1046). According to the editors Edgar Roberts and Henry Jacobs of Literature a Compact Edition, “It (tragedy) is considered the most elevated literary form because it concentrates affirmatively on the religious and cosmic implications of its major character’s misfortunes” (890). In the fore mentioned play the main character, Oedipus, is portrayed as a tragic hero. Oedipus’ fate is foretold and sealed by the Greek gods. There are several main points in Oedipus’ life that can be seen as tragic and unchangeable. The message of the oracle to his father, King Laius, followed by Oedipus’ cursed birth , his quest to become the perfect Athenian, and his eventual self inflicted blindness all reveal tragic aspects of Oedipus’ life.

Oedipus doomed life begins to unfold even before his birth. Oedipus’ father, Laius, receives a predication from the oracle of the Greek god

Apollo that his son will kill him. Thus, he and his wife Jocasta give their son to a servant who is to kill the infant by abandonment. This supposedly would end the tragic life of Oedipus. However the servant does not have the heart to kill the infant himself and passes young Oedipus to a shepherd who in turn gives the baby to the childless King Polypus and Queen Merope, King and Queen of Corinth. While on the surface this may seen a most gracious reprieve from tragedy it allows for other tragic events to occur in Oedipus’ life.

This realization drives Oedipus to a third tragic event. He is so distraught with this realization that he punishes himself by gauging out his eyes. Blindness has two separate meanings. The first definition is sightless or complete loss of sight. The second definition states: the inability or unwillingness to perceive or understand (Lexicon 103). Both of these meanings can be related to Oedipus’ act of self mutilation. First, by gauging out his eyes Oedipus achieves turning his world to darkness. He can no longer see the people of Thebes, his children or perhaps more impotently to him, he is no longer able to see his o

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