hero as outlined by Aristotle in the poetics. Indeed, there is a clear pointer to the wheels of fate in his life since everything prophesied about him happens. Whatever happens to him is a clear indication that it is preordained fate and nothing he does can prevent it from happening. (Else 22)

Oedipus is a tragedy because it fits the description of a tragic hero as outlined by Aristotle in the poetics. In fact, this play by Sophocles is termed as the best piece of literature that fits Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero.

By analyzing the character of Oedipus, one is able to realize that no forces of evil cause the downfall of this hero but rather his stubbornness and bad temper, which are obvious character flaws in his nature. Throughout the play, the audience is spellbound by the acts of this hero but at the end, everyone is moved to pity by what has happened to him. This also clearly fits the description of a tragic hero as outlined by Aristotle.

Else, Gerald. Aristotle’s Poetics: The Argument . Harvard University Press, 1963. 16-22. Print.

Golden, Leon, trans. Aristotle’s Poetics . With Commentary by O. B. Hardison, Jr. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1967. 32-41. Print.

Hyde, Isabel. The Tragic Flaw: Is It a Tragic Error?” The Modern Language Review . St. Louis University Library, 2008. 321-325. Print.

Kaufmann, Walter. Tragedy and Philosophy . Princeton University Press, 1992. 120-122. Print.

Miller, Arthur. Tragedy and the Common Man . University of California, 1949. 1-2. Print.

Steiner, George. The Death of Tragedy . Yale University Press, 1996. 105-111. Print .

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Oedipus: A Tragic Hero

Oedipus Rex, or Oedipus the King is Sophocless 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 Sphinxs riddle, thus saving Thebes and taking over the throne of the late King Laius. Oedipus then marries Jocasta, Laiuss widow, and they have children together. Though he is a very fair and understanding husband, Oedipuss main concern is always the city of Thebes. When a plague strikes the city, Oedipus refused sleep until he finds the cause, and he, sent Creon,To Delphi, Apollos place of revelation, To learn there, if he can, What act or pledge of mine may save the city (Sophocles 1257).

Oedipus then vows to find who killed King Laius after Creon reveals that Laiuss death must be avenged so that the plague will be dispersed. Oedipus, a great and noble king was flawed by his hubris, or spiritual pride. Oedipus believes that he could avoid what the oracle told him long ago: he would kill his father and then marry his mother. Instead of returning to his home of Corinth, Oedipus wandered the lands until he came upon Thebes. The city was in turmoil after the sudden death of King Laius, and the Sphinx was killing dozens of citizens each day, and would only stop if her riddle was solved.

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 couldnt 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. Oedipuss 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 for him. He finds out that he is the son of Laius and Jocasta, and he is the highwayman that killed Laius. Oedipus, doing what he feels is right for Thebes, blinds himself with Jocastas brooch after he discovers her body swaying from a cord. Oedipus then sends himself into self-exile, doomed to walk the lands blindly until he finds, Life, at his death, a memory without pain (Sophocles 1294). Oedipus, the classic tragic hero, was a good and noble king who brought about his downfall by trying to avoid his fate.

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Oedipus as a Perfect Tragic Hero

Introduction.

Aristotle made a considerable contribution when he conceptualized the notion of a tragic hero. According to the ancient thinker, a tragic hero should possess five major qualities. The Ancient Greek philosopher used Oedipus as a prototype for his tragic hero. Based on the major concepts of Aristotle, Oedipus can be seen as a perfect tragic hero who is characterized by all five features of such a hero.

First, Oedipus is a decent person, which cannot be questioned due to his will to find the truth and live a righteous life. Being a king, he is polite and wise when addressing his people using such words as “My poor children” (Sophocles 2). He expresses empathy and tells about his attempts to solve the issues that his country has to face (Sophocles 3). He has a wife and children and treats everyone well. Even when he is angry and may want to commit unjust deeds (such as kill a messenger who has brought bad news), he regains control over himself and does the right things.

His quick temper is his hamartia , making him a human and a perfect tragic hero. Oedipus loses his temper on the road and kills the people who offend him. He could have been more patient and reasonable and could have tried to teach the offenders another lesson. Oedipus hit the man in the carriage that attacked him, but he could have stopped at that point. Instead, he “killed them all” (Sophocles 21). The tragic hero committed a crime that led to a series of other crimes and, eventually, sorrows for the citizens of his home city.

The punishment the king has to endure also shows that he is a tragic hero. Oedipus killed several men who started a fight, so, in a sense, it was self-defense as he was trying to protect his life. He married his own mother, but he did not know that the woman he loved was his mother. The punishment was excessively severe, as instead of several people, it involved thousands of people suffered because of the plague. Oedipus personal punishment was also unfairly harsh. He acknowledged that he committed horrible crimes, which was hard for such a decent person with high moral standards. He imposes punishment onto himself as well and admits, “But the hand / which stabbed out my eyes was mine alone” (Sophocles 35). Hence, the punishment imposed by others and by himself is truly excessive, making Oedipus a tragic hero.

The high position of the protagonist of the famous play is undoubtful, which is another feature of a tragic hero. Oedipus becomes a king who has been loved and respected by his people who have seen him as “the first of men” (Sophocles 2). Any position can hardly be higher than Oedipus’s status and his glory. When the truth is revealed and the punishment is imposed, Oedipus is a blind wretched recluse living far from his people. So, the change in his status also makes him a perfect tragic hero.

Finally, just like the perfect tragic hero, Oedipus acknowledges the highest truth and admits that he was blind for his whole life as he was unaware of his sins. He also understands that his quick temper and arrogance in some cases made him blind. He has to pay a high price for his enlightenment, but he finally sees clearly what is right and what is wrong.

In conclusion, it is possible to state that Oedipus is a perfect tragic hero as he is characterized by all the five major features of a tragic hero mentioned by Aristotle. Oedipus is decent but quick-tempered, and he has a high position that he loses. He also suffers an excessive punishment and, eventually comes to the point of recognition. Oedipus is an illustration of a highly moral wise person who has to go through a long way to his wisdom.

Sophocles. “Oedipus the King.”  

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Oedipus — Oedipus: The Tragic Hero’s Journey

Oedipus: The Tragic Hero's Journey

• Categories: Heroes Oedipus

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Words: 706 |

Published: Jan 4, 2019

Words: 706 | Pages: 2 | 4 min read

Table of contents

Confronting destiny, the inevitability of fate, catharsis and redemption, what makes a hero, references:.

• Sophocles. (429 BC). Oedipus Rex. Translated by Robert Fagles. Penguin Classics.
• Aristotle. (350 BC). Poetics. Translated by Malcolm Heath. Penguin Classics.
• Knox, B. M. W. (1966). The Heroic Temper: Studies in Sophoclean Tragedy. University of California Press.
• Segal, C. (2001). Oedipus Tyrannus: Tragic Heroism and the Limits of Knowledge. Oxford University Press.
• King, M. L. Jr. (1963). Strength to Love. Fortress Press.

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