Oedipus Rex by Sophocles is a famous Greece tragical play. The main character, Oedipus, is considered as a classic tragic hero base on the most influential literary theorist, Aristotle's definition of tragic hero. According to the definition, a tragic hero is a person who is not eminently good and just, yet whose misfortune is brought about not by vice or depravity, but by some error or frailty. The hero must be one who is highly renowned and prosperous. Also, he will most effectively evoke both our pity and terror if he is neither thoroughly good nor thoroughly evil but a mixture of both. Throughout the play, Oedipus is proved to be perfect match to Aristotle's tragic hero as he is the king of Thebes, he is good and looked up by his people, but falls because of an act of injustice. His downfall is caused by his own fault, but his misfortune is not wholly deserved.
As mentioned, a tragic hero must be highly renowned and prosperous. Oedipus, the King of Thebes is highly renowned and prosperous. Oedipus had saved the city of Thebes from Sphinx and because of this, people in Thebes looked up to him. They rely on and look to Oedipus for safety in times of need. When Thebes is suffering from the plague, people look to Oedipus to save the city from the disaster. From the play (line 43- 55), the speech of the priest to Oedipus, saying " O mighty power, we turn to you", "by counsel of the gods or of men", "A king of wisdom", "Noblest of men" and " Liberator for your boldness long ago" show that they believe that Oedipus is the closest person to the god and is the only person who can lead the people out of the predicament. Again it shows the people in Thebes look to Oedipus with the utmost respect. Oedipus is a highly renowned and prosperous person and has perfectly matched the condition of being a tragic hero.
Oedipus is a tragic hero because he also fit in the definition of being a person who is not eminently good and just and his misfortune is brought about not by vice or depravity, but by error and ignorance.
