Oedipus Rex, Sophocles

According to Aristotle’s definition of tragic hero, it is a literary character who makes a judgment error that inevitably leads to his/her own misfortune. For instance, a real life example of a tragic hero is Martin Luther King Jr. He was a venerated man that was determined to perceive equality for African Americans, he was ambitious in reaching this goal but, unfortunately, his ambition caused his downfall. Luther's flaw would be his ambition for equality and his misfortune was not deserved, thereby, he is a real life tragic hero.

"A man doesn't become a hero until he can see the root of his own downfall." -Aristotle No one wants to be a tragic hero. A great or virtuous character, but sadly they are destined for downfall because of their own judgement. Sophocles’ Oedipus exemplifies Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero.

Throughout the play Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, Oedipus is faced with many problems. From the start of the play we are aware that Oedipus comes from a very messed up family line. As Lauren Silberman says, “Oedipus suffers the most grotesquely perverted family relationships imaginable”(Silberman 2). Oedipus has married his own mother after killing his father. Making Oedipus a husband and a son to Jocasta. Not only that, Oedipus also had four kids with his mother, making him a father and and a brother. When Oedipus found out what his prophecy was in the beginning of the play, he tried to avoid his fate by leaving Corinth and never returning because, he thought his parents were the king and queen. Ironically when he was leaving Corinth for good he

Analyzing Oedipus's Motives Throughout most of the play Oedipus is actively trying to escape his fate. He, and those around him do most everything possible to prevent him from fulfilling his destiny. Oedipus was born to the king and queen of the city of Thebes, his parents were told of a prophecy that he would grow up to kill his father, and marry his mother, this frightened his parents, so they sent him off to be killed by a Shepard. This was the first presence of resistance and avoidance of Oedipus's fate. However the Shepard took pity (which also becomes a common theme in this play) on Oedipus, and spared his life, he brought the baby to the City of Corinth, were the king and queen of this city took care of him.

Oedipus’ prophecy posed a grave danger to his family, initiating his departure from Corinth due to the affection towards the parents who adopted him. Oedipus attempt to escape fate as foretold by the oracle signifies his noble intentions, as he sacrificed his life in order to save his parents. An article by Marjorie Barstow analyzing Oedipus as an ideal tragic hero states, “His is no deliberate vice, no choice of wrong purpose. His purposes are good. His emotions, his thoughts, even his errors, have an ardent generosity which stirs our deepest sympathy”

As part of Aristotle’s theory, there are numerous qualities a character must embody to be regarded as a tragic hero. These qualities include: being born into nobility; agonised by a lapse in their decisions; experienced a downfall; and coming to the realization of personal accountability for their downfall. Aristotle’s theory initially appears to be expressed through both Willy and Oedipus, however with further examination; Oedipus appears to support the title of a tragic

Oedipus is one of the most famous tragic heroes in drama history. His bizarre fate leads him to a tragic defeat that leaves the audience and reader feeling emotionally overwhelmed. According to Aristotle’s definition, Oedipus’ story makes him as a tragic hero. Oedipus is the personification of Aristotle’s characterization of a tragic hero through his ability to maintain and keep his virtue and wisdom, despite his shortcomings and situation in life. Aristotle’s observation of a tragic hero does not reveal the lack of morality or the evil of the character, based on an error in judgment. The tragedy and drama fit the Aristotelian characteristics of Oedipus.

Sophocles used Oedipus’ pride to characterize Oedipus as a tragic man. It showed that he was destined to make himself miserable because of the hubris he was born with. He also uses it to show that there is fate, but we are a part of it and it is only what might happen based on the person we are. Oedipus came about his tragic discovery not because of an evil act or an evil trait but because of the person he was. When the oracles stated that Oedipus would kill his father and marry his mother, he stated what could happen. Oedipus’ fate might have been avoided if Oedipus was not the type of person he was.

The beginning of the play, Oedipus the King, by Sophocles, depicts several themes, such as the irony. Oedipus already begins to show his excessive pride and power, and using figurative language, lexical field and imagery effectively; Sophocles heightens the hubris shown by Oedipus and how he is unable to avoid his fate. The title is simple and self-explanatory and states that the protagonist of the play is Oedipus. But this straightforward title serves the purpose of juxtaposing the thrilling themes portrayed.

In Sophocles’ play, Oedipus the king, Oedipus Rex fits the true definition of a tragic hero, especially by Aristotle standards. He is a vitreous man whose misfortune is brought about not by depravity, but by some error or frailty. Oedipus is highly regarded as being renowned and prosperous. In the play we can tell Oedipus is well renowned because the people pray towards him “Not judging you an equal of the gods” (Line 31), “you raised up our lives” (Line 39). And prosperous when Tiresias says “rich, through foreign lands” (Line 460) and again when Oedipus says “in wealth, kingship, artistry” (Line 385) “wins much admiration” (Line 386). Oedipus is imperfect like us because he is human and has human qualities. On his way to Corinth, Oedipus

A reader uses a biographical perspective to understand why the author wrote their story. “A knowledge of an author’s life can help readers understand his or her work more fully” (Meyer 1361). The author may have incorporated a situation that happened in their personal life within one of their written stories. This helps the reader to get a deeper perspective of what is happening throughout the story.

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.

The play Oedipus Tyrannus, written by Sophocles, is one of the greatest renowned Greek drama tragedies. Have you ever heard the saying if you do not know your past, then it can come back to haunt you? This theme is played upon heavily though out the story to where it also becomes somewhat about self-discovery along the way. The Greek philosopher, Aristotle, based some of his book Poetics on Oedipus. According to Aristotle the definition of a tragic hero is a character that due to the wrongs of their judgment leads them to their own demise. Oedipus’s downfall was brought about by his lack of knowledge, his quick impulsive and angering temperament, and arrogance.

The ancient greek philosopher and scientist Aristotle who is famous for his studies with Plato and for teaching Alexander the Great was also the mind behind the concept of tragic hero. A tragic hero, he depicts, is a hero who falls from affluence to calamity. This fall must be caused not by ill luck but at the fault of the tragic hero himself. To be considered a tragic hero aristotle had specific criteria. Goodness, being the first. A tragic hero must have good morals and their actions should follow suit. Appropriateness, the character must fit into the role they play in society. Lifelike, the tragic hero must be realistic. Finally, Consistency the character must portray identifiable traits throughout the entire story. To identify a

Oedipus’s life and destiny was said to be set by the god’s, but together with his parent’s lies and his own ignorance, he brought upon his downfall foretold so long ago. It was only when he was born that a prophecy of Oedipus, who was to kill his father and marry his mother. Terrified and without much thought of the consequences, Iokaste and Laius abandoned the child to die. Oedipus did not die. Instead he became a strong and well respected prince, who believed his real parents were king and queen of Corinth. Oedipus’s adoptive parents kept him in the dark about his true identity. For this reason, when ignorant Oedipus hears of his prophecy, he runs away terrified. Ironically, on his journey away from home, he encounters his real father, Laius King of Thebes, which he kills due to an argument. Moreover, he goes on to become King of Thebes and husband of Iokaste, his biological mother. So, without realizing, the fate that Oedipus wanted to impede so badly occurs right before his eyes, showing that fate “lies within Apollo’s competence/As it is his concern” (Oed.